Count for Zero #6: "A Good Reason"

     If you want to know how self-centered human nature it, put pizza out for a group of teens. The very selfish will rush to the front of the line and pile slices of pizza up with excitement. After a few have done this, some observant teen will ask, “how many slices should each of us take?” The one with ten slices looks around with this embarrassed look on their face as to say, oh now I look like such a pig. The fact is, that teen had one thought and it was centered in his belly. After all, he was the first to make it to the pizza so he has the right to take as much as he wanted.

    This is a silly example for sure. However, I find it interesting how focused many are on their personal rights without regard for the rights or needs of others. Please don’t misunderstand me, I do believe in the importance of individual rights, but I think the focus on them has become a bit extreme. No wonder Apple has struck it big, the majority of their products start with the letter “I”.

We, as followers of Christ, must remember that we are indeed following Him. One of the primary directions in which we follow Him is in the surrendering of our own rights for the sake of others. We have been discussing counting for zero and if we are to live this out we must get involved in the effort for the sake of others. This will undoubtedly lead us to foregoing many of our rights for the sake of others. Therefore, the focus of this post is to make others your reason for involvement.

     A fitting example of this is found in the lives of Naomi and Ruth who make each other the reason for self-sacrifice. In chapter one if the book of Ruth we see tragedy strike a family with Naomi's husband and sons pass away. Here as is customary Naomi releases her daughter-in-laws to find new husbands. However, though it was her right to do so, Ruth makes Naomi her reason for personal sacrifice. This exchange reveals the type of love and commitment that is required to live a life that counts for zero.

     Moving forward in the book of Ruth to chapter four, we see another such example. Reading verses 13-17 we discover that Naomi now had a secure future because of the sacrifice made by Ruth. Here we see that we are to appreciate and understand that the sacrifices of other have produced much good in our lives. Others definitely are the reason why we have much good in our lives. Take a moment and thank God for those people in your life. If possible, you may wish to express your appreciation to these vital people in your life. 

     The challenge for us then becomes to make other our motivation. There are several examples of this throughout the Bible. Take a moment to consider the follow. 
 

Make others your reason...

...for being an example. 1 Timothy 1:16

...for enduring hardship. Ephesians 3:1

...for listening to sound instruction. Proverbs 10:17

     In conclusion, though others can be reason enough for all that we have discussed there is an area that we must not allow others to determine. That area is, we can’t allow others to determine what we believe about Jesus. Observe the discussion between Jesus and Pilate as recorded in John 18:33-40

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" 35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."

37 Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." 38 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 40 They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.

     Did you notice how Pilate struggled to understand who Jesus was? He was conflicted be what he had heard about Jesus was not was he saw in Jesus. There is a big difference between what the world says Jesus is and what Jesus indeed said about Himself. Can we help each other understand who Jesus is? Absolutely, that is what I am doing in the post. However, each one of us must go to Jesus through His own words to understand who He is. Don't just take my word for it. Go read His story for yourself.