A commentary by Rev. Ralph W. James Sr February 5, 2001
Jesus said to his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matthew 16:24-27 (KJV)
The four-year-old had a mind of her own. She was playing with her doll and wanted to play alone. She wouldn’t yield to the suggestion to share her doll with others. But soon she found that playing alone wasn’t much fun. She had won the argument but lost out on the fun. She lost by winning.
All of us, by human nature, fall into the human logic that if I can get it and keep it for ourselves, we’ll be better off. Churches too, can fall into this way of thinking, but Jesus calls us to a different way.
The economics of Christ’s kingdom says if we try to keep our joy, our love, our faith, and our resources for ourselves, we will lose them. It is when we give away these things, when we share them, we find that we really have them ourselves. This is just what Jesus said would happen.
He who won our salvation by loosing his life on a cross, set up the economics of the kingdom of God, winning by losing. In God’s love for us, he asks us to give of ourselves so He himself can fill us and bless us with much more than we can imagine.
When we lose our pride, and hatred for others and when we forgive, we place ourselves in a position to be of service to all people. It doesn’t matter what nation they come from or the color of their skin, we can be a servant of all. And a servant of Christ Jesus.
Remember the words of John, the Apostle; “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” That means every person who has ever lived, Jesus Christ died to save.
God loves you. He really does.
*This sermon was read by Pastor Nathan at First Assembly in Minot ND at the funeral service for Rev. Ralph W. James Sr. in December
