Empty Your Hands

October 12, 1997

Mark 10:17-31; Job 23:1-9 (also overview of Job 1)

Psalm 90; Ephesians 3:10

Our Gospel lesson today tells of a man dashing up to Jesus to inquire about finding eternal life. "EMPTY YOUR HANDS, COME, FOLLOW ME!" It is significant that the Bible pictures this eager person as a good man. Jesus did not challenge his statement that he had kept the Commandments from the time he was very young. In fact, the word is that "Jesus loved him!" God's great, free grace was very, very near.

But Jesus said, "You cannot really follow me if your life is centered on other things!" It wasn't wrong that the man had great possessions; what was wrong was that this man's possessions had him. Jesus was saying, "Empty your hands, and come, follow me!"

And the rich young ruler by his actions said, "The price is more than I can pay!" He turned and went sadly away. Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for people with great wealth to enter the kingdom of heaven!"

The disciples were literalists. They valued wealth, just as you and I do as well. "Who then can be saved?" they asked. Jesus said, "Nobody in the world, if they try simply on their own— with man it is impossible. But anyone who seeks God can be saved if they come in His terms— for all things are possible with God!"

My thoughts today about this Gospel lesson are very personal, and center about a story, not of a Rich Young Ruler, of a story of A Rich Young Woman, who also came to Jesus seeking eternal life. She, like the man in the story asked what was required, and determined to follow whatever the cost.

The name Walter Johannes Damrosch probably doesn't mean a thing to anyone here this morning. If you were to look in an encyclopedia you would find that he was a conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and founder of his own Opera Company, as well as for many years the conductor of the National Broadcasting Company Symphony before Arturo Toscanini. I drop his name as emphasis for the story with which I close:

Actually, the 'rich young woman' in my story wasn't really rich, but she did have a real treasure. She had discovered God had endowed her with a world-class contralto voice, and the musical ability to use it. Even as a teenager she became well known in the Lansing, Michigan, local music scene with concerts and solo work in oratorio and cantata presentations. Then through her local music teachers she received an invitation to come to New York City to audition and study with the great Walter Damrosch. It was the chance of a lifetime.

About this time this young woman with a treasure came face to face with Jesus Christ in a revival meeting in the Methodist Church where she was a member. She was saved, and joined a class meeting— a small group specifically designed for spiritual nurture which vital Methodist churches often used. She became aware that God was asking her to go to a Christian college and prepare for special ministry in His kingdom. And so it was that this young woman took her talents to Taylor University, a Christian college in Indiana affiliated with the Methodist church to which she belonged.

As much as she loved opera, and classical music, Leona felt that God was calling her into an even higher musical ministry. She literally gave her treasure to God, and worked her way through Taylor, where she sang solo parts in Elijah and Messiah and all the standard Christian vocals of her time.

There are still a very few people alive today that can remember Leona Metcalfe's musical power and ministry. In my very prejudiced view her contribution to worship and evangelism in camp meetings, assemblies, and revivals large and small was considerable. But she died in a little room in a nursing home, far away from her beloved Ohio. She might have echoed Peter, in our Gospel lesson: "Lord, we have left all— we have given up OUR WAY for YOURS! IS IT WORTH IT?" I am confident she would answer that question: YES, A THOUSAND TIMES OVER! For as with every one of us, in the end, who she was became far more important than simply what she had done. My mother followed Jesus, and came to know and love and serve him for many, many years. At her graveside in Ohio last Thursday four pastors came to bear testimony to a life that counted for God and the kingdom.

I don't know if we really realize that, or believe it! Salvation is free, for the asking. Grace is offered to the whosoever. But to make Jesus Christ Lord, and to follow him requires that we be willing to come with empty hands, and a willingness to follow Him. Whatever it takes to walk with Jesus— to follow him— is worth it. Whatever we may have in our hands, our cluttering up our lives, that would push him away from the center— even good things— are not worth the cost. For Jesus will be Lord of all, or he will not be Lord at all.

And many Christians tempt grace and shortchange the great love with which Christ would bless them by hesitating to follow without question— for as Jesus said:

"Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first!" What can this mean?

COSMIC ECHOES, 'WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!' The Old Testament lessons that accompany our Gospel studies for three or four weeks have been selections from the Book of Job. Job was a wealthy man whose riches did not keep him from being a man who feared God and hated evil, and walked blamelessly before God.

The "Job experience." Sooner or later it happens to every one of us! Summarizing quickly: God was proud of Job. The Adversary asked the question: "Does Job serve God for love or for profit?" Then came what is often call 'The Wager.' God said, in effect: "I trust Job! He loved Me because I am God and because he believes I am GOOD!" We often think the Book of Job is about the eternal questions that arise around human pain and suffering. But to that question there is no satisfactory resolution, no cheap answer.

What we can see from the Book of Job is that God takes an interest in the people who seek Him with integrity and faith. Job's love and trust meant a great deal to God— in the story. And the Bible indicates that God treasures that love and trust in every one of us! Sooner or later every one of us will have our Job experiences, and I believe that when we respond with trust in God there are reverberations in heaven! God is proud of the man or woman that puts Him first!

Ephesians 3:10 is a verse that I see as very significant— and I can never get people excited about it. But I believe it says that when a young person is tempted to cheat, and no one would ever know, but she does not because she knows she belongs to God— that act of righteousness by faith has cosmic echoes! Before the angels God is proud of the person that follows him, even though no one else may know!

A young adult is checking his e-mail and has opportunity to open his mind to pictures and voices rated with triple "X" and hits the "delete" button— and no one knows or cares— except God! Before God says, "See, love IS stronger than hate! People DO serve me because it is good and right!"

An older person is tempted to be fault-finding and bitter, and prays for grace to be able to tell people that God is good. And there are cosmic echoes! When God says, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" it is no little thing! Beyond the agendas that we can see, God is showcasing his love and grace in the trust He places in you and me, and he challenges us to empty our hands, and take up our crosses, and follow after the Christ!

That verse in Ephesians reads like this: "(God's) intent is that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms!"

PRAYER

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be willing and able to empty our hands and follow you and lovingly serve you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

538 I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go or 541 Jesus Calls Us