The Least and the Greatest

February 3, 1999

Matthew 5 ... "salt and light"

Comparing "greatness" or "pettiness" in people somehow doesn't seem a very polite thing to do. Often we politely avoid comparisons, of who is great and who is least, at least among people we know personally. Jesus invites such comparisons, or at least advertises the fact that there will be greater and lesser in His kingdom.

When we do think of the greats, we measure with a different yardstick from Jesus. How about Larry Bird? Do I like Larry Bird? Does Helen like Larry? But that isn't fair.

I. SALT AND LIGHT RE DEFINES, RE CLASSIFIES ORDERS OF IMPORTANCE

  1. We tend to classify by (1) notoriety and fame; (2) intelligence; it is better to live by one's brain than by one's hands, no matter how skillful those hands may be; (3) material success– money made from almost any source; and (4) the unfocused, the people who live from paycheck to paycheck which takes in most of the population.

    ILLUSTRATION: Cornelius Vanderbilt built a house on the east bank of the Hudson. In the village of Hyde Park are actually two mansions. One is the Roosevelt mansion, and it was a summer home and white house for FDR. The other is the Vanderbilt mansion, of truly palatial proportions, of marble and granite one of several such homes Cornelius Vanderbilt had scattered around the country and world. (One is in Newport)

    Vanderbilt is hailed (by plaques there in the Hyde Park mansion) as something of a great hero because he helped fund the Hyde Park fire fighters association. I may be cynical, but it seemed like so called "conscience money" to me because his BED was probably as expensive as the entire Fire Department his bedroom RUG weighed in at 2,000 pounds.

  2. God has entirely different criteria for gaging individual worth. His scale is rated entirely on RELATIONSHIPS.
    1. First, there is a Master Relationship, which divides the entire population of the world. Either we are seeking after God, or we are not. Unless you are BORN AGAIN you cannot (even) SEE the kingdom of heaven!
    2. Then, there is an Integration of that Master Relationship through society. You are the SALT of the earth! You are the LIGHT of the world! The people who grasp this will be GREAT; the people who don't will be LEAST!
    3. But here is the "zinger!" for Christians for us "society" can never simply be that nameless, faceless "population" "out there, somewhere." We can never discharge our duties by joining some ideology or "ism" and contributing our money. The relationship by which God judges us is intensely personal. We must LOVE GOD, and then we must SEEK TO PROVIDE A CLIMATE IN WHICH OTHERS CAN KNOW HIM, TOO.

II. A KINGDOM WHERE POOR BECOME KINGS, AND WHERE KINGS ARE SERVANTS

  1. Paul doesn't sound flattering when he describes the fact (in I Corinthians 2) that not many of them were wise, or mighty, or noble after the flesh but Paul goes on to say (2:27) God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the weak things to shame the things that are mighty.

    Later in that same letter (6:9 11) Paul gives an unsavory list of the unrighteous that do not inherit the kingdom fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, perverts, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers; but then these amazing words: AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU! But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

  2. Saved, made kings but kings like our Master, who served.

    We never get "too important" to do the "one on one" thing.

ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Barrows You have all seen Cliff Barrows at one time or another across the years; directing a choir numbering in the thousands, leading a song at a Billy Graham rally, or doing a "commercial" on a Billy Graham TV program. In that parlor right across the hall I had a conversation with Cliff Barrows and George Beverly Shea. You might never guess what the conversation was about. Cliff Barrows talked about his wife, and about their mutual concern for new neighbors and how they were trying to introduce them to Jesus. Not to impress me but as naturally as conversation could be C. Barrows was living out on the personal, one to one level the kind of life that he was advocating to the millions.

Conclusion

We are kings and priests! We can change society! But IF we do– or should I confidently say "WHEN" we do it will not be because of values and powers the world understands.

We never dare to think that because we are saved, and because Christ loves and lives in us that WE, now are the SOURCE of truth and light and love and power. We DRAW from Christ; and it is as we obey Him and carry out our SALT and LIGHT MISSION that the power in manifest:

ILLUSTRATION: paraphrased Wangerin: "You actors must remember that you do not possess the truth, but that you are communicators of the truth. We tend to worship the "stars" when real actors make people think about the character, the truth they portray."

SALT AND LIGHT RE DEFINES CLASSES OF IMPORTANCE

THE NEW ORDER OF IMPORTANCE ACCORDING TO CHRIST

NOW ARE GRAINS OF SALT AND RAYS OF LIGHT

A meeting of the plant services people last Monday left me contemplating a practical meaning of what it means to be "salt" and "light." They are true partners in the enterprise of whatever Eastern Nazarene College is doing, and have a part in shaping the lives of young people in significant ways.

Prayer: [Into Invitation to, and Sacrament of, Communion]