Change that Counts

Jesus must have been a great teacher. He never wrote a book nor is there any record he even wrote an epistle and yet the words he spoke to his students have been passed down to us almost 2,000 years later. How many college professors can expect the students taking notes in class to compile their notes into books that will be around for two millennia?

Once when he was teaching a group, a follower of Jesus brought up a dispute he was having with his brother. “Make him divide the inheritance with me,” the man said. One gets the impression that the brother was in the audience as well. But Jesus refused to judge between the two saying “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? (Luke 12:14 NLT) No doubt the One who will judge the world could have judged this circumstance. But Jesus, the wisest man to ever live, chose to let these men solve their own problem.

We aren’t told which brother was right or wrong. All we know is that Jesus showed a respect for the system God designed by choosing not to intervene. Some things have a way of working out by themselves.

There is something in man’s nature that wants to intervene to solve every problem, correct every inequity, and decide every disagreement. When men form governments and choose leaders, they often start with grandiose agendas to change the world. Inevitably it begins by taking money from citizens. Do we want a better school system? Let’s spend the money to build new buildings and modernize the facilities. Do we want a better system of medical care? Let the government spend the money to improve the system.

We could conclude that as a rich nation we perceive money and power to be the solution to all problems. But God has all power and unlimited resources. He could intervene to correct these problems. Maybe we think like the man who wanted Jesus to solve his inheritance problem. What if the father of these two men knew his sons well enough to know which was wise and which was foolish and dictated his will accordingly?

Getting back to our world, change is necessary and taxes are required. But balance and wisdom tell us that there is a more important factor. Human choice. Some students don’t want to learn and no amount of money will change that. Some people will not become healthy without a change in lifestyle. All external intervention will be fruitless until the more important internal change occurs first.

Desire for schools to develop educated minds and medicine to develop healthy bodies is a worthy goal. But worthy goals and wise processes are different. The Apostle Peter was fervent for the Kingdom of God to be established on the earth. He and the other disciples were ready for it to begin. Like many religious people down through the centuries, they convinced themselves that the time was now. As they were leaving the last Passover service they observed with Jesus, they carried their swords, ready for battle. The war was approaching. When a few soldiers appeared to arrest Jesus, Peter must have thought he was initiating the Great War to overthrow the rule of Satan and usher in the Kingdom of God. As he struck at the head of an approaching soldier his errant aim took only the ear of the hapless man. Peter knew he was no physical match for this crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. He was ready to die for the cause.

Again it was Jesus who brought reason to the situation. He healed the soldier, reattaching the man’s ear and then addressed Peter. “Don’t you realize that I could ask my father for thousands of angels to protect us and he would send them instantly?” (Matthew 26:54 NLT) After all Jesus himself had just prayed repeatedly for this cup to pass. And each prayer ended with “If this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Matt. 26:42 NLT).

One mark of truly great men is the ability to distinguish between personal desire and the will of God. Even fools call for a world of peace, prosperity and health. Only wise men recognize the limitation of humans to bring it about.

Until next time,