07/09 - Who Are You Pulling For

Who are you Pulling for?

Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30

 

• Pulled in two ways?
  • An old-time plow...
    • Some of you may have had this experience (growing rare)
    • For first-century Jews, it was instantly relatable
  • The Weight of the Yoke
    • To rabbis, the "yoke" was their teaching (the Yoke of Law)
    • Jesus called them out on having too heavy a yoke (uselessly burdensome teaching) [Luke 11:46]...and countered that His yoke was light and restful [Matthew 11:29]
    • Pulling the Pharisees' yoke (judgmental legalism) steals the joy out of life and weighs you down.
    • If we're not joyful in Christ, if our burdens are wearing us out, we may have become yoked to something other than Him, because He has taken a LOT of the load...
  • The Direction we are Traveling (Matthew 11:16-19)
    • "Pull" of "this generation" is always shifting: 17 ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’
    • And doesn't guarantee acceptance: 18 "For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 19a The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard,... "
    • If we are just living for the latest fad or social issue or professional goal, we won't have a clear purpose or direction. Where is the meaning in life?
    • Even if you get "to the top" in this world (pay scale, power, fame), most everyone will just wait to see you fall.
    • You want meaning, take Christ's yoke and let Him lead you!
      
  • How to "take His yoke" upon us?
    • Attach yourself to Christ
      • Using marriage as a metaphor (following Paul's usage):
        • it shouldn't begin w/o knowing the other well, and doesn't last w/o constant effort
      • The Weight of Knowledge = learning His character, thoughts, and goals
        • Reading, listening to bible, sneak it in during the day
        • podcasts, sermons (yes, you can do a lot of this yourself)
      • Constant, Directed Effort = being aware if distance is creeping in, if you are pulling in different directions
        • That often takes OTHERS
          • Marriage example: talking with family & friends (in confidence) who are committed to helping your relationship work, who help us understand ourselves and the other person better
          • In walking with Christ, find persons who you believe have a close walk with Him (don't just ask your BFFs); they see from a different perspective
          • CHURCH: We've got to do better at providing a SAFE PLACE to do this!!!
        • Be wary of:
          • Pulls in incompatible directions
            • One (and perhaps the only) genius line of the SW prequels: "You're going somewhere I can't follow!"
            • External (lots of voices calling) and Internal (and lots of broken inclinations)
              • : we're like shopping carts with a wonky wheel...
            • A bad understanding of the goal
              • Nonreligious example: "Marriages are disposable and kids easily adapt."
              • Religious ex: "We're at church for what we get out of it."
                
            • Pulling for (& with) Christ
              • Marriage Metaphor concluded: Over the years if all goes right...
                • You know each others thoughts (finish other's sentences)
                • You exchange and merge behaviors
                • Sometimes you even start to look more alike
                • Others cannot think of one of you without thinking of both
              • And this is an excellent example for Christ's teaching:
                • At the end of the day, do I want to look more like this fractured world, or more like Jesus?
                • Don't I want to KNOW the God who made me?
                • What is a more fulfilling path? More meaningful?  More consequential & lasting?
                • "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." Jeremiah 29:11