Good, but good for what?

A dj on Air1 Radio (Brant Hanson--isn't he great?) spent time on his show discussed Luke 11, where Jesus rips the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. Hanson pointed out that the Pharisees were really good people. They did the right thing, they were an example to others in good living, and they were passionate for the purity of their nation. But Jesus criticized them for being showy on the outside and not having clean hearts. Hanson pointed out that He gave them one prescription for getting right with God: "Give to the poor, and everything will be clean for you" (Luke 11:41).

Sounds like the same advice Jesus gave the rich young ruler. It seems that if we have a lot (of righteousness, of money, of comfort), we stop wanting to get messy. We withdraw from the world and make ourselves happy. Jesus also said it is hard for a rich person to enter heaven. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man received his reward in this life, while Lazarus received his in the next.

Jesus told us to make disciples. Leverage what you have--your time and money--to reach out to others. In an odd way, you can even leverage your own righteousness. Righteous living does not make you better than anyone else, but it does reduce the number of stresses in your life. The more sin you get out of your life, the fewer burdens and struggles you carry personally. It leaves you more free to help another with her load.

In verse 42, Jesus said, "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God." Jesus didn't tell us to stop obeying rules. But He did warn us that while we follow rules, our heart can get off kilter. What did the love of God do? God's love compelled Him to give His Son. Jesus laid down all of heaven to come for us. Sacrifice is better than a checklist of religious duties.

This conversation is happening while Jesus is eating with a Pharisee, who invited Jesus to his home. Now some other guests, who were teachers of the Law, speak up and say, "Hey, you're insulting us too with all this kind of talk." And so Jesus turns to them directly. He says, "Woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them" (Luke 11:46). And later, "You have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering" (v.51)

If you know God, if you have experienced His love and grace, it is not enough just to be a shining beacon on a hill so others can admire you. You need to help others get to where you are. Don't just burden them with your knowledge; extend your hand. Don't make Christianity so complex and advanced that someone who wants to come to God can't find the way. Open the door for people around you. Invite others to come on the journey. Remember that you are also traveling, not someone who has arrived and is sending back postcards.