Body of Christ: More than Myself

1^st Chronicles 11:15-19; Luke 9:18-27; Romans 12:1-8

Rev. Chris Harbin, Rocks Baptist Church—Pamplin, VA

23 May 2004

What makes my existence meaningful? What makes life worthwhile? Is there a point to life? We tend to ask these questions when we face stressful issues of life, but mainly toward the end of our lives, when perhaps it is too late to do much with our findings. John Milton sought answer on his death-bed, much as the question was placed on Solomon’s tongue by the writer of Ecclesiastes. The pleasures of youth give little solace amid the loss of vision, mobility, strength, and stamina.

Is there purpose for my existence that gives meaning to the pain and toil of life? When stress, pain, cancer, death, and separation plague our lives, does living for personal gratification make life worthwhile? While pain may be temporary, pleasure is fleeting as well. If there is no greater purpose in life than my personal gratification, there is just no purpose for living.

In the early days of David’s rise to power in Ancient Israel, there were many occasions for him to focus on his own needs and desires. He had strong and valiant men who were dedicated to serving him and meeting his needs, even his whims. David was surrounded by those who recognized his leadership, authority, and growing popularity. They saw hope for the nation under David’s leadership. They also knew that to ensure good standing with David would ensure their own advancement as well. David was in a situation in which it would be very easy for him to abuse those around him for his own benefit.

1st Chronicles relates a wistful desire that David mentioned in passing—to drink the fresh waters from the well at Bethlehem’s gate! It was a cry for peace and tranquility as much as anything. It was a cry for life to re-establish itself in the peace and contentment of earlier days. He wanted respite from the constant battle and turmoil of Israelite political struggles. In that expression of simple desire, some of his valiant men decided to risk their lives to fulfill the dreams of their leader. They went down into the enemy camp to fetch the water that David had mentioned as being so desirable. They returned with the water, offering this wonderful present to David, their commander.

David was taken aback by what they had done. They had followed the indication of his words and brought him the water he longed to drink—water that he could not accept from them. While David stood in awe of the willingness of these strong men to risk their lives to serve him, he also found the grace to set aside his personal desires. He looked at the implications of acting upon his personal desires. Rather than accepting their sacrifice for his personal comfort, he granted them an unexpected respect for the value of their own lives.

The text does not give us all the details, but I would imagine that David had received some kind of warning as to where these men had gone. He likely had some time to think over how he should respond. In due course, he refused to drink the water they brought him. It would have been very tempting for David to accept the kind of service that these soldiers were offering him. It would have been most natural and simple for him to accept personal superiority over those under his command. After all, they had risked their very lives in order to grant David a small gift of ease, comfort, and fulfillment. They had also given him the responsibility to determine how he would treat those under his charge. Would David abuse them for his own comfort, or would he value their worth and contribution to something more than his own comfort, desire, ambitions, and goals? Would he allow others to ingratiate themselves to David, or would he continue to act in accordance with the call of Yahweh upon his life?

You see, if David were to drink the water, he would be devaluing those who brought it. He would also chart a course of being in the debt of others, making him unable to lead with integrity and purpose. He would begin making decisions based on his own comfort, advancement, and the desires of his closer associates. While pursuing such a course, he would lose sight of the nation’s needs. He would focus inward upon his own gratification. Such had destroyed Saul. Selfish desire had occasioned God’s rejection of Saul. David chose to live for more than himself and his own comfort. He chose to follow a purpose beyond and above personal ease and desire.

This was not likely a calculated strategy to increase his own popularity and power, but it did contribute to such an end. David’s followers recognized the quality of purpose behind his actions. Their respect for his leadership grew. They perceived that he did not follow mediocre aims of personal pleasure. He had a greater purpose in life than meeting his own needs. He chose to live for much more than himself.

Jesus couched His call to discipleship with the statement of a purpose far greater and encompassing than the disciples expected. Jesus called them to live for more than themselves. Peter had recognized that Jesus was Messiah—the Anointed One promised by Yahweh to redeem the people. He began that call to live for more than self with a brief description of what awaited Him. He warned of impending rejection, suffering, and death. He warned them of crucifixion. Then He called them to accept the burden of a cross and follow the One they had just called Messiah.

This was not a call to self-service. This was not a call to comfort. This was not a call to be disciples with an optional choice for sacrifice or a more intense relationship with levels of service. Jesus cast the call as an all-or-nothing decision. “If anyone would come after me, this is what is required: deny self, take up your death sentence every day, and follow.” To carry a cross was to parade one’s criminal charge through the streets on the way to crucifixion. Jesus called those who would be disciples to accept publicly the implications of following Him, even when it would lead to death. Jesus didn’t come to give us the freedom to do as we desire. Jesus did not call us to accept the parts of the gospel that we find most appealing. He challenged us to live for a purpose greater than ourselves—a life of serving others in expression of our service to God.

Paul called the Roman Christians to present their lives to God as living sacrifices. He was just paraphrasing Jesus. Present your entire being to God—this is worship and true service to God. Be completely transformed. Interestingly enough, he went on to say that the next step is to think less of ourselves and more of others in accordance with God’s grace. It is at that point that we are freed to serve, rather than to be served. The picture of David’s ethic rises to haunt us. Can self-denial grant us meaning and purpose?

In our materialistic society of personal comfort, self-denial, suffering, pain, and sacrifice don’t sound very appealing. We are appalled at the gospel claims that sacrifice and self-denial are integral to the Christian life. Isn’t pleasure and comfort what life is all about? That is the gospel of materialism and profit margins. Have we exchanged the gospel of Christ for the gospel of consumerism, comfort, and “the pursuit of happiness”? That is the gospel that claims personal pleasure as the greatest good of all. Isn’t there more to live for than that? If living for my own gratification is all there is, perhaps the greatest pleasure is living for a purpose greater than myself.

—©2004 Christopher B. Harbin

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