Equals before God

Luke 11:27-31

The principle of personal equality established in the Declaration Of Independence is a biblical principle. In spite of that fact, and our avowed belief in it, people still struggle with it two hundred and thirty five years later. We look and see huge discrepancies between the income of a plumber or electrician and the head of some large corporation.

The show, Undercover Boss has revealed that many of those in the highest positions cannot do the jobs of their employees. Far too may of them think that they are better because they make more money. It shocks them to understand they can’t do the job. Unfortunately the same attitude that some are better than others because they have a special position occurs in the church as well. A considerable amount of Jesus teaching was devoted to destroying this idea.

The Catholic church has especially exalted Mary’s position. After all, she was the one who gave birth to our Lord. One of the women in the crowd expressed the concept to Jesus.

“And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28)

Jesus responds that Mary is no greater than any other person who Hears God’s word, believes it and acts on it. When Mary was told what God was going to do, she simple believed it and acted accordingly. The giving birth and raising Jesus was otherwise no different than what any other good mother does. She did not get the privilege because she was superior to other women, and having fulfilled that privilege does not make her better than other women.

The Declaration of Independence did not imply that everyone would attain the same things, or that they would have the experiences, but that each one should have the opportunity to develop their own life as they chose. Their success should be dependent on how they exercise the opportunity. Each person has that same opportunity to attain equal standing before God. If they fail to seize the opportunity, it is the result of their choices. It is not because the opportunity isn’t there. Each person is responsible to God for their own actions, and the results.

Several years ago, I heard a woman say that if her husband didn’t bring her flowers every week, she’d assume he didn’t love her and leave him. Apparently she saw flowers as the proof of love, and missed some far more meaningful demonstrations. Clearly the determination to leave her husband implies she had no commitment to him and would go where ever she got more flowers.

Jesus said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;” in Matthew 12:39. Literally they are like the woman, with no intention to stay unless they get their way. People who depend on seeing signs to believe God is real have no commitment to the Lord himself, they are just there for the benefits, and will go elsewhere if they stop. I am amazed at the number of people who go to a different church because it is growing faster or has a more exciting program or a better healing ministry. When the sign they are looking for isn’t visible, they walk out, because they have no commitment to the Lord himself.

“And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.” (Luke 11:29-30)

Just as it is ridiculous for a man’s marriage to depend on wheter he brings home flowers every week, it is ridiculous for people to demand special signs to keep them serving God. Jesus said tha God is not going to bow to such a shallow faith. Nineveh only received the message of Jonah one time. Jesus would only come one time and deliver his message. People who ignored it would have to suffer the consequences.

Others have believed and obeyed on the basis of what they have heard without repeated warnings and signs. Demanding more before a person will act is evidence he has no intention of staying and serving the Lord. The queen of Sheba committed on the basis of what she had heard, and traveled about a thousand miles to learn from Solomon. The people of Nineveh had seen no sign but Jonah, but they listened and acted.

“The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.” (Luke 11:31-32)

Those who seem to have an advantage will be held to a higher standard. Luke 12:48 declares, “ For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Everyone has equal opportunity and responsibility. They don’t get to demand special favors.