Advantage in the Bible

Transcript

Rob McFarlane: 0:58

Today we're going to look at what the New Testament says about the word advantage. The word advantage has a positive and a negative definition. It's defined in the positive sense as a condition giving you a greater chance for success. It's also defined in a negative sense to treat others badly in order to get something from them. First, let's talk about how we should not live. What does the Bible teach us about the negative definition of the word advantage? As followers of Jesus, we should not take advantage of others in the negative sense. Let's look at how Paul and his companions did not take advantage of those they ministered to in the church in Corinth. Please look at these two verses with me. First, 2 Corinthians chapter 7 and verse 2. Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one. Then in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 17, he says, I did not take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you. A recent example of someone taking advantage of people is a news report that came out of a military contractor who wanted to sell seats on a flight out of Afghanistan at exorbitant prices. This news stirred up a whole host of negative responses towards his character and his decisions from people all over the world. We should be sure that we don't take advantage of others, but we should always follow the teaching of Jesus to love our neighbor. A good way to treat other people is to treat them in a way that you would like others to treat you. What does the Bible teach us about the positive definition of the word advantage? Remember that advantage can be defined in the positive sense as a condition that gives you a greater chance for success. And today we're going to look at three things that the Bible teaches are to our advantage. They give us a greater chance of success in life. So number one, it's to our advantage to finish what we start. 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 9 to verse 11, reading from the New American Standard Bible, says this. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was a readiness to desire it, so there may be a completion of it by your ability. He was talking about how the church had a desire to do something, and he said it's your it's to your advantage to complete what you have started. We should always finish what we start. Now Jesus taught us to count the cost and that we should only start what we are able to or intend to finish. Let's look at his teaching in Luke chapter 14, verse 28 to 30. Jesus said, For which of you desiring to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it. Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Jesus continues in the next verses, verse 31 to verse 32, and tells us, if we've taken on more than we can handle, at the earliest opportunity we should take responsibility and ask the other party to release us. Let's read these verses together. He says in Luke 14, verse 31 and 32, or what king going out to encounter another king in war will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with 10,000 to meet him who comes against him with 20,000. And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So the first thing that we've seen is to our advantage or positions us for a greater chance for success in life is to finish what we have started. Number two, it's to our advantage to be a joy to lead. Let's look at Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. We see three things in Hebrews chapter 13, verse 17. First of all, we see that leaders and in the church, that's pastors and elders, are accountable to God for the local church. Secondly, we see that leading a church is a very challenging task. There's times when as a leader you have joy because everyone's in unity. People are following, and people are easy to lead. But there are times when there is groaning, when you have people who are constantly looking to make life difficult for you as a leader. And those are times of groaning. This verse teaches us it's to our advantage in a local church to be people who are easy to lead. Be a person who brings joy to the leadership of the church, be a person who looks for ways that you can protect, enhance, and nurture the unity in the local church that God has planted you. So we've seen number two, it's to your advantage to be someone who follows in the local church. Now you might be watching this today and say, I don't think I can follow the leadership of the local church where I am. Well, if you can't, then perhaps you're in the wrong church. I would encourage you respectfully and in the best possible way, disengage from that local church and engage with a local church where you are known and you know, and where you can follow the leadership team of that church. Number three, it's to our advantage to grow in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. John chapter 16, verse 7 in the New English Standard Bible says, Jesus said, But I tell you the truth, it's to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. In these verses, Jesus is introducing the third person of the Trinity. He's introduced the Father, he is the Son, and here he's introducing the Holy Spirit. Speaking to his disciples, he said, It's to your advantage that I go away. Because if I don't go away, the helper, the Holy Spirit, will not be able to come to you. But as Jesus goes, he will send him to us. Now, can you imagine being one of Jesus' disciples? And you're thinking we've got the master with us, we have the miracle worker with us, we have the Messiah with us, but he's saying it's to your advantage that I go away, so that I can send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is an advantage to us as believers. Now, in the Amplified Bible, this verse is put this way John 16, verse 7 in the Amplified Bible, Jesus said, But I tell you the truth, it's to your advantage that I go away. For if I don't go away, the helper, and then he defines who the helper is the comforter, the advocate, the intercessor, the counselor, the strengthener, the standby, will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him the Holy Spirit to you to be in close fellowship with you. It's to our advantage as believers to develop an ongoing interactive relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to be in close fellowship with us. He wants to reveal God's word to us, he wants to be our helper, he wants to be our comforter, our advocate, our intercessor, our counselor, our strengthener, and our standby. I want to encourage you to spend time in his presence, to spend time in prayer and in worship and in the word of God and allow him to teach you and to show you how you can live for Jesus every day. So, in conclusion, let's recap, let's review. We have seen that we should not take advantage of others in the negative sense, but we should treat other people as we would like to be treated ourselves. We've also seen that there's three things that are to our advantage or give us a greater chance for success in life. They are number one, finishing what we start, number two, being a joy to lead, and number three, growing in relationship with the Holy Spirit. Let's pray together and ask the Holy Spirit to show us what he wants us to do as a result of what we've heard in today's sermon. Father God, thank you that you want to lead us and guide us. Thank you for the advantage of having the Holy Spirit as our helper, that you want to lead us into a closer relationship with you. Today, if you're watching this and you feel that people have taken advantage of you, I encourage you to forgive them. If you have been convicted by the Holy Spirit, that you have been taking advantage of a situation, taking someone for granted, ask God to forgive you. And make a decision today to change the way that you relate with that person. Are there things that you've started that you haven't finished? Today, I encourage you, it's to your advantage to finish what you start. But perhaps you've taken on more than you can chew, if that's the case. In the right way, with a humble attitude, ask to be released from that commitment. Be humble. Go before God and ask Him for wisdom on how you can approach this situation. In Jesus' name. I ask you, Lord Jesus, to help us to be those who are easily led. Help us to be people who are like clay on the potter's wheel. Help us, Lord Jesus, to promote the unity in our local churches. And I thank you, Lord, for the leaders that you've placed in our church and in local churches all over the world. We ask that you would enable them to lead with confidence, with faith, and with courage. We know that as leaders we're accountable to you. And we want you to one day say, Well done, good and faithful servant. We ask you to do these things in our lives in Jesus' name. Amen.