Awhile ago I was speaking with a gentleman who is in full time ministry. He is associated with an organization whose objective is to minister to individuals in the work place. He shared with me some information that I found interesting but not surprising.
If you were to compare white collar workers with blue collar workers which group would you expect to be most receptive to the salvation message? (The 'salvation message' is the New Testament message that Jesus died in our place on the cross so that by casting our lot with Him, we can have a relationship with God and spend eternity in heaven after death. Casting our lot with Christ involves faith in Him, a confession of sin, and a decision to follow Him.)
This minister told me that blue collar workers are far more likely to realize their need for Christ and to give their lives to Him than are their white collar counterparts. I asked him what he attributed this difference to and he indicated that since white collar workers generally perceive themselves as being more successful and are generally better off financially, they don't perceive that they need God as much as blue collar workers.
The Bible records the warnings of Moses to the children of Israel before they entered the promised land. Moses warns the Israelites not to forget about God once they enter the promised land and 'become full and prosperous'.
The writer of the the book of Luke records an incident where a prostitute enters a home where Jesus was dining. The prostitute washes Jesus' feet with her tears and pours perfume on them. Jesus contrasts this act of love with the boorish behavior of his well respected and upstanding dinner host. Why did the two respond differently to Jesus? Luke records Jesus word
s 'she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love'. (For scriptures see comments below.) The inference is that those of us who 'have it all together' are less likely to love God and realize our need to have a relationship Him.I fear for those of my friends who are successful and don't know Jesus. We're so reluctant to seek God's help when we have it all together. And yet we need God so much. The Bible says that our sin separates us from God but in Christ we can have our sins forgiven and enjoy our day to day life in the presence of our Creator. Jesus said 'I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly'.
2 comments:
The exact Biblical text of Moses remarks ……
"When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 8: 10 – 14)
The Biblical account of the prostitute who washed Jesus feet …
Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner." And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."
"A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."
Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."
Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7:36 – 50)
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