Just Plain Tired

 

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. (1 Kings 19:1-8 ESV).

 

I don’t know how many times I have heard people tell me that they were “just plain tired.” These people were not expressing the physical exhaustion that comes from exertion in a physical sense, though often they were in circumstances that were physically demanding. They were the kind of tired that comes from the depletion of their emotional and spiritual strength because of the incredible stressors in their life. Sometimes it was a physical illness that was draining the life from a loved one; other times it was rooted in financial setbacks; and still others were due to broken relationships at the discovery of broken trust from a spouse or child. These are those times when we feel so tired we want to run away, or quit.

 

This is where Elijah was in our reading today. By all accounts, Elijah had just finished a successful revival. The false prophets of Baal had been routed, and the people of Israel had proclaimed their allegiance to the true God. God had answered Elijah’s prayers for an end to a crippling drought (cf. 1 Kings 18). But instead of resting confidently in the Lord, who had brought about all these good things, Elijah ran away.

 

Sometimes we are just too worn out to stay where we are. Even our moments of success can be clouded by opposition and fear, and it can seem easier to run away. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the uncertainties of life, or you feel unable to cope for another day with a difficult relationship. Or maybe you’re just plain tired and you think that being elsewhere—physically or spiritually—will fix things. But when we run from our challenges, we often miss the lessons God wants us to learn so that we are able to experience the blessings He has in store for us.

 

Thankfully for us, God is with us even when we run away. He came to Elijah with a gracious question: “What are you doing here?” And God responded to Elijah’s hurt and fear with a promise of his presence and ongoing work. By coming to us in Christ, God has done even more. When you’re worn out and tempted to run away, let the presence of Christ lead you into His rest.

 

Suffering Has an End Date

 

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV).

 

The truth that all my suffering has an end date has been an incredible encouragement to me through the years. There have been those moments when the weight of circumstance seemed heavier; and, inevitably, a sense of dread and defeat would threaten my typically half-full personality. Many of us have faced those moments in life when we cannot seem to see a way out. It is then that we are convinced we cannot tolerate the pain any longer. I have great news… our pain has an end date!

 

I read a quote from Warren Wiersbe, who wrote, “When God puts his own people into the furnace, he keeps his eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat. He knows how long and how much.” God knows how long and how much. Those words brought can bring us indescribable relief. He knew how intense the furnace was, and he knew when relief would come. The furnace wouldn’t be hotter or longer than was necessary.

 

After all, his grace surrounds us even now, even as we suffer. Look for the blessing. Look for God’s hand. Look for his comfort. They are all there. We can be certain that even when we’re overwhelmed and crying out for relief, God has something wonderful in store for us. He will not leave us desolate in our suffering — ever. He brings new mercies every morning (cf. Lamentations 3:22–23). We may not know what the day will bring, but we do know that it will bring God’s comfort and presence. It is His promise.

 

So, if you are feeling overwhelmed by your suffering, crying out to God, “How long, O Lord?” be assured that he knows exactly how long. He will not let you suffer one minute beyond what is necessary for His good to be produced in your life (cf. Romans 8:28). God is never cruel. God’s grace will give you everything you need to endure it, as well as perfectly timed blessings in your endurance. You may not know when your pain will end, but you can be assured that the end has already been appointed, and the result will always be for your good.

 

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 

[Jesus said] “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13 ESV).

 

Today as we continue our journey through the parables of Jesus, I just want to remind you of an important principle when interpreting parables, which is that we should not over-interpret them. It is tempting for many scholars and pastors to start reading all kinds of allegorical meanings into parables like this one. I want us to look at those things in the parable that Jesus Himself seems to stress in the way that He relates the parable in the context. With that in mind, ponder these things:

 

§  First, live your life for His “well-done.” One day we will stand before Jesus, either when we leave this earth and go to Him or when He returns for His church.  Prioritizing our lives around that truth can make a huge difference in how we spend our time. Remember, time is our only non-renewable resource. We each have an unknown limited amount of time. Focusing on the “well-done” at the end of our journey helps us decide between better and best. Go for the best!

 

§  Second, the journey is going to take longer than you think it will. The goal is to finish the race, not merely run fast for a bit. Readiness to run the whole race requires a commitment to remaining a willing learner. We won’t be finished until the end. Don’t quit learning. God certainly hasn’t quit teaching.

 

§  Third, don’t be surprised when it costs more than you thought; be prepared to pay the price. I’m glad I didn’t know the cost of following Jesus when I first began. It might have terrified me into paralysis or indecision. This thought also helps keep your eyes on the prize… that of going in with the Bridegroom!

 

One last thing, rest isn’t optional, it’s essential. I’ve heard some say the weakness of the five foolish women was their laziness because they were asleep when the bridegroom came.  Shouldn’t they have been awake and waiting? But ALL ten of them were asleep when he arrived, even those Jesus commended as being wise. Rest is crucial, it’s not optional.  The journey god designs for us is more of a marathon than a sprint regardless of the number of years it takes. Burnout is real. When it’s all said and done, rest is the only cure for burnout, and making rest a regular part of your routine is how you prevent it. Rest comes in the form of worship, fellowship, and study.

 

Tend to your lamps. It is not too late to begin a commitment to readiness! It is going to be a GREAT party at the end!

 

The Parable of the Two Sons

 

[Jesus said] “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21:28-32 ESV).

 

The next parable of Jesus we will look at is known as “The Parable of the Two Sons” (cf. Matthew 21:28-32). After reading this parable my first thought was “OUCH.” It hits very close to home for so many of us. It tells of a father who asks his two sons to work in his vineyard. The first son initially refuses but later changes his mind and goes. The second son says he will go but never does. Jesus concludes the parable by asking which son did the father's will, and the listeners answer, "The first". He then explains that the first son represents those who initially rejected God's message (like publicans and prostitutes) but later repented and entered the Kingdom of God, while the second son symbolizes the self-righteous religious leaders who said they would obey God but did not.

 

Jesus explained that this parable teaches a vital lesson about true repentance and action. The first son, who initially said "No" but later obeyed, represents those considered "sinners" who eventually repented and followed John the Baptist and Jesus.

The second son, who promised to go but didn't, represents the religious leaders like the chief priests and elders who claimed to follow God but didn't truly obey or repent, making them hypocritical.

 

He states that these repentant sinners would enter the Kingdom of God before the supposedly righteous religious leaders. The parable emphasizes that genuine obedience to God is shown through actions, not just words or outward appearances.

It highlights the importance of repentance and changing one's mind (metamelomai) in order to do God's will. It served as a rebuke to the Jewish leaders for their spiritual pride and lack of true obedience.

 

Our question today is whether we are like the repentant son or the hypocritical son. Our eternal life is not dependent on our works, but our possession of eternal life is shown by our willingness and action in obedience to God. Some might say they are merely procrastinators. That is a fair point, however, I would encourage you to ask “why?” Why are you delaying?

 

I remember as a young boy, when my dad came to wake me up early to go fishing, which I enjoyed, I jumped out of bed. I did love to fish, but I loved to fish because I got to be with my dad doing what he loved too! Do you love being with your Heavenly Father enough to jump up and go with Him “into the fields”?