Rev. George Miller
Feb 10, 2019
Matthew 7:1-14
There’s a saying with so much truth to it: “Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in heels.”
This statement addresses what it’s like for anyone who can be considered “different” in this world, and how everything you do has to be done better than average.
This ode to Ginger Rogers can be applied when job hunting.
If you are considered different, you learn that you will be scrutinized, so when going in for an interview, your shoes just can’t be polished, they have to be pol-lished.
You can’t just wear a tie: that tie needs to be on point.
You do what it takes to stand out because when you are different, average just won’t do.
It’s a shame that Maroon 5 did not learn this lesson before last week’s Superbowl half-time show.
If you didn’t see the show, or already have forgotten about it, you’re not alone.
Basically Maroon 5 put on a rather average show which was reflected in their wardrobe.
It was like the drummer called Adam Levine and said “Hey- what are you wearing tonight?”
“I don’t know, I was thinking of throwing on a tank top that matches my momma’s living room cushions.”
To which the drummer said “Cool, I was thinking of wearing my gym hoodie.”
Their sartorial choices seemed sloppy, especially when musical guest Big Boi came out, and he’s like “Oh no, that’s not how we do things here in Atlanta!” and he’s wearing a bright red baseball cap with a mink coat.
People on social media immediately took notice of Maroon 5’s rather lazy show. They pointed out how in the past, Katy Perry came in on a lion and danced with sharks.
Beyonce had a bevy of beautiful women dance in Formation.
Bruno Mars and his men moved in synchronized steps while playing instruments and wearing glittery coats.
Lady Gaga skydived down to the stage.
Adam Levine did take off his shirt, but Diana Ross? She did 4 costume changes and flew off in a helicopter.
Yes, in this world some people get to be Fred Astaires while others are the Ginger Rogers.
Some are the Adam Levines, taking the easy way, while others are the Bruno Mars, accepting the challenge to be more.
Today’s scripture asks us- which one do you want to be? Which one do you think God is hoping you will pick?
We are on the mountaintop with Jesus. He is sitting on the green grass looking out amongst all us imperfect, smudged, and sinful people.
He has called us blessed. He has reminded us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Now, we are coming to the end of his sermon, hearing the final words of his message.
He asks us not to dirty that which is beautiful. Jesus gives us the Golden Rule.
Then he gives us a challenge. He says:
“While the rest of the world finds delight in judging others, you are being asked to first look upon yourself and deal with your own issues.”
Jesus metaphorically hands us a pair of heels and says “You can take the easy average path, or you can take the complicated extraordinary way that leads to true glory.”
And just to make sure we get the point, Jesus says “There are few who find it.”
...“There are few who find it.”
For those who were at Tuesday’s Bible Study, this closing line caused a definite reaction.
“What’s the point?” someone asked.
“What’s the point if we do all these things, and try our hardest, and we pray and we read and we help out, and only a few find it? What’s the point?”
…Ever notice how Jesus is really good at getting a response from folk even 2,000 years later?
How Jesus can still get us to wonder and wrestle?
Now, you can take 5 different preachers who will tell you 10 different theories about what Jesus means, but here’s what my take is…today.
I think Jesus is utilizing an effective tool of public speaking. He’s speaking in absolutes to get us to think; to think really hard about God, and what God really wants for us and from us.
I think Jesus is using the expression “there are a few who find it” not because he wants us to think we can never be part of the few…
…but because Jesus wants us to really
want it,
to work for it,
to go for it,
to give our 100%,
to try our best,
to not give up.
The purpose of Jesus’ sermon is not to say “The road is hard and only a few find it, so give up now, go back to your momma’s house and put on your hoodie.”
No. I think Jesus is saying is “The way to God’s Kingdom is not easy, it’s not average, but you can do it if:
you polish your shoes,
put your best self forward,
go that extra step,
and trust that you are the salt of the earth and a child of God.”
When Jesus says “few find it” he is not telling us to give up or to put on an average half-time show.
Jesus is encouraging you to strive for God’s Kingdom, follow Christ’s teachings, and don’t be afraid to ride in on a lion or take off in a helicopter.
Jesus isn’t trying to discourage us from living holy lives; he is doing his best to raise the bar and set the standards so the world can really see what it means to follow the Lord.
And maybe Jesus is also saying that the path ahead is difficult and not so easy, and you may not find it…for now.
But don’t give up.
If you don’t find it today, you may find it tomorrow, and if you don’t find it tomorrow, maybe next week.
And if not next week, maybe you will find it next month.
And if you fall down while along that narrow, intricate path, just get back up.
Today’s scripture is not meant to scare us away from God, or distract us from our faith.
It is meant to encourage us, to motivate us, to want us to do more and to be more for Jesus.
Why?
Because if you haven’t figured this out by now- God wants you to have the best, most righteous life possible.
How do we know that?
Because if God did not want you to have the best life possible God would not have given us purples or blues, yellows or red.
If God did not want us to have the best life possible, God would not have given us B flat, D flat and F.
If God did not want us to be happy, we would not have been given hair we can style, braid, decorate, in various shades of brown, red, blonde, white, and grey.
God would have simply made the world monochromatic, silent, and without style.
If God did not want us to find the best, most righteous life possible, God would not have entered into the world as an infant child.
God would not have walked amongst us in the person of Jesus, talking with us, tending to our hurts, and sharing our meals.
God’s desire for us to find the best life possible even led Jesus to the cross, even while we took the easy route and judged him.
And God’s will for us to find our best life was made very clear 3 days later when Christ was resurrected, told the women “Do not be afraid,” and said to the disciples “Receive the Holy Spirit and forgive.”
Friends, visitors, sisters and brothers in Christ- believing in God is easy.
It’s following the ways of God and the teachings of Christ that are difficult.
But it doesn’t mean that Jesus wants us to give up.
Jesus doesn’t want us to throw up our hands and say “What’s the point?”
Jesus doesn’t want us to put on a tank-top and do a mediocre job.
Jesus wants us to grab life by the heels and say “Let me try this out and give you the best I got.”
Jesus wants us to ride in a lion. Jesus wants us to step in the most flawless formation.
Jesus wants us to let our line shine in the most spectacular display.
Jesus is not setting us up to fail.
Jesus is setting us up to soar.
For that, we can say “Amen.”
A UCC Pastor's walk through the spiritual waters of Scripture, pop culture and life.
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