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Jesus and His Teachings About the Way
March 22, 2014

Last week I wrote Jesus and His Teachings About Being Unspotted From This World.  Because we have to live in this world we run the risk of being corrupt by it. This is one of the reasons why Jesus taught about the way we should follow, and contrasted the broad path the world is on to the narrow path we must be on. This narrow path is embodied by living a life of faith and works, recognizing to life a life without faith or without works is dead.

Matthew 7:12-14
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Jesus taught that that while we are to treat others as we would want to be treated, we must recognize that we must follow a different path. While we must treat others with kindness if we wish to be treated with kindness, we must not follow others down a path of self-destruction. Most will pursue a life that ends in their ruin. Only a few will find the path that leads to life. With the thought that only a few might find the path that leads to life, what are we to do? Some would use this information determined to find that path that leads to life. Others would look at the odds and give up. Jesus wants us to be the person determined to find the path that leads to life.

Matthew 25:14-30
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As we look for that path and are on our spiritual journey, the journey may not alway be pleasant. Sometimes it may be rough, sometimes it may be messy, but as long as we are finding that path and moving towards the goal of the Kingdom of God, we are making progress. This reminds me of a proverb about the mess that sometimes comes about when making progress.

Proverbs 14:4
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Jesus knew our spiritual journey would not be easy. He knew that many would end up on the wrong path, a path that would lead to their destruction. He also knew there would be some who when facing these odds would choose to give up without even trying. What we must remember moving forward is that making spiritual progress is not always easy. Sometimes making spiritual progress is messy and just like the pen of oxen, we have to be careful where we step. And we have to understand that no matter how much mess may be made, spiritual strength will be developed as we remain on the straight and narrow path.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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