CONVENIENCE?  OR, CONVICTION?

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   A mother called her daughter at 8:30 a.m., and asked:  “Can you run to the store for me and get a gallon of milk?  I am baking a cake and your dad has already gone to work.

 

Answer:  I will be leaving about 10:30 to go to the store anyway.  I will pick it up and swing by after I have done my grocery shopping.  It will be close to noon before I will get there.

 

B.   Another mother called her daughter at 8:30 a.m., and asked:  “Can you run to the store for me and get a gallon of milk?  I am baking a cake and your dad has already gone to work.

 

Answer:  Sure.  I will have it there within the next thirty minutes to forty-five minutes.  She put the dog out for a minute.  She woke up her two-year old and got her dressed.  She stopped to get gas because the tank was low.  She purchased the milk and was there by 9:15 a.m.

 

C.   What is the difference between the response of the two daughters?

1.    The first got the milk for her mother out of convenience.

2.    The second got the milk for her mother out of conviction.

 

D.   The title of our lesson this morning is: “Convenience?  Or, Conviction?”

1.    Convenience:  that which is easy and comfortable

2.    Conviction:  that which is done because of a fixed or firm belief

 

I.             OUR RELIGION SHOULD BE PRACTICED WITH CONVICTION

 

A.   We do things because we have a firm belief that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God (1 Cor. 2:12-13)

 

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely give to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 

B.   We do things because of a firm belief that God has authorized the practice (Col. 3:17).

 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, to all in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

C.   We do things because of a firm belief that doing them will cause us to be well-pleasing to our heavenly Father (1 John 3:22).

 

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing to him.

 

D.   We do things because of a firm belief that a servant is supposed to be obedient to his master (Luke 17:10).

 

So likewise ye when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded say, We are unprofitable servants:  we have done that which was our duty to do.

 

E.   We do things because of a firm belief that all we think, decide, believe, say, and do will meet us in the judgment (2 Cor. 5:10).

 

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

F.    We do things because of a firm belief that in so doing we are following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:22).

 

For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.

 

G.   We worship due to a firm conviction.

We attend Bible classes out of a firm conviction.

We visit because of a firm conviction.

We teach from a firm conviction.

We spread the gospel due to firm conviction.

We support the works of the church because we possess a firm conviction.

We use our treasures, time, and talents out of a firm conviction.

 

II.           OUR RELIGION CAN BE PRACTICED OUT OF CONVENIENCE

 

A.   Example:

1.    During the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, the kingdom of Israel split into two tribes.

a.    The division:

1)    The Ten Tribes, Israel, The Northen Kingdom

2)    The Two Tribes, Judah, The Southern Kingdom

b.    The kings: 

1)    The Northern Kingdom:  Jeroboam

2)    The Southern Kingdom:  Rehoboam

2.    Jerusalem was in the Southern Kingdom

a.    Jeroboam was concerned that if Israel went to Jerusalem to worship, their loyalties would turn back to Rehoboam, and his kingdom would slip from him (1 Kings 12:27).

b.    His first action was to make worship for the Israelites convenient (1 Kings12:28-29).

 

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem:  behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.  And he set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.

 

1)    Notice Jeroboam’s words:  “It is too much…”

a)    It is too difficult.

b)    It is too far.

c)    It is too much of a burden.

d)    It takes far too much time.

2)    Thus, he sought to make worship and the feast days convenient.

3)    Surely, the ten tribes would not go for such a thing. 

a)    Jerusalem was the city of David.

b)    Jerusalem was the city of God.

c)    Jerusalem housed the temple, the house of God.

d)    These tribes had a rich history of going to Jerusalem three times each year for the great feasts.

4)    1 Kings 12:30

 

And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

 

B.   Remember, convenience is easy and comfortable.  Thus, it is appealing.

 

C.   Do Christians ever serve God only when it is convenient instead of out of total conviction?

1.    We worship when it is convenient.

2.    We come to Bible class when it is convenient.

3.    We study our Bibles when it is convenient.

4.    We are involved in visitation when it is convenient.

5.    We attend our gospel meeting if it is convenient.

6.    We participate in the works of the church when it is convenient.

7.    We will use our talents when it is convenient.

 

III.         THE PROBLEMS WITH CONVENIENCE

 

A.   Things may or may not get done.

 

B.   There is little or no sacrifice.

 

C.   There is no heartfelt decision to serve the Lord.

 

D.   The individual is unreliable as a member of the body.

 

E.   Self prevails over the spiritual.

 

F.    The heart gets hardened.

 

G.   God’s will is violated.

 

H.   The Christian becomes a poor example.

 

I.     Convenience often pleases man.

 

J.    Some spiritual things will simply no longer matter.

 

IV.         JESUS’ LIFE IS CERTAINLY NOT A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE

 

A.   Philippians 2:6-8

 

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

1.    Thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

2.    Made himself of no reputation.

3.    Took the form of a servant.

4.    Became a man

5.    Humble himself

6.    Obedient

7.    Died

8.    Died a cruel death on the cross

 

B.   This is not to mention the anger, the hatred, the hostility, the false accusations, the persecution, the mental anguish, the ingratitude, and the blasphemy which He suffered.

 

C.   Two points:

 

1.    We are to follow Jesus’ example (Phil. 2:5).

 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

 

2.    God rewards the convicted (Phil. 2:8).

 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Did God call us to a religion of convenience?

 

B.   Or, did God call us to a religion of conviction?