FOMO

F.O.M.O. F.O.M.O. Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Jesus talks about the cost of discipleship; Commitment; Double Mind; Follow Christ / Luke 9:57-62 F.O.M.O. or the fear of missing out keeps us from committing to anything, always delaying, or holding out for the better option. It is this same fear that prevent us from following Christ whole-heartedly. We must learn to overcome the fear of missing out as disciples of Jesus. Introduction 1. There is a phenomena of fear that keeps people from being able to commit to things a. This fear is exasperated by your social circles - and especially by social media i. It's known by the acronym F.O.M.O › SLIDE F - Fear O - Of M - Missing O - Out ii. It is the idea that you are missing the next great thing or the best thing because of what you are currently doing 1. It is a crippling thing especially for those immersed in social media - because a simple post of someone seemingly having more than you can trigger it b. This fear of missing out affect our ability to give any firm commitments - let alone keep any of them. i. This includes things such as health or fitness ii. Most wont stick to a diet - fear of missing out on foods they love, and they are eager to skip workouts to hangout so they dont miss out on the EPIC times. 2. In our passage in Luke we come to a point within the journey for CrossFitness where Jesus challenges disciples in their desire to follow Him. a. This FOMO - isnt only the secular and fitness world - this affect discipleship also. The fear of missing out causes halfhearted commitment - when discipleship or CorssFitness requires whole-hearted commitment to following Jesus. b. This recounting of the discussion with Jesus and some would-be disciples gives us some wisdom when it comes to overcoming the fear of missing out i. Lets read the passage and learn how to avoid falling into the pitfall of fear that will keep us half-heartedly committed to Jesus. › SLIDE Luke 9:57-58 CSB 57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus told him, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." › SLIDE Luke 9:59-60 CSB 59 Then he said to another, "Follow me." "Lord," he said, "first let me go bury my father." 60 But he told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God." › SLIDE Luke 9:61-62 CSB 61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." › SLIDE No Matter the Cost › SLIDE Luke 9:57-58 CSB 57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus told him, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 1. As they were traveling - someone came up to Jesus - a willing, eager disciple a. His statement to Jesus - I will follow you - wherever you go i. Matthew's gospel tells us more about this man › SLIDE Matthew 8:19 CSB 19 A scribe approached him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." ii. He is a scribe - who comes to Jesus with much enthusiasm and dedication to follow - wherever - doesnt matter to him b. It wasnt an easy thing for this scribe to come out in support of Jesus - but here he is - willing to follow Him anywhere - despite how it looks to others i. Call me cynical or maybe just curious - but why, why was he so willing? I believe the answer comes from Jesus' response to him 2. Jesus replies - Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head. a. Jesus says where as even wild animals have a place they can call home - He the Son of Man does not i. Why does Jesus respond this way? I believe that Jesus wants us to know what it really means to follow Him - to be His disciple - to be CrossFit ii. Jesus knows the measure of the Scribe's enthusiasm - the same as He knows ours and to follow Jesus means to give up what others may call - necessities or rights › SLIDE To follow Jesus means forsaking all comforts, conveniences, security and needs iii. Jesus mentions the lack of a home - to say to follow me is to be without the most basic of comfort security or need b. Talk is easy daily commitment and denial is hard - very hard i. Is Jesus saying to follow Him we must give up our homes? Not at all ii. Jesus does not want disciples to be lured to follow Him by false lies of it being easy or comfortable 1. Perhaps the scribe saw the miracles of Jesus and thought - hey the people like Him - I could follow Him anywhere and get used to this. 2. Jesus however knew the time was coming where the crowds would turn and those who praised Him would reject Him iii. As Christ gave a high cost so too must we present accurately the high cost of discipleship › SLIDE To follow Jesus will cost us, and it is a sacrificial life c. One lie perpetuated in the church is the lie that following Christ costs nothing - which is great because then we tell ourselves - we wont miss out on anything - because we dont have to give up anything i. A faith that costs nothing is worth nothing - the value of something is determined by the cost we are willing to pay › SLIDE We will overcome the Fear Of Missing Out following Jesus - if we decide He is worth any cost we pay › SLIDE Jesus As Priority › SLIDE Luke 9:59-60 CSB 59 Then he said to another, "Follow me." "Lord," he said, "first let me go bury my father." 60 But he told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God." 1. Jesus says to another man - Follow Me a. Jesus called out to this man like He had done with other disciples and said to follow me i. The man replied "Lord, first..." 1. First of this is a contradictory statement - much like No, Lord 2. Lord is one who always is to come first b. The man said Lord, first let me go bury my father i. Now though it is not likely - this mans father could have perhaps just died - but the question would be why was he here then he should be attending to the body ii. The custom of the day - was the parents were to be honored by their children (even one of the ten commandments) and burying one's father was the last right of honor one could perform for their parents. 1. This man was saying not that he was going to go right now and bury his father - he was saying he was going to wait until he has buried his father to follow Jesus 2. The belief and tradition is this man's father was even close to dying yet - so this was an indefinite delay c. Perhaps could be seen as a casual disciple - or one who followed out of convenience - there are plenty of these › SLIDE A casual or convenient disciple gives Jesus what they have left over after themselves i. There are many reasons not to be an active disciple - the scribes and others like them knew the "good ones" no one would question and everyone would agree with ii. This man was not torn between right and wrong - but rather between right and right. He hesitated between two rival claims - both with the stamp of approval from God 1. He knew he wanted to follow Jesus and that he would follow Jesus - he just wasnt sure this was the time to follow Jesus - he was afraid of missing out - but on what iii. The burial of one's father was a sacred duty and it fell usually among the first born son - the one whom was to receive a double blessing or double portion of the inheritance 1. This man said let me follow you after my parents are gone - then I am free to follow you 2. How many say let me follow Jesus after, and I receive whats coming to me a. Retirement b. Inheritance c. etc › SLIDE Following Jesus requires Him to the priority - not when convenient 2. Jesus responds with what seems a callous answer a. Let the dead bury their own dead i. Can dead bury the dead? Well truthfully there is more than one way to be dead 1. Physically dead - nothing happens 2. Spiritually dead - still able to manipulate the physical world ii. Jesus is saying let those who are spiritually dead - bury the physically dead 1. Burying the dead is something someone who is not spiritually alive can do - anyone can do it b. You go and spread the news of the kingdom of God i. Christ calls this one to preach - and He may very well call some of us to preach ii. Proclaiming the kingdom is so important it cannot wait - it must be done now - while it is still day for the day is coming when it will be night › SLIDE John 9:4 CSB 4 We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 1. Night being the time when we cannot be active in ministry c. We know when Jesus calls we need to follow Him and that is the best thing we can do i. But we fear devoting our life to him now - because of the fear of missing out on something › SLIDE We must act in the moment with Jesus or the moment may pass ii. much like the parable of the soil and the seed - the stony ground and the thorny ground d. Jesus also is saying to this man and to us this morning - we may have commitments here on earth, and in tradition placed on you - but our commitment to Him takes precedence and must be given priority over every other commitment. i. The kingdom of God is more important than even family obligations ii. Jesus calls come follow me - NOW › SLIDE Focused on Eternity › SLIDE Luke 9:61-62 CSB 61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." 1. Another man like the first man comes to Jesus voluntarily a. He says I will follow you Lord i. Complete devotion of his own volition ii. But also his statement is contradictory - I will follow you Lord - but first iii. This one is unique to Luke's Gospel b. A request from this man to go and say good-bye to those at my house i. I will follow you Lord,but first - again a delay ii. Let me put everything in order and then I will come follow you when everything is in order 1. This man wants to take time to bid farewell to family and friends 2. We too can put this delay so we can share with friends and family and bid farewell as we tell them of our intention to follow Jesus a. But the question we need to know is will we resist the pleading to stay or sleep on it? 2. Jesus responds again directly to the mans heart - or more precisely his half-hearted commitment to follow Him a. No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God i. One who plows looking backwards, plows crooked lines 1. In order to plow straight lines is by focusing forward in front of you 2. In the same way if we are to plow straight - righteous we must continue focusing on an object forward ahead of us - Jesus - never taking our eyes off Him ii. Some version exclude the word service and others include this word - the idea is not entrance to the kingdom but service for the kingdom 1. One who has put their hand to the plow - begun working for the purpose and coming of the kingdom 2. The idea of looking back is to long for the way things were or the things we had before a. In mind is the one who begins working for the kingdom - but soon longs for the things of the world b. The common thought is - this work is tough demanding and it was easier when - it was better when - before 3. Useability for Gods kingdom requires straight rows - hand on the plow looking forward - not back or around iii. When the work gets tough we begin to fear we are wasting time or effort and we fear we are missing out on something better › SLIDE We overcome the Fear Of Missing Out when we focus on eternity while we are working for the kingdom b. A man in a race will not only free himself from anything that holds him back or encumbers him - but he also would gird up his loins i. In like manner we must do the same › SLIDE 1 Peter 1:13 CSB 13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. › SLIDE Hebrews 12:1 CSB 1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, › SLIDE To follow Jesus we must continue to look ahead and not look back to what was, or what we had, or to think somehow we are missing out from where we are ii. No turning back › SLIDE Philippians 3:13-14 CSB 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. iii. The job is now - the harvest is ripe - do not start to work and begin to think something is of more importance even for a minute. Once you answer the call you have a permanent job in the kingdom - no looking back Conclusion The first disciple - impulsive commitment without considering the cost - material comforts would drive him to FOMO The second disciple - conflicting priorities and duties - job, occupation, obligations - this would drive him to FOMO The third disciple - divided mind or focus - this would drive him to FOMO › SLIDE - Greg Laurie It costs you to follow Jesus - but it costs more not to follow Jesus Christ must reign in our hearts without rival › SLIDE We will fall victim to the Fear Of Missing Out - until we value following Christ as MOST important over everything else Following Jesus is not just a thing - it needs to be the BEST thing - this means nothing better could possibly come along - and demands to be our life's priority. Jesus must be first in all things › SLIDE Hesitation disqualifies people from service in the kingdom - hesitation shows that our heart has a FOMO Consider the cost you are willing to pay for Jesus - it must be any cost Decide quickly to follow Jesus - without delay - He should be our number 1 priority Constancy in perspective - we must be Focused on Eternity Interesting to see that men both come willing to follow Jesus and Jesus calls others to follow Him. Scripture is silent on their response but that only leaves it open for you what will you do - Do you desire to follow Jesus this morning - do you hear Him calling you to come follow Him - Will you respond without delay - we fear missing out on life to follow Jesus but the truth is if we dont follow Jesus we will miss out on eternal life. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:30 PM June 27, 2020.