03/16/17 - Luke 11

March 16, 2017 – Luke 11

Jesus said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall." Luke 11:17

Wrong attitudes kill more marriages (families/organizations) than wrong actions -- don't beat up, build up.

Growing up on the east side of Columbus, Ohio, our exit off of the freeway was undeveloped land for many years.  With the exception of a few gas stations, it was mostly farm country, until a developer with an eye for the future bought up one of the corner areas just off the exit and started building a huge hotel.  The building continued to take shape, and many realized this would be an excellent business deal when completed, because it was the first major hotel for people heading into the city, in a location that was bound to become a huge commercial area.  All of those dreams died when the investor and his wife filed for divorce, putting the hotel and its potential income in the dead center of the suit.  The half-completed building sat vacant for many years, an eyesore of damage and graffiti, while the divorce continued in the courts.  Eventually, while the rest of the area started building up, this old property faded in prominence, and was sold to a developer who demolished the building, making room for a couple of restaurant pads.  All of the potential for success was destroyed … not by poor business planning or financial failure, but by internal division. 

Unfortunately, most dreams die for the same reason.  While the leaders of a business or family or project are imperfect people making imperfect choices, it often isn’t their mistakes that kill the dreams.  Usually the dream dies to infighting, resistance, negativism and dissention.  Attitudes kill dreams more than actions, leaving half-completed projects, broken dreams, and damaged lives.  The world is filled with people who look like half-constructed buildings, fading away from the potential they could have been.  And sadly, WE PARTICIPATE IN THAT!  Our criticisms, complaints, and challenges are often given as an attempt to “make it better”, when all they do is slow the building progress down. 

Jesus made it clear to His critics that NO KINGDOM can succeed with negative attitudes.  Criticism may get us heard, but it doesn’t get us moving.  Building people up is far more successful than beating them up!  The Trinity NEVER resists the work of their partners, and we must NEVER resist the work of God around our lives.  

When you see or hear people criticizing God, criticizing His Church, or challenging His Ways, realize they are not helping the Kingdom by their criticism.  Those attitudes are not helpful for the Kingdom, it is actually a spirit of enmity and rebellion.  Don’t let those attitudes invade your life!  It can kill your dreams, damage your vision, destroy your relationships and leave behind half-built lives.  Display the attitude of cooperation and support for Will of God, for the vision of your organization, for your spouse and family, and for your church.  Division will kill what you’re building, but cooperation helps it get completed.