AGENDAS IN LIFE?...WE NEED ONLY ONE

What follows are notes from the last church sermon that I prepared but never got to deliver.

The word AGENDA is a noun, formally a plural of agendum, but usually used as a singular with plural a·gen·das or a·gen·da. The dictionary meaning of agenda is: "a list, plan, outline, or the like, of things to be done, matters to be acted or voted upon, etc."

I think that we can all agree that we are living in an agenda-driven society, most evident in politics and business today where we have plans and causes all over the place. That's a given.

But when you stop to think about it, this phenomena does not begin or end there.

Personal agendas, ah yes, we all have a few. They very much influence our lives too, consciously or unconsciously.

With the exception of printed agendas for the conduct of meetings, generally agendas are not always so visible and upfront. 

We all have hidden agendas in our relationships with people especially. Sometimes the agenda is as simple as our need to be liked. At other times it has to do with a business deal or an important favor we want. It would be naive to think that we could or should never take an agenda into a relationship, but we ought at least to be aware of it when we’re doing it.

In most of Jesus’ relationships with people, he didn’t have a hidden agenda. His only agenda was love, and that was worn on his sleeve. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). On another occasion he said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends” (John 15:13-14).

Most people are looking for favors, but Jesus was looking for a cross. 
-- Most people are trying to get something, but Jesus was trying to give something. 
-- Most people are harsh with others so they themselves will look better, but Jesus was harsh so that others might have it better. 
-- Most people are looking for acceptance, but Jesus was looking to accept.

Author Leighton Ford wrote once about a man who rented billboards all over Northern Ireland and put this message on them: I love you. Is that OK? Signed "Jesus".

That’s it.

Did you ever think that a Christian is a person who should have no agenda except Christ? I know. That’s hard, maybe even nearly impossible, but I believe that is what we are called to aspire to. 

I don’t mean by this that we should have no plans or that we should always be “religious” or “spiritual.” I mean that a Christian, recognizing that Christ is the King, doesn’t have to manipulate or coerce or shout or beat people over the head about anything. We are His property, paid for at a very high price. 

We do, of course, have agendas. It would be impossible to live without one.

Did you hear about the man who lived in India and was required to take a rather long train trip to another city? He had his most valuable belongings packed in a suitcase which he placed in the rack above his seat. He told himself that it was important he stay awake to keep track of that suitcase. But during the night, for only a couple of minutes, he closed his eyes and dozed off. 

When he opened his eyes and looked up, someone had stolen his suitcase. To his amazement, he was relieved. “Thank God,” he exclaimed out loud, “now I can go to sleep!”

It is like we have placed our important stuff in a suitcase. It is called the pearl of great price. “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46). 

You know, the best part of all this is that a Christian agenda is always love. Within the context of His agenda, we will find forgiveness (when we fail and promote our own agenda), meaning (when we are looking for a reason to keep going), acceptance (when things don’t turn out the way we expect), and a promise that in the end we will arrive safely Home.

There, now, don’t you feel better?

Just for a moment consider : 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 where the Apostle Paul preached to his people with simplicity and power...

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

With all of the foregoing in mind, reflect on your relationships—with family, friends, co-workers and those at church. Are you carrying any hidden agendas into those relationships? Why? 

This will not be the most profound message that you've ever heard delivered from a pulpit, but that too is reality.