Didn’t Jesus know we are not capable of living perfect? Of course he did! Then why did Jesus tell us to be perfect? I believe at least part of the reason is that He never wants us to become satisfied.

The Sin of Satisfaction

Philippians 3:12-14

12. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.
14. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of god in Christ Jesus.

There are two big challenges for ministers when speaking. One is to speak from unfamiliar scripture and having to lay down so much history and background that you lose the congregation. The second challenge is to preach from very familiar scriptures where the congregation has heard just about every angle you can imagine. The second will be my challenge today.

There is something that seems a little inaccurate, even something that is almost untrue in the statement that Jesus satisfies. Jesus does fill the emptiness of a life without God. Jesus does not satisfy. Jesus gives peace. Jesus gives hope. Jesus gives us assurance for eternity. While Jesus does satisfy the empty longing of a life without God. And while he is everything we need and want. Jesus creates a constant thirst. A dissatisfaction. A holy discontentedness within the hearts of all who really follow him!

The closer you get to Jesus. The more you compare yourself to him.The more you compare yourself to Jesus the less satisfied you become with yourself you want to be more. More like Jesus. You want more for others. You want more for your family. More for your church. You want more for your community. More for your country. More for your world. We are no longer satisfied with where we are, the number of people we are reaching, the needs that are being met, or people who are being rescued from an eternity in hell. No, no, no I am not satisfied.

I am going to make some statements this morning that I hope you will listen to very carefully. I want every mother & father, young adults, teenagers, leaders, potential leaders to listen to what God has to say to us this morning. In every growing venture, whether it be spiritual, secular, personal, or business in every growing venture there is a person somewhere who is never satisfied. A person who, when things are going smoothly, wants them to go more smoothly. In every growing venture there is that person that when they have given their all, still wants to give more. In every thriving enterprise, there is a man or a woman who, when he or she has done their best, want a better-best. They want more. Never satisfied!! In every flourishing venture someone who, when they are carrying the load limit, looks for a way to expand their limit. A person that, when they are doing all they can, finds ways to do even more. On every winning team, there is someone who refuses to settle for status quo. They not only are not satisfied, they continually strive to take it up another notch.

I grew up with many little axioms, statements that have challenged me throughout my life:

A rolling stone never gathers moss!!

You are quickly becoming who and what you are going to be!

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!

Jim Collins wrote a book titled Good to Great. In his book Jim says good is always the enemy of great!!

Enemy of great….Settling for the ways things are…

You have to challenge yourself in Jesus to be more than you are today.

In every successful venture, there is that person  who, when they have arrived, keeps going. Who, when others are patting them on the back ,they are kicking themselves in the seat of the pants saying there is more to do, more to accomplish, more goals to reach. It’s a strange individual, a unique person often misunderstood criticized by those who are not willing to pay the price and go the extra mile. They refuse to let their successes keep them from ultimate success!!

I pray that you have that drive to live up to your God given potential because there is no end to your God given potential. Across this congregation this morning, inside every person I see, are individuals with great potential that is just waiting to be unleashed!

Maybe that is what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:48 when he said…So, be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect.

Didn’t Jesus know we are not capable of living perfect? Of course he did! Then why did Jesus tell us to be perfect? I believe at least part of the reason is that He never wants us to become satisfied.