Selfless Act in a Selfish Society

When Brennan Manning, an evangelical Catholic, was waiting to catch a plane in the Atlanta airport, he sat down in one of the many places where usually black men shine white men's shoes. And an elderly black man began to shine Brennan's shoes. And Brennan had this feeling inside that after he was done, he should pay him and tip him and then reverse the roles.

And when he was finished, he stood up and looked at the black man and said, "Now, sir, I would like to shine your shoes." And the black man recoiled and stepped back and said, "You're going to do what?" He said, "I'd like to shine your shoes. Come on. You sit down here. How would you like them done?" And the black man began to cry, and he said, "No white man ever talked to me like this before." And the story ends with the white man with arms around a black Atlanta man, and they've only just met, tears flowing because of a ASelfless Act in a Selfish Society.

This is a same image that we see in Jonathan, Saul's son, David's friend.

He had:

I.                    Disregard (on his mind) [1 Sam 18:1-4]

A.                Bond

Jonathan's soul (heart) has become so soft, tender and committed to David.

What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies. Aristotle

B.                 Believed in a Friend more than Riches

C.                 Gave All He had to David

A friend is:

                        a push when you've stopped

                        a word when you're lonely                       

                        a guide when you're searching

                        a smile when you're sad

                        a song when you're glad.

He had:

II.                 Reconciliation (in his heart) [1 Sam 19:1-7]

A.                Put Himself on the Line to Protect

B.                 Put Himself on the Line to Speak Good

C.                 Brought His Family Together

Saul (Father by Blood), David (Brother by Bond)

There was a little girl whose parents had had a miserable marriage and were divorced, having nothing in common save their affection for the child. One day as the girl was playing in the street she was knocked down by a bus and seriously injured. Taken to the hospital, she was examined by the doctors but was found to be beyond human aid. Hastily summoned to the hospital, her parents heard the sad news and stood silently, one on either side of the bed, looking down helplessly at the little girl. As they stood there, the child's eyes suddenly opened and seeing her parents she tried to smile. Then drawing one arm from under the sheet, she held it out in the direction of her father. "Daddy," she said, "give me your hand." Turning to her mother, she stretched out her other arm. "Mummy," she said, "give me your hand." Then with a final effort of her fast‑ebbing strength she drew them close together.

This is a picture of what Christ did on the cross. The Savior took the hand of sinful hateful humanity and placed it in the loving hand of God. Jesus reconciled us to God; He broke down the barrier; He restored the broken fellowship caused by sin or turning our backs on God. Just as in this little girl's dying to bring her parents together, Jesus was dying to bring God and us together, but we have to make the effort to keep the relationship going.

III.               Sacrifice (in his actions) [1 Sam 20:30-34, 41-42]

A.                Standing Up for David

B.                 Almost Killed for Courage

C.                 Love (41-42)

On June 18, 1940, The Times of London published the last letter a young airman wrote to his mother. Pilot Officer V. A. Rosewarne had written: "The universe is so vast and so ageless that the life of one man can only be justified by the measure of his sacrifice."

If that is true, then Christ's life outdistances all others if measured by his sacrifice.