The Unpopular JesusSýnishorn

When I pray and no answer comes for years, when I am overlooked for promotions, when I manage my finances and budget carefully to pay my bills every month, when my children are not doing so well and get only second and third places, when people don't acknowledge me for my hard work and respect me as a person, Jesus easily becomes unpopular.

Jesus is popular when I have a good job, a nice home, and possessions. Jesus is popular when I give advice to people in the business world, and it works, and when my status and prestige grow. Jesus is popular when I have enough to give away, don't have to ask anyone for anything, and don't owe anyone anything.

But Jesus becomes unpopular when I'm unemployed, poverty comes in through the back door, and I have to sell my car and furniture to survive, and when my prayers for relief aren't answered to my satisfaction, Jesus becomes unpopular. Jesus becomes especially unpopular when I have to swallow my pride and ask someone else, "Please help me, have mercy."

We willingly give and sign pledges in church on Sundays, but when Jesus asks for a tithe or a larger-than-what-I-would-prefer amount for His work, He very often becomes popular. One day, a rich young man came running up to Jesus, fell down before him and asked, "What must I do to gain eternal life?" Jesus explained everything, and he was satisfied up to a certain point. But when Jesus added, "Go sell all you have, give it to the poor and come here and follow me," he was offended, turned around and went away grieved. Up to a point, Jesus was popular, but after that, the cost was too high. At that point, all that was left was Jesus and to follow him — and for this rich young man, Jesus alone was not enough.

We open our meetings with prayer, but when we have to solve problems, we are encouraged to be "practical and realistic" and not bother to consult the Bible. Then, suddenly, we separate the Bible from practice and become compartmentalised Christians.

Spiritual freedom, joy and victory come when only Jesus remains, and He is enough for us.