To Save a Life: Week 2 Message

We Are All Pennies

Throughout our lives we have encountered many people. And, each time we meet someone new we subconsciously assign a worth to that person. Meaning, we decide in a very short period of time, and based on very few real factors, if we want to be friends with that person or not. Sometimes we are forced into relationships by our teachers, bosses, parents, or youth leaders. Sometimes we want to be friends with someone because of what other people think of them. Sometimes we want to avoid people because of what other people think of them. But, in call cases, we make a decision as to what that person is worth to our lives.

In the movie, To Save a Life, they talk about a $20 bill and ask what you would do for it. And, many people would go out of their way for an extra $20, but not for and extra penny. A penny isn’t worth anything. A penny can’t buy you anything. A penny can’t do anything for you.

Throughout history, society has divided people into their worth. There has pretty much always been a class system where people are put into their place and unable to move out of that class. Poor people would always be poor, and, likewise, rich people would always be rich. Within the last 100 years or so we have seen the rise of the middle class and this is the predominant population in the United States. Even still, after thousands of years of human history, people are still given a worth.

In the bible we saw distinct lines drawn between the Pharisees, those rich religious leaders whom everyone sought to please and the general population which was poor and uneducated; the pennies. But out of those poor, uneducated, pennies came the son of a carpenter who began speaking out against the Pharisees. And, from 12 pennies came a new way of thinking, and it offered eternal life to all the pennies. Jesus teaches us that we are all pennies. Listen to what Philippians 2:5-8 says:

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges,
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross

Jesus, the son of God; God Himself, did not think of himself as equal with God, but rather regarded himself as a slave; a penny. And, through his obedience to God, he dies on the cross to save us, because He loves us.

We are all basically worthless because of our sin. We are addicted to sin and the only way we can be cleansed of that sin is to put our trust in Him. Why? Because he loved each of us worthless pennies enough to come down to Earth, as God’s only son, and die for us, and take on the burden of our sin himself….because HE LOVED EACH OF US. That includes all the people you have assigned as pennies throughout your life, all the kids you pass by in school and try to avoid making eye contact with, all your teachers, your parents, and your weird cousins…everyone.

That’s pretty convicting. God freely loves everyone and was willing to die for us, yet we feel the need to assign a worth to everyone we meet.

Now, it’s true, there are some people whom we are just more compatible with than others. And, I’m not saying you need to go out and be everyone’s friends. You don’t have to like everyone, but you should try to love everyone. We tend to pre-judge people, especially when it comes to inviting them to FUSE or talking to them about God. We think we know what their response will be. We say, “Oh they wouldn’t want to come to FUSE because…” and fill in the blank. I’m sure you can do it, because we have all done it in the past.

We are withholding the opportunity to have eternal life in heaven. We are choosing for other people based on the worth we have assigned them. Is it really our place to make that decision for other people? Or, do we have a responsibility to gather as many pennies as possible and give them the opportunity to come with us to heaven?

A single penny is relatively useless. But, you need 100 pennies to make a dollar. When a bunch of useless pennies come together, they can start to make a difference. Jesus began the work of gathering pennies and it is our responsibility to continue that work.

So think about whom you have neglected; who you have answered the question of eternity for; and whose life you could have a positive impact on.