Jump Start # 1529

2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.”

  Here is something that I find interesting. I believe it’s being the son of an engineer that fascinates me about these things. The New Testament contains 138,020 words. (I looked this up). Luke wrote two books, but they comprise 27% of the New Testament. Luke wrote 37,933 words. He wrote more words than John (28,092) and more words than Paul (32,072). More than a quarter of the New Testament was written by Luke, who was not an apostle and more interesting than that, his name, Luke, appears only three times. He does refer to himself throughout Acts by the use of pronouns. He will distinguish between “they” and “we”. The “we” verses are when he was with Paul. But by name, Luke is found only three times.

Here is another interesting thought: Luke’s name appears three times, and when it does appear, Demas’ name is always near by. Demas is named two verses before our verse today. The other two times Luke’s name is found, Demas is included in the very verse.

So this is good information if I was playing Bible trivia, but I’m not. What’s the point? There are several.

First, one does not have to be in the spotlight to be valuable. Without looking up these numbers, I probably would have thought that Paul wrote more words than Luke did. He didn’t. You would think since a quarter of the N.T. was written by Luke that he would have a more prominent role and be named more often. He isn’t. God will use us as He needs us. Seeking importance ruins things. Trying to be the top dog usually gets you in a dog fight. Do the work that God has blessed you and gifted you with. If we really believe that the glory belongs to the Lord, then let the Lord get the glory. Preachers with egos tend to mess up the good that they do. Some heads can get so big that they barely fit through the front door of the church building. If not careful, we can believe that the church cannot survive without us. It can. It will. You have a role, but you are not what keeps it together nor going. That distinction belongs to the Lord. Just help people. Just teach, preach and show others Jesus.

Second, all of us will plant spiritual trees for others to enjoy. The work we do and the good we do will benefit others, and often times, we may not even see the good. The more we remove our self out of the equation and the more we stop worrying about our place and our feelings, the better things become. I wonder if Luke realized how important the books of Luke and Acts would be? I wonder if he ever grasped how many thousands of sermons would be preached from what God allowed him to write? I wonder if he could fathom the thousands, probably millions and millions of souls that came to Christ because of Acts? The writings of Luke have turned hearts and strengthened congregations. His two books probably led more to conversions than all of Paul’s books, have you thought about that. All of us are doing wonderful things that our eyes may not be able to see. A child is raised in your home to follow Christ. Years later that same child may serve as a shepherd in the congregation or preach or teach. Many lives may be turned because of the great good that he does. It all started with a mom and a dad teaching that small boy at home. I have that legacy. You have that legacy. We each have such a story.

Third, Luke did more than just one thing. He was more than just a writer of New Testament books. He preached. He was trusted by Paul. Often on Paul’s journeys, as he would travel on, he would leave Luke to stay and help the brethren. Luke was a trusted teacher. You wouldn’t leave just anyone. Paul left Luke. Our verse, coming from Paul’s writings in Rome, as he awaits another session with Caesar, Luke is with him. Only Luke. He was more than a writer. More than a preacher. More than a teacher. He was an encourager and a friend. He was with Paul. What comfort that was. What history they had. What a friend he was. Don’t put all your eggs just in one basket. Do as much as you can in as many ways as you can. Write if you can. But don’t let that be all that you do. Preach if you can. But don’t let that be all that you do. Encourage, but do more things. Support, but do more things.

Fourth, Luke was a friend. Paul was in trouble. He was in prison and it looked like this time was it. He didn’t think he was getting out. He needed things. He wanted to see Timothy. Luke was the means. Luke was with him. Luke was that friend.

This brings two thoughts:

First, do you have close Christian friends? That’s not the same as just having friends? Christian friends, those who you have worshipped with, those who you have a spiritual history with, those who you share a common foundation, love and hope together? Friends from that group? You need them. You need them to help you along life’s journey. This is what fellowship is all about. Fellowship is not about eating a meal together and then going our separate ways, fellowship is sitting with that long time friend who is in prison for preaching Jesus. Fellowship is sitting with that long time friend in the hospital as he rounds third and heads for home for the last time. Fellowship is sitting with that mom and dad whose teenage child has caused them fits. Fellowship is smiles and hugs. It’s laughter and tears. It’s joy and hope. It’s speaking truthfully and honestly. It’s not sugar coating things. It’s prayers and hymns. It’s sharing Scriptures and hope. It’s a journey toward Heaven. It’s conversations late into the night. It’s depth. It’s asking those questions that you’d ask no one else. It’s pulling back the curtain and showing your soul. Real friends. Friends that want you in Heaven. Friends that you can count on. Friends that have been there for you in the past.

Do you have that? Paul was sitting alone in a Roman prison. However, “only Luke is with me,” tells us much. He wasn’t alone. He had a friend.

Second, do you allow those Christian friends into your heart and your life? I fear, especially among men, that we tend to be the lone Rangers in life. We don’t talk. We don’t share. We don’t express our selves. Our wives ask us, “What are you thinking about,” and we generally say, “Nothing.” That bothers the wife. Alone is not a good place to be. Alone brings in dark thoughts and invites trouble. You need that Christian friend. You need that person to be your crutch to help carry you. You need that person that you can talk to. Men are afraid to do this. It makes us think that we are vulnerable or weak. It makes us think that we must turn in our “man-card.” Get over it. Quit thinking about what others might think. Open yourself up. Sit down with one of the shepherds in your congregation and pour your heart out to him. Find that Christian friend and bear all. You will be amazed to find out that you are not the only one who struggles, has thoughts like you do, nor are tempted. You are not a terrible Christian. You need to learn from others. You need others to help you. God made the church, not just for Him, but for us. We need each other.

Only Luke is with me. Who is with you?

Roger