Yes, but…
June 1, 2003
Dear Friends,
A friend of mine refers to words such as “but”, “however” and ” on the other hand” as “eraser words” because they erase whatever came before it. For example, “I agree with you, but…” The statement following the “but” contradicts and therefore “erases” the statement made before it. “Yes, but” is the perfect example of seeming agreement, but the holding back of full commitment.
Sometimes life can be lived in a “yes, but” fashion. We are partially committed to something, but there is some aspect that is held back. While this may suffice for many aspects of our life, it cannot be so with our devotion to God.
Jesus illustrates this point in Luke 9. “And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Jesus asked both of these men to follow him and he received “yes, but” answers. “Yes, Lord I will follow you, but first let me…” Both of the requests seem very reasonable. The first wants to bury his father and the latter wants to tell his family good-bye. Surely, the compassionate Jesus would allow such modest request for someone who has just committed to follow him? Yet, “yes, but” was not an acceptable response. God and Christ don’t want 99%, they want 100% – no “yes, buts”, no “on the other hands.”
Another “yes, but” example in Scripture is with Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. We are told that “a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” At this time, believers had the option of communal living. They could sell what they had and give everything to the ecclesia which would provide for their needs from that time forward. “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” (Acts 4:34,35) Ananias, on the other hand, gave a “yes, but” response. He sold what he had (which he was under no obligation to do) and pretended to give the full amount to the Apostles while keeping some back. This “yes, but” response coupled with lying cost Ananias and Sapphira their lives.
Israel consistently in their history offered God a “yes, but” approach to worship. Among a lot of other places, this is described vividly in the prophecy of Malachi. “In bringing near upon mine altar, polluted food, while yet ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? Because ye say, As for the table of Yahweh, a thing to be despised, it is; and when ye bring near the blind as a sacrifice, saying—No harm! or when ye bring near the lame or the sick saying—No harm! Offer it, I pray you, unto thy pasha, Will he accept thee? or lift up thy countenance? saith Yahweh of hosts.” They offered sacrifices to God, but did so in such as halfhearted, uncommitted fashion that it was worse than if they offered no sacrifices at all. A “yes, but” sacrifice was an abomination to God.
As we think about our lives, let us take a look at whether we are living a “yes, but” life for Christ. Jesus asks “Will you obey my commands?” We say “Yes, but…” Jesus pleads “Will you love one another?” We say “Yes, but…” Jesus inquires “Will you put the things of the Kingdom of God first in your life?” We say “Yes, but…”
He, as our perfect example, showed us the way to live in perfect commitment. “For the Son of God, the Messiah Yeshua, who was proclaimed among you through us—that is, through me and Sila and Timothy—was not a yes-and-no man; on the contrary, with him it is always “Yes!’” (2 Cor. 2:19 JNT)
Have a great week!
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