Big But Club

LIT VERSE: Ezekiel 34:16

I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick; (BUT) The fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgement.

THOUGHT BREAKDOWN: (Don’t take the text out of context)

What was happening in this section of Ezekiel is important to note.

1. God is not picking on fat people.
2. He is not picking on strong people.

What He is doing is correcting people who are selfish and caring only about feeding themselves while others around them are uncared for. The shepherds of Israel were gorging themselves with all the good stuff while the people they were supposed to be caring for were lost, scattered, broken, and sick.

This shows God’s heart for the hurting. He loves the lost, scattered and broken, and He’s looking to bring healing to them.

We need to remember that apart from the Spirit’s love and care for us we are lost, scattered, and broken ourselves. When we recognize our own need for love, acceptance, and mercy, we should be compelled to gratitude and service. It should be motivation to get off our big butts and help those who are hurting around us. We should want to freely give the undeserved goodness we’ve been given to those around us. Why? Because we don’t deserve the goodness we’ve been given, and it was given to us freely. We didn’t earn it. (check out Ephesians 2: 8-10)

The judgement referred to here has application to us today. It’s a lesson for us too. The passage says “The fat and the strong I will destroy.” What that implies is this. The selfish, egotistical, proud person who only cares about themself is eventually going to be taken down. Pride comes before a fall. This doesn’t necessarily mean the literal fat and strong people. However, this group could literally be fat and physically strong, but they also could be thin and physically weak. The reference of “fat and strong” has more of a metaphorical application to a type of selfish person than it does a literal application to a body type.

The main point needs to be kept front and center. We live in a fragile and easily offendable society that shuts down to the main point once they hear something they can “take offense” to.

The main point here is this…

Get off your “big butt” and care for people. Help people. Use what you’ve been given to make a literal difference in the lives of people around you.

WHAT IS THE SPIRIT SAYING?

• What matters to Me should matter to you.
• You matter to me and I care for you.
• Do you take my care for you for granted as if you deserve it and will always have it?
• What do you practically do with my care for you?
• Do you keep it all for yourself, or do you give you care away?
• My care and concern for you should motivate your care and concern for others!
• Do you give a care (OR) are you part of the BIG BUT CLUB.
• Notice the BIG BUT in between the sentences of this scripture?
• I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick; BUT the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgement.
• You may be saying, why God, this is so mean... Wrong!
• What’s mean is overlooking the lost, scattered, broken, and sick around you. That’s wrong.
• Especially when you have it within your ability to help them.
• Especially when you sit back and soak up the blessing, overlooking and not giving a care about others.
• The BIG BUT club is the club for people who are “fat and happy” BUT only care for themselves.
• It’s time to get off your big butts and give-a-care for those that need help around you. Since I’ve cared for you I’m asking you to give-a-care for others.

WHAT WILL I DO ABOUT IT?

Today I will find someone that I can practically give-a-care to.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR… the care God has given me, and the motivation to get off my butt and care for others.

TRACKER QUESTIONS

• What are you giving your care to these days?
• Does this align with the Spirit's care for the lost, broken, scattered, and sick?
• Do you need to make any practical adjustments to where you distribute your care?
• Explain how you will adjust where you give-a-care.

Neal’s Personal Track Steps for Today. A Track Step is “how we start small but start now.” If you’re not stepping your stalling.

• Track Step #1 (God) Practically give care to someone in this category
• Track Step #2 (Health) No food for 36 hours. Liquid only.
• Track Step #3 (Money) Johnny Check-in
• Track Step #4 (People) Plan Effect meet up for Sunday
• Track Step #5 (Mission) Complete initial crew track first draft / 4 quarter plan