JOE THE PLUMBER

Joe "the plumber" Wurzelbacker just wanted to ask a question. Joe may not have even known he was being taped on the day that he asked Barack Obama how his tax plan would affect him if he one day owned a company that made over 250,000 dollars. He only wanted a simple answer to a simple question. Now, one cannot go a single day without "Joe the Plumber" being mentioned. Joe is being scrutinized and dissected. There are people going through Joe's old legal issues and tax information with a fine-toothed comb. Do you think Joe expected instant fame when he asked the question? Do you think he would have predicted the instant celebrity status? Do you think he thought that, for the remainder of the campaign, the two men vying to be the leader of the free world would talk about him daily? It wasn't the question that made "Joe the Plumber" famous. It was the answer.

    I am reminded of the Rich Young Ruler. All the Rich Young Ruler wanted was a simple answer to a simple question: "And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Luke 18:18." Little did this young ruler know that some 2000 years later we would still be talking about this simple exchange between two individuals. Little did he know that the answer he was going to be given would change his life and call Christians forever to a greater understanding of dependence and priorities. (19) "And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
(20) You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'"
(21) And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth." (22) When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
(23) But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. (Luke 18:19-23)" The rich young ruler probably expected to hear something like, "You have done well, you are a good citizen who has followed all of the requirements of the Old Law, you now have eternal life!" Instead, Jesus gave him an answer that was foreign to his ears. He presented concepts that had never been approached before in this man's life. Concepts that called for extreme change.

    The reason Joe the Plumber has became famous is because the answer he received was different than what people were used to hearing. Barack Obama gave an answer that was extremely different from the things that our ancestors and forefathers would have taught. This is definitely not written to advocate the changes of Barack Obama. Extreme change in Politics can be debated in another avenue and in another place but the extreme change that Christ is calling for in Christianity when he answers the young ruler's question is not up for debate.

    Christ wants people who are radically and extremely committed to his service. He wants individuals who, after being called to leave all, will take up their cross and follow after Him. He wants individuals who are not conformed to this filthy world but rather transformed by the renewing of the mind. He wants Christians who have the same kind of fire in them that many supporters have for their politicians. He wants us to turn out in enthusiastic droves to support Gospel meetings and youth devotionals. He wants us to live our life like transformed, renewed individuals. He wants us to understand true commitment and dependence on him.

    The ultimate question is this, knowing the call to commitment and dependence that Christ was making in speaking to the rich young ruler, how will you live your life? Remember, what's important is not the question. It's the answer.