Are there things or people in life that annoy you to the point that they have become a nuisance? They have a tendency of just getting on your nerves or getting under your skin. If so, I remind you there are occasions when being a nuisance is healthy and rewarding. When a spouse or family member continues to nag because there are health challenges or issues that need to be addressed, but are ignored, that family member may be considered a nuisance.

Think about all the times in scripture when Jesus just got on people’s nerves because he was interested in their salvation. He was a nuisance to unbelievers then and is still considered to be a nuisance to saints and sinners today.  

Just imagine your dog barking in the early hours of the morning and it awakens you. You may say something like, “That dog gets on my nerves, for the barking becomes a nuisance.” The reality is the dog, in some cases, is trying to warn us about intruders or persons who wish to do us harm. The dog is simply doing its job in protecting us. The dog may be trying to tell you that deer, ground hogs, or other animals are about to eat up your flowers or garden. Jesus throughout scripture warns us of dangers lurking in our lives and calls us to be alert and live a holy life. He warns us to avoid temptations and sins that will cause us to falter.   

There was once a lady in church who had a frown on her face in disgust and said, “Pastor that Mrs. Dow gets on my nerves to the point that I can’t stand her.” The truth of the matter was the person was irritating to Mrs. Dow because she was telling her something she needed to hear, rather than what she wanted to hear. Being a nuisance can sometimes get you in trouble just like it did Jesus. Jesus was only doing his job and continues to do it even today. Aren’t you glad he was a nuisance and completed his mission on earth.       

The reason I write this message today is because in reading scripture, Jesus came to mind as being a nuisance or annoyance. He was continuously offending and annoying people, but it did not bother him because he was telling the truth and doing it for our good. There are so many stories in the Bible where Jesus just got on people’s nerves. What we must remember is that Jesus did not come to earth to win a popularity contest, his mission was to save souls. In doing so, he had to tell the truth and in telling the truth he would ruffle some feathers.

In Matthew 15:12-14 we hear these words: “Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” Simply stated, Jesus is concerned about us getting into heaven and not hell.                

The same holds true for a preacher who shares a sermon. There are times the sermon should make us feel uncomfortable and sometimes see the Word of God as a nuisance. Why? Because it is the Word of God that will convict us and transform our lives.  

Jesus was considered a nuisance because he would say things that made listeners uncomfortable, but he did so because he loves us. God calls us to be a holy people, and sometimes our holiness is an annoyance to others. An unbeliever is annoyed by our holiness, but we should keep on being a nuisance if it is going to save someone from going to hell. Now for some, that last statement may annoy you because it is the truth.   

Hebrews 12:14 says, “work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” As disciples of Jesus Christ, it becomes our responsibility to invite others to come to live holy lives and come to Christ.

Jesus was looked upon as a nuisance because he hung out with outcasts. Because he did not operate within the parameters set by the culture at that time, he became a pain for the World. He sought out the crippled, blind, the lost and lonely, etc. The company he kept made people uneasy, especially the religious leaders. Jesus was constantly in contention with the self-righteous, hypocritical Pharisees.         

Take time today to annoy someone in a good way by telling them about the risen Christ!

Not a sermon, just my thoughts!

Robert Earl Slade, Pastor