Because You Ate the Loaves
The sermon emphasizes the importance of valuing Christ for His intrinsic qualities rather than for the benefits He provides.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that Christ is precious only to those who truly believe, urging Christians to value Him above all earthly duties, privileges, and benefits. He draws a distinction between those who love Christ for His personal qualities and those who seek Him merely for the benefits He provides. Brooks highlights that true believers appreciate Christ for His inherent beauty and glory, rather than for the material or spiritual gains they might receive. He warns that many professing Christians follow Christ primarily for the 'loaves'--the blessings--rather than for a genuine love of His person. Ultimately, he calls for a deeper, more authentic relationship with Christ that transcends mere transactional faith.
Text
"Unto you therefore who believe, He is precious."
1 Peter 2:7
Christ is only precious to those who believe.
As Christ is the Father's chief jewel, so He is
your choicest jewel, is He not? Yes!
The true Christian prizes Christ . . .
above all duties,
above all privileges,
above all mercies,
above all graces,
above all contentments,
above all his enjoyments.
The true believer loves Christ for Christ; he
loves Christ for His personal excellencies.
What Alexander said of his two friends, is applicable
to many in our day; says he, "Haehestion loves me as
I am Alexander; but Craterus loves me as I am King
Alexander." One loved him for his person, the other
for the benefits he received from him.
So true Christians love Christ for His person,
for His personal excellency,
for His personal beauty,
for His personal glory.
They see those perfections of grace and holiness
in Christ, which render Him very lovely and desirable
in their eyes; though they should never get a kingdom,
nor a crown by it. But most of those who profess to
belong to Christ, do it only in respect of the benefits
they hope to receive from Him. When one asked Cato's
daughter why she would not marry again, she being
young when her husband died, answered, 'Because
she could not find a man that loved her more than
her goods.' Few there are, who love Christ more than
His benefits.
"I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me, not
because you saw miraculous signs but because
you ate the loaves and had your fill." John 6:26
It was Augustine's complaint of old, that 'scarcely any
love Christ, but for His benefits.' Few follow Him for love;
but many follow Him for loaves. Few follow Him for His
inward excellencies, many follow Him for their outward
advantages. Few follow him that they may be made
godly by him; but many follow him that they may
be great by him.
Certainly, you are the bosom friends of Christ, you are in
the very heart of Christ--who prize Christ above all. This is
a work too high and too hard, too great and too noble, for
all who are not true Christians, who are not twice born,
who are not of the blood-royal, who are not partakers
of the divine nature.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The Preciousness of Christ to Believers - Christ as the Father's Chief Jewel - The Value of Christ Above All
- II points: - True Love for Christ - Loving Christ for His Person - Distinction Between Loving Christ and His Benefits
- III points: - The Common Misunderstanding of Following Christ - Following Christ for Benefits vs. True Excellencies - The Call to True Discipleship
- IV points: - The Nature of True Friendship with Christ - Being in the Heart of Christ - The Requirement of Being a True Christian
Key Quotes
“Christ is only precious to those who believe.” — Thomas Brooks
“Few follow Him for love; but many follow Him for loaves.” — Thomas Brooks
“You are the bosom friends of Christ, you are in the very heart of Christ--who prize Christ above all.” — Thomas Brooks