Dharius Daniels - It Takes What It Takes

So I want to talk about this subject in our time together, family. It takes what it takes; it takes what it takes. Recently, one of, if not the greatest coach in the history of college football, Nick Saban, made an announcement that he was retiring from his career, or dare I say, calling of coaching. Although I wasn’t a student-athlete who played for him, I was a leader who learned from him as I watched from afar his ability to consistently create a culture of greatness. You may not like the Alabama Crimson Tide, you may not prefer the Alabama Crimson Tide, and you may not even like or prefer Nick Saban, but anyone who is intellectually honest and objective cannot deny greatness, and he has consistently created a culture of greatness. One day, I had the opportunity not just to learn from him from afar but to learn up close. I was invited to be a part of a cohort of pastors who had the unique opportunity to go to the facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and be in a setting where we could hear him speak a bit about life and leadership. During that session, he said something so impactful that it became unforgettable. He said, «If you want to be great, you don’t have many options; it takes what it takes.» In other words, greatness never goes on sale. Yes, sir, it costs what it costs. It takes what it takes, and those who want to possess it must be willing to pay the price for it. Success is not owned; it’s rented, and the rent is due every day. This axiom not only applies to the game of football; it applies to the game of life. Jesus says something similar to those of us who want to experience greatness in one of the most important and consequential areas of our life. He says this to those of us who are serious about spiritual greatness: «To whom much is given, much will be required.» There’s a price. He says this: «If anyone wants to experience elevation or evolution,» meaning they want to become my disciple, «they must first deny themselves,» meaning you must suppress an inferior want so you can possess a superior want. Did you hear what I said? Self-denial doesn’t mean you don’t want that; self-denial means you want this more. You will tell an inferior desire that it must stay in place so you can possess a superior desire. It’s like saying, «I want company, but I want peace more.» Let me go to this side—did you hear what I said? «I want success, but I want my standards more.» It is a revelation that all wants are not created equal, and it becomes essential for us to suppress inferior wants so we can possess superior wants. «If any man will follow me, let him first deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.» Jesus here is articulating something—can I be vulnerable here? Jesus is articulating something about the reality of evolution and transformation that makes me very uncomfortable. I’m a pastor preaching this, and I’ve wrestled with this all week because, honestly, once I got this revelation, it was still a revelation that I wrestle with emotionally. I understand it theologically, but I wrestle with it emotionally because what the text teaches us is that some evolution, some transformation, and some elevation only come on the other side of adversity. You see, I would respond the same way you all responded, too; that’s why—did you hear what I just said? It is, family, what is called in some circles passive spiritual growth. Okay, see, all month we’ve been talking about spiritual growth, but we’ve been talking about active spiritual growth. What’s that, Darius? That is the spiritual growth that is produced by my activity. I engage in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, solitude, the study of scripture, the gathering for corporate worship, biblical meditation, and practicing silence. These are all spiritual disciplines, or exercises that Dallas Willard calls «means of grace,» things that God uses to help grow us spiritually. But watch this; these are things we choose to do. Wow! These are things we do. Somebody say «active.» Active passive spiritual growth—this is a term used in contemplative spirituality. Passive spiritual growth is not the spiritual growth that comes from what you do. Are y’all okay? I don’t know if you’re going to be after I say this. It is the spiritual growth that comes not from what you do; it’s the spiritual growth that comes from what’s done to you. Now, I did think I was going to get more amens than that. I choose active spiritual growth. I choose to pray—yes, sir. I choose to study scripture. I choose to come and worship corporately with God’s people. I choose to practice biblical meditation. I choose to fast. That’s active spiritual growth. I choose. But with passive spiritual growth, it chooses you. I choose prayer; I don’t choose betrayal. Did you hear what I just said? I choose to study scripture; I don’t choose exploitation. I don’t choose being disrespected. I don’t choose a diagnosis. I don’t choose the loss of a job. I don’t choose the loss of a loved one. I don’t choose the downturn in an economy. I choose to pray; I don’t choose to suffer. And the Bible is clear in communicating that this avenue for our formation is not an optional avenue. See, in my theological infancy, what I thought was adversity was only a result of the absence of…