Have you ever been stuck in a rut? There are many ruts in life. If you’ve done no exercise for many years, you’ll probably find you are in a fitness rut that resists change. There are other ruts in life as well. Getting started on a new project can be difficult when you’re in a rut of procrastination. Some ruts are good, I suppose. Habitual behaviour is a great thing if it’s the right habit that captivates you. But more often than not, when we say we are stuck in a rut, we mean that we are having difficulty escaping a wrong behaviour.
Someone has said, “A rut is nothing but a grave with the ends kicked out.” Another said, “Many have the right aim in life – they just never get around to pulling the trigger.” Probably all of us get the wheels of our lives stuck in ruts from time to time, so in this sermon I’d like us to look at a story in the Bible of a man who was in about the deepest rut anyone could ever experience. Most people of his day considered his rut to be inescapable. His name was Bartimaeus and he was a blind beggar who lived in the ancient city of Jericho. Let’s pick up on Mark’s account in his gospel.
Mark 10:46-52 “Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”
Let me take a moment to sketch out for you, the kind of rut poor old Bart found himself in. First, he was blind. In his day, a blind man couldn’t work. He couldn’t read or write. 15-year-old Louis Braille would not invent his revolutionary communication method for another 1,800 years! He couldn’t even get around. I know there were no ‘seeing eye dogs’ in that day because dogs were unclean animals to the Jews and they were not used as companions for the blind until 1916. So poor old Bart was reduced to begging.
A man in his condition, unless he had relatives to support him, could do little else but sit near a popular thoroughfare and cry out, “Alms, Alms for the poor!” He was also an object of pity. I say that because that was the key to him making a living. It was only by soliciting the sympathy of others that he could survive, and he probably got pretty good at what he did.
Finally, for the most part, his life was reduced to those last four words of verse 46: “sitting by the road.” That was his rut. Blind. Begging. Pitied. Sitting by the road. For most people, such obstacles would be considered inescapable. But Bartimaeus got out of his rut. The purpose of this sermon is to show you how he did it and how you can get out of any rut you find yourself in as well.
There are several things Bartimaeus did that day when Jesus passed by his begging station that helped get him out of his rut. Yes, I know it could be said that it was Jesus Who made him well – something he could not do for himself. Nonetheless, had Bartimaeus not done these things and gotten out of his very deep rut, he would never have been healed. The actions Bartimaeus took that day suggest several things you and I can do when we find our lives so confined that it could be said we are in a rut.
As I progress through this sermon, I will phrase each principle as though I were pointing the Biblical principle right at you personally. I hope you will take it that way, realising, of course, that it applies to all of us. The first, and most important principle is this:
1. Assume responsibility for your own life …
Verse 47 says, “When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” Notice here that Bartimaeus took the initiative himself to cry out. That is a very important observation, perhaps the most important of the seven initiatives he took that day.
Do you remember the days of your childhood when, if you were uncomfortable, or afraid, or hurting, you could always count on mum or dad or maybe some relative to take care of you? “You don’t have to be afraid,” you were reassured. “I’ll take care of you.” Then, for most of you, you left your home, an action that was perhaps, at first, a little scary. Could you make it on your own? Would you have to run back to mum and dad in humiliation?
You probably did a lot of growing up in those first couple of years on your own. Perhaps the best definition there is to describe someone who is truly ‘grown up’ is one who has assumed responsibility for his or her own life.
One reason a rut is so hard to break out of is that it is secure. It is safe. It’s comfortable. Like those easy days when you could count on mum and dad. Oh, we make all kinds of excuses, but really, there is very little risk in doing the same thing that has always carried you through in the past. From the bottom of our ruts we ask, “Why should I give up what is comfortable in exchange for something untried?”
Someone as handicapped as Bartimaeus could certainly be subject to such reasoning. He probably wouldn’t have to look too far to find those who would support him in his thinking. No, he didn’t particularly enjoy sitting there beside the road, but at least it was comfortable. It’s what he knew. It’s what he did well. Being dependent upon others wasn’t the most rewarding lifestyle, but at least he knew what he would be doing tomorrow and the next day. Yet he dreamed of more. He dreamed of being able to see.
That day when Jesus passed by, Bartimaeus was suddenly faced with the biggest decision of his life. Would he continue to be dependent upon others where he felt safe, or would he assume responsibility for himself and risk climbing out of his rut? For every Bartimaeus in this world who risks getting out of a rut, there are probably a thousand who shrink back, unwilling to take that risk.
Think for a moment about whatever rut you may be in. Yes, you can continue to blame your parents or the society or your nationality or your rotten luck in life or your lack of self-discipline or the ‘fat’ genes you inherited from your parents or the weather or the government or whatever. You certainly have the freedom to do that. But there is a price to pay for that dubious ‘freedom.’ You’ll be a rut dweller the rest of your life. You might as well quit dreaming. Don’t bother hoping. Quit thinking about the day when your ship will come in or someone will reach down and pull you out. Unless you take responsibility for your life and your situation, nothing will change. Then comes the next really important thing that anyone stuck in a rut needs to do.
2. Believe you can change …
For Bartimaeus, it took some real faith that day to cast aside his cloak, jump up, and move in the direction of the sound of the crowd surrounding Jesus. That faith comes from a deep belief that things can change. Verse 52 says, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Where does that belief and faith come from, anyway? Are we talking about a kind of hopeful leap in the dark when we talk of believing you can change? I don’t think so. Faith must be based upon some evidence, otherwise it is nothing more than gullibility.
Notice that phrase in verse 47, “And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out …” That implies some recognition – some prior knowledge. Bartimaeus had probably heard how Jesus could heal. There are descriptions of at least six people who were healed of blindness in the New Testament. There were probably many more. Bart would had heard of at least some of these.
How does that apply to you and me? The Bible says, in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Hearing such stories produces faith! And that is one of the great blessings of the Bible. It is full of stories of people who, with God’s help, overcame tremendous odds and escaped deep ruts. Besides that, there are many reassuring principles to cheer us on.
Not only that, but there are also contemporary stories that can be told as well. That is one reason we gather to look into God’s Word and encourage one another and share our testimonies every Sunday.
You don’t get that outside these walls very often. Out there most people don’t believe you can change. They’re busy perfecting the art of blaming others and explaining why change is impossible. They’ve made so many excuses for themselves and others that anything beyond mediocrity now sounds impossible. There is sufficient evidence both in the Bible and in experience to assure you that you can break out of your rut. But you must avail yourself to it by believing you can change.
3. Clarify what you really need …
Notice in verse 51 what Jesus asked Bartimaeus: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Why did Jesus ask that? Couldn’t He just read the man’s mind? Didn’t He already know? You see, the question wasn’t asked for Jesus’ benefit. It was asked for Bartimaeus’ benefit and those who watched on.
Seldom do any of us do anything about the ruts we live in until our circumstances force us to. Even then, we seldom move until we get to the place where we set a goal. I suspect some of you have given up setting any goals in your life. You’ve said something to this effect: “I’ve failed to hit my targets before, so I’ll just quit making commitments. That way it won’t be obvious if I fail.”
But a life with no goals is the life of a rut-dweller. If you have no goals – you quit dreaming, forget hope and your chance of hitting something you don’t aim at is virtually nil. Certainly if you hope to break out of a rut, you have to be willing to clarify what it is you really need and want! “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. Bartimaeus didn’t hesitate: “Rabbi, I want to see!”
4. Stop worrying about what other people will say …
Something that keeps many of us trapped in our ruts is the fear of disapproval from others. Think of a guy who wants to get started on an exercise program. He figures his best bet is to get into the local exercise gym with a one-year membership.
So he calls, signs up, and sends in the money. But he never goes. Why? Well, let me tell you what often happens – and when you’ve heard this, you’ll understand why those who own such businesses want their money in advance!
He probably went down and bought the flashy singlet and the shorts with the stripe up the side. He probably got the set of shoes they recommended, paying more for them than he ever paid for shoes. Then the big day came. He got into the car and drove to the gym. If he was brave, he got out and went in. As he walked through the door and looked around, what did he see? He saw ten or twenty trim, hard bodies twenty years his junior, working out. That’s what he saw.
Then, as he looked down at his middle-aged belly hanging over his pants and considered what he would look like and what might be said under the breaths of every person in the gym that looked at him, he turned and walked out and never came back, even if it meant he’d lose a full year of fees. It’s a common story, told every year all across the country.
Bartimaeus didn’t have to imagine what others would say if he stepped forward that day. They told him. Verse 48 says, “And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” You see, he had to push past what other people said.
What you and I have to realize is that the vast majority of people making up the human race are critics. They’re pessimists. Not only that, they are also fickle. You see, since most people who attempt to climb out of a rut end up climbing back in, people around get to believing that is the norm.
That is what is expected. Most of them aren’t willing to risk encouraging someone who won’t be daunted by those odds. They might get laughed at for making rash predictions! So they take the safe route. They conclude you won’t make it. They opt for what they figure will be the winning side. And so they discourage you.
That’s why the Bible warns us about the company we keep. If we hang around and listen to fearful or negative people, we’ll become fearful or negative. I find it interesting that in certain key battles in the Old Testament, God sent those who were fearful home, even though it lessened the number of troops.
Now I also said they are fickle. That is best illustrated in our text. Verse 48 as we’ve already seen, says “Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet.” You can almost hear them now, can’t you? “Shut up, Bartimaeus! The Rabbi isn’t interested in people like you! Besides, what could he do for you? People like you are better off quiet.” Did he listen? No!
Then look what happened. Verse 49 says, “And Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Talk about fickle! In one breath they are saying,“Shut up, Bartimaeus!” Then, when they saw Jesus was willing to respond, they quickly jumped on the other side of the fence!
Do you see why you must stop worrying about what other people will say? What they say so often is totally irrelevant to you. They’re only saying what they figure is the safest thing to say. If you make it out of your rut, they’ll say they knew all along you could do it!
Now I’m not saying we should never get good counsel from godly people. But if you listen to the crowd; you’ll stay in your rut! Guaranteed! Stop worrying about what other people will say!
5. Stop waiting for ideal circumstances …
The situation on the day Bartimaeus was healed was far from ideal. Verse 46 says that Jesus was going out from Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude. What chance did anyone have of getting Jesus’ attention in such a crowd? Hardly any. So what chance did a blind man have?
Perhaps Bartimaeus should have waited for a better time. Maybe tomorrow or the next day or next week or next year. Maybe he’d be braver on his birthday or on New Year’s Day. That’s classic rut dweller language, isn’t it? Waiting for ideal circumstances will leave you in a rut – a rut that could ultimately become a grave. Stop waiting for ideal circumstances.
6. Do something bold and dramatic …
We’re talking about risk here aren’t we? It’s scary! Probably some of you have already dismissed all this and decided to keep to the security of your rut. That’s certainly you’re choice. But at least be honest about it. Quit blaming others. Bartimaeus put it all out front for everyone to see. Verse 50 says, “Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.” What a big, bold, open, public stand to take! He was determined to get out of his rut!
A young man once sought out an older, successful executive for some advice. He found him at his beach front home. After introducing himself, he asked if the older man would counsel him on the ins and outs of being successful in business. At that request, the older man asked the younger one to accompany him down to the beach.
As they were walking along, suddenly the older man grabbed the younger and dragged him out into the surf. In one swift movement, he thrust the man’s head under the water and held him down. In panic, the younger man fought the older man’s grasp. Finally, when he was about to black out, the older man loosened his grip and let him up. After regaining his breath, the younger man asked what on earth was going on. He never forgot the man’s reply – he said, “When you want success as badly as you wanted that air, you’ll most probably get it.”
That’s really the issue, isn’t it? Too often we think we want to get out of our rut, but we really don’t – at least we don’t want it badly enough to do whatever it takes to be free from what entraps us. Are you willing to do something bold?
Are you willing to take a stand in front of others? “I don’t think something that drastic is necessary,” you might say. Maybe not, but have your less drastic measures worked for you? Maybe it’s time to get bold! Do something bold and dramatic. Finally, if you want to break out of a rut …
7. Make your move now!
Perhaps nothing keeps people in ruts longer than procrastination. Bartimaeus had no idea Jesus was coming to his town that day. The day was just like every other day to him as he climbed off his sleeping pallet and felt his way down to his familiar spot beside the road. He didn’t have time to prepare. It was suddenly just there. I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t take time to plan. But do something now or this occasion will pass by and become just like all the others where you didn’t break out of your rut. Make your move now!
I hope you’ll consider using these seven principles when you find yourself in a rut. Let me say one more thing before I finish. Perhaps the most dangerous rut a person can be in is one that leads them away from God. With that in mind, let me close with this haunting poem.
‘Those Wasted Years’ – by Theodore W. Brennan
I looked upon a farm one day, that once I used to own
The barn had fallen to the ground, the fields were overgrown
The house in which my children grew, where we had lived for years
I turned to see it broken down and brushed aside the tears.
I looked upon my soul one day, to find it too had grown
With thorns and nettles everywhere, the seeds neglect had sown
The years had passed while I had cared for things of lesser worth
The things of heaven I let go, when minding things of earth
To Christ I turned with bitter tears and cried, “O Lord, forgive!
I haven’t much time left for You, not many years to live.”
The wasted years forever gone, the days I can’t recall
If I could live those days again, I’d make Him Lord of all.
The Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation.” If you are stuck in a rut that is leading you away from God, today is the day to get out! Do it now!
If you don’t, you will never seize the day.