Give Me 60%
I’ve always marveled at people who can walk into a room full of strangers and feel completely comfortable. They can easily converse on a variety of topics with people they just met, and never struggle with what they are going to say next. That’s not me. I enjoy talking to people, but I’m a 40% guy. That means I’m willing to participate in a conversation, I just need the other person to carry 60% of it. I do great with 60%ers. I feed off their end of the conversation and make meaningful contributions. Give me 60% and I’ll contribute 40%. We’ll have a very pleasant conversation.
Put me with another 40%er though, and there will be awkward silences and gaps in the conversation. I’ll never be the most interesting man in the world like that guy in those old Dos Equis’ commercials. It takes little time before I exhaust all the subjects I know interest the other person. When in these situations, I’m silently imploring the other person to give me something I can work with! But I understand why. They’re 40%ers too, and they’re probably feeling the same discomfort I am. No one likes awkward silences. So I’m happy to have a meal with you or go fishing or to a baseball game, just come prepared to contribute 60%. Fair enough?
When I was young, I thought I was a good person who deserved to go to heaven. I knew Jesus died on the cross and that had something to do with my salvation, but I also believed I contributed something to my salvation just by being a good person. Maybe I thought of myself as a 40%er. I contributed 40% good person and Jesus contributed 60% by His sacrifice. Once I truly understood the gospel, I realized that I’m a 0%er, and so are you!
We are all sinners, and our sin disqualifies us from being able to contribute anything to our salvation. Romans 5:8 says, “While we were yet enemies, Christ died for our us.” Enemy is a strong word. It means we’re hostile to God. We’re against what He is for. Enemies only take. They never give, so they can’t offer anything to their salvation. I never realized that I was Jesus’ enemy until I understood the gospel. Jesus had to pay it all, 100% of the price of my salvation, and that’s what He did when He went to the cross for you and for me. If Jesus were a 99%er, not one of us would be saved. We don’t have the merit to contribute even 1%.
I’m so glad Jesus is a 100%er. One day when we stand before Him, He will never say to us, “I died on the cross to purchase 60% of your salvation, what did you do to earn the other 40%?” No! When Jesus hung on the cross, He said, “It is finished.” Jesus completed 100% of the work required to purchase our salvation. All we need to receive the salvation He bought is to believe His sinless life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection paid the penalty we owe, and to put our faith in Him. What could be easier? If you and I are talking, I’m asking for you to carry 60% of the work of the conversation. That’s a big ask. Jesus paid 100% of the price of our salvation and asks us to contribute nothing. All He wants is your faith. Do you believe?