Ridin’ HighCowboyChurch
8771 FM 35
Union Valley/Royse City, TX
Pastor: Steve Bishop
June 2, 2018 – Sweep under the Carpet
Character vs Achievement
Character is what I want everyone around me to have but I may not be willing to do what it takes to have it, we value it in other people more than we do in us illus. I am very motivated to get rid of bad character in my kids
Improving you is a huge industry in this country, you can go to a store for everything clothes, face, hair, feet, smell there are NO stores for improving your character, why? Nobody would go
In our world achievement gets rewarded more often than character
Character = the will to do what is right no matter what the cost
Luke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13“But the tax collector stood at a distance(where the crowd was). He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his chest and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
Contrast the two men - We know something about pharisee's so we automatically get on the side of the tax collector as bible readers. Most of us like an underdog.
Pharisee - he was honest, he was always looking to do the right thing, he loved his wife and was committed to her, he was so committed to God that he did not eat all day twice a week just to pray for his family and commit himself to God and he gave his money to support the church
Tax Collector - a professional crook, he was a protected thief, they were known for throwing big parties at the end of the day, the prostitutes were never far from the tax collectors, they had plenty of wine when you heard their parties and laughing you knew they were doing it with your money
14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
What was the problem: the Pharisee thought that God's approval of him was tied to what he did not who he was on the inside
What is so impressive about this prayer: the word MERCY gr word not usually used most of the time the word used is pity, but this time Jesus used the word meaning atonement or "pay for" "step in and do something on my behalf"
The tax collector had more Character than the Pharisee
God highly values character
Proverbs 11:1-3
- The Lord detests dishonest scales,(I like dishonest scales, put your scales on carpet and you will like the result, dishonest dress sizes, we like dishonesty when it benefits us) they had a stone that weighed a pound and when you bought a pound of something you had the balance the weight some would get a heavier stone(God can’t stand it when someone knows they can get away with something and they act dishonestly
but accurate weights are his delight God’s face lights up when we are honest men and women of character
2. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. God rewards humility with wisdom, you want to be wise Looking at myself and all I have through the lens of who God is and who I am it shows poor character the think all you have came from you, God gave it to you, he gave you the ability to even get up this morning
3. The integrity (character) of the upright guides them(this is how you know the will of God for your life, men and women of character have an easy time making decisions most of it is already covered in the Bible, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity
Matthew 5:13
13 “You are the salt(character) of the earth. (everyone knew the context of salt in their culture. It was more for preserving than for taste. Jesus was saying that as spoiled as the world is your presence as a follower of these values will preserve it
These people must have thought who are we to show others how to live? We're nobodys doing nothing jobs
Jesus was saying that the things I am teaching are not common to mankind, they have to be learned. So God wants us to "rub" off on the people around us so that these things become normal to people
You were not born with a high value of human life, you grew up in a culture and family that taught that by their actions, not everyone thinks this Illus Syria, Iran
Jesus was born into a time when "might made right" if you had the might you decided what was right. ]
What if these things were suddenly taken away
1 The idea of One God
2 All people are created in Gods image and have value
Men women rich poor slave free
3 Forgiveness - this is not common to man and does not exist in all
Cultures (Islam does not teach forgiveness) just revenge
4 Marriage is sacred.
When Jesus said this he was saying we are the preservatives of the world just by making an appearance and living out our values you are the conscience or reminder to the world about Gods values
.But if the salt loses its saltiness, (gr word mor eye know) which means "a lack of wisdom" if the right thing to do become the wrong thing to do there is no hope all the things you take for granted as right and wrong become backwards
" illus Hawaii stealing was normal for a group of people, parents encouraged it
how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Unsalty salt becomes just a rock
Jesus was saying you are the hope of the whole world, our only purpose is to be salt
Salt always makes a difference, even if you don’t think so……
In the location God has planted us…..
You’re the salt of your school, teacher
You’re the salt of your company, your office
If someone asked the people around you, what you value most character or achievement what would they say
Prayer Lord give me the wisdom to know what is right and the courage to do what is right, no matter what.