TRUSTING GOD FOR EVERYTHING
Matthew 6:19-34
On Our Way Rejoicing Message
November 20, 2016
Pastor Nathan J. Thompson
Matthew’s Gospel for today shares some very important lessons about life; about possessions; about trusting God each day. Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Jesus also says, “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Jesus also tells us not to “worry about (our) life, what (we) will eat or drink, or about (our) body, what (we) will wear.”
Jesus reminds us that our lives are of more value than many sparrows. He also says that to worry about all these things cannot “add a single hour to (our) span of life.” Therefore he says to “not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.” The message of Jesus is to trust God; to seek first his kingdom and righteousness; then “all these things will be given (us) as well.”
In thinking about these words of Jesus from Matthew's Gospel I was reminded of a way of illustrating their meaning which I saw some time ago at a conference I was at in Chicago. This illustration used by Pastor Bill Hybels at Willow Creek Church helps us better understand our mission as a church; helps us better understand what it means to completely trust God.
Therefore this morning I have asked three people to come forward and to help me make God’s purposes for us more clear. (People come forward) First: two of these people will look bored and uninterested while the one with the Bible holds it to his chest and looks away.
This image represents the way life often is today. On the one side the non-believers and unchurched in our world are bored with life; they lack real meaning and purpose. Lots of them are worried and upset about living each day; they are searching for something to fill their emptiness.
On the other side the church of Jesus Christ has way too often been mainly concerned about themselves; about their own Christian clique. Believers have often kept the life transforming message of Jesus to themselves. We look the other way; we want our church experience to be comfortable; we don't want to do the worship and witnessing it may take to reach those outside the church.
However to move the church person over; open the Bible; put his hand on the non-believing person’s shoulder shows the image of what God really calls us and our church to actively do. Christ's church was never meant to be a nice club for comfortable members; its mandate rather has always been to think first about the lost.
The mandate and very nature of the church has always been to have a passion to reach those who don’t know Jesus. It is seen in Jesus’ Biblical illustration of the Shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to search diligently for the one lost sheep. The lost and wandering truly matter to God; Jesus loves them as much as he loves us. We are to have a passion—so no one is lost and left out of his kingdom.
When we reach out to non-believers our mission then is to bring them (and all people) into a relationship with Jesus filled with true worship and praise. This then is represented by the three standing in front of us now. True worship is centered in the authority of God’s word (person with Bible open); it is centered in true and inspired preaching/teaching from the Bible.
Worship is also to be filled with praise and adoration (person with arms raised to God). This is something that we as Lutherans often don’t do very well. In order to open ourselves up in praise and awe before God takes more than just going through the motions of worship. It means focusing completely on the words; the music; it means allowing our hearts to be lifted up to Jesus.
Worship is also submitting ourselves to God and his will (person with hands turned upward). Worship doesn’t mean anything unless we are opened up to God and allow him to mold us to be like him. The proper posture for worship is for our hands to be open; receptive to hear God’s voice and be touched by him. Worship each week should be a life-shaping and life-changing experience.
Then as an outcome of worship we need to be part of a small group of believers (the three people with arms around each other). This is an area that we at Messiah have been working on—watch for more small group opportunities as part of our Lenten series.
The reason small groups and close believing friends are so important is that to live as a Christian; to live by faith in Jesus we all need a believing friend and/or group to help keep us accountable. We experience God’s forgiveness and grace only when we can trust and open up to another person; can take off our masks and be honest with who we are; can hear God’s love through people who care.
Most long distance runners have discovered the importance of having a running partner. Then on those days when that person may be tempted to skip their workout the other person can encourage them to get out and do it. As Christians we all need people who will miss us; who will encourage us if we aren’t in worship. We need people who will be there to pray for us when we hurt.
The less and less accountability we have in our faith journey the easier it is for each one of us to fall away from our faith. We are also more vulnerable to the temptations; the pressures; the non-Christian attitudes in our world. I know that I wouldn't be able to effectively live my Christian life without several friends whom I am accountable with.
Bill Hybels shared a true story about a wealthy person in his church whom he challenged to give a tithe of his income to God. This man responded that for him to make that commitment he would need someone to help keep him accountable. Therefore they decided that each month this man would send his tithe to the church in care of Bill Hybels so he could be kept accountable.
Bill Hybels said that that this arrangement went on for 20 years. When Bill then mentioned to this man that after all those years of faithful giving that this arrangement could probably end the man said no. He said that it had been this accountability that had kept his priorities straight. We desperately need don't we more accountability today in the Christian church?
Now when people come to faith in Jesus; give themselves in worship and praise; receive care and accountability in a small group; the natural outcome is a life of service (people place arms in serving position). The problem however is that for too many today their hands are outstretched; fingers being pulled in; in a posture of “gimme.” Rather than a serving posture lots of people today are simply church consumers wanting something.
Gimme...gimme something for my children; my youth; myself. Gimme only the worship and music I like irregardless of what might reach someone else for Jesus. Gimme only those things that serve my needs and make me feel good. Gimme what I want—but don’t ask me to give to help others.
However a person who gives their life in service; who seeks first the kingdom of God all these things and more are given them as well. A life of gimme of course never has enough; a person looking for a church to simply fill their own needs will often bounce from church to church. On the other hand an attitude of serving God and others first fills our hearts, our lives with true fullness.
The thing about serving is that God has given each of us multiple gifts. Some people’s gift of service is in being a visionary for God; for their church (person with finger pointing ahead). Other individuals have the gift of teaching the Bible; not for their own glory but for God’s glory (person with Bible open). Others have gifts of love and care for others in need (hands outstretched). Whatever your gifts might be, God is calling you to serve him.
The final image of what God created the church to be is to be his people; hands extended to God; laying their lives and money before God (hands with money extended). In being Jesus’ disciples; in being his church we are called to lay everything we have before God. We are to acknowledge that it all belongs to him. We are to pray and ask him how much he wants; how much he wants us to keep. It's about faith and trust; it's about serving God first and not our own treasures.
Friends, you hopefully received a letter this week challenging you to step up in your giving if you are able. Information about Simply Giving was also included along with with a couple charts to help you evaluate your commitment. This letter also talked about the possibility of giving an additional gift to help Messiah's “On Our Way Rejoicing” goal of raising $20,000 above and beyond our regular giving so our congregation has a solid financial base as we call a new pastor. Please pray about these things; and if you are able please join us in giving generously to Christ's mission here at Messiah.
If you are not yet giving a tithe of 10% I encourage you to look on your sheet and grow your giving by at least one-percent (either that or commit to giving 10% more than you gave last year). Be bold in your commitment; put your beliefs and words into practice. As you do I know first hand that your faith and blessings will grow.
When Kim and I began our marriage 41 years ago we committed ourselves to a tithe, to 10% giving. Certainly when we had kids in college and lots of extra expenses it was a more difficult challenge yet we have continued with that commitment to this day. I invite each of you to join us in joyful and sacrificial giving.
The good news is that covenanting together God will surely bless Messiah's passion and mission to reach out in love in everything we do. Let us pray…