1
The Message for Oct 2, 1016
Luke 17:5-10
What’s Faith got to do with it?
Rob Miller, Pastor
Today we begin a new worship series called - Living lives the Jesus way by faith, hope, and love. The question for us to consideris this: What’s faith got to do with it? That’s our question for today…
Prayer
Read Luke 17:5-10
Have you ever wanted more faith? The first disciples did. They asked Jesus to give them more faith. He said to them -If you had faith the size of amustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Now that’s something I’d like to see, wouldn’t you? Jesus seems to be saying to his disciples, a little faith can do amazing things.
Then Jesus connects one’s faith todoing one’s duty. A servant(or a church member) is supposed to do his or her job and not expect any praise or glory. “Do your job!” Jesus tells the disciples. Do you duty. Live by faith – and not expect any kind of reward. When it comes to living the faith –we shoulduse the Nike Motto – just do it! Our duty is to live by faith.
Let’s define the word faith. Faithmeans – complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
We are to live by faith in Jesus. We are to put our complete trust – our complete confidence in him and it will show. At the same time - if we are not living by faith in Jesus that too will show.
It reminds me of something I heard a long, long time ago… I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day…
I Googled those words and found out they come from a poem written by Edgar Guest. The poem goes like this:
I’d rather see a sermon
than hear one any day…
I’d rather one should walk with me
than merely tell me the way…
The eye’s a better pupil
and more willing than the ear...
Fine counseling is confusing
but example’s always clear...
And the best of all the preachers
are the ones who live their creeds...
For to see good put into action
is what everybody needs...
I soon can learn to do it
if you’ll let me see it done...
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run...
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true...
But I’d rather get lessons
by observing what you do...
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give...
But there is no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live...
When I see a deed of kindness,
I am eager to be kind...
When a weaker brother stumbles
and a strong man stays behind...
Just tosee if he can help him,
then the wish grows strong in me...
To become as big and thoughtful
as I know that friend to be...
And all travelers can witness
that the best of guides today...
Is not the one who tells them
but the one who shows the way...
One good person teaches many,
people believe what they behold...
A deed of kindness noticed
is worth forty that are told...
Who stands with men of honor
learns to hold his honor dear…
For right living speaks a language,
which to everyone is clear...
Though an able speaker charms
with his eloquence I say...
I’d rather see a sermon
than to hear one, any day…
Some of you might be thinking well then stop talking Pastor Rob and do something. Show us what you mean…
Well…Edgar Guest is not talking so much about preaching a sermon per se. As he is pointing out that anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian –should not only talk the talk but also walk the walk.
That’s what Jesus is saying when he speaks about doing one’s duty. We have a duty to be faithful to him and it should showin what we say and in what we do…
When it comes to living by faith we are never done. Jesus points out that a servant’s task,a church workers task is never done.
Jesus says the servant comes in from the field after a full day’s work, not to eat, but to serve the master. If the servant thinks that he or she has a compliment coming, think again. A servant / a church member does what is expected without expecting any praise or glory for doing so.
It’s nice to get thanks and praise from something we’ve done but we shouldn’t expect it. When someone praises me for doing something, I point to Jesus and give him the thanks and praise for working through me. He deserves the credit.
If the disciples wanted an increase of anything, it should not be more faith, but more energy to apply the faith in our everyday lives. We are talking abouta real life with real faith. A faith in Jesus when things are going well and when things are falling apart, a faith in Jesus to guide us at work, at home, at school, anywhere, and everywhere.
We put our faith in Jesus because of who he isfor us,because of what he has done for us,because of what he promises to do for us. Jesus is faithful. It’s not about how great our faith is. It’s about how great Jesus is. He isthe one in whom we put our faith.
Consider this: Regardless of how much we do to live by faith, we cannot do anything more than what’s expected of us.
Here’s the thing: God owes us nothing for living a life of faith. God’s favor and blessings are a matter of grace. They cannot be earned.
If we are wooed into thinking that somehow God owes us for doing somegood, then think again. Our relationship with God isn’t dependent on worth or merit. It doesn’t work that way. Our relationship with God is based on grace. Grace, by definition, is a free gift.
As we live into God’s amazing grace every day, there is no need to expect anything more. Living everyday by faith is our duty and it will not get us anykind of praise or special privileges from God -- we are only doing what God expects.
Our duty is to live for Jesus and not for ourselves.
In this worship series we are talking about living our lives the Jesus’ way – by faith, hope, and love. We commit our lives to Jesus and his ways. We place our faith in him -- just as he places his faith in us.
Why do you say “thank you”? Because it’s my duty.
Why do you say “you are welcome”? Because it’s my duty.
Why do you say “yes sir” and “yes mam”? Because it’s my duty.
Why do you come to worship every week? Because it’s my duty.
Why do you give generously of your time and money to support the mission and ministry of the church? Because it’s my duty.
Why do you do good things for others? Because it’s my duty.
Why do you invite people to church activities? Because it’s my duty.
Consider this:
Commercial fishermen live by faith. They have to… It takes a lot of faith to stay at sea for a month at a time, fishing for one’s livelihood under a carpet of water, not seeing where the catch is but going after it anyway!
In her book, “The Hungry Ocean,” Linda Greenlaw describes the character of the best crew mates.
She writes:"The most valuable men aboard a fishing boat are those who can successfully wear the blinders, who can see the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dim, and who can be most imaginative when dealing with the obstacles that threaten to pull the shade."
She recounts how a crew member pulled out his own tooth with needle-nose pliers rather than have the boat travel 600 miles to the nearest dentist and lose their position in the fishing fields. Another fisherman filed off his two front teeth making them smooth after being hit in the mouth with a piece of gear and then he continued fishing as if it neverhappened.
That’s the kind of commitment we are called to have with Jesus. He talks about a mustard seed faith – and a dogged attitude about simply doing what is expected of us.
In other words… we are called to be faith-filled people. We are to set the example for others to follow. We are to live our lives not for reward orpraise, but because it is our duty. The way we live our lives is our response to God’s amazing grace at work in our lives. God acts - we respond.
If more people would live the faith out ofa sense of duty to Jesus –perhaps this world would be a better place.
Here’s why - living by faith brings a certain peace. A peace that surpasses all human understandings -- like the kind of peace in this story called, “I can sleep when the wind blows.”
A young man applied for a job on a farm. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, “I can sleep when the wind blows.” This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and so he hired him.
A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the middle of the night by a violent windstorm. They began to check to see if all was safe and secure. They found the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace. The young man was sound asleep.
The farmer and his wife looked around their property. They found the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well.
The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man’s words, “I can sleep when the wind blows.” Because he did his work faithfully when the skies were clear -- he was prepared when the windstorms blew.
He faithfully did what he needed to do,his duty. He was at peace even in a storm.
It isn’t the things we do,it’s the things we leave undone, thatgive us the biggest headache.
What are you leaving undone? What do you need to do so that you can have peace?
For example, you are responsible for what you say and what you do to foster healthy relationships with your relatives, and friends, and co-workers. Are you doing what you need to do to build up your relationship with others so you are at peace whenthe “wind storms” come?
What if… what if… you approached everyone in your life, and treated everyone in your life, as if he or she was Jesus? Would you talk differently? Would you treat them differently?
I challenge you to try it this week. Live by faith with everyone you meet wherever you go.
What does faith have to do with it? Everything… or as Edgar Guest put it… I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day. Amen.