The passage we heard from 2 Corinthians talks about giving, and it has a message for us today. The church in Jerusalem had fallen on hard times financially. It started off great, with believers sharing everything they had in the belief that Christ would return soon. When he didn’t, things became bleak very quickly. To help the church in Jerusalem, Paul appealed to all of the churches he started to give to a collection he was taking up. At first, the church in Corinth gave generously, but in time the giving slowed to a trickle in part because some people accused Paul of taking the collection for personal gain.

The grace of God is the primary motivation for us to give. Grace giving is sincere. It reflects the believer’s sincere love for God and desire to do His work in the world. God does not need the gifts of the faithful to accomplish His work, but He does generously allow those gifts to be used toward that end.

The purpose of giving must be to meet equally the needs of both the world and the church. The one who has much is able to share much, and the one who has little is able to share little. As God’s people share in proportion to what God has entrusted them with, the needs of the whole body of Christ are met.

Grace giving shares with others. The purpose of God’s wonderful program of stewardship is that the needs of the body and the needs of the world might be met with equality. The one who has much is able to share much; the one who has little is able to share that little. But as God’s people share in proportion to what God has entrusted them with, the needs of the whole body are met. The early church was a good example. Acts 2:44-45 reads, “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. God asks us to give in proportion to what He has given to us. There should be a relationship between the amount God gives us to take care of and the amount we give to others.

Giving eases the plight of the poor, the hungry, and the oppressed. For example, many churches, including mine, support local food banks with donations of money, non-perishable food items, or both. By doing so we show the same care and concern for the poor that Jesus did.

When people give generously out of love for God and his church and they grow and mature in their faith, they don’t count the cost. Joy and Christian growth come to those who do the Lord’s work gladly. Joyful giving flows from the gift of self. When we give from the heart we give one of the greatest gifts we can give. God is most concerned with the heart of the giver, and not the amount he/she gives. Giving to our church shows our love for God. Giving also shows that we want to help the less fortunate and that we want to share the costs of having church.

Paul makes it clear that he isn’t calling for us to give to the point that it hurts. We as Christians share in the responsibility to care for our brothers and sisters just as they care for us. We give, not to make others well-off and ourselves poor, but that those who lack might be as we are.

We don’t have to give only money. We can give of ourselves by volunteering or helping a neighbour or helping someone who is in a hospital or a nursing home. The important thing is not what we give or how much we give or how often we give. The important thing is that we give willingly. We are encouraged to make others’ needs our own and help them. By doing so we are imitating Jesus-and that is what He wants us to do as Christians in our world. For Paul, the vision of reconciliation, justice and peace embraces everything because it flows from the heart of God. Life here on earth can be nothing more than participation together in God’s life, and that includes what we do with our money and our power.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1491, 1610)
2. Craig Condon, “How to Give to God.” Retrieved from the author’s personal library.
3. Craig Condon, “The Joy of Giving.” Retrieved from the author’s personal library.
4. Carla Works, “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.: Retrieved from www.wporkingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1319
5. William Loader, “Pentecost 5:28 June 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.” Retrieved from www.staff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/BEpPentecost5.html
6. Rev. Brian Finlayson, “Sunday: Ordinary 13B, Proper 8B, Epistle.” Retrieved from www.lectionarystudies.com/sunday12be.html

Let’s take a walk down memory lane for a moment. Some of you may remember a famous comedian named Flip Wilson. He had a weekly TV comedy show back in the 1970s, and one of his favorite characters was a preacher named Brother Leroy.

In one skit, Brother Leroy was leading services one Sunday morning. It wasn’t going very well. People weren’t very responsive. It came time to receive the offering and so Brother Leroy passed the collection plates. They came back empty. So he passed them again. Same thing. Empty. Brother Leroy then went before the people and said, “Now, I know that you all want this church to progress. This church must progress.” No response from the congregation. Brother Leroy shouted a bit louder: “Now, before this church can progress it has to crawl, this church has got to crawl.” And the congregation started getting excited and they yelled back, “Make it crawl, Reverend. Make it crawl!” Brother Leroy continued, “After this church has crawled, it’s got to pick itself up and start to walk, this church has got to walk!” And the people yelled back at him, “Make it walk, Reverend. Make it walk!” “And after this church has walked, this church has got to get up and run, this church has got to run.” And the people were worked up into a terrible frenzy, and they hollered back: “Make it run, Reverend. Make it run!” And then Brother Leroy said, “Now, brothers and sisters, in order for this church to run, it’s gonna need money, it’s gonna take money for this church to run!” And the people yelled back, “Let it crawl, Reverend. Let it crawl!”  

The reading we heard from 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 a few minutes ago does talk about giving. Most ministers have to walk a fine line when talking about this subject, especially if they don’t want to give the impression that they are asking for money for the church. I’m also walking a fine line because even though this is summer and the time of the year when offerings decline because people are away, I don’t want to talk about giving in that sense. I want to talk about the spiritual benefits of giving, so I’m definitely not going to be like one minister who was having trouble with the collections. One Sunday he announced, “Now, before we pass the collection plate, I would like to request that the person who stole the chickens from Brother Martin’s henhouse please refrain from giving any money to the Lord. The Lord doesn’t want money from a thief!”

The collection plate was passed around, and for the first time in months everybody gave.

The church in Jerusalem had fallen on hard times financially. It started off great, with believers sharing everything they had in the belief that Christ would return soon. When he didn’t, things became bleak very quickly. To help the church in Jerusalem, Paul appealed to all of the churches he started to give to a collection he was taking up. At first, the church in Corinth gave generously, but in time the giving slowed to a trickle in part because some people accused Paul of taking the collection for personal gain.

In order to counter this claim and to encourage the believers in Corinth to increase their generosity, Paul used the church in Macedonia as an example of how to give. The people of Macedonia were poor, mainly because the occupying Roman forces took all of the resources for themselves. Nevertheless, the believers in Macedonia were more than willing to give generously to support other believers who were less fortunate.

There are several aspects of grace giving. First, grace giving is systematic. Paul told the Corinthians to abound in this grace. He implied that this is a framework in which they and we can grow in faith as Christians. Giving can be spontaneous, but it can and should be planned. There are several examples in the New Testament of planned giving by the church and by individuals. A commitment to give is the start of the system of giving.

Grace giving is sincere. It reflects a believer’s love for God and a sincere desire to expand the ministry of the church. God does not need our gifts to expand his ministry because he owns everything. He does allow our gifts to be used to expand his ministry.

Grace giving is steadfast. It continues regardless of our circumstances. It doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor. Closely connected to this is the concept that grace giving involves sharing with others. The purpose of giving must be to meet equally the needs of both the world and the church. The one who has much is able to share much, and the one who has little is able to share little. As God’s people share in proportion to what God has entrusted them with, the needs of the whole body of Christ are met.

Giving to God and his work must be voluntary, not compelled. When it is voluntary, it brings much blessing. A good example is Christ. He gave up the riches of heaven to be born into a humble, earthly family. He gave himself humbly to service here on earth, and he humbled himself to death on the cross. He did all of this voluntarily so that he could give us the greatest gift of all-eternal life with God in heaven. What he did for us is an example of what we are to do for others-give of ourselves and serve others with humility.

Not all gifts have to be financial. They can be spiritual as well. In the time that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, the Gentile believers could contribute financially, while Jewish believers could contribute spiritually and with ministry of the Gospel. We can do the same thing today

When we see generosity acted out in another person, it is easier for us to understand it, identify with it, and follow their example. Giving is more a matter of the heart than of circumstances. Paul used the example of the church in Macedonia which I mentioned a few minutes ago. Poverty does not automatically create unselfishness, nor does persecution automatically produce giving. Those who claim that they were much happier when they had less must remember that it isn’t what we have or don’t have that promotes happiness or generosity. What does matter is the grace of God within us. That grace creates an open and generous heart.

Giving becomes a joy when it comes out of sacrifice, and a good example of sacrificial giving is mentioned in the story of the widow’s offering, which is found in Mark 12:38-44. Jesus and the disciples were sitting in the area of the temple treasury. The treasury contained thirteen trumpet-shaped chests where people could deposit their gifts and the temple tax. Jesus could see how much money people gave. He could see the large sums of money that the scribes and the wealthy gave, and he could also see how much the widow gave. He used a comparison of the gifts to illustrate their significance.

The wealthy gave out of their abundance. That is, they gave out of what they had left after they paid their bills and purchased the necessities of life, including food. In contrast, the poor widow gave all that she had. By putting all of her money into the temple treasury, the widow probably had to go without food for at least one meal. In Jesus’ eyes, she gave more than all the rich people simply because she gave everything to God. Whatever a person has is the resource out of which he/she should give. That’s why there are no references to tithes of any set amounts or percentages for giving stated anywhere in the New Testament.

Setting an example of humility is a way of loving others. Being humble means making sacrifices, but when we remember that all good things are gifts from God, we are free to give them up for the good of others.

When people give generously out of love for God and his church and they grow and mature in their faith, they don’t count the cost. Joy and Christian growth come to those who do the Lord’s work gladly. Joyful giving flows from the gift of self. When we give from the heart we give one of the greatest gifts we can give. God is most concerned with the heart of the giver, and not the amount he/she gives.

Our giving reflects our attitude toward money. Money can control us or hurt us or we can control money and bless others. Giving to our church shows our love for God. Giving also shows that we want to help the less fortunate and that we want to share the costs of having church. Giving can be fun, especially if we treat it as a competition to out-give God. We must remember though that this is a competition that we can’t win, because no matter how much we give, we can’t out-give God. We can still be winners though just for giving from the heart.

The blood of Christ unites all of us, so we can’t ignore the needs of our Christian brothers and sisters, just like we can’t ignore the needs of our biological family members. If we have been made rich by Christ and his poverty, how can we not be generous toward the needs of others? Giving is not a one-way street, because the poor have an abundance to share-an abundance that includes hospitality, family values, hard work, self-sacrifice and faith in God. The grace of giving is an equalizing force in the body of Christ. Everyone has something to give, and everyone has some need to be met. For example, Acts 4:34 talks about the early church and reads, “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked.”

Giving sacrificially now for the sake of a future goal is a mark of spiritual maturity. An even better mark of spiritual maturity is the willingness to put off earthly reward for the sake of eternal reward. If we want to follow Jesus closely, we must come to terms with self-denial, and this self-denial must be practiced daily.

If we hold back our commitment to give, especially our commitment to give to the church, it means that we trust more in ourselves than we trust in God. When we give to God, he will use our gift and return it to us many times over. My own spiritual journey is a good example of this. I have been a regular giver in my own Anglican Parish of South Queens and its predecessor parishes for a number of years, and that giving has included being a Lay Minister for over ten years. God has taken my gifts and talents and used them to provide opportunities for me to continue to do the work he has called me to do. I post my sermons on my blog, which is at www.sermonsfrommyheart.wordpress.com. I also host a podcast entitled “Sermons from My Heart,” and it can be found at https://www.spreaker.com/show/sermons-from-my-heart

Faith means that God will provide for us in unexpected ways and through unexpected sources. God promises spiritual blessings, but he does not promise material blessings. This is contrary to what the prosperity gospel teaches. God will provide material blessings if it is his will and if it is part of his plan for our lives, so it is no good to go to him and say (in the words of an old song), “O Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz.”

What we give to God and how we give it shows just how much we really love him, and it shows how grateful we are for the love and blessings we receive from him. We are accountable to God for how we use the gifts he has given us, and that accountability is illustrated in the Parable of the Talents, which is found in Matthew 25:14-30. We need to use those gifts for God’s work and glory so that when we reach the end of our earthly lives, we can hear God tell us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Bibliography

• Jeremiah, Dr. David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013)

• ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.

• Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2 Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)

• MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

• Pastor David McGee, “The Giving Gauge.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com

• Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 13^th Sunday (B).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

• Bill Whittaker, “The Grace of Giving.” Retrieved from www.Preaching.com

• Dr. Gary Chapman, “For the Good of Others.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com

• Edward Inabinet, “Great Reasons for Great Giving.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

• King Duncan, “Excellence in Giving.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

• Fr. John Boll, O.P., “Volume 2, 13^th Sunday (B), June 28, 2015”. Retrieved from volume2-bounces@lists.opsouth.org

Good morning boys and girls!

What do your parents do when you’re sick?

If you are sick to your stomach or if you have a headache, they probably give you some medicine from the drug store and wait and see if you get better. What would they do if you don’t get better? What would they do if you are so sick they think you might die? They would take you to the doctor.

 Our Bible story today is about a man who did just that. His name was Jairus, and he had a daughter who was very sick. She was so sick that he thought she was going to die and he wanted to do everything he could to help her get well. Jairus heard about the best doctor in the area-a doctor who was healing many people. His name was-and is-Jesus. Jairus ran to meet Jesus, fell down at his feet and begged Jesus to put his hands on her and heal her so she could live. Jesus did not say, “Give her two aspirin and call me in the morning.” He made a house call by walking with Jairus toward his house.

As they got closer to the house, some men came up to Jairus and told him that his daughter was dead, and that there was no need to bother Jesus. Jairus was heartbroken, but Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid, but to believe. When they got to Jairus’ house, there was a crowd of people who were crying. Jesus asked them why they were crying. “The girl is not dead, only asleep.” The people laughed, so Jesus told them to leave. Jesus took Jairus and his wife into the room where the girl was. He took her by the hand and said, “Little girl, get up!” Immediately the girl got up and walked around the room. Her parents were amazed.

Boys and girls, what did you learn from this story? In this story we saw how much Jairus loved his daughter and would do anything for her. God our heavenly father is the same. He loves us so much that he would do anything for us, including sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.

Something else that we learned was that with God anything is possible. Jairus’ daughter was dead, and the situation was hopeless, but Jesus raised her from the dead because of Jairus’ faith. When we face hopeless situations, we must remember what Jesus said-“Only believe.”

Let’s bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for your love. Help us to remember that all things are possible if we only believe and trust in you. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Bibliography

• “Only Believe.” Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com

Have you ever wanted something so much that you were willing to do anything to get it? If so, you can appreciate what Jairus and the woman did in Mark 5:21-43.

Jairus was one of a group of key people who oversaw some of the administrative duties of local synagogues. He was not a priest. In this passage, he fell at Jesus’ feet. Jairus was a Pharisee, so how did the word of the Gospel penetrate the hardened heart of a Pharisee? The answer is simple. He had a daughter who was sick, and like any parent, he was willing to do whatever it took to heal her. That included risking ridicule and embarrassment by falling at Jesus’ feet and asking him to heal his daughter.

Jairus came to Jesus in faith, and the woman reached out to Jesus in faith also. Jesus felt her tug of faith on his robe. He ignored the disciples’ response to the question of who touched him. It was no ordinary touch. He wanted to bring the woman out of the crowd and into a public profession of faith. He responded to her need and Jairus’ need by giving of himself just like anyone who responds to human need by giving something of themselves.

Both Jairus and the woman had given up on human efforts. They reached out to Jesus as a last resort. We are often the same. We often try to solve our problems by human means, and only when human means fail do we turn to God. A better alternative is for us to turn to God first for help. Sometimes that means God will use human means to help us.

In this passage, Mark shows Jesus’ power over physical ailments and death. When Jesus uses this power, he shows that he is equal to God. Jesus’ resurrection of the girl shows his authority, his identity and his power to give life. Death will not have the final say.

God does not always act immediately. For example, when Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, he waited for three days until he went to see Lazarus. Sometimes when we wait for God to act, things can go from bad to worse. When that happens, we start to wonder if God loves us or if we are worthy enough for God to answer our prayers. Jesus invites us to have faith in his power. The voices of death and suffering are strong in our world, and we can’t face them on our own. When we hear these voices, we must listen to Jesus when he tells us not to be afraid and just have faith. We have to take a risk by reaching out to Jesus in faith for healing. Jesus can release us from our suffering and then use our story to encourage others. He hears our cries when we hurt. He feels the touch of faith from us when we reach out to his heart.

When God acts in our lives, he acts with authority. When Jesus felt the woman touch him, he called her to come out from the crowd. His aim was not to embarrass her or to ridicule her. He called her to a reckless faith-a faith that includes taking risks when necessary. Likewise, he did not condemn Jairus. On the contrary, he went to Jairus’ house.

Jesus healed or restored people regardless of the amount of faith the person had or the expectations of the person being healed. Sometimes he healed because the person or their loved one had faith in his power to heal. When Jesus heals, he makes the person well-complete or whole. Even though Jairus heard that his daughter had died, he does not stop Jesus from going to his house. Why? Because unlike his friends, who believed that death is final-Jairus believed that Jesus could still help him. Many of the mourners were probably either onlookers or professional mourners because unlike genuine mourners, their tears turned quickly to ridicule. Death doesn’t have the last word thanks to Jesus. Jesus’ statement that the girl was asleep was a statement that death is not final. In fact, in Luke 8:53-55, which is part of Luke’s version of this story, Luke states that the girl is in a comatose state.

Jesus does not exercise authority as a mechanical response in a clinical setting. His decisive action as the Son of God is mixed with his emotions as the Son of Man. When he cures people, he mixes the raw power of God with feeling respect for a woman who has become a full partner in the faith. When he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, his all-seeing, all-knowing nature carried the touch of a father’s love.

Jesus allowed only his closest disciples-Peter, James and John-to go with him. These special few were allowed to see a special miracle. There were the same three disciples who later saw Jesus transfigured. Jesus did not want large crowds to hinder his ministry, so he told onlookers not to tell about the miracle with others. He told the girl’s parents to give her something to eat to relieve her hunger and to prove that she was not a ghost.

Jairus and the woman were given the gift of peace. Only God can give peace. Our sin-filled world can never give us peace. It can give us the absence of war, but there will still be conflict. God can give us peace in our hearts and minds-and it’s no secret that many health problems are caused by the lack of peace that we have in our hearts and minds.

Faith is not the belief that God will do what we want. It is the belief that God will do what is right, such as healing the woman and Jairus’ daughter. The more hopeless the circumstances, the more likely salvation will happen. The circumstances in both cases in this reading were very hopeless. Healing happens when we do something. Healing begins when we reach out. Healing starts when we take a step in faith. It started when Jairus and the woman reached out by taking a step of faith. It happens to us when we step out in faith and reach out to Jesus.

We have to take a risk by reaching out to Jesus in faith for healing. Jesus can release us from our suffering and then use our story to encourage others. He hears our cries when we hurt. He feels the touch of faith from us when we reach out to his heart.

Bibliography

• Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013)

• McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J. : The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

• MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)

• Jude Siciliano, O.P.: “First Impressions, 13^th Sunday (B).: Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

Did you know that giving can be exciting? It certainly is! It’s like a competition to out give God. We give and God provides. We sow into our local church and God sows into our lives. God’s blessings are not always financial, but they are always greater than what we expect. A good example of this in 2 Corinthians 8:1-16.

In this passage, Paul introduces the concept of giving under grace instead of under the law. The idea of tithing to support the work of ministry seems legalistic until a person understands it as a grace-a gift God grants His children so they might abound in good works.

Paul reminds the Corinthians about their promise to take up an offering for the church in Jerusalem. The Corinthians made a promise to take up a collection, but they “forgot” about their promise. Grace giving is steadfast. Paul urged the Corinthians to not only start well but to finish with the same enthusiasm.  

Grace giving is sacrificial. Paul uses the example of the Macedonians to motivate the Corinthians to give generously. The Macedonians were in affliction and deep poverty, yet they gave joyfully and liberally. The poor are often more generous than the rich, perhaps because, in relying on God for their daily bread, they learn that whatever is theirs belongs to Him.

Grace giving is spontaneous; it is not done out of obligation or a sense of “oughtness” but as a natural outpouring of God’s love in a person’s heart. Paul reiterates this in 2 Corinthians 8:8, where he tells the Corinthians he is not commanding them to give but rather expecting that the sincerity of their love will prompt them to give freely and beyond their ability, just like the Macedonians had.

Grace giving is selfless. Selflessness undergirds the entirety of the resources God entrusts to His people. For experiencing the joy of giving and a heightened awareness of God’s provision, the best giving is selfless giving.

Grace giving is systematic. Paul commands the Corinthians to abound in this grace, implying a framework in which to grow. Giving can be spontaneous, but throughout the New Testament there are also instances of planned giving by the church and by individuals. A system of giving begins with a commitment to give. Those who wait to begin giving until they can afford to do so will never begin.

Grace giving is spiritual Paul knew that the Corinthians valued the virtues of faith, speech, knowledge, godly living and love for the apostles. Grace giving should join that list. To Paul, stewardship was a spiritual exercise just as faith is.

Grace giving is sincere, reflecting the believer’s sincere love for God and desire to advance the ministry of His church. God does not need the gifts of the faithful to accomplish His work, but He does generously allow those gifts to be used towards that end.

Grace-giving is more a matter of the heart than of circumstances. The Macedonians were poor, so it would have been logical and understandable for them to concentrate on their own needs. To almost everyone’s surprise they gave a generous offering despite their circumstances. It is like the New Testament story about the widow who only gave two coins to the temple treasury. She gave out of her heart, just like the Macedonians did. Their giving was sacrificial and joyful.

Grace giving shares with others. The purpose of God’s wonderful program of stewardship is that the needs of the body and the needs of the world might be met with equality. The one who has much can share much; the one who has little is able to share that little. But as God’s people share in proportion to what God has entrusted them with, the needs of the whole body are met.

Giving might be fun and exciting, but it isn’t easy. It’s a struggle because the devil doesn’t want us to be blessed. Satan knows that if we live generous lives, God will bless then. God blesses the giver, and He knows we will continue to use His blessings to bless others.

We don’t have to give only money. We can give of ourselves by volunteering or helping a neighbour or helping someone who is in a hospital or a nursing home. The important thing is nor what we give or how much we give or how often we give. The important thing is that we give willingly. We are encouraged to make others’ needs our own and help them. By doing so we are imitating Jesus-and that is what He wants us to do as Christians in our world.

When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ our service will be judged not by how much we did but by how much we could have done. In God’s sight, our giving is measured not by how much we have given but by how much we could have given and how much we had left after we made out gifts. The only way we can pass God’s judgment is to remember that everything we are and everything we have comes from God. As the old Thanksgiving hymn goes:

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above.

Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord

For all His love.

Then we must ask Him to help us to be generous, and then use our resources wisely for His glory. Jesus gave away everything He had-even His life. If we all lived lives of selflessness and generosity like Jesus did, and if all of us gave something to churches and other ministries, we could feed thousands, share the Gospel to everyone and be a shining beacon of light.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1609-1610)
2. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2, Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 237-240)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2006)
4. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
5. A.W. Tozer, “Pastoral Ministry: How Much Could I Have Done.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
6. Billy Graham, “How Much Money Does God Want from Us?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com
7. Pastor David McGee, “The Giving Gauge.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
8. Pastor David McGee, “Keep Growing.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
9. Pastor David McGee, “Giving is….” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com

Colton knelt behind a teacher’s car in the school parking lot. The morning bell had rung, and he knew he would be late, but he didn’t care. Mitch is late so much, he thought, and he won’t tell me why. I’m going to see if I can find out.

As Colton’s eyes searched the playground, he saw what he was looking for. An eighth grader had Mitch by the shoulder and was saying something. He shoved Mitch against the wall and threatened him with his fist. Reluctantly, Mitch finally reached into his pocket, pulled out money, and dropped it in the boy’s outstretched hand. The bigger boy shoved Mitch again and took off running.

“That big bully!” sputtered Colton softly. He pulled a notebook and pen out of his backpack. Following his school’s anti-bullying guidelines, he wrote: Mitch Oates, 6th grader–lunch money stolen, Wed. at 8:15 along parking lot brick wall by an older kid with black hair and dark blue coat. I can identify. Signed, Colton Reynolds, 6th grade.

Mitch was slowly heading toward the school door, and Colton ran to catch up. “Hey, what are you doing here?” asked Mitch in amazement.

“I saw that bully! Why did you give him your money?” demanded Colton. “Why didn’t you tell the principal? Who is that kid anyway?”

“His name is Owen, and he’ll hurt me really bad if I tell anybody,” murmured Mitch.

“Well, you don’t have to tell. I’ll tell,” replied Colton. He took the note he had written and headed to the principal’s office.

“Wait!” called Mitch. “Aren’t you afraid Owen will get you? He’s so mean and scary when he gets mad!”

“Mrs. Prince won’t put up with bullying,” Colton told him. “We’ll tell a bunch of other kids, too. If Mr. Bully knows we won’t keep quiet about it and that everybody is against him, I don’t think I’ll have to worry. And besides, I . . .” Colton hesitated. “Remember the Bible story of David and Goliath?”

“Yeah, I remember the story,” Mitch replied.

“That giant was one big bully, but God helped David fight against him.” Colton grinned as he added, “I’m sure God will take care of me, too.”

1 Samuel 17:1,4-11,19-23,32-49 was David’s moment of truth. He had just infuriated a giant of a man, and if God was not who He claimed to be, David was as good as dead. The plan of redemption for the whole world was at stake, because the Saviour was to come through David’s family line.

Judging by appearances only, David was no champion. But he would rely on the Champion of Israel to deliver him from the enemy. David’s great confidence didn’t come from his ability or his past experiences. It came from the knowledge that the battle was one in which God would be with him. Goliath’s awesome presence and several attacks spread fear through the Israelites camps, but they didn’t scare David.

The Israelites feared losing to Goliath, but they also forgot who called them to enter the Promised Land. They saw God fight for them in many previous battles, but they forgot to trust Him in this one. David’s focus was on God, not Goliath.

When Saul told David that he could not fight Goliath, Saul was not looking into the eyes of faith. Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees. David knew that God was with him, and he saw what God’s presence could accomplish.

Before he gained public prominence as Israel’s champion and king. David learned humility and confidence in the Lord while out in the fields tending sheep, with no one but God watching. Only faithfulness in the small things prepares God’s servants for greater service in His kingdom. David had confidence in his gifts, experiences and abilities. He needed them to face the giants in his life. Likewise, people need to have confidence in their own abilities if they are to face the giants in their lives. These gifts, experiences and abilities come from God.

David was confident for three main reasons. First, he was armed with faith in God’s power. Second, he announced that God would deliver Goliath into his hands, and that God would do to the Philistines what Goliath threatened to do to David’s body. Finally, David announced that everyone would know that there is a God and that the battle was God’s. David fought in the name of God and for the glory of the Lord, whose name and glory would travel to all ends of the earth.

What has God given you? Many people want to be someone else. They want to fight the battles with other peoples’ armour. If we do that, God won’t fight for us. He wants us to be ourselves, with our own unique packages of gifts and talents. We have to be ourselves We have to pursue the dreams God has given us, and not the dreams He has for someone else.

God made his point. Anyone who underestimates what God can do with the ordinary has rocks in his head……….and Goliath quite literally had rocks in his head! When Goliath cursed David, he cursed God Himself. God was bound by His covenant to curse Goliath in return. David knew that the Philistines were in effect challenging God by confronting His people.

Goliath started life as a little baby. Similarly, the giants in our lives start out small and then they get bigger. If we tolerate a giant, it will take over our lives. How do we deal with a giant? We attack it and kill it.

We may never face a giant such as Goliath, but we face giants of another kind in our daily lives- giants such as fear, insecurity, loneliness, and failure. How can we overcome those giants that want to defeat us? These five stones can help us to remember the story of how David defeated the giant he faced, and they help us to know how we can defeat the giants which we face.

The first stone represents COURAGE – David was not afraid to face the enemy. David said, “Don’t worry about a thing,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight this Philistine!” It also takes courage to fight the giants we will face in our lives.

The second stone represents CONFIDENCE – As a shepherd, David often had to protect the sheep from wild animals. This gave him the confidence he needed to face the giant. “The LORD who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!” Like David, we can have confidence that God will help us overcome the problems we face each day.

The third stone represents PREPARATION – David didn’t go to face the giant unprepared. He went down to the stream and picked out five smooth stones and put them in his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started out to fight Goliath. It is important for us to do everything possible to be certain we are prepared to face the challenges which we will meet in our daily lives.

The fourth stone represents TRUST – David did not trust in his own ability to slay the giant. When Goliath shouted at David, cursed him, and was ready to kill him, David said, “You come to me with a sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the LORD God Almighty” When we face problems, we should put our trust in God, not in our own ability.

The fifth stone represents VICTORY – “It is God’s battle, not ours,” David said. That is why David was able to win the victory over the giant with only a stone and sling. When we turn our battles over to God, we will have the victory over the giants in our lives.

If we want to defeat the giants that are keeping us from being the people God wants us to be, all we have to do is follow the same steps David did:

1. Remember how God helped us in the past.
2. Use the tools God has given us.
3. Ignore people who criticize our dreams.
4. Expect God to help us for His glory.

This story, especially David’s challenge to Goliath, has implications for us today. No matter how lonely we may feel at the moment, God has many servants on earth. There are also many servants in heaven. In other words, God has servants everywhere. He doesn’t need any help, although many times He will work through us. He will win every battle. It’s in the little things and in the little places that we prove ourselves capable of doing the big things. When God develops our inner qualities, He is never in a hurry.

David’s decision to stand up to and face Goliath is a good example as we represent and stand up for Christ in the world today. Here are a few things from David’s example that we can put into practice:

1. Be confident in God.
2. Don’t hesitate.
3. Don’t worry about being compared to other people.
4. Don’t question the situation.
5. Use the tools you have and are familiar with.
6. Don’t run away from the fight.
7. Remain humble.
8. Finish strong.

What kind of a difference would it make in the life of the church if more of us had this kind of a firm faith in God’s ability to take care of himself and his own people? It won’t lead to laziness in the church or elsewhere in life. Knowing that everything is in God’s hands doesn’t mean that we can sit back and be idle. It means doing our work on God’s behalf with greater joy, with greater confidence, with a firmer sense that God can and will bless our work.

 When we trust God, we can respond with courage and strength to the forces that threaten to defeat us. Power belongs to God, and our alignment with God’s vision, not with bullies, oppressors, and those who would plan evil. God makes a way when there is no way! God inspires us to be agents in our own destiny. Despite our apparent weaknesses, we can experience newfound courage and strength when we trust God’s loving power. The storms of life won’t stop, bullies will continue to threaten us, and outside factors will put us at risk, but nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 So, the next time you are facing a giant in your life, remember the story of David and Goliath –and five smooth stones.

 Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 379-380)
2. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 8: 1,2 Samuel (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989; pp. 131-134)
3. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 371-362)
6. Daniel Darling, “When Your Shoes Don’t Fit, Don’t Wear Them.” Retrieved from www.danieldarling.com
7. “The Bully.” Retrieved from newsletter@cbhministries.org
8. “Five Smooth Stones.” Retrieved from www.Sermons4Kids.com
9. Alan Wright, “The Faith Building Power of God Moments, Parts 1&2.” Retrieved from www.sharingthelight.org
10. Pastor Rick Warren, “Four Steps to Defeating the Giants.” Retrieved from newsletter@connect.purposedriven.com
11. Charles Swindoll, “Inner Qualities.” Retrieved from www.insightforliving.ca
12. “Facing the Giants Today.” Retrieved from www.dailydisciples.org
13. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for 1 Samuel 17:32-49.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
14. Pastor Greg Laurie, “The Only Way to Deal with a Giant.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
15. Scott Hoezee, “Old Testament Lectionary-1 Samuel 17.” Retrieved from http://cep.calvinseminary.edu/sermon-starters/proper-7b-2/?type=old_testament_lectionary.
16. “Representing God.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

The passage from Acts 20:1-16 was part of a very important and productive time in Paul’s ministry. Some of his most refined theological letters were written during this time period. Verses 4-6 include a list of strong leaders, but they also show the mutual caring of the churches represented by these leaders. The reason Luke listed them is that these men were all delegates from their churches to bring monetary and spiritual help to the distressed church in Jerusalem.

Paul’s abilities as a teacher and encourager were God-given. Everywhere he travelled, he encouraged and exhorted the church to remain strong, to remain committed to the truth, and to spread the Gospel. When he is mentioned in Scripture, Paul is nearly always accompanied by other believers. He wanted, needed and sought out the company of Christian coworkers. To live in a Christian manner is to live in community with one’s brothers and sisters.

The power of Christ was evident through Paul. and this comforted fellow believers. Paul’s lengthy teaching session was interrupted by the accidental death of Eutychus. Paul’s session was long because he was going to leave the next day and probably would not see them anymore. The late hour combined with the length of the session and the heat from candles cause Eutychus to fall asleep and fall out of the window to his death. Paul raised him back to life probably by lying on him and praying like Elijah did with the widow’s son.

Because Christ fulfilled all the Jewish feasts, Paul was under no obligation to keep them, but he was under an obligation to act with integrity toward those whose spiritual understanding was less mature. Paul had a deep love and concern for people. He planned to sail past Ephesus in order to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost. His longing for his friends in Ephesus and his desire to build upon the church there prompted him to change his plans. He asked the elders from the church in Ephesus to meet with him in the nearby port of Mileta. Paul knew the danger the church faced and the sufficiency of the living Christ to meet these dangers.

This passage consists of a series of adaptations to challenges presented by unfortunate circumstances. Paul’s flexibility became the means by which God would advance His agenda. He has a plan and He will continue to see it through. There are four principles from Paul’s experience that we can apply today:

1. Hold all personal plans loosely. We need to expect changes.
2. Don’t waste time crying over a ruined plan.
3. Be prepared to adapt your plan when circumstances change.
4. Never forget that your adaptation was always God’s “Plan A.” When plans fall apart, look for how God might use the situation to advance His plan, and then join Him.

Paul strengthened and encouraged believers. He was careful to explain that his sacrificial love for the Ephesians and other believers was like Jesus’ love for the church. True Christianity is a sacrificial love-a genuine love for other people.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1521)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 284-286)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
6. Dave Wyrtzen, “The Dream Team.” Retrieved from truthenote@truth-encounter.ccsend.com
7. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary: Acts (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers; 2016; pp. 396-406)

Have you ever tried to get away from the storms of life, only to find that they have followed you? If so, you can understand what happened in Mark 4:35-41. Jesus needed to get away from the crowds. We are tempted to follow the crowd, but we need to carefully consider public opinion and walk away when popular opinion isn’t faithful to God’s word. We need to walk away from the crowd so we can spend time alone with God.

Jesus’ idea to cross over to the other side marked the first time he went into Gentile territory. The disciples took Jesus abruptly and without notice. They might not have been pleased with his plan to include the Gentiles. If so, their attitude reflects that of the prophet Jonah. Christians must be willing to share the Gospel (and themselves) with people who are not like them.

The Sea of Galilee is in the deepest part of the Northern Jordan rift––700 feet below sea level––surrounded by steep cliffs and mountains except in its southern extremities.  Hot air rises and cool air falls, so the cool air in the higher elevations is always wanting to swap places with the warmer air near the water.  This often results in high winds––and waves that can top thirty feet.

On a map of Israel the sea looks like a large lake, but from a small fishing boat it would look enormous, especially in a storm. At least four of Jesus’ disciples are fishermen, have surely survived storms on this sea, and have also surely known fishermen who were lost at sea. They are strong, self-reliant men who would handle moderate danger as a matter of course. The danger on this evening is not moderate, but deadly.

In Mark’s Gospel, the sea represents evil forces that oppose God. It’s also a boundary between the Jews and the Gentiles. Even though the sea threatens to undo them, Jesus wants to cross it because the Good News of the Gospel is never for those on just one side of the sea. The Gospel is for everyone.

The storm was upsetting, and so was the fact that Jesus was asleep during the storm. The disciples wanted Jesus awake and alert. They wanted him to take command of the situation-to get them organized. They were scared that Jesus would abandon them in a crisis. The heart of their fear was the lack of faith. They abandoned God and Jesus-two beings who could control nature.

The real heart of the disciples’ fear was their failure to recognize the true challenges of faith. Faith is not simple. It must involve doubt. It needs strength and courage. It places a sword in our hands.

Storms often bring out our true spiritual condition. Too many of us want faith to be nice and simple and easy. Faith requires hard work. It involves coming out of ourselves to trust and care. If we lose faith, we lose hope and our ability to care. Fear wipes out faith. Discipleship is a life of faith. Faith is a deep, bedrock trust in God’s presence in the world, the church and our lives. When the storms of life occur we come to the truth of just how deep our faith is.

Safety is not an absence of trouble. It is the presence of Jesus. He has command over everything, even though it doesn’t appear that way to us. The fact that he slept through the storm reflects his human nature. The fact that he calmed the storm proved that he was fully God at the same time.

God sent the storm to teach the disciples a lesson on faith, and he often sends trials and problems to teach us lessons. Each of us has a measure of faith that has been given to us by God. He wants us to use it to overcome fear. Fear tells us to expect the worst. Faith tells us that God is in control. Life’s problems are a call for us to put our faith into action. They reveal areas of our lives in which we need to act in faith and not fear. Jesus can calm the crashing sea, and he can calm the daily problems we face. He can take the fury out of any situation that we face.

Jesus came so he could reach out to the social outcast; so he could heal those who were hurting in body, mind and spirit. He cared about little things like the embarrassment of a bride and groom who were running out of wine at their wedding. He cared about big things like ten lepers whose illness had banished them from house and home, family and future. Jesus cares for us today. He reaches out to anyone who finds himself being swamped by the storms of life. That includes people who are not like us.

Jesus told the disciples that they would get to their destination. He did not promise still waters the whole time. The same is true for us. We have been given the promise of “the other side” and we will get there. We will encounter problems along the way, but we will get there-and Jesus will be with us. We have lived through the storms of life such as death, divorce, relationship breakups, shattered dreams, job loss or being spiritually adrift. When the storms of life hit us, do we declare Jesus’ promises are null and void, or do we have a faith that will turn the storm into a great calm? When we trust Jesus, he reveals his presence, compassion and control in every storm of life because he cares for us.

Jesus rebuked the disciples for doubting that he could save them. The rebuke caused them to fear him. They realized that he was more powerful than the sea. Only God has power over seas and storms, including the storms of life. This story reveals both Jesus’ power and Jesus as God’s agent or God incarnate. Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for their lack of faith, and he does not rebuke us for a lack of faith. Our slight faith has not turned Jesus away. Jesus should be the model and subject of believing faith for every Christian.

Sometimes we are like the disciples in this story. We are in the midst of the storms of life, so sometimes we feel that Jesus has abandoned us. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus is with us in the middle of the storm. When life is difficult, we need to remember that our faith prevails over our fears. The real test involves holding onto Jesus’ presence even when he is still and quiet. Jesus is more concerned with teaching us how to trust through the storm that he is calming outward storms. It’s like the story of the footprints in the sand.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The Lord replied: “”My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

There are always storms of life on the horizon. We need to have faith, trust and confidence in Christ that he will calm the storm before it arrives. We need to remember the words of the famous hymn, “Will Your Anchor Hold.”

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

God equips us for service in the storms of life. We are guided through the storms by the Bible. It is our compass. If we spend time studying God’s Word, we will find the hope, encouragement and strength we need to face the storms of life.

Bibliography

• Jeremiah, Dr. David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013)

• Exegesis for Mark 4:35-41. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

• McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

• Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)

• ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.

• Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, “God, Don’t You Care?” Retrieved from www.lhm.org

• Pastor David McGee, “The Other Side.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

• Pastor Dick Woodward, “A Great Storm, A Great Question and a Great Calm.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

• Paul Estabrooks, “Freedom from Fear.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

• David McCasland, “Christ in the Storm.” Retrieved from noreply@rbc.org

• Michael Youssef, Ph.D.,” Our Compass through the Storm.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org

• Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 12^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

• The Rev. Stephen McKinney-Whitaker, “We of Little Faith.” Retrieved from www.day1.org

When we do God’s work in our world, there is always a chance that we will face opposition, including persecution. How can we handle opposition when it arises? The best way is to follow the example of the apostle Paul, especially the example we find in 2 Corinthians 6:3-13.

Paul’s motives and commission by God were questioned. His motives and his conduct were attacked. What made the situation worse was the knowledge that some people who Paul had led to Christ believed that the accusations were true.

Suffering is typically perceived as negative, perhaps even a punishment from God. Paul saw it as the seal of God’s approval. So, with his authority under attack, Paul lists his hardships as his credentials. He gave insights into the costs of his ministry. He argued that the trials he endured were witnesses to the sincerity of his ministry.

People had different views of Paul and his ministry. Some saw him as a poor, sorrowful, unknown, dying impostor without honour. Others saw him as a spiritually alive, honourable, well-though-of servant of God who enriched people throughout his ministry. He was evaluated by both worldly standards and spiritual standards. Our world has a stereotypical view of Christians. Any believer who engages in a faithful ministry should expect to be rejected and accepted, hated and loved. He or she should expect to enjoy both joy and hardships.

Paul proved himself by being faithful and diligent despite persecution. He did not solely rely on his own strength. He relied on spiritual virtue. Paul has provided an excellent example for us as Christians to follow when we are opposed or persecuted.

Paul lists how he conducted himself during his trials. Weapons on the right hand are offensive, those on the left are defensive. Christians can prepare for any battle by living virtuously and arming themselves with the word of truth and the power of God. The Holy Spirit enables these things.

Ministers are held to a higher standard of conduct that the rest of the population. This is understandable. The misconduct of one minister will bring scorn on the ministry and affect the usefulness and success of other ministers. As the old saying goes, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.” Integrity and power for daily life are a result of a heart committed to purity. A clean heart releases God’s authority and power.

Paul lists several positive influences on his ministry, and these same influences are the characteristics of positive Christian ministry today. He lived a pure life. He communicated the knowledge of what was true. He was patient in the face of trials. He was kind to everyone, and he loved everyone. He was under the satisfying influence of the Holy Spirit. In all cases, Paul acted in a manner that commended the ministry and the gospel in all circumstances, regardless of whether the world supported him or opposed him. Similarly, our actions must commend our ministry and the Good News in all circumstances regardless of the support (or lack thereof) of the world.

Paul’s list presents a model of Christlike character amid negative circumstances. The biblical paradoxes can be confusing—strength through weakness, comfort through suffering, life through death, glory through shame. But God is the lord of the paradox too, bringing good out of evil.

If we live the type of life Paul led, Christ can lead us into abundant life despite suffering. The key is to love one another. Love is a commitment. If two people love one another, they are committed to each other. Love is in short supply, and it is in short supply in the church. Many people have left the church because they have forgotten how important it is to be connected with a local faith community. We find love, joy and an outlet for service within the church. Unity and connections within the church are essential to the successful completion of the church’s mission. That mission is our mission as believers-that is, to spread the Good News to a world that is hurting, skeptical, and often hostile.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1608)
2. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2, Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 237-240)
3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
4. Pastor David McGee, “Wrapped in Kindness.” Retrieved form www.crossthebridge.com\
5. Mary Southerland, “Standing Firm in the Storms of Life, Part 1.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

Erin glanced out the living room window. She noticed that the young man next door was working on his car. “I can’t believe how much time Steve spends on that car!” she exclaimed to her brother. “He’s waxing it–again!”

Tim shrugged. “He just wants to keep it looking nice,” he said. The kids watched Steve stand back to view his handiwork and then proceed to polish the same spot several times. Tim grinned. “You have to admit that it looks good.”

Several days later, Tim came into the kitchen where Erin was doing homework and Dad was having fun with a new recipe. “Hey, did you hear what happened to Steve’s car?” asked Tim as he plopped down into a chair. “He burned up the engine–forgot to put oil in it.”

Erin raised an eyebrow. “And that wrecked the engine?” she asked.

“Yep,” said Tim. “Right, Dad?” His father nodded. “Steve spent all his time working on the outside of his car–so now it looks nice but won’t run,” added Tim. “He should have paid less attention to the outside and more to the inside.”

Dad nodded, “Good advice for all of us.”

The kids gave him a questioning look. “I don’t have a car,” said Erin. “Tim doesn’t, either.”

Dad smiled. “No, but it’s good advice for handling our lives,” he said. “Think about it, Erin. How much time do you take to make sure you look just right when you’re going somewhere–and Tim, how much time do you spend exercising to develop a strong body? Compare that time with the time you spend on your relationship with Jesus.”

“We go to church and Sunday school all the time, Dad,” protested Erin. “We go to Bible club every week, too.”

“That’s a good start,” said Dad, “but I wonder if we always remember to apply what we learn to our daily lives. Are we as concerned about living for the Lord each day as we are about the way we look?.”

“But it’s not wrong to look good, is it?” asked Erin.

“No,” replied Dad, “but we should remember that the way we look on the outside has to do with our lives here on earth. Our relationship with Jesus has to do with eternity. We should carefully consider how much time we spend on each area.”

How many of you have heard the saying, “big things come in small packages?” What it means is that the greatest things often come from the least significant or most unlikely sources. We see a good example of this in the passage from 1 Samuel. This passage is part of the story of David’s development from the shepherd lad in his father’s house to his place as the shepherd king of Israel. This story gives us a picture of how God relates to individuals and nations in order to achieve His purposes for creation. The message is to pay attention to what lies beneath the surfaces of life and to look beyond the obvious and discover God in the unexpected, humble and non-assuming realities of life.

David grew up at a time when leadership was in great demand. The judges came to power and presided over a weak and wicked country for a time, but then the people pleaded with the prophet Samuel to appoint for them a king. As the leadership of King Saul began to fail, the nation worsened. Yet God was at work, preparing David to be king of Israel.

The selection of Saul was initiated by the people, but the selection of David was a divine initiative. The people’s choice was a terrible king whose life ended in disaster. God’s choice was the ideal king whose life and kingdom reflected a heart for God. It is more important that leaders be appointed by God than appointed by humans.

When each of Jesse’s sons passed by, Samuel thought that each one was the one chosen by God, but God rejected each and every one of them. This reminds us that God looks at people, situations and circumstances differently than humans do. This part of God’s nature is one that we need to remember more often. We are often impressed by the things we can see with our eyes. We live in a world where physical beauty is more important than spiritual depth, where success in business and in church is defined in terms of material wealth, and where charisma is more important than character. As a result, we often choose leaders on the basis of their image rather than their character or their stand on issues.

Our choices and evaluations are often made on a superficial basis. Many of us have a sense of deep inadequacy. We think we’re not good enough or smart enough or faithful enough. We feel that we don’t deserve God’s love or that we can’t do God’s work in the world. The good news is that God can and does have a preference for the unlikely, which includes me and maybe you too.

Many of you probably remember the TV series “All in the Family.” It aired on TV from 1971 to 1979. There were moments of great insight into human behaviour. In one episode, Edith and Archie were attending Edith’s high school class reunion. Edith met an old classmate named Buck who, unlike his high school days, had become overweight. Edith and Buck had a delightful conversation about old times and the things they did together, but Edith didn’t seem to notice Buck’s weight.

Later, when Edith and Archie were talking, she said in her whiny voice, “Archie, ain’t Buck a beautiful person?” Archie looked at her with a disgusted look on his face and said, “You’re a pip, Edith. You know that? You and I look at the same guy and you see a beautiful person and I see a blimp.” Edith got a puzzled look on her face and said, “Yeah, ain’t it too bad?”

The first sermon I ever preached was based on both this passage from 1 Samuel and the parable of the mustard seed. I hope that I am a good example of the message in these two passages. God took me-an ordinary person from Liverpool, Queens County, Nova Scotia, Canada-and has used me to spread the Good News within this Parish, this community, the South Shore, this country and throughout the world through preaching, my blog and my podcast. I serve Him with a heart that is open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

When the Lord describes David in Psalm 89:20, He calls him “David, my servant.” God looks for leaders who put other’s needs above their own, no matter their station in life. Leaders in the secular world want to know how many people are serving them, but leaders in the kingdom of God want to know how many people they are serving.

God reminded Samuel that He bases His decisions on inward character and the caliber of a person’s heart alone. Saul was taller and more handsome than anyone in Israel. He looked like a king. David was less impressive by human standards-and even less so than his brothers-but he possessed the heart of a king. He also had a heart for the true King of Israel, the Lord.

Because God sees the secret intents and motives of every person’s heart, He actually does reward those who keep their hearts pure. God could see David’s heart, and rewarded him even though Samuel assumed that David would be the least likely candidate for royalty. Similarly, Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders of his day. We don’t need the world’s approval. We are already the apple of God’s eye.

What would happen if we looked at people from God’s viewpoint? What if we focused on each person’s heart or spiritual condition instead of a person’s outward appearance? When we are hurt or insulted, we have to stop and look beyond the words and deeds to the heart of those who have hurt us. What is their story? We may never know their story, but we can ask God to give us His eyes and His heart to see them as He does. He knows what is really going on, what is really driving our prayers. When others see us when we are sad, God sees the pain. This doesn’t excuse bad behaviours, but it lets us know we have a God whose forgiveness is based on His understanding of why we did wrong.

His forgiveness is based on the contents of our heart. God likes working with inferior people because they are more likely to understand their success is the result of God’s power rather than their own power. His standards are different and much higher than human standards. True wisdom is seeing things the way God sees them. If we want to change the way we feel about ourselves, we must change our thinking. We have to see ourselves as God sees us. Jesus gave all He had. He gave himself, and that’s what we are worth in God’s eyes.

God could have told Samuel ahead of time what to do and who to anoint, but He didn’t. He led Samuel one step at a time, teaching Samuel to continually trust Him. God teaches us the same lessons today. We have to go the Lord constantly for His wisdom. Only God sees the heart. If we want to be blessed by God, we have to take time once in a while to go before God to have our hearts purified and cleansed. If we don’t, His blessings will no longer flow to us or through us.

God is looking for committed hearts. Does your heart belong fully to Him? If not, commit it to Him today! God’s purpose for our lives comes from His heart of perfect love. We can’t see the great things He has in store for us, but we can trust His plan completely if we surrender to Him today and say, “Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done.”

Bibliography

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2. “Steve’s Car.” Retrieved from newsletter@cbhministries.org
3. Chafin, K.L, & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 8: 1,2 Samuel Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989,; pp. 120-124)
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