“How to Waste Time” –Matt. 6:25-34

How many of you enjoy wasting time? I don’t mean doing things that are just not constructive like watching TV or reading a comic book. I mean how many of you like to just sit and do absolutely nothing, especially when there are things that need to be done? Very few people would say they enjoy doing nothing and just wasting time. And yet we do it all the time.

 

You may have seen the surveys that show how much time we waste doing everyday things. We spend like 2 years of our lives just looking for our keys. We spend 6 years waiting in lines and I’m pretty sure it’s about a thousand years we spend on hold on the phone trying to talk to the utility companies. Oh, that’s the worst, with that annoying music they have while you wait. It’s awful. It’s torture. And don’t get me started about waiting in the doctor’s office.

 

Years ago I walked into an antique shop in south Texas. Nobody was around so I looked for a while and made my way toward the back where I could hear some noise. I saw a man in the warehouse in back sitting next to an old chest of drawers or dresser of some kind and he was scraping the paint off of it with a small chisel or something. I watched him for a minute and he worked so incredibly slow. He was very meticulous but he had a lot of work to be done and he was obviously in no hurry.

 

I politely coughed so he would see me and know somebody was actually in his store. He looked up and saw me and made his way up and over to me and introduced himself as the owner. He then said, and I promise this is true, as he stuck out his hand he said his name was Bob, or whatever, but his friends called him “Flash”. I assumed it was sort of like calling a bald guy “Curly” or a big guy “Tiny” because Flash moved so slowly.

 

I asked him what he was doing and he told me he was stripping the paint off that dresser. Well, sitting right next to where he had been sitting was a can of paint stripper. When I asked him why he didn’t use the paint stripper, he asked me, “Well, then what would I do?” And I realized that Flash had nothing else to do. He had no customers and nothing to do so why not make this project last so at least he was doing something?

 

It’s hard for most of us to relate to that kind of life. We are all so busy and, yet, we too waste time every day in some ways. I thought it would be appropriate as we approach the new year to think of a couple of ways that we could really waste some time. I don’t mean to waste a little time here and there but some ways that we can really just totally kill some large blocks of precious time that we will never get back.

 

And today I want to see how much time we can lose, waste, or kill when we worry. The Bible speaks several times about the subject of worry. And we know that we are not to worry but sometimes it seems so difficult not to. But I think sometimes we don’t realize why God doesn’t want us to worry. We know that He loves us and cares for us and doesn’t want us to worry because it’s not best for us.

 

And that’s true. Matthew 11 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” He loves us and wants us to not be burdened by worry. And we think that is the only reason why God doesn’t want us to worry. We think it’s sort of like our friend telling us that we really should get some exercise. And we know we should and so we do a little bit, but you know…

 

This isn’t a friend recommending that we get a little more exercise. This is a doctor saying that if you don’t get more exercise then you are not going to live much longer. Every time the Bible says not to worry, it’s a command. It is just as much a command as “Do not steal” or “Do not kill.” Worry is a sin and we will see why in Matthew 6:25-34. You should have a Bible right there in front of you. Turn to the first book in the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 25-34.

 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

 

Some of you probably remember the angst of being a teenager. For some of you, that may just be too long ago and you don’t remember but for those who do, you know the frustration of being told not to do something. To add to that frustration, you were not told why you shouldn’t do that thing you wanted to do and no other options were given. “Don’t do it.” Period. That used to drive me crazy. If I can’t do something, tell me why and then give me something else I can do.

 

Well, Jesus obviously understands that horrible angst. He understands how mistreated we all were as teens. J Because in this passage, He tells us not to worry and then He tells us why we shouldn’t. He then goes on to tell us what we should do and why we should do that. And the thing He tells us not to do is worry, right there in verse 25. And you understand that when Jesus says not to do something, it’s not a suggestion. It’s not something we should really try to do, you know, when we can and when we really get spiritual.

 

But this is difficult for us especially in this instance because what is it specifically that Jesus is telling us not to worry about? He tells us not to worry about what we will eat and what we will wear. I happen to like this command because in studying this passage I looked up the word that is translated “food” and it specifically is talking about vegetables. Jesus is telling us not to worry about eating a lot of vegetables. And does it look like I’m really worried about what I wear?

 

Ok, the veggie part is not really true. I wish it were true. But it is difficult for us sometimes to follow this command. We live in a world that says we have to look out for #1 and if we don’t then no one will. The thing is, the world doesn’t know our God. The world doesn’t know, and we too often forget, that the same God that loved us so much that He sent His only Son to be our sacrifice, also has proven His love to all of mankind since at least Genesis chapter 3 where He personally made clothes out of animal skin for Adam and Eve. Yes, bikers were not the first ones to wear leather. That’s been around a while.

 

When there was absolutely nothing to eat out in the desert, God provided manna and quail and water from a rock. When Elijah needed food, God commanded the ravens to bring him bread and meat. At the end of a 40 day fast, God commanded angels to give Jesus what He needed. Jesus fed thousands of people from a few loaves and fishes. God has provided even here with a food pantry that has helped hundreds of times and yet some of us here today worry that we are not going to have what we need.

 

We see all that God has done in the past and we believe it or at least we say we believe it and yet something in the back of our minds says, “I’m going to be the first one. I’m going to be the first child of God to ever be forgotten by the all-knowing, all-powerful God who lied when He said He would provide for me.” That’s what you’re saying when you worry about anything. It’s actually a form of atheism. You say you believe in God with your words but your actions say differently. Your actions say God is not able or that he is not aware. And that is an insult to God.

 

God never promises wealth or health or that we will have more than we need. He doesn’t even promise that we won’t miss a meal or two. But He promises to give us everything we need and to worry about that stuff is a sin. And Jesus even tells us why it’s a sin. We have seen what we are not supposed to do. Now let’s see why we are not supposed to worry. Look at the end of verse 30.

 

“O you of little faith.” When we worry we show our lack of faith. During an especially trying time in the work of the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor wrote to his wife, "We have twenty-five cents--and all the promises of God!” W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 242.

 

I don’t understand preachers who stand up here and preach health and wealth. There is no biblical basis for that teaching. But I also don’t understand the one who worries about God meeting their needs. The Bible and our own lives are full of examples of that. Hebrews 11:6says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Jesus tells us here not to worry about our food and clothes because that shows a lack of faith in God and that displeases God. But He goes on to tell us what we are to do in verse 33. This is such a powerful verse. You need to memorize this verse and say it to yourself several times every day. Every time you feel yourself starting to worry about something that you can’t control, say “I will seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.”

 

But what does it really mean to seek first His Kingdom? Every decision you have to make – every one – ought to be prefaced by the question: what will the implications of my decision be? Will it draw people to the Kingdom or away from the Kingdom? Will what I do bring people to Jesus or away from Jesus? Will it make Him look good or bad?

 

Will this kind of toothpaste bring glory or would that kind? If it doesn’t matter, then it doesn’t matter but it ought to be so ingrained in you that the first thing you think when you do anything is what will this do for the Kingdom of God? Whatever I say, whatever I wear, my hobbies, how I drive, what I watch on TV, the friends I have, the car I drive – what does it say about my relationship with God? Can I do this thing while at the same time lead someone through the Gospel? Seek first His Kingdom.

 

But also seek first His righteousness. Seek first what God says to do. Seek first what pleases God. Do what He says, not what you want Him to say or what you would say if you were God. And there is a real simple way of knowing what God wants. It’s simple to know what God says is right and just. Just read it. Read the Word and pray over it.

 

And do you know what will happen when you do those things? When you stop worrying about whether or not God will provide; when you quit worrying about if you are going to have enough money to pay bills; when you stop worrying about stuff and start proving to God that you are not worried by giving away what you do have; when you do those things, verse 34 says that all that stuff will be added to you. When you worry, no guarantees. Stop worrying and watch how God provides.

I referenced Hebrews 11:6a few minutes ago but the end of that verse says, “He rewards those who seek him.” Those rewards may or may not be financial or physical. The Bible doesn’t promise that. But it also says in 1 Samuel 26:23 that “The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness.” Psalm 18:24 says, “The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.” One more: Isaiah 62:11 says, “The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: "Say to Daughter Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.'"

 

When the first thing you do is seek Him and His Kingdom and His righteousness, you will be rewarded.  And for young Christians that may be why you seek Him – for the reward.  But as your relationship with Jesus grows, you start to realize the reward that is getting to know Him better.  When you start to see your life change and then others are affected by you and you see their lives change then you realize that God really can be trusted.  And your worries, especially about temporal things like money and stuff just start to disappear.

 

And you won’t waste any more time worrying.  Oh, you’ll still waste time at the doctors’ office even though you made an appointment 3 weeks ago but you won’t worry even about that.  You may get angry but don’t worry.  That subject is next week.

 

Invitation

 

Great Is the Lord - 12

“Christmas Contentment” – Part 2 – 1 Timothy 6:11-12

Have you ever played the game called “Would You Rather…”? We played it as kids and I played it just the other day with one of the youth. You make up your own questions but it goes something like this. Would you rather be fat and have a nice face or have a nice body and be ugly? Would you rather fight Superman or Batman? Would you rather have hiccups the rest of your life or feel like you need to sneeze and not be able to the rest of your life? You get the point. It’s always something horrible and every time somebody asks me that question, I think, “I don’t want to do either one. I would rather you quit asking me those questions.”

 

What is it about kids that like to come up with those horrible scenarios and make you choose which one you would rather do? Well, I have one for you. I want to ask you a question and I want you to think about which one you would rather do. But I will just go ahead and tell you that only one of these is a horrible scenario and yet it is usually picked. The question is, would you rather serve God or serve yourself?

 

Now, that sounds like a pretty easy question to answer sitting here in church this morning, doesn’t it? Nobody would dare answer anything except serve God. And the rewards of serving God are so great and the consequences of serving yourself are so bad that I’m sure we would all say that we would rather serve God. And yet, if you think about it, both are going to be difficult sometimes. Both are going to involve a struggle. Serving God sometimes means doing without something or giving something up.

 

Whereas, serving yourself can be pretty fun sometimes. Even the Bible admits that sin can be fun…for a season. So, you really have to look at the long-term benefits to make an intelligent choice. And unlike the kids’ game, this is real life and you have to make a choice. And choosing not to make a choice is still choosing and the default setting is always serving yourself. So if you say you are not going to make a choice then you have chosen to serve yourself and not God.

 

The problem with serving yourself or going after only what you want in life is that it’s sort of like trying to fill up a bucket that has a hole in the bottom. You can get everything you want and as you get it you are putting it in that bucket but the bucket never ever fills up. In fact, the more you put in, the bigger the hole gets and then you need more and more and more but you are never content. You never will be.

 

But Luke 6:38says that when we serve God, “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” Some of you understand that more stuff, more possessions, goodies, toys, clothes and things do not have anything to do with your contentment. And some of you have learned that the hard way by having stuff and then losing it. And some of you have learned it…also the hard way by not having it and then getting it. And either way you have learned that it is not stuff or lack of that defines your happiness and contentment. It is your relationship with Jesus that brings contentment.

 

Because I love you, I am going to preach a brief, traditional Christmas sermon this Tuesday night, Christmas Eve. It will be great to bring a friend or neighbor to. But also because I love you, I am not preaching a typical Christmas sermon today. Because I love you and I am desperate for all of US to learn the secret of contentment, especially at this Christmas giving season, I want us to continue in 1 Timothy chapter 6 at Paul’s writings about money, stuff and contentment.

 

You can spend a lot of money and time preparing for Christmas and have a miserable time if you are expecting the gifts under the tree to bring lasting happiness and contentment. Christmas day won’t even be over yet and you will be wondering, “Is this all there is to it?” You’ll say, “All that work and all that money and this is all I have to show for it? That wasn’t worth it.” But next year you will get sucked into the advertising and the guilt of not giving your loved ones the latest and greatest and Satan will just sit back and let you go, laughing all the way.

 

So, let’s turn to 1 Timothy and read chapter 6, verse 11 and 12.

 

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

 

Just like water runs downhill and follows the path of least resistance, most people want to take the life path that is easiest that will get them to the place they want to be.  All things being equal, people will take the shortest and easiest route to their goal.  The problem is…all things are not equal.  Some people have higher goals than others.  Some people are born with more or better resources to help them reach their goals.

 

Some people don’t want to be obedient to God’s standards because they think it is too hard.  They think you can’t have fun and that the Bible is just one big book of “No!  Don’t do that!” True believers, those who have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus, feel the same way about those who don’t.  I don’t understand how people can get through this life without the help and encouragement of the Holy Spirit that lives inside us.  How can you have joy and peace outside of faith in Jesus?  I don’t know how people get through the difficulties that hit all of us without knowing God and fellowshipping with a local body of believers like this church.

 

But whichever way you go; whichever route you choose it is going to be a struggle if you want to reach your goals.  The passage we just read tells us that there will be work involved.  It will require some effort to reach our goal of –as Paul might say – knowing Jesus better and better.  The good news for us is that the more and better we know Jesus the more contentment we have whatever our present circumstances might be.  And doesn’t everybody want that, to be content?

 

There are three things we need to see and do in this passage and they all require that we put out some effort.  There is a time to be still and know He is God and there is a time when we are seeking the prize of contentment that we need to flee, follow and fight. 

 

The first part of verse 11 says, “But you, man of God, flee from all this…”  Flee from what?  Paul tells Timothy in previous verses to be on guard against greed, the love of money, material possessions and the desire to be rich.  And it is these things that he is saying to flee from.

 

I looked up the word “flee” in my mongo-jumbo concordance and do you know what?  I didn’t really learn a thing.  It means to run.  Get away.  Put some distance between.  Put up barriers to.  Do whatever it takes to get away from and not be a part of the slightest shadow of impropriety when it comes to earthly possessions or money.  It’s not wrong to have stuff or money.  It’s wrong to lust after it or to go after it in ways that don’t honor God.  And if it doesn’t honor God then FLEE from it. 

 

 

 

Have you ever heard of the curse of the lottery?  If you track past big lottery winners there is a definite pattern of suicide, divorce, depression and even bankruptcy for the winners and their families.  It has become so obvious that people have called it a curse.  It’s not a curse.  It’s what naturally happens to people who do not flee from the trap of the love of money.

 

Paul says earlier in verse 10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  They have pierced themselves with the lottery.  Flee from it.  Stay away.  Paul wasn’t telling Timothy to flee from this stuff because having possessions was bad.  Paul didn’t want Timothy or the church there or this church to get hurt in the quest for more and better things.

 

In Mark chapter 10 Jesus talks to the rich young ruler.  The man was sincere in wanting to know how to be saved.  He sincerely wanted the contentment that came from following Jesus.  And what did Jesus say?  He didn’t take him through the Roman Road or use Evangelism Explosion or say what Kirk Cameron says.  He didn’t even tell him the Gospel.  Isn’t that odd?  He told him to sell all of his possessions.  Not because possessions were bad.  But possessions had possessed him and Jesus knew that you can’t serve God and money.

That rich young ruler walked off with all of his stuff but no salvation and no contentment.  And if he was like most people, he didn’t start off wanting to be filthy rich.  He just wanted to have enough to be happy and content.  But as always happens, one thing led to another and the man was caught in the trap.  The trap, as it says in verse 9, which plunges men into ruin and destruction.  Now isn’t he just the picture of ruin and destruction?  Jesus told him to flee from all that stuff but it was too late for him.  He couldn’t give it up.  It was too much to ask. 

 

So, Paul tells Timothy not to even go down that path.  He tells him to flee from that kind of thinking and lifestyle.  But he also goes on to tell Timothy that not only should he not go that way but he tells him which way he should go.  If you wanted to get instructions on how to get to Fort Worth, would it be helpful if I told you not to go that way?  Well, yea, but it would be more helpful if I told you how to actually get there.  That’s what Paul does in the next part of verse 11.

 

The King James says to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.  In our quest for contentment, we are to flee from the love of and lust for money and stuff and we are to follow after these things.  Some of you know what it means to pursue or follow after.  Some of you guys are only here because at some point in your life you followed a cute little girl to church.  You were pursuing her and wound up in church.  It happens all the time.

 

But your pursuit took some effort, didn’t it?  You got dressed up when you went to see her.  You washed the car, put on cologne.  You probably even put cologne on the car, right?  You spent some time and money on her.  You listened to her.  You looked deep into her eyes.  You laughed at her jokes.  You would call her up just to say you were thinking of her.  You complimented how she looked even if it wasn’t her best.  Aren’t you glad all that is over with now?  J

 

An older couple was sitting on the couch when the woman gently took the man’s glasses off and said, “"You know, honey without your glasses you look like the same handsome young man I married." "Honey," he replied, "without my glasses, you still look pretty good too!"

 

 

 

 

For too many, marriage means you can quit trying or at least you don’t have to work so hard anymore.  You got her.  Now you can relax and be yourself.  But it doesn’t really work that way does it?  It doesn’t work that way with your relationship with God either.  If you want to be content with your life and with what you have or don’t have, then the secret is to have a vital and growing relationship with God through His Son Jesus.  And to do that, it takes some effort.

 

Paul is telling us the secret to contentment right here.  He says to flee from the pursuit of stuff and, instead, to pursue righteousness.  Do you want righteousness?  Righteousness, for us, means to live according to God’s will.  If you want to pursue living according to God’s will then you will do what it takes to stop doing that thing or things in your life that God calls sin.

 

I want to give you some advice that my uncle gave me years ago.  I want you to think about that favorite little sin of yours; that thing you do or think or whatever it is you do that displeases God.  You have struggled with it for years but it’s so hard to stop.  You want to but well, you know…

 

I do know so let me give you some advice.  Are you ready?  STOP IT!  Just stop.  Do whatever it takes to pursue righteousness.  Your stiff neck and hard heart are an offense to God and people who offend God are not going to be content.  Pursue righteousness.

 

Pursue godliness.  Do you want to please God?  Then become more like Him.  What is God like?  That’s a big question because He is a big God but for one thing, God is holy.  And do you know we are commanded to be holy?  We are commanded to be different than non-believers.  We don’t do the same things.  We don’t go the same places.  We don’t use the same words.  We don’t even think the same thoughts because our minds have supposedly been transformed.

 

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Don’t conform to the pattern of this world because the world has proven itself to not be content.  Pursue godliness and holiness.

 

Paul also says to pursue faith.  He says to follow after faith.  Forget acquiring stuff and pursue faith.  And how do you pursue faith?  You pursue faith by putting yourself in position for God to do something that only God can do.  What would happen if you doubled your tithe?  This is one thing that God says you can test Him with.  And I don’t bring up money because the church needs it.  I don’t bring it up because God needs it.  I bring it up because you need it.  You need to pursue faith and money is where your heart is.  So pursue faith. 

 

He continues by saying we are to pursue or follow after love.  And that sounds easy enough, right?  We love everybody, don’t we?  We even love non-Christians.  Except when they say something bad about Duck Dynasty!!!  Then the gloves come off!  Now they messed with the wrong guy!  Now comes the fiery wrath of the righteous!

 

Ok, look.  I have a lot to say about the whole Duck Dynasty flap going on with the gay and lesbian crowd all worked up but I don’t have time to talk about it now.  So, I will just say:  stand up for what you believe, speak the truth, but do it in love.  And don’t be surprised when non-Christians act…like non-Christians.  They will know you are a believer when you pursue love.

 

 

 

 

Uh, oh!  Do you see what the next one is?  Paul says to be content, we have to pursue, or follow after, endurance or patience.  Thomas a Kempis described patience in these words: "He deserves not the name of patient who is only willing to suffer as much as he thinks proper, and for whom he pleases. The truly patient man asks (nothing) from whom he suffers...But from whomever, or how much, or how often wrong is done to him, he accepts it all as from the hand of God, and counts it gain!"

 

Did you catch that?  He accepts it as coming from God.  If God is truly in control then your lack of patience in anything is really a lack of patience with God.  To be content, we have to be patient with God, knowing that He loves us and wants more than anything for us to be like Him.  Because, as we have already learned, when we are godly…we are content.

 

And Paul ends this list with the word “gentleness”.  We are to be gentle if we are to be content.  It’s sort of like the chicken or the egg question.  Is a person content because they are gentle or are you gentle because you are content?  I don’t know but they obviously go hand in hand.  And do you know where gentleness comes from?  It comes from confidence.

 

Some people might think it’s just the opposite, that a gentle person is a scared person, but that’s not true at all.  A gentle person has confidence, not in themselves necessarily, but in the fact that they are a child of the one true King and as such they are highly favored and greatly loved, protected and provided for.  And no matter what comes their way, they don’t have to get upset and call names and throw a fit because God is at work in their life, giving what they need and taking away what is not needed to make that person more like Him.  And when you realize all of that, how can you not be content?

 

Let me end with this one last point.  We have seen that we are to flee from the love of money and possessions and those they do not make a person content.  But that contentment comes from following after things that make us more like Jesus.  And lastly, we are to fight the good fight of the faith as he says in verse 12.

Do you think of this life as a fight?  Ephesians 6:12 says that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against Satan and his schemes.  People we should be gentle and loving with.  Satan we have to fight.  And every fight is a struggle.  It’s a battle.  There are no time outs, no vacations and you have to put out some effort or you will lose that hard-earned contentment.

 

The good news is that it’s really God’s fight.  That same passage in Ephesians never says we are to attack or do anything except to prepare ourselves and then to stand.  Stand behind God and His Word.  Stand on the promise of contentment that comes from serving God and not yourself this holiday season.

 

In the fifth century, a man named Arenius determined to live a holy life. So he abandoned the conforms of Egyptian society to follow an austere lifestyle in the desert. Yet whenever he visited the great city of Alexandria, he spent time wandering through its bazaars. Asked why, he explained that his heart rejoiced at the sight of all the things he didn't need. http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/c/contentment.htm

 

Do you know what God wants for Christmas this year?  He wants you to be more like Him.  And that does not happen sitting in front of a new TV or iPad or iAnything.  There’s nothing wrong with those things.  There’s nothing wrong with having nice things or lots of stuff.  And not having all that stuff doesn’t necessarily make you content.  Only a growing relationship with Jesus will ever do that.  It’s not about the stuff.  It’s about Jesus.

 

Hank the Shepherd (Sunday night)

Have you ever had a crazy dream? A dream that seems so real but too crazy to have really happened? I want to tell you about a night I thought I must surely be dreaming, but it really happened.

My name is Hank. Hank the shepherd. I’m one of the shepherds mentioned in the second chapter of the book of Luke, verses eight through twenty. My name is not in the Bible and I’m not terribly important in the scheme of things and yet I had something wonderful happen to me many years ago. Allow me to tell that story in my own words.

Being a shepherd is hardly glamorous work. It is long hours and low pay and we are generally looked down upon by most people. I do not have much education nor much money and most of the time I smell like a sheep. One can see that with all of that going for me that I do not have many close friends.

There have been a few of us shepherds to go on to bigger and better things with our lives. King David is probably the most notable example. But most shepherds live and die in poverty and obscurity and to be honest that was fine with me. I never expected anything of note to ever happen in my life. I had gone to work when I was very young to support my mother when my father died and shepherding was the only thing I could do.

They were not even my own sheep. A man hired me to take care of his sheep but I took my job very seriously. During the day we would let the sheep graze on open land but at night we would round them up and put them in a makeshift corral and we would guard them there.

Nighttime was when thieves and wolves would come out so we would sit in the doorway of the corral and protect the sheep with our bodies. The secret was to have another shepherd there with you at night to talk to you. Not only did it keep you from getting bored and falling asleep but the noise kept away the thieves and wolves.

The other shepherds and I would talk about anything and everything during the night as one can imagine. Some of the other guys liked to talk about God and religion But I was not much into that. I had a hard time believing that there was more to this life than eating, sleeping and sheep.

The ironic thing about this one special night was that some of the other guys and I had just been discussing some of the prophecy in scripture about the coming of the Christ. They had been sharing with me that several prophets had predicted Christ’s birth. Moses, Micah and Isaiah had all predicted the coming of the Christ and that could be something I could get excited about if only I could really believe it.

They told me about the passage in Isaiah chapter seven that says, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Also, Isaiah chapter nine says, A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever and Prince Who Brings Peace. The authority of his rule will continue to grow. The peace he brings will never end. He will rule on David's throne and over his kingdom. He will make the kingdom strong and secure. His rule will be based on what is fair and right. It will last forever. The Lord's great love will make sure that happens. He rules over all.

That passage says that Christ will reign on David’s throne! I like that. I can relate somewhat to David because he was a shepherd - a lowly shepherd. Then in the fifth chapter of Micah it says that the baby will be born in Bethlehem . That is where I am from. That is my hometown! I started to feel some hope where previously there had been just despair.

We were, in fact, camped just outside of Bethlehem that night. I will never forget it. It was a beautiful, quiet, starry night. Some of the others were talking and I heard a noise. It started out like a low hum and gradually built up to a sound like a huge herd of horses were stampeding across the hills.

My first concern was for the sheep and so I stood up and listened and waited. On a typical night the most exciting thing to happen might be a shooting star so one can imagine how shocked I was when a bright light flashed and an angel was right in front of me.

I thought it must surely mean I was about to die! My heart was pounding, my knees almost failed to hold me up. I thought I should avert my eyes but I could not quit staring at this incredible creature.
The first thing out of his mouth was, “Do not be afraid!” Easy for him to say! One minute I am counting stars and the next minute I am face to face with Gabriel himself. And yet, while he was an intimidating and exciting creature, huge, powerful and stunning, he was at the same time strangely calming. He was like a good military commander who knows what is going on and knows what to do. I felt immediately like I could trust him.

He said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people”. He could have stopped right there. He could have said no more and I would have been thrilled! “For all the people” included me! Nobody had ever included me and here I am being included to an invitation by no less than an angel of the Lord!

The angel continued, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Before I could catch my breath, and to my continued amazement, more and more angels appeared. Millions and millions of angels dressed all in white and with a glow like the sun spread from one horizon to the other and they began singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” They were the brightest, loudest most perfect celestial choir and I was the audience.
Over and over again they sang “Glory to God in the highest!” Gloria in excelsis deo! “Glory to God, Glory to God!” I cried. I laughed. I sang with them! I worshipped. I hoped it would never end.

It felt like a dream but it was real. When the angels left I could not wait to accept Gabriel’s invitation to find the baby so we all left the sheep and ran into Bethlehem. I think I expected it to be easier to find the baby. After the unplanned angelic choir program I expected there to be long lines of people crowding to see a baby king laying in purple robes with bright lights and flying angels but there was none of that.

When we finally found the baby he was just…a baby. His parents were pleasant but looked a bit overwhelmed like every parent feels the first day and when we told them everything that had happened to us I was afraid they might not believe it. Joseph thanked us and Mary smiled with a mix of pride and gratefulness.

There is another passage in Isaiah chapter 61 that says, The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.
I feel like that passage might have been written about me. I could not keep from telling other people about what I had seen and heard that day. I wanted everyone to know about the Christ. I did not know much about this baby Jesus but I knew that he was the savior and I needed a savior. I needed the Prince of peace in my life.

The time in which I lived was undergoing what they called the ”pax Romana” or Roman peace which was a good thing in that we were not involved in any war at the time but I had no peace in my own heart. In the quiet times in the field with my sheep I often felt like there must be more to this life! The starry nights and snow-covered mountains fairly screamed of a divine creator but I had no joy and no peace in my heart until I met Jesus.

One more passage from the book of Isaiah chapter forty: He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Being a shepherd has its rewards sometimes. Sheep often stray off and are easily in danger of wild animals or malicious people but when I find them safe and bring them back to the herd I know it is for their good. It lets me relate to other shepherds like David but I now realize I have a greater connection with the Good Shepherd since that special night in Bethlehem all those years ago.

I will never know why God chose to reveal himself to me the way He did or why He wants me to have a relationship with Him like He does but I know now that I have that peace and joy that He promises as well as life forever with Him in Heaven and I will continue to celebrate that as the true meaning of Christmas and the meaning of my life every day.

“Christmas Contentment” 1 Timothy 6:6-8

I have said before that I think it is important to give credit where credit is due and today I want to give credit…to McDonalds.  I happen to like McDonalds and I enjoy the food.  I don’t want to eat there every day but I nearly always have a good experience there.  And that is not an accident.  They have spent millions of dollars and many years figuring out what the average person wants and they do their best to give it to you. 

Nobody goes there for great food.  They go there because the food is good enough and it’s fast and relatively cheap.  That’s what people want.  I’m in a hurry so fill me up fast and cheap.  Except for the kids.  And McDonalds knows what kids want too.  What do all kids want when they go there?  Besides the slide and stuff, they want a “Happy Meal”.  And it is absolutely genius on the part of Mickey D’s because I don’t know how much a Happy Meal costs but I’m pretty sure it’s not worth it.  But they sell billions of them.

I was in there the other day and I watched Dad buy Junior a Happy Meal.  The kid opens it up and totally ignores the burger and fries and goes straight for the toy.  He opens it up, and I can’t see what it is but I can tell you it was cheap and, sure enough, after about 3 minutes, it broke.  “Waaa!  I want another Happy Meal, Daddy!”  The kid had barely touched his nuggets and had eaten about 3 fries and he already wanted another Happy Meal because his toy broke. That’s genius from a marketing prospective.

But how ridiculous of that kid!  I mean, isn’t he smart enough to know that he’s being a sucker, falling for the old cheap toy in the overpriced meal trick?  And you would think they would learn, but no.  Every time they get a toy that won’t even last long enough to make it home but they always want it.  And then they can’t believe it broke and start crying when it does what it was designed to do.  Only a kid would be so foolish as to think that material possessions could bring lasting happiness, right? 

Only a kid would be so naïve as to think that happiness would really come with the accumulation of stuff.   My point is hopefully obvious that we as adults do the same thing.  Our Happy Meals just cost more and out toys sometimes even need insurance.  But we still don’t learn the lesson. 

Let me ask you a question.  Do you believe what the Bible says?  Do you really believe it?  Do you believe every word to the point you would stake your life on it?  Would you stake your eternity on it?  Would you stake your happiness and contentment on it? 

And of all the people in the Bible, who do you trust the most?  Would it be Jesus?  So, if you believe the Bible and you trust Jesus then listen to these words written in red in Luke 12:15.  “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all greed, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  That should get lots of “Amens” because it’s easy to amen when you aren’t getting your toes stepped on, right?  When the guy behind you is getting his toes stepped on, you say amen real loud, don’t you?

The problem is that greed is a lot like pride.  Nobody thinks they have a problem with it but they all know lots of people who do.  And it has always been that way and that is why Jesus tells us to be on guard against it. 

I want us to look at another passage in another book of the Bible written by another pretty reputable guy.  One might think that the books of Timothy were written by Timothy but they were actually written by Paul to his young friend Timothy.  And the 2 books of Timothy and the book of Titus are called the “pastoral epistles” or letters to pastors, since Timothy and Titus both had pastoral duties in the church.

Paul is writing to these men but also to the rest of the church and even to us today to tell us what is expected, not only of pastors, but in the church.  In the 6^th chapter of 1 Timothy, the subject of money and stuff, or possessions, comes up and I thought it would be appropriate and helpful to us to read this here at the Christmas season.  So, turn to 1 Timothy 6:6-8. 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” 

We have all heard the stories or at least seen the cartoons about some guy wanting to know the secret of life or the meaning of life and so he climbs to the top of a mountain to ask the Dalai Lama or some Hindu swampy swami or something.  And all he had to do is read this passage.  It’s right there.  Because, what is the goal of most people’s lives?  To have enough to be happy or content.

Paul says here, “Got it!  Found it!  You can quit looking.”  But how does he do that?  How can he be content with just food and clothing?  By the way, that word translated clothing actually means “covering” and can include a house or shelter of some kind.  But if that is how Paul intended it, it would be ironic since neither he nor Jesus had any kind of house to live in. 

No, I think Paul was able to say he was content with just clothes and food.  He proved that we don’t even have to have shelter of our own.  God will even provide that.  Some of you here might be able to relate to that too.  When he learned that his house had been destroyed by fire, John Wesley exclaimed, "The Lord's house burned. One less responsibility for me!"  To be able to truthfully say that is the very definition of contentment. 

But I want us to see that contentment like Paul and John Wesley had is obtainable for us as well.  But I want us to see what affects our contentment.  Our contentment is affected by how we look back.  It is affected by how we look forward.  But it is not affected by the present. 

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe, the great commentator and Bible scholar once said, “Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you. We must learn from the past but not live in the past.”

That is perfect advice for this passage.  In verse 7, Paul says that we have brought nothing into this world.  We can look back and see exactly what he is talking about, of course.  When we were born we didn’t own anything.  We couldn’t do anything except the most basic of bodily functions.  And, yet, look where God has brought you. 

And you know, in the scheme of things, not much has really changed.  We can do a little bit more but we are still pretty helpless when it comes to most things.  We can’t stop time or increase space.  Can you adjust the brightness of a sunrise or warm the temperature of the ocean?  Despite what Al Gore says, no, you can’t.  We can’t even change the attitude of the crotchety old neighbor next door.  And, yet, look where God has brought you. 

God is in control of all of that and when I think of how God has protected and provided for me, it makes me content.  When I understand that really all that I can do; the only real choice I can make in this life is to be obedient or not and that other than that, God is in control, I am content.  I can be content with what I have because I know that the Creator and Sustainer and Controller of the universe knows me and loves me and wants to have a relationship with me and has for 46 years given me everything I needed to be here doing what I am supposed to do, then I can be content. 

It’s why Paul said in Philippians that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstance he was in.  He knew that God was in control and when he looked back he could see that God had always provided everything Paul needed to be the man God wanted him to be.  Of all the people in the world who could have reason not to be content it would be Paul.  And yet I can only remember one time in all of his letters does he ever request anything more than prayer.  One time he asked them to bring his books and his coat to him in prison.

Some of us can look back and see that more stuff does not mean more contentment.  My dad loves to tell the story of when he bought a little camper trailer.  With 3 kids, he needed some place to get away and study or just get away and so he saved up and bought this little trailer.  It needed a little bit of work so he spent some more money and time.  Then he needed a better hitch on the car – more time and money. 

Then some neighbor kids got in and started messing around so he had to upgrade the locks.  He had to keep an eye on it all the time, getting up in the middle of the night to check on it if it stormed.  It was just one thing after another.  He finally got tired of all that and sold it and never felt such contentment as when it pulled out of the driveway.  Looking back, we can see that more stuff doesn’t bring contentment but seeing how God has always provided does. 

So, our contentment is not only affected by looking backward, it is also affected by looking forward.  Paul says in verse 7 that we take nothing out of this world.  We have all heard the jokes about how you never see a U-Haul on a hearse.  What we have to look forward to has nothing to do with what we have in this world.  Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” 

James 4 says this life is a wisp of smoke.  It’s all we know right now and it seems like it takes forever but it’s as transient as a shadow, Job says.    Psalm 39:4 says, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.”  And all of that would bum you out if you didn’t have something to look forward to.  How could you be content if you just saw the situation you were in and the only good thing to be said was that soon you were going to die?

2 Corinthians 5 says, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling.”  I have an idea that if we knew more about what heaven was like then we would groan all the more, longing to be there.  We can be content here and now knowing that we have then and there to look forward to. 

We know that in this life we brought nothing into it and God provided everything we needed.  How much more will we enter Heaven completely empty-handed and have everything there?  I Thessalonians 4 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.…” 

And do you know that we are supposed to be looking forward to that?  Colossians 3 says, “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”  What I don’t know about Heaven is more than what I do know but it doesn’t keep me from looking forward to it and when I look forward to Heaven, it makes me content. 

My knowledge of that life is small,

The eye of faith is dim,

But it's enough that Christ knows all,

And I shall be with him. - Richard Baxter 

I can look back and see how God has always protected and provided and I can look forward to when this wisp of a life is over because I have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus.  I can look back and be content and I can look forward and be content.  But my contentment is not affected by the present and I’ll tell you why.  Because the present…is pretty nasty. 

I don’t mean right here and right now.  This is the high point of my week.  I love being a part of this church.  But this life and this world is nasty.  The Mayo Clinic staff wrote a piece on how to be content and it caught my eye.  It was good; giving some tips on how to be content, like: find your purpose and show gratitude.  But the very last sentence said, “Focus on the positives in the present moment, instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.” 

I like the part about not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, although, like I said a healthy way of looking backward and forward can also make you content.  But what about that part that says to focus on the positives in the present moment? 

“Oh, I know your house just burned down and you lost everything you own, but just look at the positives in the present moment.”

“I know your wife just left you for another woman but look at the positives.” 

“I know your kids are on crack, you have no money and no place to stay but look at the bright side.”

You might think I’m being way over the top with those examples but I’m not.  Almost every week I get a phone call or a visit from people going through these very things and here lately I have been nearly overwhelmed by people asking me if our church can help them because they have nothing.  They have no money, no food, no shelter and only the clothes on their back.  Should I tell them to be content by looking at the positives of their situation? 

Or should I tell them that #1 – our church will help them and #2 that they can be content by remembering what God has done for them in the past and by looking forward to what He will do in the future?  But I always have to tell them that just like every good deal, there is a catch.  The catch is found in verse 6.  Do you see it there? 

Godliness with contentment is great gain.  It doesn’t just say to be content by looking backward and forward.  It doesn’t even say that everybody can be content.  It says that godliness is the key.  Godliness is to be like God; to be of God; to be a child of God.  You become godly when you start your relationship with Him through His Son Jesus.  Godliness mixed with looking back and looking forward, in spite of current circumstances leads to contentment. 

And no where in there does it mention getting more stuff.  In fact, that same Mayo Clinic paper said that “Only 10 percent or so of the variation in people's reports of happiness can be explained by differences in their circumstances.”  In other words, your happiness might go up 10% if you got everything you ever wanted.  That’s from a clinical study of the subject but I can tell you from scripture and from first-hand knowledge that acquiring material possessions is a trap. 

Trey Pittman kept trying to get me to go shopping with him on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and it reminded me of what I did last year.  I refuse to get up in the middle of the night to fight crowds even for a great deal but I decided to look for a TV online last year.  My TV is pretty old and I thought if I could get one pretty cheap I might splurge. 

So, I went to Walmart.com or somewhere and started looking for TV’s and sure enough I found some great deals.  I had a budget and found what I wanted but then right next to that was a bigger TV for just a little more money.  Well, you know, if I can spend this much I can spend just a little more.  Oh, wait, look at that!  A 55 inch for just a little bit more.  Ok, look at that.  I can get a 66 inch for a really good deal.  Look how much they have discounted it.  Ooh!  Almost as much as that 70 inch that would really look good in my house.  Then I can get HD and I can get some movies and I can get…wait!  Stop! 

I got caught up in the trap right there on the website and I just had to get off the computer completely.  I went and looked at my old TV and realized how foolish I had been.  I didn’t need a new TV at all.  Mine works just fine and if I had a nicer one I would probably just spend more time wasted in front of it.

Philip Parham tells the story of a rich industrialist who was disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily beside his boat. "Why aren't you out there fishing?" he asked.  "Because I've caught enough fish for today," said the fisherman.  "Why don't you catch more fish than you need?' the rich man asked.  "What would I do with them?"  "You could earn more money," came the impatient reply, "and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you'd have a fleet of boats and be rich like me."  The fisherman asked, "Then what would I do?"  "You could sit down and enjoy life," said the industrialist.  "What do you think I'm doing now?" the fisherman replied as he looked placidly out to sea. (http://www.sermonillustrations.com/default.html) 

Our contentment does not hinge on what we have or don’t have in the present.  As believers, we can look back and see what God has done or we can look forward to what He will do in the future.  That’s the lesson Paul would have us to learn at this time of year especially.