Title: Have We Accomplished Enough?
Text: Luke 12:16-21
Introduction
Church, we have had a good year. God has allowed us to accomplish, and even surpass, all of the goals we set for the year. Attendance is up. Giving is up. Spiritual growth is evident. We have started new ministries, and reinvigorated old ones. We have successfully navigated another hectic holiday season, and here we are at the last Sunday of the year, patting ourselves on the back for what we have accomplished. The old year, with all of its successes, is behind us. The new year lies ahead. So I ask you today, have we accomplished enough?
The temptation now will be to sit back and lavish in our successes. We could carelessly spend the next few months congratulating ourselves for a job well done, but that would destroy everything we have accomplished. We cannot afford to live in the past, no matter how successful it was. So I ask you again, have we accomplished enough?
The truth is, there is still much to be accomplished. The worst thing we could do right now is allow ourselves to become complacent with the ministry opportunities that are before us. There are more people in our community who need food and clothing. Many of us will face personal trials and conflicts. And, most importantly, there are untold thousands who still need to hear the gospel. We can’t become satisfied with what is in the past. We must press on into the future to accomplish even more for the kingdom of God. We may not be the biggest or the richest church in our community, but we can certainly be the best church we can be.
Illustration: Doing Your Best Is More Important Than Being The Best
Cathy Rigby was a member of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team in the 1972 Olympics at Munich, and she had only one goal in mind—to win a gold medal. She had trained hard over a long period.
On the day she was scheduled to perform, she prayed for the strength and the control to get through her routine without making mistakes. She was tense with determination not to let herself or her country down. She performed well, but when it was all over and the winners were announced, her name was not among them. Cathy was crushed.
Afterward, she joined her parents in the stands all set for a good cry. As she sat down, she could barely manage to say, “I’m sorry. I did my best.”
“You know that, and I know that,” her mother said, “and I’m sure God knows that too.”
Then, Cathy recalls, her mother said 10 words that she has never forgotten: “Doing your best is more important than being the best.” (Soundings, Vol. D, # 7, pp. 1-2. Cited online at http://www.bible.org.)
Note: Our goal as a church is to be the best we can be. That measure can only be found internally. We are not competing with any other person, or any other church.
Quote: We have got but one life here...It pays, no matter what comes after it, to try and do things, to accomplish things in this life, and not merely to have a soft and pleasant time. (Theodore Roosevelt. Cited on-line at http://www.higherpraise.com.)
I. IS OUR BARN OVERFLOWING? Luke 12:16-17
Note: If we become complacent, we will be unprepared to face the storms that lurk beyond the horizon.
Illustration: Facing The Storm
In 1969, in Pass Christian, Mississippi, a group of people were preparing to have a "hurricane party" in the face of a storm named Camille. Were they ignorant of the dangers? Could they have been overconfident? Did they let their egos and pride influence their decision? We’ll never know.
What we do know is that the wind was howling outside the posh Richelieu Apartments when Police Chief Jerry Peralta pulled up sometime after dark. Facing the Beach less than 250 feet from the surf, the apartments were directly in the line of danger. A man with a drink in his hand came out to the second-floor balcony and waved. Peralta yelled up, "You all need to clear out of here as quickly as you can. The storm’s getting worse." But as others joined the man on the balcony, they just laughed at Peralta’s order to leave. "This is my land," one of them yelled back. "If you want me off, you’ll have to arrest me."
Peralta didn’t arrest anyone, but he wasn’t able to persuade them to leave either. He wrote down the names of the next of kin of the twenty or so people who gathered there to party through the storm. They laughed as he took their names. They had been warned, but they had no intention of leaving.
It was 10:15 p.m. when the front wall of the storm came ashore. Scientists clocked Camille’s wind speed at more than 205 miles-per-hour, the strongest on record. Raindrops hit with the force of bullets, and waves off the Gulf Coast crested between twenty-two and twenty-eight feet high.
News reports later showed that the worst damage came at the little settlement of motels, go-go bars, and gambling houses known as Pass Christian, Mississippi, where some twenty people were killed at a hurricane party in the Richelieu Apartments. Nothing was left of that three-story structure but the foundation; the only survivor was a five-year-old boy found clinging to a mattress the following day. (Christian Values Qs Quarterly, Spring/Summer 1994, p. 10.)
A. My Eternal Treasure Is In Heaven. Matthew 6:19-21
Illustration: Emptiness
One of the most common refrains we hear from those who have reached the pinnacle of success is that of the emptiness that still stalks their lives, all their successes notwithstanding. That sort of confession is at least one reason the question of meaning is so central in life’s pursuit. Although none like to admit it, what brings purpose in life for many, particularly in countries rich in enterprising opportunities, is a higher standard of living, even if it means being willing to die for it. Yet, judging by the remarks of some who have attained those higher standards, there is frequently an admission of disappointment. After his second Wimbledon victory, Boris Becker surprised the world by admitting his great struggle with suicide.
Jack Higgins, the renowned author of “The Eagle Has Landed,” has said that what he had known as a small boy was this: “When you get to the top, there’s nothing there.” (Ravi Zacharias, Can Man Live Without God, (Word Pub., Dallas: 1994), p. 56. Cited online at http://www.bible.org.)
1. Am I building an earthly treasure that will be temporary, or a heavenly treasure that will be eternal?
2. I must guard my heavenly treasure much more fervently than my earthly treasure.
B. Do I Realize The Value Of My Eternal Treasure?
Illustration: The Star of David
Unless you subscribe to The Atlanta Journal Constitution, you probably missed the story that was in the May 17, 1987 edition.
A rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, then sells them to collectors or jewelry makers. He knows enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, but he’s no expert. He leaves the appraising of his rocks to other people. As much as he enjoys the work, it doesn’t always pay the bills. He occasionally moonlights, cutting wood to help put bread on the table.
While on a dig twenty years ago, Rob found a rock he described as "purdy and big." He tried unsuccessfully to sell the specimen, and according to the Constitution, kept the rock under his bed or in his closet. He guessed the blue chunk could bring as much as $500 dollars, but he would have taken less if something urgent came up like paying his power bill. That’s how close Rob came to hawking for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found. The blue rock that Rob had abandoned to the darkness of a closet two decades ago -- now known as "The Star of David" sapphire -- weighs nearly a pound, and could easily sell for $2.75 million. (John MacArthur, Grace to You Newsletter, April 15, 1993.)
1. The reason many Christians are not laying up treasure in Heaven is because they still do not realize the value of their eternal treasure.
2. They have become so caught up in earthly pursuits that they have neglected the things that are eternal.
II. HAVE WE REACHED THE PLACE OF CONTENTMENT? Luke 12:18-19
Illustration: Paderewski
A certain amount of permanent dissatisfaction with one’s talents is probably a healthy thing. Those who are totally satisfied with their work will never reach their potential. The great pianist, Paderewski, achieved tremendous popularity in America. Yet, said Paderewski, “There have been a few moments when I have known complete satisfaction, but only a few. I have rarely been free from the disturbing realization that my playing might have been better.”
The world considered Paderewski’s playing near perfection, but he remained unsatisfied and kept constantly at the job of improving his talent. (Bits and Pieces, November, 1989, p. 16. Cited online at http://www.bible.org.)
A. We Must Keep Pressing Toward The Goal Because Our Task Is Not Complete. Philippians 3:12-14
1. Complacency will cause us to stop working God’s plan for us as a church.
2. If we become satisfied with the status quo we stop dreaming.
3. The God we serve is a big God, capable of blessing us beyond what we can even imagine.
4. To become satisfied with the way things are is to tell God that we want no more of His blessings.
B. We Must Keep Pressing Toward The Goal Because Everyone Has Not Been Reached. Romans 10:14
Illustration: Tempted To Be Complacent
Ronald Meredith, in his book “Hurryin’ Big for Little Reasons,” describes one quiet night in early spring:
Suddenly out of the night came the sound of wild geese flying. I ran to the house and breathlessly announced the excitement I felt. What is to compare with wild geese across the moon? It might have ended there except for the sight of our tame mallards on the pond. They heard the wild call they had once known. The honking out of the night sent little arrows of prompting deep into their wild yesterdays. Their wings fluttered a feeble response. The urge to fly—to take their place in the sky for which God made them—was sounding in their feathered breasts, but they never raised from the water. The matter had been settled long ago. The corn of the barnyard was too tempting! Now their desire to fly only made them uncomfortable. Temptation is always enjoyed at the price of losing the capacity for flight. (Bits and Pieces, May 28, 1992, p. 15. Cited online at http://www.bible.org.)
III. ARE WE READY TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT? Luke 12:20-21; Hebrews 4:13
Illustration: Looking For Loopholes
Just before the death of actor W.C. Fields, a friend visited Fields’ hospital room and was surprised to find him thumbing through a Bible. Asked what he was doing with a Bible, Fields replied, "I’m looking for loopholes." (Source Unknown. Cited on-line at http://www.christianglobe.com.)
A. We Must Give An Account Of Our Speech. Matthew 12:36-37
1. Do we talk about ministry or perform ministry?
2. Do our actions match our words?
B. We Must Give An Account Of Our Stewardship. Luke 16:1-2
1. We are now stewards of God.
2. We must account for our time, our talent, our treasure, and our testimony.
3. One day our stewardship will be over, and we will have to give an account of what we have accomplished for the Lord. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
C. We Must Give An Account Of Ourselves. Romans 14:10-13
1. We will give an account for how we treated our brothers and sisters in Christ. Matthew 25:31-46
2. When a brother falls, we are to restore them, not judge them. Galatians 6:1-3
Illustration: God Is No Fool
Once, a man said, “If I had some extra money, I’d give it to God, but I have just enough to support myself and my family.”
And the same man said, “If I had some extra time, I’d give it to God, but every minute is taken up with my job, my family, my clubs, and what have you—every single minute.”
And the same man said, “If I had a talent I’d give it to God, but I have no lovely voice; I have no special skill; I’ve never been able to lead a group; I can’t think cleverly or quickly, the way I would like to.”
And God was touched, and although it was unlike him, God gave that man money, time, and a glorious talent. And then He waited, and waited, and waited.....And then after a while, He shrugged His shoulders, and He took all those things right back from the man, the money, the time and the glorious talent.
After a while, the man sighed and said, “If I only had some of that money back, I’d give it to God. If I only had some of that time, I’d give it to God. If I could only rediscover that glorious talent, I’d give it to God.”
And God said, “Oh, shut up.”
And the man told some of his friends, “You know, I’m not so sure that I believe in God anymore.” (From God is No Fool, by Lois Cheney, 1969, Abingdon Press. Cited online at http://www.bible.org.)
Conclusion
Have we accomplished enough? No
Will we ever reach a point where we will have accomplished enough? No
Are we satisfied with the status quo? We will have to answer that from our own hearts.
Do we believe that what we are doing as a church is “good enough?” No matter how successful we have been, we can always improve.
Are we willing to step to the forefront with the Lord Jesus Christ and say, “Let’s get this church built?”
Quote: Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing. (John Henry Jowett. Cited on-line at http://www.higherpraise.com.)
Illustration: Responsibility And Accomplishment
Responsibility means playing by the rules. Some people say rules are meant to be broken. I wasn’t brought up that way. Some players like to talk trash, thinking they can get into somebody’s head. Some play dirty. And then others like to play by the rules and hustle. That’s me.
As a rookie, you get a lot of calls you think are bad. But I’ve always tried to show respect to the officials. They have to deep things in control, and they’re dealing with 10 grown men going at each other. I haven’t always agreed with their calls, but for the most part, they make good calls.
To sum it up, I was taught if you work hard and are responsible for your own actions, if you play by the rules, you can accomplish anything. (NBA Star, Grant Hill, Responsibility, USA Weekend, Nov. 17-19, 1995, 8.)
