Today we honor our senior adults. If I were to pick one word that describes senior adults it would be the word stable. Senior adults give stability to our church, our community, and our country. They are effective stabilizers. Do you know the definition of a stabilizer? The dictionary defines a stabilizer as any person or thing which brings stability. Stabilizers are important in many endeavors of life.
• Airplanes have tail fins, wings, and other means to stabilize them and keep them under control.
• Ships have fins and other means to stabilize them and to counteract roll.
• Chemistry has additives that stabilize substances to prevent unwanted change.
• Tanks have a gun stabilizer that helps a moving tank’s gunner to aim the gun properly.
• Psychiatrists use mood stabilizers.
• The training wheel on a bicycle is a form of stabilizer.
• Cars have a stabilizer bar to minimize the danger of rollovers. I will take this example a step further. Think about what happens to a car in a sharp turn. If you are inside the car your body gets pulled toward the outside of the turn. The same thing is happening to all the parts of the car. So the part of the car on the outside of the turn gets pushed down toward the road and the part of the car on the inside of the turn rises up. A stabilizer bar tries to keep the car’s body flat by moving force from one side of the body to another.
Each of these examples illustrates that stability is an important ingredient. Stability is vitally important. Ask the sports fans in a program that is in upheaval. Ask business leaders in a business that is in upheaval. Ask family members in a family that is in upheaval. We need stabilizers in our families, businesses, schools, government, and churches. We need Godly stabilizers that point people toward God during chaos. I want to consider what it takes to be a person who gives stability to others. This would apply to senior adults but should be a virtue in all of us.
I want to take a few minutes to look at a man who did a marvelous job of offering stability to people around him. For a text we are going to use Nehemiah 5. Nehemiah supported God’s people when they were struggling. Nehemiah’s leadership shines through when times were difficult. He was an instrument in God’s hands. Notice four qualities that distinguished Nehemiah as a stabilizer
1. A stabilizer addresses the needs of hurting people. In our text we read some important words in verse 6. It says Nehemiah became very angry when he heard their outcry. Nehemiah heard the cries of God’s people and took it to heart. He was given a heavy burden for them. They were experiencing a number of trials.
* They were struggling to secure food to feed their families. Things were so bad they had to take out a mortgage in order to buy food. (vs. 3)
* They also had to borrow money to pay taxes. (vs. 4)
* Their children were forced into slavery. (vs. 5) This still happens in our world. I read, a few weeks ago, about some parents in Southeast Asia who were selling their daughters into prostitution in order to meet their needs.
Nehemiah saw the hurt and felt the pain of his people. He was angry at injustice. In verse 6 we discover that Nehemiah was angry because of what he saw taking place. This reminds me of the occasion when Jesus became angry and cleansed the temple in Jerusalem. Why did he do this? The religious leaders were treating the house of God with disrespect. Also, they were taking advantage of the worshippers who had traveled to Jerusalem to worship. This upset Jesus.
Nehemiah’s faith motivated him to address the needs of those hurting people. It is exciting to see people who are inspired to address the needs of hurting people.
Illustration: I am reading a book about Larry Jones. Larry Jones is the founder and president of Feed The Children, an international nonprofit organization providing aid and assistance to children and families in need in the U.S. and around the world. Larry and his wife Frances started the organization in 1979. Their first office was in the basement of their home. Today, Feed The Children is one of the largest and most efficient charities in the country, consistently spending less than 15 percent on fundraising and administrative costs.
Illustration: Franklin Graham organized Samaritan’s Purse to address the needs of hurting people. For over 35 years, Samaritan’s Purse has done their utmost to follow Christ’s command by going to the aid of the world’s poor, sick, and suffering. They seek to share Jesus love with hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Illustration: A few weeks ago a man shared an inspiring testimony with me. I sold my bass boat to him. The man moved here from New Orleans. In our discussions I asked him if he attended church. He said “no”. I jokingly asked him if he had an attitude about church. He said he did. He said “I am put out with my church.” He went on to say, “You Southern Baptist shared a positive example during hurricane Katrina. When my house was torn up by the storm, you showed up and asked how you could help.” He said he would always remember that help.
Illustration: Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren, is using her far-reaching influence as a voice for the weak and vulnerable. In 2002, Warren became, in her words, “seriously disturbed” by the suffering of the millions infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Now she is challenging the worldwide Church to take on not just AIDS, but the global giants of spiritual darkness, lack of servant leaders, poverty, disease, and ignorance through a program called the P.E.A.C.E. Plan.
A stabilizer will take a stand to support wounded people. In verse 7 we discover that Nehemiah “rebuked” the “nobles and rulers.” He took a stand. We should be motivated to take a stand for hurting people. It made Nehemiah mad to see the Israelite children being sold as slaves.
2. A stabilizer is a person of character. Nehemiah’s character is observed in verse 14. Nehemiah was a governor over the land of Judah. In being a governor there were certain opportunities afforded to him. Two such opportunities are mentioned in this text. He had the opportunity to profit financially and he had the opportunity to purchase land from the struggling people. These opportunities allowed the governor to live high on the hog while others struggled to survive. Nehemiah would not partake of these opportunities when he saw his people struggling.
Any time a crisis occurs there are certain opportunities presented to those who would take advantage of hurting people. This occurred during Katrina, is occurring in Iraq, and will occur with the flood victims in the Midwest. Scavengers go in and take advantage of hurting people.
Illustration: In Aesop’s fables there is a story of a bear and two travelers. Two travelers were on the road together, when a bear suddenly appeared on the scene. Before he observed them, one made for a tree at the side of the road, and climbed up into the branches and hid there. The other was not so nimble as his companion; and, as he could not escape, he threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead. The bear came up and sniffed all around him, but he kept perfectly still and held his breath; for they say that a bear will not touch a dead body. The bear took him for a corpse, and went away. When the coast was clear, the traveler in the tree came down, and asked the other what it was the bear had whispered to him when he put his mouth to his ear. The other replied," He told me never again travel with a friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger." Misfortune tests the sincerity of friendship. -- The Book of Virtues by Wm. J. Bennett
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Gary Kins)
What we see in Nehemiah is a man who would not desert his brother. His character motivated him to stick by the hurting people.
3. A stabilizer is consistent and dependable. This is observed in verse 16. The Israelite people were in the process of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. Nehemiah did not instruct the people to work, while he sat back and took it easy. He led the way. He got out front and led by example.
As I honor our senior adults I applaud them because I know that consistency and dependability are two of their most notable characteristics. You can count on them to keep their word. You can count on them to be on time. You can count on them to be faithful. You can count on them to be consistent.
Someone wrote a piece that underscores the importance of God’s people being dependable. I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit-- trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in the Sunday school to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn I’ll be there. He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has, and will continue, to supply all of my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army and I’m marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier marching, heaven bound.
(Author unknown: Contributed to Sermon Central by Dr. C. David White)
God needs dependable people in His service. Paul displayed such dependability.
“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” II Cor. 11:24-28
4. A stabilizer seeks to honor God with his life. He is concerned with pleasing God. There is a telling phrase in verse 15. The Bible says Nehemiah did what he did “because of the fear of God.” Nehemiah indicated he did not follow the ways of the other leaders because of his relationship with God. That is a noteworthy testimony. May it always be said, we do what we do because of our relationship with God. The primary reason for our actions should be “because of the fear of God.”
Bill Hybels shares a story that illustrates this principle. Recently, I saw a letter written by a relatively new Christian to the person whose life had influenced hers. She actually lists about a dozen qualities she found contagious in the life of this older Christian. Listen to some of what she wrote: You know when we met; I began to discover a new vulnerability, a warmth, and a lack of pretense that impressed me. I saw in you a thriving spirit - no signs of internal stagnation anywhere. I could tell you were a growing person and I liked that. I saw you had strong self-esteem, not based on the fluff of self-help books, but on something a whole lot deeper. I saw that you lived by convictions and priorities and not just by convenience, selfish pleasure, and financial gain. And I had never met anyone like that before. I felt a depth of love and concern as you listened to me and didn’t judge me. You tried to understand me, you sympathized and you celebrated with me, you demonstrated kindness and generosity - and not just to me, but to other people, as well. And you stood for something. You were willing to go against the grain of society and follow what you believed to be true, no matter what people said, and no matter how much it cost you. And for those reasons and a whole host of others, I found myself really wanting what you had. Now that I’ve become a Christian, I wanted to write to tell you I’m grateful beyond words for how you lived out your Christian life in front of me. Basically, she was saying, "Thanks for being a Contagious Christian." Reading a letter like that motivates me to live as a contagious Christian too. How about you? I’ll bet you want your life to count for a whole lot more than trinkets and toys and zeros on a paycheck, too. (From Becoming A Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg. Contributed to Sermon Central by Steven Chapman)
I recently heard of four scholars who were arguing over Bible translations. One said he preferred the King James Version because of its beautiful, eloquent old English. Another said he preferred the American Standard Bible for its literalism, the way it moves the reader from passage to passage with confident feelings of accuracy from the original text. A third man preferred Moffatt because of its quaint, penetrating use of words, the turn of a phrase that captures the attention of the reader. After giving the issue further thought, the fourth scholar admitted, "I have personally preferred my mother’s translation." When the other scholars chuckled, he responded, "Yes she translated it. She translated each page of the Bible into life. It is the most convincing translation I ever saw.” Our faith is nothing and our translation of scripture nothing and out theology nothing if our convictions are not translated into LIFE and celebrated by our leaders and world.
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Michael Gibney)
In our world there is a crying need for stabilizers. These are people who are concerned with making our churches, communities, and world a better place to live. These are people who are consistent and are people of character, at work, at home, and in the market place. These are people whose highest aim is pointing others toward God and His son Jesus Christ.
