Humpty Dumpty Revisited
(Acts 3:1-10)
Introduction:
We all remember the story of Humpty Dumpty that goes like this…
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
But did you know that there’s more to the story?
Not only did all the King’s horses and all the King’s men try to help Humpty out, “soon the King himself heard of Humpty’s fate. News about him had reached all the way to the palace, and the King was deeply disturbed. So setting aside his royal finery, disguised as a common peasant, the King slipped unnoticed through the majestic palace gates and into the rough-and-tumble street life of his kingdom.
“The King meandered through the back streets and alleys in search of Humpty. After several days and nights the persistent monarch found him. Humpty’s shattered body was scattered over a ten-foot circle amidst the broken glass and flattened beer cans of the back alley.
“Though weak from hi searching, the King was overjoyed at the sight of Humpty. He ran to his side and cried, ‘Humpty! It is I – your King! I have powers greater than those of my horses and men who failed to put you together again. Be at peace. I am here to help!’
“‘Leave me alone,’ Humpty’s mouth retorted. ‘I’ve gotten used to this new way of life. I kind of like it now.’
“‘But – ’ was all the King could get out before Humpty continued.
“‘I tell you, I’m fine. I like it here. That trash can over there… the way the sun sparkles on the broken glass. This must be the garden spot of the world!’
“The King tried again. ‘I assure you my kingdom has much more to offer than this back alley – there are green mountains, rolling surfs, exciting cities….’
“But Humpty would hear none of it. And the saddened King returned to the palace.
“A week later one of Humpty’s eyes rolled skyward only to see once again the concerned face of the King standing over his fractured pieces.
“‘I’ve come to help,’ firmly stated the King.
“‘Look, leave me alone, will you?’ said Humpty. ‘I’ve just seen my psychiatrist, and he assures me that I’m doing a fine job of coping with my environment as it is. You’re a cop-out. A man has to deal with life as it comes. I’m a realist.’
“‘But wouldn’t you rather walk?’ asked the King.
“‘Look,’ Humpty’s mouth replied, ‘once I get up and start walking I’ll have to stay up and keep walking. At this point in my life I’m not ready to make a commitment like that. So, if you’ll excuse me – you’re blocking my sun.’
“Reluctantly the King turned once again and walked through the streets of his kingdom back to the palace.
“It was over a year before the King ventured to return to Humpty’s side.
“But, sure enough, one bright morning one of Humpty’s ears perked up at the sure, steady strides of the King. This time he was ready. Humpty’s eye turned toward the tall figure just as his mouth managed the words, ‘My King!’
“Immediately the King fell to his knees on the glass-covered pavement. His strong, knowing hands gently began to piece together Humpty’s fragments. After some time, his work completed, the King rose to full height, pulling up with him the figure of a strong young man.
“The two walked hand in hand throughout the kingdom. Together they stood atop lush green mountains. They ran together along deserted beaches. They laughed and joked together as they strolled down the streets of the gleaming cities of the King’s domain. This went on forever. And to the depth, breadth, and height of their friendship there was no end.
“Once while walking together down the sidewalk in one of the King’s cities, Humpty overheard a remark that made his heart leap with both the joy of his new life and the bitter memory of the back alley. Someone said, ‘Say, who are those two men?’
“Another replied, ‘Why the one on the left is old Humpty Dumpty. I don’t know the one on the right – but they sure look like brothers’” (Vic Pentz, Stories for the Heart (Multnomah: Sisters Oregon, 1996), 28-30).
Today we come to the phrase in our definition of ministry that reminds us that we must be loving channels of God’s grace.
We all come across people like Humpty at times scattered throughout our lives; people who need help, who need love and care, but who refuse it and continue to live in desperate situations.
There are those who are like hedgehogs; those who – for whatever reason – when you get too close will stick you with their sharp, painful quills. There are those who will only let you only so close to them before they lash out in anger and bitterness, and they may even reject you vehemently and sometimes even violently.
I want us to consider Wiersbe’s definition of ministry/service again today, and I want us to dissect even further the aspect of becoming loving channels of God’s grace. Listen to his definition again,
“Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.” - Warren W. Wiersbe
Let’s reflect once again on our passage of scripture from Act 3:1-10 as we consider what it means to be loving channels of God’s grace:
Acts 3:1-10 (NLT)
Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. [2] As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. [3] When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
[4] Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!" [5] The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift. [6] But Peter said, "I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"
[7] Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened. [8] He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
[9] All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. [10] When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!
Wiersbe writes, “Serving God means working with people; and people not only have problems, but they can be problems because of the way they deal with their own needs. They grow invisible protective quills to keep others at a distance; and unless you really love these people, you can never help them” (On Being a Servant of God, Baker Books: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1993, 14). It’s because of this it is vitally important that we become loving channels of God’s grace and mercy. But what does this really mean?
In order to understand this more fully we must realize that…
1. Christian love is not blind.
I think sometimes that we get this image of Christian love as being nothing but “fluff” – that we view Christian love as somewhat sissified and silly. But no where do we encounter this kind of love in the Bible. We don’t encounter a love that is ignorant and void of all knowledge and wisdom.
However, we do encounter a smart love; we encounter a sacrificial love full of wisdom and truth.
When we say that “Christian love is not blind,” what we really mean is that Christian love doesn’t dismiss the evil and terror in this world. It doesn’t turn a blind eye to all the tragedy and pain. Christian love isn’t satisfied with leaving people in a suffering state of being, but is concerned about leading people to the truth that can set them free… completely free.
As we consider this, we can note that Paul prayed for the believers in Philippi that their “love for each other would overflow more and more, and that they would keep on growing in their knowledge and understanding.” He didn’t pray that they would grow more stupid in their love, but that as their love overflowed for one another, their knowledge and understanding would also grow.
Jesus also had an encounter with a young man that he loved – the rich young ruler – but he loved him enough not to lower his standards just to make it easier for the young man to become one of his followers. Listen to what happens…
Mark 10:17-22 (NLT)
As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?"
[18] "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good. [19] But as for your question, you know the commandments: ’Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.’ "
[20] "Teacher," the man replied, "I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a child."
[21] Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. "You lack only one thing," he told him. "Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." [22] At this, the man’s face fell, and he went sadly away because he had many possessions.
Wiersbe writes, “It isn’t enough for us merely to love suffering people and want to help them. We must also love the truth that God has given us. If truth and love contradict each other, something is amiss” (On Being a Servant of God, 15).
I’m sure that many of you at this point in the sermon are feeling a little defeated right now. Your feeling discouraged and disappointed because your thinking, “Brandon, I don’t have what it takes to love like Jesus loves. I’m not God, and never will be. How can you expect me to love everyone fully and completely? How do you expect me to share the love of Christ with everyone I come in contact with? I try to practice Paul’s definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13 – to be patient and kind, to not be jealous or boastful or proud or rude, to not demand my own way, to not irritable or keep a record of wrongs. I try to never be glad about injustice. I try to rejoice whenever the truth wins out (even if it isn’t in my favor). I work hard on never giving up, or losing faith. I try to always be hopeful and endure every circumstance that comes my way. But, Brandon, it doesn’t always last. It’s inevitable that I mess it up sometimes.”
And here’s what I say to you… God doesn’t expect us to work something up; he doesn’t expect us to “manufacture” love. You’re only relying on your own strength if you think that you don’t measure up; because, the reality is, it’s not in what you can do, but what God can do through you that really matters. It’s truly in being a loving channel that we learn that it’s not our natural ability, but God’s supernatural ability in us that connects the grace of God with the hearts and lives of others.
2. Christian love doesn’t quit or run away.
Wiersbe again writes, “Sometimes you feel like quitting and running away, and that’s the worst thing you can do. Resigning from your church, giving up your Sunday school class, leaving the committee, or abandoning the choir will never solve the problems or meet the needs in your heart. You’ll probably meet the same situation and the same people (with different names) in the next ministry you are a part of. Why? Because God won’t let his servants run away. God is determined that his children be ‘conformed to the image of His Son,’ and he will keep working until he accomplishes His purposes” (On Being a Servant of God, 16).
The reality is, it’s human to want to run away from your problems; it’s human to want to give up when the going gets tough. And many believers have done just this. Take for instance Moses – the great leader that God used to deliver the Israelites out of slavery and into freedom through their exodus from Egypt. Moses had such a difficult time with the Israelites that he wanted to die. They had been in the desert for a while, God had been providing them food (manna which they didn’t even have to hunt or cultivate), and they began complaining of their situation to Moses…
Numbers 11:10-15 (NLT)
Moses heard all the families standing in front of their tents weeping, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated. [11] And Moses said to the Lord, "Why are you treating me, your servant, so miserably? What did I do to deserve the burden of a people like this? [12] Are they my children? Am I their father? Is that why you have told me to carry them in my arms—like a nurse carries a baby—to the land you swore to give their ancestors? [13] Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep complaining and saying, ’Give us meat!’ [14] I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! [15] I’d rather you killed me than treat me like this. Please spare me this misery!"
And what of Elijah, the mighty prophet of God in the Old Testament that stood boldly before the hundreds of prophets of Baal refuting their gods and their philosophies? Elijah ended up getting so discouraged that he ended up deserting his post and fled to the wilderness where he even asked God to let him die.
We will always meet problem people in our lives. But we must determine whether or not we allow God to use them to form us into the people he wants us to be, or whether or not to quit and run away.
If we remain patient and pray for God to increase our love and understanding for others, we will become those loving channels of God’s grace to the world around us.
Conclusion:
“There is an old story of a father who took his young son out and stood him on the railing of the back porch. He then went down, stood on the lawn, and encouraged the little fellow to jump into his arms. ‘I’ll catch you,’ the father said confidently. After a lot of coaxing, the little boy finally made the leap. When he did, the father stepped back and let the child fall to the ground. He then picked his son up, dusted him off, and dried his tears. ‘Let that be a lesson,’ he said sternly. Don’t ever trust anyone’” (Bernie May, Learning to Trust (Multnomah: Sisters Oregon, 1985), 4).
You see, we deal with people everyday that don’t trust anyone. Their philosophy is just as the father in this story. They believe just like Humpty Dumpty, that life is easier broken and a mess, than being complete and whole. It’s more difficult to maintain a course of right living in a world so full of temptations. And so, they remain content to live in the mundane; to live with their problems and keep others at a safe distance.
So, today, is your love growing in knowledge and understanding? Is your love blind, or do you see the world through the eyes of compassion – the eyes of God? And not only this, when the going gets tough – when people keep you at bay and stick you with their protective quills – do you just quit and run away in defeat, or do you continue to be loving channels of love that God has called us all to be to one another?
It takes a real man and a real woman to be a loving channel of God’s grace. Are you willing?
