It’s a Wonderful Life
Rediscovering it this Advent Season
Because of Relationships not Money
1st Sunday of Advent 11/30/08
INTRODUCTION
There are certain clichés you hear all through your life. A number of them relate to money and how we relate to it. For example:
* It takes money to _________ ___________.
* Money ___________ ___ _______________ in his pocket.
* Money makes the _____________ ______________.
* You are _____________ without money.
While many people would believe these clichés, people who are discovering the Wonderful Life God has for us are learning some differing things about money. This Advent season we are seek to rediscover or for some discover for the first time that ’It’s a Wonderful Life." George Bailey and in the film "it’s a Wonderful Life makes a huge discovery about money. He discovers that their just might be something more important than money. Watch these clips with me.
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T.S. George Bailey discovered that . . .
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE BECAUSE OF RELATIONSHIPS NOT MONEY.
Since it’s a wonderful when relationships are valued more than money. . .
Philippians 1:3-8 helps us identify four ingredients to ensure you are valuing relationships more than money this Advent Season.
T.S. Turn with me there now.
Phil 1:3-8
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
I. Practice Affirmation
vv. 3-5
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
This is a very emotional passage.
* Paul Thanks god for them all the time.
* He thinks of them all the time
* Paul prays for them all the time.
* He is aware of joy that he has because of them.
* And he is expressing it in writing to them.
* He affirms them in their relationship with him.
* If I were a Phillippian, I’d be moved by this opening.
The power of affirmation lays the reality that we all want to know we matter and that we are appreciated by those around us. Too often we go through our lives especially with those closest to us over looking their goodness, there handwork, their patience with us. Too often we take their relationship for granted.
In the film Miss Potter, Beatrix Potter, the beloved children’s author who wrote The Tales of Peter Rabbit, receives a statement of encouragement and support from her father that proves more valuable than all of the books she would go on to sell.
The scene begins with Beatrix’s mother calling her to greet her father, who has just returned from a social club. The two women have been quarreling over the guest list for an upcoming Christmas party.
"How was your day at the club, father?" Beatrix asks as she descends the stairs.
"Interesting, as always," her father responds, beginning to notice the tension between his wife and daughter.
"Rupert," Beatrix’s mother cuts in, "we seem to have a situation. We need your resolution."
"I want to invite Norman Warren and his sister to our Christmas party," Beatrix begins, but her mother cuts in again.
"With Lady Armitage! With Sir Nigel and Sybill! A tradesman, Rupert--how will anyone have any fun?"
"He’s the gentleman who publishes my books, Father," Beatrix answers.
Rupert considers for a moment before taking the conversation in a different direction. "I have something here, Beatrix." He pulls out a copy of her book. "I went into Hatchet’s book shop, and I purchased this with good money. Now, Hugh Whittemer bearded me in the club and rattled on for hours--you know old Hugh, jowls all aflutter. His wife bought three of your books for her granddaughter’s nursery and is sending more by ship to chums in Bombay."
Rupert turns to his wife and hands her the book while saying, "Very soon the whole club was telling me of some purchase they had made of our daughter’s creation. So I thought it was time that I bought one. I went straight into Hatchet’s and put my shilling on the counter."
"I would have given you one--" Beatrix begins, but her father interrupts.
"But I wanted to buy one, like everyone else." He smiles at her. "I owe you an apology, Beatrix. When you showed me your books, all I saw was my little girl bringing me clever drawings for me to comment on. But you’re not a little girl anymore. You’re an artist--the genuine article. I would have been proud to use that word about myself, and now I’m proud of you, Beatrix."
Beatrix whispers, "Thank you, Father."
"So I don’t see any reason we cannot make a little social effort," Rupert continues, "to welcome the gentleman responsible for this blessing into our home."
Beaming, Beatrix thanks her father again and races back up the stairs.
If relationship matter more to us than money then we should be first in affirming the value we have found in those relationships. I know it can be easy to take them for granted, but celebrate your wonderful life in Christ by affirming the value of the relationships you have with others. This last week at staff meeting I ended by asking this question. Have I told you all recently that I deeply value you.
II. Extend Grace
T.S. Sometimes the stress and expectations of the holidays brings out the worst in us.
This was published in the Guardian on December 27, 2007
POLAR WORKER IN HOSPITAL AFTER CHRISTMAS FIGHT
Two men, one with a suspected broken jaw, have been airlifted from the Antarctic’s most remote research facility after an incident described as a "drunken Christmas punch-up".
The brawl happened at the US-operated Amundsen-Scott south pole station, located at the heart of the frozen continent. The station, where staff carry out a range of scientific investigations from astrophysics to seismology.
After reports of the fight reached staff at McMurdo station, headquarters of the US Antarctic program which is located on Ross Island, a US Air Force Hercules was sent to pick up the two men.
Paul gives us a example of extending grace as a way to value relationships.
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Note that Paul is implying that the good work done is by Christ Jesus is not complete. It’s still in progress.
I’m sure that Paul could have listed a number of ways that the Philippian church fell short. I know he would have been aware fo every fault. But in stead he is confident that God will continue the good work he sees being done in them.
Paul is able to show forbearance because he is confident that God is in control. God will work out anything they are lacking.
Sometimes in our relationships we get frustrated with slights and wrongs done to us. We get tired of putting up with the antics of those other imperfect people. So we get angry, we break off relationships. We pout. We hold grudges.
For some of us the Holidays are more like and invitation to a fight that as celebration of our relationships.
Imagine if this Holiday Season that if we truly value the wonderful life we have found, that just about the time we began to really lose our patience with each other. Imagine what would happen if we could extend grace more often. You may not be perfect, you may still struggle and be frustrated, but imagine what it would be like if could extend grace more often.
III. Develop Community
Paul reveals a third way we value relationships in verse 7 -- We develop community.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
What does it mean to be in community, to live in community? We have an excellent definition of it in verse seven.
There are three elements to developing community.
A. To be relationally invested in other people.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart;
B. In good times or bad
for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel
One of the great community killers is the trap of becoming merely a leech.
A leech is a parasite that attaches itself to a host and negatively impacts its life.
We have to be careful of becoming human leeches. Only seeking community--connectedness with others for what we can suck out of them.
C. Sharing life with them.
all of you share in God’s grace with me.
Developing Community is living in such a way that you develop relationships that are mutually enhancing and supportive.
Paul lived this way.
Are you developing mutually supportive relationships with others? Do you know the give and take of seeking a favor and giving favor? Do you know what it’s like to pray for others and to be prayed for? Are you live lie with others? Or do you tend to withdraw, go it alone or only seek others for what you can get out of them?
IV. Radiate Genuineness
v. 8
8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Posers, Fakers and Wannabes
Poser
A poser is someone who tries to fit into a profile they aren’t. People who try to give off the impression that they are one thing when they are really another.
Also, a poser can be one who says they can do something that they can’t.
Fake
1.) The opposite of real, genuine or proven.
2.) Sometimes applied to people who are accused of being something they are not.
Wannabe
Poser, follower, a charlatan of sorts. One who copies or immitates all or most of the aspects dealing with their idol. They may wish to have certain clothing, skills, vocabulary, etc., of their idols instead of their own. Most likely a wannabe is lacking in self confidence and is looking for guidance.
Posers Fakers and Wannabes go through the Christmas season acting like they are more than they are, better than others. But people celebrating the wonderful life they have found with Jesus radiate genuineness in their relationship.
I find this picture a little disingenuous. I struggle to believe that a cheerleader’s main reason to cheer is because she cares. No, I think she cheers because of the fun, the friendships, the recognition, school spirit. All of this are great reasons to cheer. And I am sure that there are more, but I’m sure that if we asked he why she cheered, her answer would not be because she cared.
Paul, called on God on his witness that he was radiating genuineness. He was being real about how much he valued the relationships he had with the Philippians.
He really cared.
If we have discovered a wonderful Life with Jesus then we also should be people who really care about the relationships we have. But sometimes that gets os hard to do. We get so busy or so easily distracted.
Sometimes we need a subtle reminder that relationships matter in our celebration a wonderful life.
On your way out today, elders and greeters will be handing you a little gift-a little brad.
Caring
Family
Heritage
A little pin to wear on a sweater, to place on your desk, to put on your coat to simple remind you this Advent Season that Relationships matter.
Will you be diligent to remember this Advent Season to be genuine because relationships matter?
SUMMARY
In the middle of a season that often seeks to define our worth by the number of presents under the tree, the amount of money we spend on each other, we are reminded that. . .
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE BECAUSE OF RELATIONSHIPS NOT MONEY.
Paul illustrated four check points to help us ensure that we are valuing relationships this season.
Practice Affirmation
Extend Grace
Develop Community
Radiate Genuineness
CHALLENGE
If you’ve discovered the Wonderful Life then value all the relationships the Forgiver has in store for you.
But some of you may not understand this how those who know the Forgiver, Jesus Christ, has access to a wonderful life. Everything about it seems confusing or distant. There is good news. This holiday season, Jesus is ready to take and reveal to all who seek him the secrets of a wonderful life.
If you’d like to begin the journey today, or if you would like to recommit yourself to the journey today, then, I’d like to pray with you. I will be lingering up front after the service come talk with me about the discovering the wonderful life.
