Lesson of Life
May 18, 2014
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “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.
As I was praying about what God wanted me to share with you today, I felt Him leading me to just share my busy life with you. Every day is a gift from God – that’s why we call it “The Present” - but every day is also an opportunity for God to share something with us. It is an opportunity for Him to teach us a spiritual lesson. As Jesus walked and talked with the disciples he would use everyday items for illustration or examples of some spiritual lesson. So here is my take on the last week or so.
I will start with a week ago Thursday. My grandson Nate and I built a chicken coop and bought some chicks a month ago to raise. Then we found out that living in the city of Weed - we have restriction. We can have only a certain number, no roosters, we had to check with our neighbors and get their permission, we had to draw a map of the property and where we were going to put the pen, buy a permit for $25 dollars and fill out an application, and submit it. We had to have the animal control officer come inspect the pen, then go to a city council meeting in case they wanted to question us. The Bible says,
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities…” Romans 13:1
So we did all they asked of us. That Thursday was our day to go to City Council. It seems like a lot of red tape over chickens but we complied. We were toward the end of the agenda so we had to wait two hours until they got to us. That particular meeting the Council was hearing the pro’s and con’s of growing marijuana in city limits. Nate and I got to listen to all that. At the conclusion they tabled the item. When they got to us they quickly passed our petition to raise chickens and I was able to get to my next meeting of the evening.
As I was thinking about the spiritual context of that experience, I thought of Deuteronomy six. You will remember it as being what Jesus called the Greatest Commandment in the Old Testament. But we usually stop with just the one part. It actually is all one sentence. Listen to it again.
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deut 6:4-9
We are to not only love the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength – but we are to IMPRESS them on our children and grandchildren. As Nate and I worked together and went to the City Council together – it was a teaching opportunity for me. I didn’t preach a sermon or teach a scripted lesson – but sometimes the things of life can be the biggest illustration of Spiritual truth.
The next day, Friday, was the big day of Monica’s 40th Birthday. It was a lot of fun. She said it was the best one ever. There was a lot of love there. But before the party I had to drive to pick up Caleb, her oldest son. On the way I had quite an experience. I was assaulted with a deadly weapon – a truck. A truck driver deliberately swerved into me, dented my fender, blew my tire out and ran in the back of me when I tried to stop him. So it was hit and run as well.
The law and the company are taking care of things and I’m okay – but the next day someone was telling the same kind of thing was in the paper and there was a fatality. So things could have been a lot worse.
The Bible says,
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 19:14-16
That entire Psalm is a wonderful promise of protection. Read it often. Personalize it. When I thought about that incident I felt sure God had His angels surrounding me and protecting me. After all that, I was able to get back in time with Caleb for the party. We had a wonderful time.
Saturday was cleanup day. Life goes on. Sunday was Mother’s Day with a great day at church, a special dinner for Julie and then a birthday party at the park for my grand-niece, Baily, then a service at the rest home in the afternoon.
Monday I spoke at the Mount Shasta City Council. It was an opportunity to speak to the Council and people there about our lack of representation and how we have gotten away from our godly constitution. The Bible says,
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Romans 13:1
Our forefather took that Scripture to mean that anyone who claims to be the authority is only the authority if he follows the Lord. The God-given authority will not demand you to do something contrary to God’s Word. We are not to put Government over God. The government has no authority either under the Constitution or the Bible to require you to do anything in violation of your religious rights. Peter say, (in Acts 5:29) “We must obey God rather than men.”
The bottom line is that at whatever cost – the Christian is to obey God rather than government. In the 15th century, many Christians were burned at the stake and killed in horrible ways for refusing to compromise their faith. Christianity today is one of compromise. At some point we need to draw the line and say “No More!” Monday was about standing up for our rights.
Tuesday, the Chief of Police in Weed asked me to go to some training in Redding regarding Tactical Casualty Combat Care. I am to teach a class on it to some of the officers and possible dispatchers.
WOW! What a class. We watched real life film of people being shot and blown up and dying. We watch film of how to stop bleeding using a live pig. It was pretty tough for me to watch – but our cops and EMT’s and medics need this kind of training so they can respond instead of freezing up or going into shock in a real situation.
Wednesday was a little easier. Another Birthday party. Kristy, Cheri’s sister, and one of the gals I lead to the Lord and baptized last year, celebrated another year on planet earth. I guess the Scripture that comes to mind is “rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15).
Thursday I took Nate to a track meet in Yreka. My Son, Ben, met us there along with Nate’s other grandparents, Larry and Donna. With all that support – he did GREAT!
Friday I taught 9 young men first aid and CPR. They worked in the woods marking timber, counting owls and doing hard work out in nature. I was able to share some of my life stories with them as well. The Scripture that comes to mind is 1 Timothy 4:12
“…set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
We are an example aren’t we? Edgar Guest wrote a sermon that says it all.
I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day:
I'd rather one would walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil, and more willing than the ear,
Fine council is confusing, but example's always clear.
The best of all the preachers are men who live their creed,
For to see good put into action, is what everyone needs.
I can soon learn how to do it, if you let me see it done,
I can catch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast my run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lesson by observing what you do.
For I may misunderstand you in the high advice you give,
But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
When I see an act of kindness, I am eager to be kind;
When a weaker brother stumbles, and a stronger stays behind.
Just to see if I can help him, then the wish grows strong in me,
To be as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today,
Is not the one that tells them, but the one that shows the way.
Edgar Guest
You and I are he Light of the World. We need to shine! We are the salt of the world – we need to be a little salty. Someone said, “You are the only Christ some person may ever see.” Let’s live like it.
Today is Saturday, as I write this. I have to go now to Yreka and pray an invocation at the Armed Forces Day Ceremony. It is a day we honor our service members. They deserve it. They sacrifice the best years of their lives to their country. Some make the ultimate sacrifice. All potentially could. For that we want to honor them.
I want to challenge you to use up your life for the Lord. It pays eternal dividends. The Bible says Jesus went about doing good. We need to do the same. The Bible says that Jesus was the Light of the World. Let’s be the light wherever we happen to be this week.
SONG
