Downsizing Part 1: Wet Paper Sack
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Joseph Segel is a name that may not immediately be familiar to you, but what he founded in 1986 probably is. Quality Value Convenience is the name of his creation, but you probably know it better by its acronym: QVC.
Since its original broadcast in ’86, when it sold a shower radio, the network blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar company. And even if you don’t shop there, you most likely are familiar with it. I personally find the channel a cure for insomnia, but to each their own. I’m most likely in the minority, as QVC has proven to be widely successful, and I thought it’d be interesting to look up what the best sellers or the most popular items are…
The first three that popped up are: 1. Pop-it collapsible multipurpose cart with wheels, $99.98, available for 4 easy payments. 2. Philosophy field of flowers super-size 3-piece kit. I had no idea what that even was, so here’s the description: Inspired by an aromatic field of flowers, philosophy's field of flowers fragrance is the fresh, floral scent of peony for a delicate and classic experience. Wear this fresh, floral fragrance and feel positively lovely throughout the day. $85.92, available for 6 easy payments. If that math seems weird to you, it did me too, so here’s the breakdown: $85.92 divided by 6 equaled $14.32. Of course, that’s without shipping and handling, but who reads the small print. 3. Physician endorsed…Savannah Bow Sunhat. $26.50. I did click on the description and it’s a video of several salespeople wearing these sunhats. Looked like a gang I saw when we were on the west coast.
So, there you have it, 3 of the best sellers on QVC. Thousands of people can’t be wrong. I did read one review for the collapsible multipurpose car with wheels. It read, I never got to review the first cart I bought because as soon as I unfolded it, my husband walked in and walked off with my cart. I haven't been able to get it back, so I am buying another one for myself. As other reviewers said, it is very sturdy and the top is beautiful.
Body
My folks are in the process of downsizing. They’re getting rid of a lot of their possessions they’ve collected over the years and moving into a smaller house. They’re going through what I experienced some of when we moved last August, when I discovered how much stuff we had. I’ve noticed that the more stuff we have, the more there is to worry about or have to take care of. I’ve also noticed the more we have how it doesn’t really bring the fulfillment that stuff promised in its advertisements.
I wonder if our scripture writer for today, Paul who wrote this letter to the church in Philippi during his imprisonment, would buy that multi-purpose table to use if he was on his missionary journeys now. Or maybe the folks in Philippi would send it to Paul, since he not only is encouraging them in their faith in this letter, but also thanking them for a gift. Can you imagine Paul opening up that cart, “the top is beautiful…”
Paul had established this church during his 2nd missionary journey, and now he’s sending this letter all the way from Rome to Philippi. If you look on a map and see where Rome is in Italy, you’ll see it’s a long way from Philippi which is on the far eastern side of Macedonia. Sending mail was one thing, but Paul had traveled all that way, several times! I hope he had a Savannah hat!
Paul’s journeys were incredible when you study them on a map. Now, keep in mind, he did all that traveling without all the modern conveniences we have today. I just wrapped up a week in California, a week at licensing school, a day trip to Fargo, and a day trip to Bismarck. It was all taxing, and that’s with modern conveniences. Having survived all Paul did, he had a lot to boast about. He also had a lot of reason to want a multi-purpose cart, or a Savannah hat, but Paul realized why he shouldn’t boast…and he also realized all he really needed.
He starts in verse 1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. I really admire how Paul starts out with rejoice in the Lord! What difference does it make when you start your day that way, rejoicing in the Lord and all he’s done for you…? Now, Paul mentions a safeguard. What is our safeguard…? Both morally and theologically, the Bible is our safeguard. Whether we’re reading it privately or publicly, it alerts us to corrections we need to make in our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Do you have any alerts going on in your life…?
Maybe you can think of a time or two where the thoughts you were allowing in your head were having an adverse effect on your mood. As time goes on, I’m starting to realize the powerful effects that thoughts I think have on the rest of my life. If I spend time thinking about negative things, more seem to happen. And the more I think negative thoughts, the more that becomes habit. We as humans have over 20,000 thoughts in our head every day that never get spoken out loud, and most of those 20,000 are the same thoughts we had yesterday. So, our thinking is habitual, and if our thinking is habitual, what happens to our actions…? Rejoice in the Lord indeed, and to show us how is our safeguard, the Bible. How often are you going back to your safeguard…? How often do you feel you should…? And what effect does that have on your attitude…?
One of my favorite authors and pastors, Charles Swindoll, has the famous quote: “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church....a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.”
Indeed, we oversee our attitudes. Chuck Swindoll mentioned that 10% happens to us in life. How often does that 10% feel like a bigger percentage…? Paul says in verse 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. These dogs, evildoers were likely Jewish Christians who were motivated by spiritual pride. They had invested so much time and effort in keeping their laws they couldn’t accept the fact that all their efforts couldn’t bring them a step closer to salvation. Paul criticized them because they were operating on works alone, thinking that was their ticket to salvation. Who are those types of our day, who think by works alone they’ll receive salvation…?
Paul goes on in verse 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. Notice Paul doesn’t say boast in himself. Regardless of all the miles traveled, and the lengths he went through to spread the Word, he says boast in Christ Jesus. He doesn’t say boast in Paul. We can recognize that a lot of us have accomplished many noteworthy things in our lives, but how did we do it? How did we accomplish these amazing things…? How did Paul? I know how sometimes we have thought we’ve accomplished things at different points in life… I’ve also learned that thanking me for what I achieve is like carrying groceries in a wet paper sack… Eventually the bottom is going to give out. How about if our bags are overfilled? Remember Kevin on Home Alone when he goes shopping by himself? His bags give out. Are you shopping by yourself? Are you putting your confidence in the wrong places? Paul says put no confidence in the flesh.
What skill do you have that you could brag about…? What skills have you lost along the way that humbled you…? I had several false confidences in my life. There have been points in our lives where we all felt invincible. And other times if we felt something was lacking, we have thought that if I just go on that trip…or if I just meet the right person…or if I just buy that best-selling item, then I have it made. What has been your experience each time you’ve gone done that path…? Put no confidence in the flesh…
Closing
In part two of this message on Philippians 3:1-11 we’ll talk more about the results of putting our confidence in the flesh, Paul’s accomplishments, and what God provides for us. In the meantime, I’m going to spray on some smell good and push around my multi-purpose cart, as I wear my Savannah hat! Or, I encourage us all to think about what in our life has brought us the most fulfillment. Was it a purchase…a trip…a moment…what? In addition, reflect on what God has done for you. Sometimes it’s helpful to start with the perceived small stuff, and then see what comes to mind from there.
What wet paper sack are you chasing in your life right now…? Most of us have spent a great deal of time, and or money, on a wet paper sack. Only to find out the bottom always drops out. Are you tired of that repeating cycle? Are you ready to change from a wet paper sack to a Halliburton?
If you only take this away today, remember the Words in verse 3 put no confidence in the flesh and verse 1 rejoice in the Lord.
