• You tell a child to do something and invariably they will say, “why” ?
• You tell a child not to do something and invariably they will say “why”?
One of the reasons it annoys us as parents when our children do this, is because sometimes we know they should do something, but we do not always know why ourselves.
Illus: Life is filled with little things that we can not explain, for example:
• If you throw a cat out of the car window, does it become kitty litter?
• Is it OK to use the AM radio after noon?
• What do you call a male ladybug?
• Why do they sterilize the needles for lethal injections?
• Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
• If the 7-11 is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, why does it have locks on the door?
• You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?
• If they squeeze olives to get olive oil, how do they get baby oil?
• If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn your headlights on, what happens?
• Why is it that when you transport something by car it's called shipment, but when you transport something by ship it's called cargo?
• Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
• If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?
Life is filled with difficult questions about some things, and sometimes we parents do not know all the answers. But that does not stop our children from asking “WHY”.
If you ask a child psychologist why children are this way, they will tell you it is because of their inquisitive nature that they want to learn. But I must confess, I do not believe that, because when you tell them WHY, they are still reluctant to obey after we explain.
Why do children always come up with “WHY” when we tell them to do something? It is because they do not like being told TO DO SOMETHING when they do not want to do it! It has nothing to do with being inquisitive, but everything to do with rebellion!
In other words, most of the time when we were asking “WHY” to our parents or someone else in authority, it was:
• A challenge to their authority
• A denial that they had our best interest in mind
We, as the CHILDREN OF GOD are the same.
For example, one of the reasons a Bible-preacher stays in trouble with many of the children of God, is because when the minister of God tells them THINGS THEY SHOULD DO and things they SHOULD NOT DO, it doesn’t sit well with some.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY! But you can tell them why, and when you do that does not satisfy them because the fact is they are CHALLENGING THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER, and they are DENYING WHAT THEY ARE TOLD TO DO IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST!
But some parents recognize this rebellion, and they simply tell the child to do it because, “I SAID SO!” And likewise with God, there are some things God tells us to do, and He does not tell us why He told us to do it, He expects us just to do them!
Not that there isn’t a reason, but God doesn’t owe us a reason. He is God!
And who is to say that we would always understand the reason if He were to tell us why?
• God has a purpose for everything that He tells us to do
• God has a purpose for everything that He tells us not to do
All we really need to know is that God has the authority, and He does have our best interests in mind.
However, there are some things that God tells us TO DO or NOT TO DO, and he tells us why. I want to look at TWO things in our text that God says we should do, and then He gives the reason why.
Look at the verses we read a few minutes ago. He said-
I. WE ARE TO HUMBLE OURSELVES
He commands in verse 6, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,...” Then He gives the reason, “...that he may exalt you in due time.”
Now if you are interested in Him exalting you, it is important that you understand you must first humble yourself. But notice this, the humility He commands is under the hand of ALMIGHTY GOD.
Many times folks humble themselves in the sight of man because of PRIDE IN THEIR LIFE. They want to look good in the sight of others, so they give the appearance that they are humble, but actually they are using the appearance of HUMILITY to make themselves look good.
WHY DO THEY DO THIS? Because of PRIDE. They appear to be humble, but yet they are just the opposite of what they claim, they ARE VERY PROUD!
Illus: The state of Illinois gets its name from an Indian word to which a French suffix has been added. It means "tribe of superior men."
Certainly modern-day residents of Illinois do not ordinarily boast of themselves as superior men. Yet throughout history there have been those who regarded themselves as superior to others.
Illus: The worst example is in Nazi Germany, where Hitler taught his people that they were a superior race.
But our churches are filled with all kinds of people today who are PROUD! They are constantly promoting themselves.
Illus: Hollywood actors and actresses have full time agents to promote their careers. Some of the famous people that are held in high esteem did not get to this position in life because of their blue eyes and muscular bodies. They were not able to obtain fame and fortune because of these attributes because a lot of people are endowed by God with the same attributes. They are there because they had good promotional agents that were constantly promoting them.
But listen, many Christians do not need a promoter because they are always promoting themselves.
• They will let you know how much they pray
• They will let you know how much they read their Bibles
• They will let you know how much they give to the Lord each week
• They will let you know how many people they visit and who they visit
• They will let you know how many phone calls they make
• Their conversation is full of “I this” and “I that”.
These DO THE DEED so that they can RECEIVE THE GLORY!
Illus: Goethe said, "The deed is everything, the glory nothing." Sometimes we tend to think that the glory is what matters and not the deed. (Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).
When these self-promoting, PROUD PEOPLE come out in the public, they want all the eyes of the world to be upon them, and they are constantly doing everything they can do to get that attention.
They are SO PROUD OF THEMSELVES! According to their evaluation, no one loves the Lord and no one does as much for the Lord as they do.
Illus: These remind US again of Hollywood actors and actresses. That is, their claim to fame is they are a bunch of “NOBODIES” pretending to be “SOMEBODIES”.
If you examine their lives, they are a bunch of nobodies, and the only reason they are famous is because they are good at pretending to be something they are not!
And this is so true today of so many in the church. They know they are a NOBODY, and the only way they are going to get attention is to walk around promoting themselves.
God commands us to HUMBLE OURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD. Why? The Bible states-
A. GOD RESISTS THE PROUD
The Bible tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Now it does not say we are not to think highly of ourselves, but it does say we ought not to think MORE highly of ourselves then we ought to think.
In Proverbs, God gives us a list of seven things He hates, and the first one on the list is pride.
Prov. 6:16-19, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A PROUD LOOK, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
God’s Word says when we truly HUMBLE OURSELVES UNDER THE HAND OF GOD, WE WILL BE EXALTED.
But notice, Prov. 29:23, “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
It is better that we HUMBLE ourselves under the hand of God than for God to HUMBLE us.
Illus: Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful man on the face of this earth in his day. God placed him in this position, but instead of being humble he became proud.
But God humbled him. When God humbles a man he is truly humbled!
Look at Daniel 4:33, “The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.”
President George W. Bush is the most powerful man on the face of this earth. It is good that this man talks about God and lives a humble life before God and this great nation.
But suppose he became proud, and he did not want to give God any glory for what has taken place in his administration, and God decided to humble him before this nation as he did with Nebuchadnezzar.
If God did such a thing, you would see President George W. Bush on the evening news, on the grounds in front of the White House, eating grass like an ox. His hair would not be combed and his finger nails would be like long claws.
I want to tell you, it is best we humble ourselves lest God have to humble us! Prov. 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
GOD RESISTS THE PROUD - but
B. GOD REWARDS THE HUMBLE
Prov. 3:34, “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.”
Illus: NAAMAN, in the Old Testament, was captain of the host of the king of Syria. He became plagued with leprosy. In 2 Kings 5 we read how Naaman was too proud to obey the prophet’s instructions to dip in the Jordan river to remove his leprosy. After a while, he humbled himself and washed and was made clean from his leprosy.
2 Kings 5:14, “Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
James tells us that SUBMISSION to God is evidence of humility. James 4:6, “Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. SUBMIT YOURSELVES therefore to God.”
In Matt. 23:12 we read, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
If we want to draw near to the Lord and experience His blessings, we must humble ourselves, then He will lift us up! God gives us the command, and God tells us why we are to do this.
We are to HUMBLE OURSELVES and ...
II. WE ARE TO CAST ALL OF OUR CARE UPON GOD
He commands us in verse 7, “Casting all your care upon him; ....” Then the Reason is given - “...for he careth for you.”
Have you ever talked with anyone about a burden that you were carrying, and the person you are sharing the burden with is looking all around and not paying any attention to what you are saying?
Illus: A man came to Dr. Odell Belger one day and said, “Can I talk to you?” He said, “Sure, let’s go into my office where we won’t be distracted.” They went into his office and the man said, “Thank you for taking time to talk to me.” He said, “I went to my pastor the other day because my business is not doing well.” He explained he was in heavy construction work and he said, “I have bulldozers, dump trucks and tractors and I clean off land, mostly for commercial sites. But recently my business has been suffering because I have not been able to get any work, and I still have salaries and equipment payments. The reason I wanted to talk to you is because I told my pastor the other day about this financial burden I am carrying, and he put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘You have been there before and it will work out somehow!’ and walked away.” “I was hoping he would listen to my problem and at least have a word of prayer with me!”
It is a terrible thing when you have a problem and you do not have anyone who cares about the burden you are carrying. But the Lord wants us to CAST ALL OF OUR CARES UPON HIM, and he tells us why - Because HE CARES FOR US!
When Jesus walked on this earth in the flesh, there were many who cast their cares upon Him because they knew that Jesus cared for them. For example:
• A LEPER CAST HIS CARES UPON THE LORD
Look at Matt. 8:2-3, “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, IF THOU WILT, THOU CANST MAKE ME CLEAN. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I WILL; BE THOU CLEAN. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
• A CENTURION CAST HIS CARES UPON THE LORD
This centurion had a servant he thought a great deal of who became very sick.
Look at Matt. 8:5-8, we read, “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, LORD, MY SERVANT LIETH AT HOME SICK OF THE PALSY, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”
• THE DISCIPLES CAST THEIR CARES UPON THE LORD
They were on a ship that was about to sink.
Look at Matt. 8:25-26, we read, “And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, LORD, SAVE US: WE PERISH. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then HE AROSE, AND REBUKED THE WINDS AND THE SEA; AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM.”
• BLIND BARTIMAEUS CAST HIS CARES UPON THE LORD
Look at Mark 10:46-47, we read, “And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, JESUS, THOU SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME.”
Look at the Lord’s response in Mark 10:51,52, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And IMMEDIATELY HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT, and followed Jesus in the way.”
And there were many others. . . God WILL make the difference in our lives as we cast our cares upon Him.
Illus: Ray Steadman said, “If you want a wonderful experience, take your New Testament and use a concordance to look up the two little words, ‘but God’."
• See how many times human resources have been brought to an utter end; despair has gripped the heart, and pessimism and gloom have settled upon a people; and there is nothing that can be done.
• Then see how the Spirit of God writes in luminous letters, "But God," and the whole situation changes into victory. Ray C. Stedman
A. WHEN YOU NEED STRENGTH, CAST YOUR CARE UPON GOD BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU.
B. WHEN YOU NEED DIRECTION, CAST YOUR CARE UPON GOD BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU.
Psa. 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
C. WHEN YOU ARE FEARFUL, CAST YOUR CARE UPON GOD BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU.
Psa. 56:3,4, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”
We are to HUMBLE OURSELVES, and CAST ALL OUR CARES UPON GOD because HE CARES FOR US!
CONCLUSION:
Look again at 1 Peter 5:6-9, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
We see a Savior that tells us to Humble ourselves because He loves us and wants to help us.
We also see Satan as a roaring lion walking around trying to devour as many as he can devour. But he cannot defeat us if we will stay humble before almighty God.
I need to ask you:
• Are you PROUD or HUMBLE?
• Are you CASTING your cares or CARRYING them?
I. WE ARE TO HUMBLE OURSELVES
II. WE ARE TO CAST OUR CARES UPON GOD
