Sunday Morning May 27, 2001 Pastor Shawn Drake Bel Aire Baptist Church, Hobbs, NM
FOOD, FOLKS, AND FUN
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 9-14
Introduction:
Most of you probably know that before I became the pastor of this church, I was a manager and supervisor for McDonald’s.
Although our slogan changed several times during the ten years I worked for McDonald’s, the one that stuck out the most in my mind were “Food, Folks, And Fun”.
As I think about that slogan, I believe that McDonald’s hit on something not just for a fast-food restaurant but hit on a philosophy that is very prominent in today’s culture.
I believe that people are looking for these three things not only in their restaurants, but also in their church.
I have joked many times about how Baptist do such a great job of eating (and it is a true statement). I have also emphasized the importance of people coming to our services. I have even talked about the fun we have on trips, work days, etc.
But how much “stock” do we put into these three things?
Let’s examine what the Bible has to say about these three things.
Read text: Ecclesiastes 3:1, 9-14
I. Food
A. Physical Necessity
1. Without food it is hard to survive. Medically we are told that we can survive without food for 40 days and without water for 6 days.
2. Although we can go that long without food, most of us have difficulty with missing one meal. Not only is it a necessity that we eat, but most of us enjoy eating.
3. Although physical food is important to our livelihood, there is another type of food that is even more important.
B. Spiritual Necessity
1. Just as we need physical nutrition, we also need spiritual nutrition.
2. Most of us don’t go without a meal very often, but for many this morning, you only eat spiritually when you show up at church. How long can we last without spiritual nutrition before we become so weak as Christians that we make absolutely no difference in a spiritually starving world?
3. I do know that our physical and spiritual nutrition both come from the same source.
C. God’s Provision
1. We see in Genesis 2:9 that God was the provider for the first sources of food and although God does not market the food we eat, He is still the provider of the sources of our food.
Genesis 2:9a
2. God is also the provider of our spiritual nutrition.
John 6:26-40
3. Christians, God has provided the spiritual food and drink you need through Jesus Christ. Are you partaking of it?
Folks
A. Physical Necessity
1. Most of the time, we would rather do things like eating and recreation with other people.
2. Ever went out to eat by yourself? It’s not that enjoyable is it?
3. Although we need fellowship with others we also need spiritual fellowship.
B. Spiritual Necessity
1. You can have all the people around you can find, but if you do not have spiritual fellowship you will never be satisfied.
2. People are not enough!
C. God’s Provision
1. God provides those people that are in our lives. After all He is the One who created all of us. Once again in Genesis, we find that after God had created man, that God did not want man to be lonely.
Genesis 2:18-22
2. Fellowship with one another is very important and is one of the reasons we are to come to church, but God has also provided a means of fellowship far greater than that with one another.
1 John 1:1-4
3. You may be here this morning because your friends or family brought you and I am so glad you are here, but do you have fellowship with God? When you have fellowship with God as your Father, the fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ is even better. Notice I said your brothers and sisters in Christ. That means in order to enjoy this fellowship with God you have to be His child. If you are here this morning and you have never asked Jesus to be the Savior of your life, then you are a child of the devil not God.
Fun
A. Physical Necessity
1. I think we would all agree that we all need to have fun and enjoy all of the wonderful things that God has given and done for us.
2. We don’t have to be serious all the time. We need to laugh. People need to see that Christians are happy people that are enjoyable to be around.
3. We need to do those things that give us joy (such as fishing, golf, etc.) As long as we do not allow them to become more important than God and His plan for our lives.
B. Spiritual Necessity
1. As Christians we do have joy in our lives. It is the joy that comes from knowing that God is in control and He will not mislead us.
2. We do need to realize though that spiritual joy and fun like you would have at the local dance are two completely different things.
3. I am afraid that we get worldly fun and spiritual joy completely mixed up. We need to have fun and enjoy serving the Lord so that others might want to have what we have, but God also demands reverence and respect. As our text said earlier, there is a time to laugh and there is a time to be serious and focus on God.
C. God’s Provision
1. God loves for us to have solid relationships with one another. That is why He commands that we love one another. It is hard to enjoy serving the Lord when fighting and bickering are going on all the time.
Matthew 22:37-40
2. God also has called us to be a light to those lost around us. Therefore, we need to let them see what the Christian life is all about. It is not “hum drum” and boring.
Matthew 5:14-16
3. God gives us joy as we serve Him faithfully.
Nehemiah 8:10
Philippians 4:4
Conclusion:
There is nothing wrong with food, folks, and fun; but please don’t let those things cloud your vision from seeing how God has provided not just these physical things for you, but more importantly these spiritual things for you. Let’s not put going to church on the same level as going to the ball game. God deserves much better.
God feeds us, brings us together as one, and will bring joy to our lives as we grow closer and closer to Him each day.
