GOD DOESN’T EXPECT US
TO DO EVERYTHING OURSELVES
Exodus 18:13-24, I Cor. 12:14-27, Matt. 9:1-38, Acts 6:1-7
Dr. David L. Haun
Hope Christian Church, May 9, 2004
Have you ever had an inspector climb down from your attic or up from the foundation of your house with the dreaded news, “You’re infested with termites?” If you have, you’ve perhaps experienced the inconvenience of moving out of your house as the termite company comes to tent or drill with poison. I recently read some intriguing facts about termites. I felt their story added insight to our Scripture readings today and our church’s organization in Christ’s ministry.
A. Some facts about termites.
1. Among tiniest creatures on earth, but they cause more damage
than all other human disasters.
2. Cannot exist alone. Live in colonies, from 100 to one million.
3. Each termite has a specific task. Each is needed and needs others. One cannot live or work alone.
4. Given time, and a colony, burrow through wood till nothing left.(1)
B. Scripture read this morning from book of Exodus.
I. THE DILEMMA WITHIN MOSES (13-18)
A. He thought he was indispensable.
“If you want it done right, do it yourself.”
I Kings 19:14,18. Elijah, Prophets of Baal, Jezebel, Elijah complained that he was alone - God had ignored him. God reminded that 7000 remained faithful. God had chosen Elijah from a large number available. That’s true of us.
B. His attitude was a disservice to the people.
1. Robbed them of their chance to serve and grow.
2. Their abilities were not used.
3. God’s effort was, therefore, given less than best.
C. He was trying an impossible goal.
In Matthew 9, Jesus is involved in a day busy with teaching, healing, attacks by opponents and calls for prayers. At the end of the day, he gathers with his disciples and said: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matt 9:37-38
Charles Schulz, the cartoonist of the Peanuts series, in his book Take My Religion Seriously, drew a strip of a boy wearing a long coat that has pins and medals filling the right side of the coat. He explained his awards to an admirer who was staring in disbelief at his pins: "These are perfect attendance pins,” he said. He then began pointing to each one identifying its meaning.
This is for:
Sunday School,
Youth Fellowship,
Youth leader training,
Youth work night
Men’s brotherhood, men’s work nights,
Youth missions,
Youth recreation,
Vacation Bible school,
Bible camp,
Youth Bible camp,
City youth camp,
Country youth camp,
State youth camp,
International youth camp, and
Choir practice.¨
And he added, “I haven’t been home in three months!” (2)
Schultz illustrates the dilemma within Moses, and which can appear within us.
II. THE ANSWER OF MOSES’ FATHER-IN-LAW, JETHRO (Exodus 18:19-26)
A. God’s leadership needs to share Responsibility
First Century Church, and the appointment of Deacons (Acts 6:2-4)
B. Moses’ coworkers are to be Qualified
1. Capable - have ability.
2. Fear God - Spirituality
3. Trustworthy - Honest, integrity
4. Hate dishonest gain - Not driven by greed or money.
C. In Acts, the deacons are to be qualified
1. Well respected.
2. Filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. Wise.
Paul’s letter to Timothy II Tim 3:1-2, 7, 14
3:1, But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2, People will ... [have] a form of godliness but deny its power. ... 7, Always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
14, But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it.
D. Those serving must see their role as “Called by God,” rather than merely accomplishing a task.
1. The understanding that faithful service results in Blessing of God
2. Be Sensitive to the will of God. Trust and praise...
Angeles Arren wrote a short article titled “The Flying V.” In the fall of the year, geese head south for the winter. If you have ever seen their journey, you have noticed them flying along in a V formation, and you might wonder why.
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation, the whole flock has at least a 71 % greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. . When a goose flies out of formation, it suddenly feels that drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation, and another goose flies pointed at the head.
The geese in formation honk from behind, perhaps to set a flying pattern or to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Finally, and this is important, when a goose gets sick or wounded and falls out of formation, two other geese will fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their flock. (3)
III. There are 7 truths we can learn from Termites, from Moses, from Jesus, and from a flock of geese.
1. People sharing a common direction and sense of common purpose will likely get where they are going more quickly and easily as they are uplifted by the support of each another
2. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs. Shared leadership and interdependence give us each a chance to lead as well as pportunities to rest. The termites’ organization indicates that many fulfilling their individual tasks can change the world.
3. It is harder to do something alone than together Remember the Scripture in I Cor. 12 that we read. The body needs every part doing its intended job to result in the fulfillment of its intended purpose.
4. It’s important that each of us help all of us. What do we say when we honk from behind? We need to make sure our honking is encouraging and not discouraging. (Honk for rhythm or encouragement, or to say, “don’t worry, we’re back here.” Have you ever been leading a group and had to keep glancing back to be sure they are still behind you? Hard to do. That’s why a drum major leading band in a parade has the drum beat while they walk. The drum both sets the cadence and keeps the leader of the parade know the the band is following.)
5. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other in difficult times and good. (4)
(In times of illness or need - no roast preacher/person)
Story told of country preacher who went home with a church family for dinner. Sitting in the parlor, the preacher was talking with their four year old son. He asked if the boy knew what they were having to eat. The child replied, “We’re having buzzard.” The preacher was shocked and asked what made the boy think that? I heard mommie say it. This morning driving to church she said to daddie, “I guess we may as well have that old buzzard for lunch today.”
6. We can see God doesn’t expect us to Do Everything Ourselves. That is why the church is called the body of Christ. .
7. We can learn that God does does expect us to share in his purpose and his ministry.
Conclusion In his book The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren shares that “A Gallup survey discovered that only ten percent of American church members are active in any kind of personal ministry, and that fifty percent of all church members have no interest in serving in any ministry.”
Warren goes on to say, “I believe the church is a sleeping giant. Each Sunday, church pews are filled with members who are doing nothing with their faith except ‘keeping’ it . . . If we can ever awaken and unleash the massive talent, resources, creativity, and energy lying dormant in the typical local church, Christianity will explode with growth at an unprecedented rate.” (5)
God calls each of us to share with the rest of us to bring God’s plan to fulfillment in all of us. Could there ever be a more fitting goal for you, for me, and for our church to Achieve?
FOOTNOTES
(1) From The Christian Challenger, Newsletter of the First Christian Church, Cushing, Ok. April 30, 2004. (2) Schultz, Charles. Take My Religion Seriously. Warner Press; (June 1989) p. 56
(3) Arren, Angeles. “The Flying V.” SermonCentral.com
(4) Phillips, Damian, “The Congregation as Ministers” SermonCentral.com. (5) Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Church. (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
