Iliff and Saltillo UM
November 7, 2004
"Giving More than Thanks"
Romans 14:7-12
INTRODUCTION: This scripture is referring to believers, both strong Christians and those weak in the faith. Paul was addressing the total Christian community made up of persons who were from various backgrounds and convictions. A problem occurred where the more mature Christians "looked down on" those who were considered weaker in the faith. The weak person, however, "judged" the stronger Christian for taking more liberties. The main thing was questions of conscience where Christians differed as to doubts about whether it was right or wrong for them to eat certain foods. Paul is trying to make the point here that GOD’S approval is more significant than the approval or disapproval of others.
In the opening part of the verse, Paul says that Christians do not live to themselves or die to themselves because they live as unto the Lord. This attachment to the Lord does not cease with death but carries into the next life. (Phil 1:20). A good relationship with the Lord was the key to life and what they should be striving for.
As we look at this scripture, we can find applications for our own lives. As this season of the year we automatically think about giving thanks--thanksgiving for all that God has done for us throughout the past year. I chose the title, "Give MORE THAN THANKS" for this message today. Paul tells the people, "every one of us will give an account of himself to God." If we take this scripture to heart, our lives will be lived in such a way that we can give much thanksgiving to God because our lives will be pleasing to Him and we will be approved of Him. That is what counts.
1. Taking Too Much Responsibility for Others--In this scripture Paul saw that Christians were spending too much time trying to deal with problems and areas that didn’t amount to that much but which were robbing them of their joy and their peace. He was asking them, "Why are you spending all of your energies on things which are so minute that they won’t matter in the end? Why all this clashing and bickering among you?"
Many times we allow ourselves to take too much responsibility for others. We make it our business to check out what another Christian is DOING and NOT DOING and make our judgment. Many churches try to make up a list of rules that people must conform to or they can’t be a part of "our church." Paul was experiencing this in the church at Rome. He asked, "Why all this clashing and contradicting one another?" You’re spending all your time trying to take responsibility for others’ actions and you don’t need to do that.
Satan takes our eyes off the Lord by causing us to take OWNERSHIP for the actions of others. We become a self appointed "FRUIT INSPECTOR." We say, "It’s my duty as a Christian to point out what this person is or is not doing and get them straightened out."
A strong Christian may "look down on a person" who is weak in the faith saying, "they think they are a Christian but..."
A weak Christian may "judge" the person who is stronger in the faith and say, "He should do this or that because I think it is wrong..."
Paul is saying, "Whoa...you both need to make some adjustments here. Why do you who are strong in the faith try to depreciate the faith of the weaker person and why do you who are weak judge the strong? You are both trying to take responsibility for something that you don’t need to. It is not your job. Don’t worry about taking this on to yourselves.
The Message Bible says, "So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God."
He goes on to say, "Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is."
STORY: The Carpenter
Two brothrs lived on adjoining farms and they began to have conflict with one another. It was the first serious rift in 40 years in farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods without a hitch. Then things began to fall apart. It began with a misundertanding and it grew into a major difference. Finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s toolbox. “I’m looking for a few days work,” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?”
“Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor, in fact, it’s my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now it is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence--an 8 foot fence so I won’t need to see his place anymore. Cool him down anyhow.”
The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”
The older brother had to go to town for supplies so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge--a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other. A fine piece of work--handrails and all--and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.
“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done,”
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge and then they met in the middle, took each other’s hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder, “No wait, stay a few days. I’ve got a lot of other projects for you, said the older brother.
“I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, “but I have many bridges to build.”
Remember these are people for whom Christ died. Can we build a BRIDGE instead of a WALL?
You might say, "I don’t take on two much responsibility for other people. I don’t judge people. I don’t criticize people. I am not building any walls." This is, however, a common problem among people, and it’s a trick of the enemy to get us so tied up with looking at other people that we get our eyes off the Lord. We find ourselves all churned up over what people do or say and pretty soon it has an adverse affect on us.
2. Christ is the Judge--Paul told them, "Christ will be the judge because He has the authority and the ability to do it." When we attempt to judge we are getting over into His domain. We are usurping His role. He both died and arose that He might be the Lord of both the living and the dead. He is the Lord of them that are living to rule them and those that are dead to receive them. We are not their masters. All belong to the Lord whether weak or strong. Paul’s challenge to them was "don’t look down on those who have strict convictions or to condemn those with more lenient convictions." Accept one another as Christ has accepted you.
There are probably some Christians that you are stretching to accept. Can we commit that to the Lord in spite of differences? Sometimes that seems very hard to do. Paul is saying, "We are the people of God even though people different in other ways." He is saying, "All people have to answer to God for themselves."
3. Giving More than Thanks--Gal. 6:4 says, "But let every [person] prove his own work and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another." Others are not accountable to us and we are not accountable to them. We are in the end accountable to God. Knowing this takes a lot of the pressure off concerning others. At the same time it PUTS THE PRESSURE ON US to make sure that we are spending our lives in such a way as to please God. When we realize that the main business of our life is to please God and not ourselves or others, what would we do differently? How would your life change today? What would you begin to do that you are currently not doing? What would you stop doing?
How do we spend our time in the light of eternity? Do we just fritter it away?
What are we doing with our opportunities? Do we waste them?
Ephesians 5:16 says, "redeeming the time for the days are evil."
Matthew Henry said:
It will not be asked at the last day who ate meat and who ate herbs
Who kept holy days and who did not
Who was a conformist and who was not
But who feared God and worked righteousness and who did not.
So whether we live or die, we are the Lords
devoted to Him and depending on Him. We will one day give more than thanks.
We will appear before Him judged by the merits of Christ’s death, sanctified by the spirit of grace to live in peace and love and joy in the Holy Ghost.
CONCLUSION: What kind of account do you think you will be able to give to God? How does it make you feel to know you will have to give an account of your life?
Shall we pray:
