Sermon On The Grass Is Not Always Greener...

Kasper Schmeichel, a Danish football goalkeeper once remarked: “The grass is not always greener on the other side. It is about recognizing what you do have and being grateful for what you do have.” Philippians 4:11-12 reminds us: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”

The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side is a singular, speculative, but focused idiom that suggests the indeterminable fallacy that other people or places in one’s imagination always appear to be in a better, or more acceptable cachet than oneself. However, this may not always be so. Belief of a happier reign by others is usually a misconception of mind. The sun that always appears to shine in another, is delusion. Their standards of living might be thought to be more prosperous and attractive. Health care maybe considered the best available, in fact, the positivity of life abounds in its variety of fruitfulness. It often becomes a vivid dream that will rarely be realised. Positivity in life is always recommended for general well-being, but it needs to allow for the true facts and the scenarios of reality to obtain discernment. What applies to one, does not apply to another. Life is not, and has never been, equal in its fortunes. John 16:33 reminds us: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The belief in this frequently considered idiom often stems from dissatisfaction, or lack of inner peace in body and mind. The appreciation for what one already has is sadly disregarded, or not realized, and a need for more arises. The dream of a new-found release is often sought but, in reality, seldom found. Daniel 2:1-16 reminds us: In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.”

They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm - if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.”

Verses 28-45 continue: “To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image.