The Takers Transportation Series

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

STEWARDSHIP SERMON SERIES

“THE TAKER’S TRANSPORTATION”

I TIMOTHY 4:8

©Larry L. Thompson (2003)

1 Tim. 4:8 (NIV)

“FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING IS OF SOME VALUE, BUT GODLINESS HAS VALUE FOR ALL THINGS, HOLDING PROMISE FOR BOTH THE PRESENT LIFE AND THE LIFE TO COME.”

Introduction:

We live in a society that seems to be in the constant search for satisfaction. Dr. Cal Rychener, social commentator, writes in his paper, “STUDY OF AN AMERICAN CULTURE” reports: “We are experiencing a phenomenon in our society today. Americans have more possessions, we are both healthier and wealthier than any other American generation in our nation’s history that we the most discontented of all generations.”

The question must be asked, “What is the problem?” Perhaps this was best answered by the most unlikely source, Basketball Bad Boy, Dennis Rodman. In an interview he was asked, “Dennis, you have all the money you could possibly want, you have beautiful women on your arms everywhere you go, you own your own jet and have three residences…what more do you want?” Without hesitation Rodman said, “I want it all!” The reporter continued, “What is left?” After a painful silence Rodman said, “Fulfillment!”

Clarence Darrow, world famous agnostic attorney for the defense in the “Scopes Monkey Trial” made this confession after picking up the Bible he had denied his entire life and reading Luke 5:5: “This verse describes my life.”

“SIMON ANSWERED, "MASTER, WE’VE WORKED HARD ALL NIGHT AND HAVEN’T CAUGHT ANYTHING…”

Clarence Darrow changed the we to “I” and said, “I have worked hard all night and I haven’t accomplished anything. I have TAKEN much but have NOTHING. I have lived life without purpose, without feeling and without direction. I don’t know where I came from, what I’m doing here or where I’m going when I die.”

I HAVE TAKEN MUCH BUT HAVE NOTHING!

Now contrast this outlook to what Jesus Christ said in John 10:10

John 10:10 (NIV)

“THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL.”

Jesus said I want to offer you full life now and tomorrow! However, Jesus went on to say that the full life was not a life to be discovered from the outside in! It was not going to be found in saturating our senses with every possession this world has to offer. Jesus KNEW that if you invested your entire life in TAKING to attempt to FILL the need for abundant life that your life would end empty. You may have traveled at full speed using the philosophy of this world as a means of transportation but make no mistake about this: The TAKER’S TRANSPORT WILL NEVER LEAD YOU TO THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED! Tragically, the destination of the TAKER’S TRANSPORTATION IS A DEAD END ROAD.

Jesus knew that the fullness of life begins with GIVING not TAKING. SURRENDERING not SATURATING. PEACE not POSSESSIONS. Jesus knew the ROAD LESS TRAVELED would be found when you first learn that the ONLY WAY TO SATISFY THAT VOID IN YOUR LIFE IS TO ALLOW GOD TO FILL YOUR HEART WITH HIS PRESENCE THAT BEGINS WITH YOUR PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO JESUS CHRIST! HE ONLY COMES INTO YOUR LIFE BY THE PERSONAL INVITATION. THIS IS WHERE THE ABUNDANT LIFE BEGINS. THIS IS WHERE YOU FIND THE TRAIL THAT LEADS TO THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED. When you GIVE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST your POSSESSIONS are put into PERSPECTIVE and will be used as a RESULT of the peace in your life and not IN SEARCH for the peace you are missing.

For the month of March I will be sharing with you this sermon series entitled, “THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED.” We will identify the four types of individuals in our world today who are seeking to find that path. As we make this journey together it will be well if you identify areas in your life that may correspond to the four types of people we will examine. Those four groups are:

1. THE TAKER’S TRANSPORTATION: The Road of GRIEVOUS Living

2. THE TIPPER’S TURNPIKE: The Road of GRATUTIOUS Giving

3. THE TITHER’S TOLL: The Road of GUIDELINE Giving

4. THE TRUSTER’S TRAIL: The Road of GOD-DIRECTED Giving

LOOK again at the key verse in today’s study:

1 Tim. 4:8 (NIV)

“FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING IS OF SOME VALUE, BUT GODLINESS HAS VALUE FOR ALL THINGS, HOLDING PROMISE FOR BOTH THE PRESENT LIFE AND THE LIFE TO COME.”

The simple translation is: Bodily exercise has some value… The King James says, “Bodily exercise profith little” I quoted the verse that way once and a guy said, “You shouldith know!”

What it means is all the physical bodily exercise you do will only profit you for a short time and it has no eternal significance. It doesn’t mean that it is not good, it means that it won’t FILL THE VOID that is found in the TAKER’S lifestyle.