'tis The Season To Think Of Others

INTRO.- Matthew 20:28 Jesus said of himself, “The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve…”

Jesus gave us the example to follow. He came to serve. He came to minister to people. HE LIVED FOR OTHERS.

ILL.- But Jack did something entirely different. Jack who? Jack Benny. No, he’s been dead since 1974. Jack Klugman of the “Odd Couple” fame? No, not him. How about Jack Nicholson? No, it’s not him, although you could expect almost anything from him!

I’m talking about Jack Whittaker, the man who won the biggest powerball lottery ever. He won $315 Million in W. Va. on Christmas day, 2002. And ever since that time it seems like he’s been in trouble in one way or another.

On August 5, 2003, Whittaker was drinking at a strip club when $545,000 was stolen from his sport utility vehicle. Someone broke the driver’s side window and took a briefcase containing $245,000 in cash and three $100,000 cashier’s checks belonging to Whittaker. Also, three female racetrack workers sued Whittaker, alleging that he assaulted them last year.

On Jan. 6, 2004 after getting banned from Billy Sundays Bar and Grill in St Albans, West Virginia, lottery winner Jack Whittaker reportedly threatened to have the manager and his family killed. Nice guy, huh?

On Jan. 25, 2004 Whittaker was arrested for drunk driving in Nitro, West Virginia. Police allege the millionaire blew a .190 blood alcohol on the breathalyzer. That’s about twice the legal limit.

Now for the present. 57-year-old Jack Whittaker was arrested for drunken driving and packing a gun on Dec. 1, 2004. He was arrested after his Hummer struck a concrete median on the West Virginia Turnpike near Beckley.

Senior Trooper M.J. Pinardo reported that he smelled alcohol but Whittaker refused sobriety tests and was "extremely belligerent." Troopers also said they found a small pistol in Whittaker’s boot and he was carrying $117,000 in cash.

Whittaker, who was alone, complained of back pain. He was treated at a hospital, and then jailed early Wednesday.

Whittaker was released after he was arraigned and posted $1,700 bail. Besides the DUI and weapons charge, he was charged with failure to maintain control of his vehicle and failure to submit to a breath test.

It appears to me that Jack Whittaker has a problem, a big problem. I think he is a man who lives for himself and that’s why he’s in trouble all the time. Self is the way of the world.

ILL.- Listen to what one writer said about the drugs use in sports. “Don’t blame Jason Giambi (the second-highest salaried player on the cash-rich New York Yankees.) if, in fact, he took steroids. In fact, don’t blame baseball players, football players, hockey players, wrestlers, track stars or any athlete who pollutes his body in search of that competitive edge. Isn’t that what America is all about — having an edge?”

This writer is not commending the use of drugs in sports. He is just saying that Americans are always interested in having a edge so they can win, look good, receive praise, get more money, etc. And what is this? Nothing but the promotion of self!

Instead of thinking of self all the time, we need to be thinking of others! ‘Tis the season to think of others and what we can do for them. This is the way of Jesus.

PROP.- Let me count the ways or consider some ways to think more of others.

1- to share with others

2- to pray for others

3- to reach out to others

I. TO SHARE WITH OTHERS

Heb. 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Gal. 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

These scriptures don’t need explanation, they need demonstration! What part of “do good” and “share” do we not understand?

ILL.- The local United Way office realized that it had never received a donation from one of the town’s richest citizens, a very successful lawyer. A local volunteer was sent to solicit his donation. The volunteer approached the lawyer, commenting, "Our research shows that even though your annual income is over a million dollars, you have never helped support our organization.

”Wouldn’t it make you feel good to give back to your community through The United Way?"

The lawyer paused for a moment, then sternly stated, "Did your research show that my mother is dying after a long, painful illness and has huge medical bills far beyond her ability to pay?"

Surprised, the United Way volunteer mumbled, "Uh, no."

"Well then, did your research show that my brother is a disabled veteran? That he is blind? That he is confined to a wheelchair and is unable to support his wife and six children?"