Table of Contentsstorage.cloversites.com/firstbaptistchurch59/documents/Stewardshi… · “It’s...

2

Table of Contents

I. Introduction..………………….………………………..………………………..……..……… 4

II. Sunday, November 9, 2014 – “It’s All About the Benjamins”

– Matthew 6:19-24…………………………………………………………….……... 6

III. Daily Devotions – Week of November 10th …..………….……………………..…… 8

IV. Sunday, November 16, 2014 – “Investment Strategy” – Luke 19:12-28.,.. 14

V. Daily Devotions – Week of November 17th ………………….……………………… 18

VI. Sunday, November 23, 2014 – “The Kingdom of God… Priceless!”

– Matthew 13:44-46………………………………………………………………….. 26

VII. Daily Devotions – Week of November 24th …..………….……………………..…… 30

3

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the following FBC members for their contribution of devotions and lessons to this issue of Along the Way:

Heath Altman Betty Bailey

Rebecca Boggs – Lesson Ben Currin

Glenda Currin Jayne Davis

Brian Furtado Carole Gates

Gary Harris – Lesson Clara Huff

Mike Humphress Kim Hunter

Beth McLeod Carol McNulty – Lesson

Bob Merritt Walter Rapp

Kristen Schoffner Jo Smith

Daryl Trexler Jack Upton

Resources

“The liturgy of abundance, the myth of scarcity,” by Walter Brueggemann www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=533

Along the Way online:

www.fbcwilmington.org/#/discipleship/along-the-way

© 2014 First Baptist Church, Wilmington, NC

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=533

http://www.fbcwilmington.org/#/discipleship/along-the-way

4

Stewardship: Go Deeper

Making Christ Known in our Choices:

A Word from your Pastor

In the Sacred Rhythms series, we talked about how we spend our time. The underlying challenge in time management, though, is that we can’t solve our problems by focusing on our time; only by focusing on our values. Walt Disney once said, “It’s not hard to make decisions once you know what your values are.”

The way we choose to spend our time is a reflection of the values we hold.

That’s not just true for time, but for money as well. Stewardship is stewardship of whatever God has given us to use. Time and money are both a reflection of what we hold dear.

Perhaps a better way to say it is this –

What we do with our time and money is a reflection of who we hold dear!

In our year-long focus on discipleship, we’ve been challenging ourselves to root our lives in the life of Christ. All of us need to be reminded that the more closely connected we are to Christ, the more confident we can be that we are living the lives we were created to live.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said that, “I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.”

How I spend the time I’ve been given, and how I spend the money I’ve been given are two of the most impactful choices I can make. They impact me and they impact the world around me. So, if I say that more than anything I want to know Christ and make Him known, then every choice I make should, in some way, be linked back to that.

Is our stewardship an outgrowth of our discipleship? May we choose well each and every day.

Stewardship: Go Deeper

Let’s Get Started!

6

November 9th Sunday School Lesson “It’s all about the Benjamins” – Matthew 6:19-24

Matthew 6:19-24 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Yes, it’s all about the Benjamins—the hundred dollar bills—the clams, the C-notes, the C’s, greenbacks, smackers, and you know, the Jolly Green giants. Even rapper Puff Daddy knew this back in 1997 when he came out with the song, “It’s All about the Benjamins” on his album “No Way Out.” Or is that what it’s all about? Was the album title exactly how Puff Daddy felt—like there is no way out? You don’t have to look very far in our world to see that greed is a big black hole. Almost everywhere you look, it seems, you can find people chasing after the one thing that can only hold empty promises, and sometimes even worse. The love of money often equals destruction- destruction of relationships, morality, trust, and freedom. People all around us are constantly trying to fill their needs with money. Money that buys them things and more things, only to realize those things don’t bring happiness.

We talk a lot about money: How to get it, spend it, save it. If a group of aliens descended on us and did an anthropological study, they might even think money was the most important thing in the world. With all the time we spend obsessing, worrying, and thinking about money, you’d think there would be almost no problem that money couldn’t solve. Of course we know that is not so. I am reminded of an image I will never forget of the events of September 11, 2001. Loose papers containing financial records flew everywhere, trailing down from the towers. The commentator noted, “...and you can see all those papers that just moments ago seemed so important, sitting on someone’s desk .” It was so true. Sometimes it takes an event so tragic to put everything into perspective. I know anyone who experienced those events in such a personal way would have traded all of the riches in the world to have their loved ones back.

But, of course, money itself is not evil. God does not condemn the rich. In fact, he wants us to live in abundance. "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 1:2. Prosperity can take many forms- health, wisdom, peace, love. God does not, however, want us to love money so that we become its slave. Matthew records in verse 21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Think for a moment about where your heart is. Few things move us to the point of wanting to give our whole selves- our hearts. But what would life be like if we did completely submit to God?

God tells us we can only serve one master. “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24.) By definition, a master is the complete authority over someone or

7

something that has taken over your emotion, mind, and will. Who, or what, do you find yourself serving? Money? Possessions? Alcohol? A ‘perfect’ appearance? A relationship? A lifestyle? Technology?

Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Me?

Take some time in prayer to think about what your life might look like from God’s perspective.

If you could do a pie chart of your life about how you actually spend your time and energy, what would it say? Try it. What are your largest chunks of time? Does your pie chart indicate you spend much of your time pursuing spiritual health or is it devoted more to chasing wealth? Is this in line with how you would define your values?

Draw another pie chart of how you want your life to look. This will be your ‘desired pie chart.’ What proportions do you want to see? Now compare your two pie charts. List some ways you plan to get your ‘actual pie chart’ to resemble your ‘desired pie chart.’ Talk to God, your family, your friends. What changes are needed? How will you work towards God’s will individually? Together? How might your life be different when you spend more time and energy pursuing the kingdom of God?

“Store up your treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20.)

You cannot serve both God and money. Jesus never tells us which one to choose. That is for us to decide. Whom do you serve? Choose wisely.

8

Devotions – November 10th-15th

Monday, November 10th

Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “

“I Live to Give”

I told my kids and friends one time that my motto for living is "I live to give." Whenever God calls me to give somebody something, I just try to do it right then. I was at a hotel back in April when a couple was standing at the front desk looking very sad. I walked out of the lobby and God told me to go back in and pay for their stay. I said, "God, are you sure?" He said yes. I went back in and asked the couple if I could pay for them. They almost cried and said "Yes, thank you so much"! I paid for two nights.

I was at the eye doctor recently and the receptionist was having trouble reading something. She said---"I`m going to have to bring my reading glasses from home. I went out to my car and got an extra pair of reading glasses that I had in my glove compartment. I took them back in and gave them to her. She was so excited she could read what she needed to read.

Last week when I took my dog to the vet, the receptionist was having a hard time turning her head. I asked her if she had a crick in her neck. She said she did and she could hardly turn her head. I said "You need a heating pad to help that." She said she didn`t have one. So, when I left, I went to the closest CVS and bought her a heating pad and took it back to her. She was so shocked---she was like, "Can I pay you for this?” I said -"Of course not.” She wrote me a thank you note and one of her sentences said "It was such a surprise. It means the world to me that you did that for me."

So, if God asks you to give someone something, just do it!!!!

*****


Write down a moment from today when you put the Kingdom of God first in your thoughts, words or choices:

9

Tuesday, November 11th

Matthew 6:22-24

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

As a young man, life did not have a clear cut purpose. There was a near continuous struggle with career, providing for family, and all the day to day events that seem to be thrown in front of you as another obstacle to overcome.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:24 that no man can serve two masters. Perhaps not realizing that I was trying to serve multiple masters, I fought those daily struggles without ever really gaining any ground. When I lost my father suddenly, it seemed like another struggle to deal with. But after going to God in order to ask for guidance, I realized that He needed to be placed first in my life, not as an afterthought behind that daily grind. Slowly, over a period of time, those daily trials seemed to resolve themselves.

God does provide and watch over us, as long as we serve Him as our only master. There are still obstacles and struggles to overcome, but with God first, they seem easier, and I am confident in them being resolved.

*****



10

Wednesday, November 12th

Hebrews 13:5

5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

I am reminded of the story of how contemporary Christian artist Rich Mullins came to admire Saint Francis. In an interview he said: “Having grown up Protestant, I was unfamiliar with St. Francis. Then I watched the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon . . . I just became fascinated with the character of St. Francis. What I saw in that movie was a man who had fallen in love with God, someone for whom God was everything.”

Rich admired St Francis to the point that “Taking the gospel as seriously as did St. Francis involved taking on the ferocity with which he embraced his vow of poverty. For Mullins, the virtue of poverty meant that everything he owned ‘time, talent, treasures’ was God’s and that he was but the steward. Despite the commercial success of his music with its concomitant monetary blessings, he sold what he had, matriculated to Friends University and there founded the Kid Brothers. He obtained a music education degree so he could teach music and carry God’s love to Navajo youth on a New Mexico reservation.”

Mullins chose to live on $24,000 a year, the average working man’s salary at (the) time. He told his accountant not to tell him how much money he had. He wryly observed that, “it was easier to give it away if he didn’t now how much he had.” As Mullins told the Chicago Tribune, “St. Francis had a great grasp of Christian joy. If you really want to be free, you have to be free of things.”

Now our calling may not involve something as radical as a vow of poverty as with Rich Mullin’s. It is not the pursuit of money that gets in our way but the blind pursuit of money by itself. It is what we do with our possessions and how much we trust in God to provide for us that counts.

http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2013/03/rich-mullins-asymptotic-catholic

*****



http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2013/03/rich-mullins-asymptotic-catholic

11

Thursday, November 13th

I Timothy 6:6-10

6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

The above passage is NT wisdom from Paul to Timothy. In a twist of irony, I stumbled upon a beautiful parallel to this passage in a story, which I think provides food for thought as retold by a Jewish rabbi in response to a Torah reading. "The story is told of a poor man who, despite his own poverty, would always invite strangers to come into his home and eat a home-cooked meal. His generosity was all the more special due to his own circumstances. In the merit of these acts of kindness, he was blessed with riches and soon found himself in a large mansion. Now, a change started to occur. Slowly, the poor were no longer welcome in his home. First it was a hint, then a suggestion, finally he would not even let them into his new home lest they spoil the hand-woven white carpets. He was dismissive of their pleas for help, suggesting to them that they should work harder. As news of his mean behavior spread, he soon found himself shunned by his former friends and colleagues. In despair, he called upon a wise old rabbi. As they were talking in the mansion, the rabbi pointed to a huge mirror situated on the wall facing the street, feigning ignorance. 'What a strange window! All I see is myself! Where are all the people on the street?' The man laughed. "Rabbi, it is not a window, it is a mirror." "But I don't understand", said the rabbi, "it is made of glass, like a window." The man replied, "If it were only glass you would be able to see the other people. But this is a mirror. It has a layer of silver added to it. Now you only see yourself." "Aha!" said the wise rabbi. "Now I see the problem. When you add the silver, all you see is yourself!" (from Money is Not the Root of All Evil By Mordechai Wollenberg www.chabad.org)

*****



12

Friday, November 14th

I Timothy 6:17-19

17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

God is the ultimate provider and there is no one richer than he. To be humble enough to abide by this text is my prayer. Even if not rich, financially, we can still store treasures of good deeds, forever. I know of someone very wealthy, financially and spiritually. The stories of his giving are too numerous to chart. He helps people financially but, with him, it is not about the money. Many needy families have no idea where gifts come from when they get an anonymous drop off at their house on Christmas morning. It’s not just holidays and money for this guy. He visits with them. He brings them and their families to his own family functions. He takes care of several less fortunate people in the community. Two, in particular, stand out. A young man and an elderly lady. The time he spends with them, along with running a big company, is absolutely amazing and only realized through his faith in God. He is a really big guy; the caring in his eyes and hugs are priceless to the people he helps. Verse 18 & 19 describe him perfectly, “rich in good works, generous and ready to share…..so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

*****



13

Saturday, November 15th

Jonah 2:8-9

8 “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. 9But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.”

While I may not “cling to worthless idols,” at times, I certainly, whether consciously or unconsciously, put a higher value on a football game, concert, vacation or some other activity over my time with and commitment to God. Obviously, God understands the stress and chaos of my typical day as a professional and father of two, but do my day to day activities truly reflect just how grateful I am for all that he has done for me? All that he has given to me? All that he plans to do for me? Do I treat him with love and commitment reflective of his love and commitment to me and his provision for my salvation?

While it might have taken a big fish to help Jonah see the light, he certainly reached the right place when he accepted the fact that salvation comes through God, and only God, and that salvation warrants sacrifice and gratefulness from his followers. To that end, I am grateful for this opportunity to reexamine my relationship with God and chance to recommit myself to prioritizing God and showing him just how very thankful I am for all that he has done for me and all that he will do for me, including my salvation.

*****



14

November 16th Sunday School Lesson “Investment Strategy” – Luke 19:12-28

Luke 19:12-28

12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

This is a parable similar to the one Jesus tells in Matthew where the servants are given talents, but it is not the same parable simply told differently in another gospel. In Matthew Jesus is in Jerusalem during the final week of his life when he tells the parable to his disciples. The parable in Luke is told as the back end of the story of Zacchaeus (most likely from Zacchaeus’ house) while he was on the way to Jerusalem to his crucifixion.

15

The frame work Jesus uses for this parable, that of someone going away to be made king and coming back to a group that didn’t want him, might seem strange to us but was very familiar to the people of Israel. It was common practice for noblemen to go to Rome and seek permission to rule. After Herod the great died, his sons Archelaus and Antipas went separately to Rome to be made ruler over the father’s kingdom only to have a delegation from Israel follow them and present a case for them not to be made rulers.

The tough thing about parables is usually not figuring who the characters represent (Which one is God/Jesus? Which one is me?). That is pretty obvious most of the time (SPOILER: We’re not the nobleman in this one). It’s the practical application. Do I do that? Is that what’s going to happen to me? The parable in Luke presents us with a scenario for our stewardship or the lack of it.

Being a good steward in this parable doesn’t just mean watching over something and making sure it’s not lost or damaged. They’re told to put it to work. They’re given an amount of money, which is most often interpreted here as the Gospel of Jesus Christ for us. The good stewards show an increase on the money when the nobleman returns. For their reward they are given charge over cities. Not more money but more responsibility. The guy who took his money and wrapped it up and did nothing with it? His was taken away and given to the one who had more.

Was what the guy did really all that bad? He did give back what he was given. Was the nobleman out anything? Yes. The nobleman was out something- his investment. He gave the money with the expectation that they would put it to work. Money has time value. You can simply put it in a bank and walk away and it will increase with interest. BUT, if it simply sits somewhere covered up like the bad steward did with his, it lessens over time. Example: If you gave me $20 twenty years ago and I stuck it in my sock drawer the whole time and gave it back to you today, it would still be $20 dollars right? No loss for you. Except would you be able to go see the same number of movies today for $20 as you could twenty years ago? Buy the same amount of gas? Milk? No, you wouldn’t. It’s still $20 but it has lost value.

The bad steward’s excuse for not doing anything is part ignorance of what his master is truly like and part excuse for his laziness. If his master was so hard, then his fear should have motivated him to do as he was told. Was not doing it going to make him any less of a hard man? And the master was only reaping where sowed and taking out what he put in. He didn’t call random people to account for things while he was gone. He called the ten he gave to. Bottom line is, the bad steward knew what was expected and was derelict in getting it done.

As Christians we understand that we are to be stewards of the things God trusts us with but might not always be mindful of the desire God has for us to “put it to work”. If you think of it terms of farming, no farmer plants a seed and comes back expecting to just get the same seed back. He wants to see growth and fruition. Likewise, no farmer can plant that seed and expect growth without work on his part; watering, hoeing, and reaping.

It is very important to note the rewards in the story and what it means to Christians. If you look at the story as our lives on earth being the time that the nobleman was away, and the return being Jesus’ return, then the reward would be what we consider Heaven. And the reward is more responsibility. So Heaven is ….more work? The biblical model seems to be that we should strive to be found as good workers in this life so that we can serve God in joyous labor when we spent eternity with Him. The idea of Heaven as an eternal vacation or retirement doesn’t pop up in Scripture. Don’t be surprised if there are more hammers than hammocks in Heaven.

16

Jesus emphasizes the need for us to be at busy putting what been given to us at work in the world when He says in the Great Commission “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,...” (Matthew 28:19). Investing your time, your energy and the gifts God has trusted you with in the ministries of the church and the kingdom of God wherever it is at work are ways to make sure that when held accountable , we hear “Well done, my good servant”.

18

Devotions - November 17th – 22nd


Matthew 25:14-30 14

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to

them. 15

To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to

his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16

The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and

put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17

So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two

more. 18

But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s

money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

20 The man who

had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags

of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I

will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold;

see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I

will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard

man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25

So I was

afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and

gather where I have not scattered seed? 27

Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the

bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.

29 For whoever has will be

given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken

from them. 30

And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping

and gnashing of teeth.”

Working three jobs as a widow paying college tuition was a necessity. The years passed and suddenly I became aware that I was running on empty. My heart was empty. My spirit was empty. I was weary. That’s when I began having unceasing prayer with the Lord. I am talking about having conversations with the Lord, not just in thought, but vocally.

“Lord, I’m listening, I’m paying attention. Tell me what to do Lord. Open the door, show me the path, I’ll listen, and snatch the opportunity.” Every chance I had, I opened my Bible, and His words jumped out, clearly speaking to me.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

19

I received a phone call with the opportunity to join NHRMC full time. “Lord, I hear you, how joyous is your grace and mercy!” I dove head first out of my boat and darted down God’s path, His plan for me. Now I spend each day providing speech therapy to patients who are broken, not only physically, but emotionally and some spiritually as well, as a result of devastating life changes.

I am so richly rewarded every moment of every day, by God’s blessings and through the spiritual “talents” He has bestowed upon me. How wondrous it is to work with patients, with difficulty swallowing and communicating, walking beside them as they regain these abilities. We have had discussions of angels, heaven, encouragement, hope, good will, future and yes, hot fudge sundaes, too. We cry together, laugh together and praise God together. I drive to work in the morning and home in the afternoon with my aloud, triumphant “Thank you Lord, how grateful I am to you Lord and the Holy Spirit, who indwells within me. I am walking with you Lord, keep me closely beside you. I pray I am an example of you Lord, filled with mercy, grace, patience, loving kindness, and most of all love for my neighbors. To God be the glory. Amen.”

*****



Consecration Sunday is this Sunday. Be in prayer this week as to what God is calling you to give as a part of the community of First Baptist Church.

20


Matthew 6:25-27

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

When I opened my bible and read the words of this scripture that I was asked to reflect on for this devotion, I actually laughed out loud! There it was in print… a familiar phrase that I struggle with… Do Not Worry.

I have been called a “worrier” a time or two. I have denied that title. I have justified why that isn’t true. Then I have justified why wouldn’t that be true… take a look at the news or visit a local middle school for that matter, why isn’t everyone worried?? I have argued that I am just concerned, analytical, inquisitive and so on. But the truth is, I do worry. I have even worried about whether or not I worry. And worry is the one trait that I would most like to change. Maybe this describes you too.

After settling in with the words of the scripture, I don’t think God is asking us to put aside concern or analysis of choices or whatever you wish to call it, but to trust in Him first and fully. He asks us to pray. He asks us to seek Him. He asks us to put our trust in Him for basic provisions such as the ones that this passage points out… food, drink and clothing. But He also asks us to put our trust in Him with our life… our whole life. He doesn’t want only the parts that feel out of control but also those that we feel we have a grip on. He wants the big things and the everyday things. When we seek Him first and put our trust in Him, our paths become straighter, our decisions and choices become clearer and our lives become fuller. We become free of the burdens of worry and then we are able to see and give gratitude for God’s lessons and blessings that are right in front of us. What an awesome change!

*****



21


Matthew 6:28-30

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30 If that is how

God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not

much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

Sometimes it is hard to see God's created beauty through the fog of life. We can sometimes let our hearts and minds become so full of wants and desires that we lose sight of the important things in life like giving and the feelings of comfort that come from living within God's plan. For me, I lost sight when I allowed the desire for material possessions to creep into my life and, almost destroy it. I had to have a nice house and nice cars, private education for my kids along with expensive family vacations.

It wasn't long before that fog of life became so thick that God became invisible. I continued to go to church and teach Sunday school as well as lead a successful men's ministry but deep down inside I was holding on to the cravings of the world. Eventually it almost sunk me both spiritually and financially. I came close to losing everything. I knew it was time for a change.

As painful and emotional as it was, changing my life and committing myself and my family to the kingdom of God again was the only answer. I am finding my place again and each day is a step toward a growing relationship with a loving savior. When the sun comes up the fog burns off. The only way to see through the fog of life is to allow the Son to shine through your life! I don't worry about provision as much as I used to. I'm slowly leaving that up to Christ.

*****



22


Matthew 6:31-34

31 “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

“BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING” I am a “worry wart,” or at least that is what my third grade teacher used to tell me. If she means that I tend to worry about things, that I get a little anxious when the unknown comes my way; then I guess she was right. I tend to worry and to get up tight. It seems to be my natural reaction. What I have learned over the years is that I am not alone – a lot of us worry and are anxious about something. How about you? Do you find yourself worried about something today? Would the word anxious describe you today? What are you worried about? What seems to be creating anxiety in you? For just a moment, forget about those things; push them to the back of your mind and do your best to ignore them. As your focus on these things begins to fade, allow your mind and thoughts to be captivated by these words of Jesus. “So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” As I, the “worry wart,” read these words, I am reminded of what should captivate my mind and attention on this day. Rather than allowing it to be robbed by worry and anxiety, my day should be about His kingdom, his purpose and his provisions. Today, it is possible to substitute our worries with His kingdom. What an encouraging and challenging word for all of us “worriers.”

*****



Consecration Sunday is this Sunday. Be in prayer this week as to what God is calling you to give as a part of the community of First Baptist Church.

23

Friday, November 21st

I Corinthians 12:1-11

1”Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3

Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

In the news today we hear a lot of talk about who gives their fair share, who should give more or less and it is all about money. Often I wonder why no one is required to give of their time or their talents in the place of money. Wouldn’t this world be a better place if more emphasis was placed on giving your time, your abilities and your talents to help those in need rather than use it to make enough money to pay your taxes every year?

For many years, I thought, if I can just make enough money to pay my bills and tithe, I’ll be good with the Lord. It wasn’t until the recent economic downturn and some other experiences in my life that I realized how valuable my time and my talents were. I realized that the money I gave was essential for the church to take care of the financial aspects, but my time, talents and abilities were essential in not only my journey as a follower of Christ, but the journey of others.

God has blessed each of us with unique talents and abilities that we must use to show others our faith and how they might be able to give in their own way. For some it may be wisdom, to another it may be faith, to another time, or money, or understanding, or kindness… Verse 11 says, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” As a Christian I must look at myself and ask, “What did the Lord give me that I can give back and most importantly, am I giving my fair share?”

*****



24

Saturday, November 22nd

Luke 12:26-31

26 “Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

Remember the late 80’s song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”... the one that Bobby McFerrin sang? Well, Jesus might not have known the song, but he was telling his disciples and the crowd something very similar after giving a warning to them in his parable of the rich fool. (vs 13-21) In fact, Jesus tells them (and us), “Don’t even worry about what you eat, wear and drink”, that our Father loves us more than His other precious creatures and he takes care of them as well.

Seems like More stuff = More Worry. Sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it?

Seriously, “Everything” (including you and me) could be gone or taken away tomorrow, Jesus tells them, and he is right. So why worry? Why worry about things we cannot change in the first place? The outcome is the same...worry or no worry.

I can probably tell you, what you worry about is where your heart and treasure is. So, as followers of Christ, what should occupy our actions and thoughts? Kingdom Stuff! We should be developing a deeper relationship with our Father and others, concentrating our thoughts and efforts on those things that will last...eternal things.

So, Who or What is your Master? We cannot serve two, we must choose.

Fear of losing what we value (our stuff) keeps us “in the boat” but Christ is calling us out in the water with him. It takes courage, it takes faith to get out of the boat, to leave your stuff, to leave your security behind, but “out there” is where we experience Christ in the truest sense.

It’s where we experience true freedom, freedom in Christ.

What we once thought was of value (our things in the boat) we now see clearly as just a distortion of the reality and abundance found in The Kingdom with the Master.

“I have come so that you will have life and have it more abundantly” John 10:10

*****



26

November 23rd Sunday School Lesson The Kingdom of God….Priceless! – Matthew 13:44-46

Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Search is on… for treasure!

What is it about hidden treasure that gets our attention? Is it the fact that it is hidden or is it the treasure itself? Maybe it’s the thrill of the hunt! In 2010 Forrest Fenn, a millionaire art collector from Santa Fe, New Mexico announced he had hidden a treasure chest full of gold worth millions somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. In his book, aptly titled “The Thrill of the Chase,” he provided clues to the location of the treasure. The book is now on Amazon’s Top 100 list and was selling so fast it quickly went out of print. It has been on Ebay selling for $500. Talk about treasure…

Fast forward to today and the search for Fenn’s treasure is still going strong. In addition to his book, he has a website with a faithful following and he releases more clues occasionally on The Today Show. As you might imagine, in addition to capturing the attention of treasure hunters, he has become the object of naysayers and many who have called his actions irresponsible. His response is interesting, “Searching for hidden treasures in the mountains is enjoyable. It brings families together, it promotes bonding and it gets kids off the streets, out of the game rooms and away from their texting machines. During rough economic times, it provides hopes and dreams where otherwise they might be lacking.”

Hopes and Dreams. That is treasure worth seeking! Unfortunately, few people find hopes and dreams in a treasure chest full of gold. While the hunt for treasure may be exhilarating, the actual treasure often leaves the finder with more problems than treasure. Just google lottery winners and you may be surprised at the “cost” of their treasure: frustration, fear, anxiety, even death! When our treasure is money or things of this world, we tend to focus inward. Our needs are the main needs. We are king of our lives and our hopes and dreams fade into a sea of frantic worry and “busy”-ness. But Jesus points us to a different treasure.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like…

The man who found treasure

In the first parable, Jesus tells of a man who discovers treasure hidden in a field. He recognizes its value immediately and goes and sells everything he has to buy the field and own the treasure. The man is not searching for treasure. When he accidentally finds it, his response is one of joy and desire to have the treasure above anything else.

The man searching for the pearl

27

In the second parable, Jesus tells of a merchant who is searching for a fine pearl. Unlike the first man, this man knew what he was looking for and was overjoyed when he found it. So valuable was the pearl that the merchant sold everything he had to keep the pearl.

Both of these stories describe what the Kingdom of heaven is like. While one man stumbles upon the treasure and the other is searching, both respond to finding it in the same way: joyfully giving up everything to own it! God’s kingdom is worth more than any earthly thing we might obtain, including a treasure chest full of gold! Furthermore, our response should be a joyful willingness to part with everything we have to obtain it. Most of us will agree that God’s kingdom is valuable…maybe even the most valuable thing we can have. But how many of us will joyfully sell everything we own to possess it? Look around your home or think about all of your possessions. What do you value most? Maybe you have valuable art or jewelry. Maybe it’s a car or a boat; perhaps your beach house or mountain cabin. Or, maybe what you value most is your family; your marriage, your children, your adorable puppy! Now imagine you have discovered something more valuable than anything you have just imagined. Will you joyfully give up all you have? That is what the kingdom of heaven is like.

The Choice

There is a lot of theology out there regarding the Kingdom of heaven. Frankly, it is beyond this lesson writer’s understanding to engage in that discussion. The one theme that seems steady in all the commentary is the kingdom of heaven is wherever God is King. Where are you in this narrative? Who is king over your life, God or you?

Think again about the things you value. Will they bring you joy forever? The truth is everything of this world will one day perish, including you. When you take your last breath will the treasures you have collected bring you comfort? God’s kingdom is infinitely more valuable than anything and yet we are often hesitant to part with the earthly things we value. Until we can joyfully give ALL to receive God’s kingdom, we won’t be able to fully enjoy all God has planned for us. And he has so much more planned for us. The band, Remedy Drive, sums this up in their song, All Along:

It’s not everything it seems, the world and its dreams Slipping like water through my hands tonight All the things I thought would fill me up inside

Left me empty here, and now I know why,

All along I was looking for something else You’re something else

All along I was looking for something more You’re so much more

I finally found what I could never see before You’ve always been the one I was looking for.

All of my castles in the sand, washed away again

And I’m left back where I began tonight The only thing that can ever fill me up

Has been right in front of me all the time.

When asked about the song, band member David Zach said, "We’re all getting sold this lie that the stuff we own can make you happy and validate who you are. We want to sing about something

28

permanent, something real that'll never burn out or fade away. Ultimately, we want to give our listeners hope. Earthly things aren’t going to fill us up. The rock of Christ Jesus is what gives us ultimate hope and satisfaction. There’s something more than this world which is not really paradise. Many times we all pursue our careers and ‘build our castles in the sand.’ Rather than striving for money, success, the world and its dreams, we have what we are looking for, right in front of us. Just look to the cross and know that Jesus is with us ‘all along.’"

What are you holding on to? There is a beautiful story about a young girl who cherishes a set of fake pearls. Every night her father asks the girl if she loves him. She says yes and he asks her to give him her pearls. Every night the girl bargains with her father and offers him other things that she has. She holds on to her pearls as her father tells her he loves her and kisses her good night. One night, however, with tears in her eyes, the girl gives the pearls to her father. As her father leans in to kiss her, he reaches in his pocket and pulls out a string of genuine pearls and hands them to his beloved daughter. He had them the whole time but was waiting for her to love and trust him enough to part with her fake pearls. What are your fake pearls? You father is lovingly waiting for you to let go so he can lavish you with real treasure!

Love does not demand love

In his book, The Good and Beautiful God, James Smith writes, “God is Love. Love does not demand love in return; it is not coercive. God does everything to reach out to us, yet people are free to reject that love. God will not violate the choices we make.” The choice to give God reign over our lives is ours alone to make. What is stopping you from giving all for the Kingdom? The mystery of God’s kingdom is such that when we let God reign over our lives we begin to see as God sees. We discover who we really are: loved, forgiven, protected forever. Instead of frustration and worry we find peace and assurance! We see the brokenness around us and respond with the love and forgiveness of Christ in us. Our needs are no longer the main needs but we find that everything we need we already have!

Jim Eliot wrote, “It is the wise man that gives what he cannot keep to obtain what he cannot lose.” The kingdom of God is the real treasure that can never be lost. And that is Priceless!

30

Devotions – November 24th – 29th


Luke 12:32-34

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I have always been amazed when I think about how much our Father in Heaven loves us. So much is provided for us and is right in front of us, often without us even recognizing it. With God on our side and His promise to be with us always, there is nothing to fear. Our thoughts sometimes work overtime worrying needlessly about things that have not even occurred. Why do we worry? What does it add to our life? Putting aside worry is a constant struggle for a lot of us. When we start to worry, we should challenge ourselves to give the thought up to God.

I have never been much of a materialistic person and have always told our children we are so rich in our love. Our treasures are what we gladly give away, our time, our love and caring for others. There is no material item here on earth that we will ever take with us when we are gone from this life. I can already see as I get older, the most precious things to me are love, family and memories, not material things. I cannot put any of these items in storage for safe keeping. These things are mine to keep forever in my heart. Giving away love and helping others costs us nothing, but could add far more value to someone’s life than we could ever know.

Sharing love unconditionally is the true measure of wealth.

*****



31


Matthew 13:31-32

31 “He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

In comparing the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed Jesus gave us a parable for life. We never know when a tiny seed of kindness will blossom in unintended ways. When I first started school I had real difficulties learning to read. I had dyslexia. At that time very little was known about the problem. The words looked backwards and it was very difficult for my eyes to track across a sentence. I can still remember my frustration. My friends seemed to have no difficulty in class, but I lived in constant fear that the teacher would call on me to read out loud—something that was often done in those days. My parents could not afford expensive testing or classes. My mother was talking with a neighbor who was a former teacher. She volunteered to ‘work with’ me every day after school. She was patient and kind and every afternoon I would sit with her in her living room stumbling through books. Eventually, I improved and was able to catch up with my classmates. She was a true Christian with a heart of gold. She took her time to help a struggling child and I’ve never forgotten her. Her ‘mustard seed’ of kindness was freely given and made a tremendous difference in my life.

*****



32


Matthew 13:33

33 “He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Two of my favorite people in our small church in South Chile were Al and Ann. Al was an elderly man who had recently become a Christian and he longed to give an offering when the plate was passed. An addiction to alcohol had left him poor and in ill health. After he became a believer his wife helped him to get clean and recover from alcoholism. In spite of his past Al was a very talented man having worked in newspaper offices as a journalist and in public relations. He was very organized and began to work in the church in several different areas. Al worked with new Christians one on one, visiting them in their homes to go over the lessons and pray. He assisted members of the church with legal papers and how to fill out documents. He guided many adults to finish their high school studies and get a diploma. With a knowledge of herbs and natural remedies he doctored many alcoholics to recover and stay clean.

We held weekly neighborhood Bible studies in their little house. They had one small light bulb which they moved from room to room wherever it was needed. Before Al died he asked me to help him with his Will: he willed their house and property to the church. At last Al and Ann were able to put something in the offering plate. At his death many people, neighbors as well as church members gave testimony of how he had ministered to them.

Of such is the kingdom of heaven.

*****



33


John 6:1-4

1“Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2

and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.”

There are several observations about this story that remind us of the importance of being aware of the needs of others and offering whatever we have to help meet those needs.

Jesus has attracted thousands of people who have heard or seen him healing the sick and teaching the gospel. They are drawn to him for physical and spiritual needs. Jesus is aware of their needs and asks the disciples how they can supply the masses with ford – for he knows that they are, or will be, hungry. Our Lord demonstrated the attentive heart that reaches out to others even before they reach out to him.

There is a boy present that apparently offers what little he has for their use – two fish and a few loaves of bread. He did not offer these out of abundance but out of kindness. He must have known that his gift was way too small to make a dent in the needs of the thousands who were present, but he turn it over to Jesus anyway. It’s amazing what our small gifts can do for others when turned over to our Lord.

*****



34

Friday, November 28th

Matthew 13:45-47

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.

46 When he found one of great

value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of

fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.”

A few years back my husband discovered we had standing water in our crawl space. Apparently a pipe shared by our two bathrooms had been leaking for months. After wrapping our heads around the discovery and the costs associated with it, we got to work fixing the problem. Once demolition had begun it was apparent that we would not have a working bathroom for several weeks so we packed up a few items and headed to a hotel just a few blocks away.

I had no idea that this interruption would be a blessing. Our stay at the local hotel became a mini-vacation. We made friends with the hotel staff, especially the ladies who worked the continental breakfast bar. Daily decisions like what to wear and what to eat were so much easier. We were able to focus on our rebuilding project, our full-time jobs and on each other without distractions.

Sometimes we think the more “stuff” we have the happier we will be when in reality “stuff” can just clutter your mind. I can honestly say those few weeks were a relief to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love to shop and buy new things, but when I think back to our weeks of living out of a suitcase I can honestly smile and say that I would definitely trade all my treasures for the peace that comes with living in the Kingdom of Heaven.

*****



35

Saturday, November 29th

Matthew 20:1-16

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for

his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius

for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3About nine

in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4

He told them,

‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6

About five in

the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been

standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them

their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9The workers who were hired

about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10

So when those came who were hired

first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11

When they received

it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12

‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’

they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of

the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a

denarius? 14

Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15

Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am

generous?’ 16

So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

“Knowing that countless people grope in darkness and giving attention to his commands, I assert my

allegiance to Jesus Christ, to his church and its activities, attempting with God’s help to abide in him

through prayer, to advance in wisdom by Bible study, to acknowledge my stewardship of time, money and

personality, to adorn myself with good works and to accept the challenge of the Great Commission.”

Quoted above is the pledge that I learned in Girls Auxiliary of the Woman’s Missionary Union so many

years ago. I had forgotten how to repeat most of it in order, but I have always remembered “to

acknowledge my stewardship of time, money and personality.” These words have often called me to

examine my dedication to serving God with my whole being.

The work of the Kingdom is always available for anyone who will come. Wherever we are in life, God

will graciously welcome us. We are, however, called to be faithful and to enter into his Kingdom with a

servant’s heart. Our challenge should be to examine just how dedicated we are and to serve God with our

whole being.

*****



Table of Contentsstorage.cloversites.com/firstbaptistchurch59/documents/Stewardshi… · “It’s...

Documents

Transcript of Table of Contentsstorage.cloversites.com/firstbaptistchurch59/documents/Stewardshi… · “It’s...