Terminally Distracted Or Decisively Prepared?

11/7/99

ORGAN PRELUDE

ANNOUNCEMENTS                   Thank you--pastor appreciation

CALL TO WORSHIP

    "In the  Name of the Living God, welcome to the celebration. How (not why) have you come today? Ready? With expectations? Alert? Mark Twain said, 'Blessed are those who expect nothing ; for they will not be disappointed.' And I say again, 'Blessed are those who come, not as observers, but as participants, ready and ripe, responsive and responsible to God, others, self -- for they shall be filled!' However we have come, we are here -- to celebrate the Presence and Power of the living God."

INVOCATION AND LORD'S PRAYER      Eternal God, you have overseen our adventures in life. At  times we have failed to pray, failed to think of you in connection with our works, failed to understand our relationship with you. Yet you have been patient with us until we have begun to learn, through our prayer lives, that you are available to us, that we can draw upon your higher wisdom and power. We thank you for this presence and pray for faith that we may remain faithful.     Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And, forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever.  AMEN.

*GLORIA PATRI

*OPENING HYMN                                  Morning Has Broken             # 274

SCRIPTURE READING              Joshua 24:1-3a+14-25

24:1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors--Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor - lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. 3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many. 14 "Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." 16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God." 19 But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good." 21 And the people said to Joshua, "No, we will serve the LORD!" 22 Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses." 23 He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 The people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and him we will obey." 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.

Response Text...Psalms 78:1-7

78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;

OFFERING        What kind of a life-story are we writing each day, one of readiness, or one of waiting until a "more opportune time"?

*DOXOLOGY

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION        God, possess us by your power; illuminate us by your truth; fire us by your flame; enable us by your presence; be made visible in us by your fruits....

CHILDREN'S STORY TIME

CHORAL ANTHEM

PRAYER             Some of us have developed the art of procrastination into a science. "I have plenty of time - for whatever." (Three minutes of silence.)

   Many of us have said something similar to this:  "Later, Lord, later, I'll become a Christian when I'm older; I want to have my fun first. Then, just before I conk out, I'll make a deal with you." Of course, the trouble with this attitude is that our indecision is one of the things that will keep us from the Kingdom of God. The disease of indecision infected the foolish maidens. It infects many of us who like to believe that God is on our side , never questioning if we are on God's side. It infects those of us who cry out "Lord, Lord," but who do not do God's will. It infects those who want the benefits of the Kingdom, without obeying the Lord of the Kingdom. It infects the fence-sitters, the spiritual sponges, the passive onlookers.

God of the awesome vision, Who imagined the universe, and it became; Who thought a people, and we lived; grant to us the courage to dream dreams, and to make plans, worthy of Your church, and to see visions of what Your people may be/do when obedient to the Holy Spirit; so that we may dare great things for You, venture everything for the sake of Your Kingdom and glory; and Your church, indeed, be the force that the world dare not ignore, through Jesus the Christ, the sovereign one and our Lord.

*PREPARATIONAL HYMN         The Wonder of It All # 320

SCRIPTURE TEXT                     Matthew 25:1-13

25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.8 The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

SERMON          Terminally Distracted Or Decisively Prepared?

     Case one: One can be diligent about meeting tasks in an orderly, thoughtful manner and yet be unthoughtful and a procrastinator in matters spiritual.

     Case two: One can be a bit too laid-back regarding tasks and professional development, yet be truly thoughtful and an initiative-taker regarding the spiritual side of his/her life.  In case one, such a person will excel professionally, but will more than likely have significant interpersonal issues at home and with his/her Lord. In case two, though the person will be an occasional headache-base for colleagues, supervisors, and family members, they will enjoy spiritual growth because  their heart, mind, and will attend to the Lord and faith. A sub-case could even be made that in the latter as well, as spiritual maturity develops in this person, their Lord and maturing faith will call them to become more thoughtful and present to persons and tasks, that is, to follow through on matters, because their maturing love and understanding come to realize the importance of being more reliable and responsible.  Because this person has been decisive about spiritual growth and commitment, matters in their life that wear on people and responsibilities will in time be addressed as well, for they affect the quality of their love and commitment. They, over a lifetime, becomes more decisively prepared, both spiritually and naturally.

     But for the person in case one, that of the person who is a natural initiative-taker and is very responsive in matters of profession and duties, but who chooses to procrastinate about dealing with/attending to matters spiritual, a devilish predicament presents itself. In being so preoccupied with duties and tasks and, comparatively speaking, unconcerned about their spiritual growth needs, growing only professionally serves to crowd out and will eventually choke the spiritual side and quality of their life. Attending only to all the tasks and duties, as well-meaning and as productive and impressive as they may be, serves the devil's motive very well: the task-committed person is continually distracted from attending to a matter that abides: Will your spiritual side grow as you live your earthly life?  If this person does not, at some point in their life, either through crises or growing thoughtfulness, attend to his/her spiritual growth and preparation, they will be so terminally distracted that "Judgment Day" will be a shocking surprise, not so much because of the timing, but because of the lack of a spiritually developed and readied heart.       Will you and I have a kindredness to the five foolish bridesmaids or to the five wise bridesmaids? Bottom line, regarding the spiritual side of our lives, will we choose to be terminally distracted or decisively prepared?   This story shared by Jesus could be related to easily by first century village people in Palestine. Weddings were great occasions then, as they are now. The way a wedding event was played out then was that most of the village people accompanied the married couple to their new home, but, according to Barclay, they went by the longest possible road, in order that they might receive the glad good wishes of as many as possible (and instead of going on a honeymoon) they stayed at home, kept open house (and were) treated and addressed as prince and princess.1

     A whole week of celebrative festivities involved certain invited close friends. Our foolish virgins in the Gospel story missed both the marriage ceremony as well as a week of joy - and all because they had not been interested enough to prepare themselves. Jesus shares this story because it is a "slice of life from a village in Palestine," not a "synthetic story" that is unrelated to living.2

     If one would look at the larger context in which this passage is found, one could see it from chapter 24:37f being another expression of the matter of "separation at the last judgment."3 The parable's theme is the importance of being ready for Jesus at his Second Coming, so one can enter his kingdom with him. Furthermore, "the bridesmaids represent the church . The bridegroom's arrival represents the future aspect of God's kingdom. Having sufficient oil to last until then is proper preparation for its coming."4

     In verses 1-4, what kind of wisdom were the ten bridesmaids to have? They were to be prudent, that is, demonstrate care for their future. The readiness of the five shows wisdom, and the other five's lack of practical preparation reveals their foolishness and lack of care. Living a Christian life, not just a busy or laid-back one, is the best way to be prepared for the unknown hour of Christ's return.

     What I'm struck with is that each set of bridesmaids had a level of awareness of and commitment to the bridegroom's arrival.  Can one's initial commitment to Christ be long-lasting, or for it to be so, must it be ever-deepened and daily renewed?  The lamp's need of more oil each day portrays as well our daily need for renewal of faith and commitment. The Lord we know initially, we need to come to know better. To make a commitment to Christ and then to be distracted by so many duties, tasks, and responsibilities that one doesn't tend to nurture that commitment further is to put one's life in spiritual peril. Though both sets of bridesmaids believe the bridegroom will return, only one set truly cares enough to make ready for him.  One's willingness to renew and to deepen one's faith and commitment are at the center of this passage, for how else are we going to be truly ready for Christ's unknown return? Are you more interested in heaven because it will save you from hell? Or are you interested in heaven because you will be in the close presence of Jesus, and your heart longs and beats for such a privilege? The answer to the former question is practically played out in the five unwise bridesmaids' lack of preparation.  The answer to the latter question is spiritually revealed in the practical preparation of the five wise bridesmaids. / In the scripture passage, while all ten bridesmaids became naturally drowsy and sleepy, the surprising arrival of the bridegroom startled and awoke all ten, but only five were practically prepared. Though naturally as sleepy as the five foolish bridesmaids, the five wise ones were able to recover far better from the surprise arrival of the bridegroom because they had been thoughtful enough to carry sufficient oil. Are we thoughtful enough, spiritually speaking, to abide in Christ, to long for time with him daily, to consider it the privilege of privileges to be taught of him through his Word, and to share and celebrate him in community?  Only by having and honoring such a disposition and attitude of being submitted to and learning of Christ will our human nature be spiritually influenced enough to make us ready for his unknown hour of coming.

     In verses 7-9,  My reaction is that I defensively ask the five wise bridesmaids to practice a little hospitality and charity and help the five unwise bridesmaids out of their tight spots by giving some of their oil supply. After all, doesn't Jesus elsewhere in his Word instruct us to give a coatless person a coat if we have two (Luke 3:11)?  My subsequent, more thoughtful response though is that Jesus rightly handles this situation differently, because the oil represents the depth of belief, trust, and commitment in a person. The five wise bridesmaids can't believe enough for the five unwise ones.  No, they must believe deeply enough for themselves. When it comes to the endtime, to Christ's Second Coming, we cannot enter his kingdom with him if we don't truly believe. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven" (Matthew  7:21).  I'm more eager to obey God, the more I believe in and love Him. I know this to be true for myself. Is it applicable to  you?

It warns us that there are certain things which cannot be borrowed. The foolish virgins found it impossible to borrow oil, when they discovered they needed it. A person cannot borrow a relationship with God; he must possess it for himself. A person cannot borrow a character; he must be clothed with it. We cannot always be living on the spiritual capital which others have amassed.5

     In verses 10-13, we learn that hastily dealing with a matter that has eternal significance, and which God gives most of us a significant lifetime to be more-thoughtful-than-last-minute about, is to put us in jeopardy, rather than lead us to security.  The five unwise bridesmaids are now counting on the fact that they still have time to travel the streets for the needed oil. By the time they have sufficient oil, though, the bridegroom has arrived, has received those thoughtful enough to be genuinely prepared, and shuts the door on time, as we have known it all our lives. They plead for him to reconsider, but it is, irrevocably, too late. On the one hand, we're all - each and every one of us - invited to God's kingdom. But anything truly precious involves proper preparation of self, regarding belief, attitude, and commitment. Just as diseases or other bodily malfunctions conclude our lives on earth - with no additional time granted to live life here - so also, Jesus' Second Coming, the time when the Bridegroom who wants us all, as his Bride to love him in return, requires a timely response.       Our abundance of choices these modern days clouds the seriousness of a choice-invitation that is head-and-shoulders above them all. Our lift-off to heaven is a matter we need to apply our hearts, minds, and lives to. If we're thoughtful enough to take the necessary steps to assure a seat on a flight to a selected destination, such wisdom in temporal matters needs to be exercised in matters spiritual. Don't let yourself be terminally distracted. Yearn and learn to be decisively prepared, especially for the kingdom eternal!

1. William Barclay, Matthew, Volume II, Westminster Press, p. 319.

2. Ibid., p. 320.

3. Lection Aid, October-December, 1996, Volume 4, No. 4, "Some  Are Wise, Some Are Otherwise," p. 26.

4. Ibid.

5. Barclay, op. cit., pp. 320-321.

*INVITATIONAL HYMN               We Come As Guest INvited # 258

*BENEDICTION At this moment, we still have time to make a decision, or a re- decision, for a life in Christ. What shall we do with this  moment? Waste it, destroy it, rationalize it, sluff it off, and then hear Christ say, "Away with you, fools"? Or instead, shall we use it, cherish it, redeem it, and then hear Christ's words,  "Enter with me into the joy of life, eternally, beginning now!"?

ORGAN POSTLUDE

Matthew 25:1ff

This parable is about a wedding. On the wedding day the bridegroom went to the bride’s house for the ceremony; then the bride and groom, along with a great procession, returned to the groom’s house, where a feast took place, often lasting a full week.

These ten bridesmaids were waiting to join the procession, and they hoped to take part in the marriage feast. But when the groom didn’t come at the expected time, five of them were out of lamp oil. By the time they had purchased extra oil, it was too late to join the feast.

When Jesus returns to take his people to heaven, we must be ready. Spiritual preparation cannot be bought or borrowed at the last minute. Our relationship with God must be our own.