New Year Necessities
New Year Necessities 2005; nv 1/2/04 - Romans 12:9-11
OS: "The Fabulous Life of: Arnold Schwarzenegger.” Here it is:
* He smokes $4,000 cigars but that’s not all.
* Arnold is worth up to an estimated $800 million. His holdings in private companies like Microsoft and Starbuck’s are valued at over $20 million.
* Even his shoes are fabulous-a pair of custom Pasquale’s can cost up to $5,000 a pair.
* Arnie’s suits are of the finest Italian variety by Giacomo. A single suit can set him back $3,000.
* When on the ocean, Arnold and family cruise in style on a $4.5 million 88 foot yacht with 2 grand salons, 3 sleeping cabins, and a state of the art entertainment center.
* Arnold bought the first civilian model Hummer for $117,000. Today he owns a fleet of 9 Hummers worth an estimated $1 million.
* If he leaves the 88 foot yacht home, Arnold likes to put his head down in St. Bart’s at the exclusive Hotel Guanahani where rooms can cost $2,000 a night.
* The "governator" must keep his body in tiptop shape. To pump up, Arnold always relies on his $3,000 Cybex 700 high-resistance bike.
* Arnie’s hair always needs to be perfect and for that he goes to Stephen Knoll. This hair genius has a $5,500 day rate and the scissors he uses cost up to $400.
* Now for the more positive side of Arnold’s life. He does share his wealth, perhaps not the way we Christians would, however. He’s coached the Special Olympics since 1979 and donates millions to support a multitude of charitable organizations.
I. We tend to think that the Arnold Schwarzenegger’s of the world are the rich people of the world.
A. A man went through his closet and numbered some items. He had: 10 pairs of shoes, 43 various shirts, 23 pairs of pants, and 9 pairs of jeans.
How did he feel about this? He felt blessed, but also somewhat embarrassed. Why? Because there are people in our world who would say, “Look at how rich you are!”
II. PQ: What are the necessities of life?
A. Basically, all we need is food, shelter and clothing. Beyond that, it is pure luxury.
B. Of course, this is not how we feel in affluent America. We feel that almost everything we have or own is a necessity of life. If we were born and raised in many foreign countries, however, we’d feel fortunate to have food, clothing and shelter.
III. Today, let’s think about spiritual necessities. Things we need to make this year the greatest year ever.
A. 2005 – major changes for Northview (eldership / location / new ministry “carpenter’s kids”)
TS] Our text in Romans 12:9-11 gives us a good list of spiritual necessities for the New Year. Let’s think about them and how to get them into our lives to a greater degree. (Read Text)
I. LOVE SINCERELY “Love must be sincere.”
A. "Dearest Jimmy, No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please say you’ll take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you, I love you, I love you! Yours forever, Marie... P.S., And congratulations on willing the state lottery." That is not sincere love. Sincere love demonstrates love whether there is any money or not.
1. I Cor. 13:13 “And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
2. Love is greater than faith and hope. Love is the greatest good. It is the supreme good in life. God put us here to learn to love. The greatest lesson we can learn on earth is the lesson of demonstrating sincere love.
B. Col. 3:12-14 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
1. I Pet. 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
C. It’s hard to misunderstand these scriptures. Our understanding is not the problem.
1. Our problem is the performance of these scriptures. We do not always love people deeply.
2. How’s your love life? That is, how well do you love people? How well do you demonstrate love to people?
D. ILL - play entitled ‘Raisin in the Son.” In the play, an African-American family inherits $10,000 from their father’s life insurance policy. The mother of the house sees a chance to escape the ghetto life of Harlem and move into a little house with flower boxes out in the countryside. The brilliant daughter of the family sees in the money the chance to live out her dream and go to medical school. But the older brother has a plan that is difficult to ignore. He begs for the money so that he and his "friend" can go into business together. He tells the family that with the money he can make something of himself and make things good for the rest of them. He promises that if he can just have the money, he can give back to the family all the blessings that their hard lives have denied them. Against her better judgment, the mother gives in to the pleas of her son. She has to admit that life’s chances have never been good for him and that he deserves the chance that this money might give him. As you might suspect, the so-called "friend" skips town with the money. The desolate son has to return home and break the news to the family that their hopes for the future have been stolen and their dreams for a better life are gone. His sister lashes into him with a barrage of ugly words. She calls him every despicable thing she can think of. HER CONTEMPT FOR HER BROTHER HAS NO LIMITS. When she takes a breath in the midst of her tirade, the mother interrupts her and says, "I THOUGHT I TAUGHT YOU TO LOVE HIM!" The daughter answered, "Love him? There’s nothing left to love." And the mother responds, "THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING LEFT TO LOVE. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing. Have you cried for that boy today? I don’t mean for yourself and the family because we lost all that money. I mean for him, for what he’s been through and what it done to him. Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most: when they done good and make things easy for everbody? Well then, you ain’t through learning, because that ain’t the time at all. IT’S WHEN HE’S AT HIS LOWEST and can’t believe in himself ’cause the world done whipped him so. When you start measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you take into account what hills and valleys he came through before he got to where he is."
E. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING LEFT TO LOVE! To demonstrate love when someone is at their lowest point in life is genuine love.
1. This is something that we all need to do because our Lord Jesus did the same thing.
2. For example, remember the woman at the well? Remember the woman caught in the adultery? Remember the outcast lepers who were healed? In each of these cases and more Jesus demonstrated love to people who were at or near their lowest point in life.
3. This is something that we need to learn to do. Just like Jesus did.
II. HATE STRONGLY “hate what is evil”
A. Hatred in general is not a good thing. But hatred for evil is something that is commanded by God and will also inspire us to do good.
1. Jude 22-23 “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
2. We are to love the sinner, but hate the sin. There is a time to hate, a time to take a stand against the evil of our world.
B. Donald Wilmon of the American Federation for Decency Journal wrote these words some years ago: “The truth is we are anything but a Christian nation. Our behavior as a nation makes a mockery of Christianity. We lead the world in every abomination known to man - abortion, alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling, divorce, child abuse, violent crime, pornography, and yes, even child pornography. Worse yet, we export our violence and immorality to other countries through our sleazy movies and TV programs. We have become the moral polluter of planet earth.
1. Rom. 12:9 “Hate what is evil and cling to what is good.”
There is a time when we must take a stand against evil. If we truly stand for Christ then we must stand against evil.
2. Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Our stand must be strong and secure, but also decent and respectful.
C. I Pet. 3:15 “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. BUT DO THIS WITH GENTLENESS AND RESPECT.”
D. When Eugene Debs was imprisoned as a conscientious objector, he became interested in a black man who was said to be incorrigible, devoid of any human goodness. Since the man would not speak to anyone, Debs started a campaign of kindness by leaving an orange on the man’s bed and going off without a word. Eventually, the two became friends. Years later at the news of Debs’ death, the black man, now a useful citizen, said, “HE WAS THE ONLY JESUS CHRIST I EVER KNEW.” Hate the sin, but love the sinner.
III. SERVE ZEALOUSLY “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
A. A New Year necessity is Christian service. We need to serve more and the best we can. We must never be lacking in zeal.
B. A man hurried to the church door one Sunday around noon and said, “Is the service over?” One man said, “The worship is over, but the service is only beginning.”
1. Christian service can take place within the worship and programs of the church, but it also takes place outside the church.
2. Anything we do for Christ is better than nothing.
C. It is great when people are willing to serve, any place, at any time regardless of any special gifts or talents they might have.
1. Some people might be tempted to say, “I can’t do that. That’s not my cup of tea.” Or “I don’t have any ability in that area.”
2. 1 Peter 4 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
3. If we are going to grow. Really do something as a church for the glory of God – make an impact on this community for Christ it will be because we serve people.
D. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), world-renowned French chemist and biologist, who founded the science of microbiology, proved the germ theory of disease, invented the process of pasteurization, and developed vaccines for several diseases, including rabies said, “In what way can I be of service to humanity? My time and energy belong to mankind.”
1. Jesus attitude - Matthew 20:26-28 “… whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
2. Christ came to serve. We too must serve as best we can.
IV. We are going to face many changes, challenges, opportunities in 2005.
A. Love sincerely, Hate what is evil, serve joyfully.
B. An old Quaker of 82 years once said, “I’m going to live until I die and then I’m going to live forever.”
C. May God help us to live until we die. Living is about loving. Living is about standing for Christ. Living is about serving.
D. Many people now living are not living. They live for self, not for Christ and not for others. Christ gave us the supreme example of true life. Let’s imitate Him.