He Is No Fool
HE IS NO FOOL…
Potential Sermon: date to be determined
Introductory comments:
Only person who ever graduated from UNC who couldn’t play basketball and the only person who graduated from DTS who couldn’t preach.
1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. NIV
I’ve been in this church 7 years now and this is my first sermon. At this rate, I figure I’ve got maybe one or at the most two opportunities to preach again before I retire. So, I’m thinking to myself and praying, if I only have two or three chances to speak to this many people at one time, what spiritual truth do I really want you to know…?
Story of Jim Elliot and 5 missionaries murdered by the Auca Indians.
Influential book purchased at NC State
Also note the recent movie (clip?)
Also note Through Gates of Splendor
Natural response to their deaths: “what a waste!” Think of all that wasted potential. How much more could have been accomplished if they had just lived even a few years longer, not to mention the rest of their lives! But I can also imagine the same thing being said of Christ, maybe even by the disciples in the hours and first two days after his crucifixion. Of whom it was said, “At the right time, he died for the ungodly (? confirm).”
Their deaths were reported all around the world. Thousands of young men and women were inspired to become missionaries for the cause of Christ because they died, like a seed planted and dies to become a great harvest. And the Auca Indians, others followed in the footsteps of the five slain men and a church was born. Even some of those who participated in their murder came to faith in Christ and became spiritual leaders.
Favorite quote of all time outside of the Bible: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
So what do you think this sermon is about?
You could say it’s about sacrifice and it is, but that’s not the main point.
You could say it’s about stewardship and it is, but that’s not the main point.
You could say it’s about giving and it is, but that’s not the main point.
No, the main point of this message is about investing.
What have you got now; what are you going to do with it; and what are you going to have when your life is done.
What have you got now: time, talent and treasure.
What are you doing to do with it?
I have a suggestion that will greatly reduce all the complexities, hassles and troubles in your life. GIVE IT ALL UP! Not give it all away, but give it all up! ↑ As in…to God.
Once you give it all up, you stop acting like an owner and start acting like a steward. After all, He owns it all anyway and that’s just the point.
But God has made it clear through his Word where He wants us to spend the time, talent and treasures entrusted to us:
In support of family: I Tim 5:8; II Thess 3:12
In support of the church:
In support of the needy, including orphans and widows:
How are you going to give it all up?
God has not only made it clear through his Word where He wants us to spend the time, talent and treasures entrusted to us, but how. II Cor 8, 9
Regularly
Generously
Sacrificially
Cheerfully
Thankfully (out of gratitude)
But isn’t that a little bit unreasonable of God. Okay, He has the right to ask that of us since He’s the one who provided it in the first place. But cheerfully and thankfully? How can God expect that?
If we truly understand the character of God and what He plainly tells us in His Word, no other response or attitude makes any sense.
Passages: Mt. 6:19-21; Col 3:23-24; Phil 4:17
Anything we give up in this life is simply an investment in a greater gain in the life to come—which finally satisfies and lasts forever. (Compare/contrast the two).
What are you striving for in your life? What would you like to have that you don’t?
Peace; security; a sense of fulfillment; a sense of rightness
All of those things you want in the deepest part of you are there and available—it may take a bit longer to experience them, but that’s what hope is all about.
All it takes to get them is all you have, but all you have is nothing compared to all He wants to give you in return.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Go…and invest everything you’ve got! Your ultimate satisfaction is guaranteed.
More resources:
1 Timothy 6:6-12 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 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men 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.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. NIV
1 Timothy 6:17-19
HE IS NO FOOL.doc
NOTES:
I Tim 6:6-7