Romans 12:1

Today, we're going to talk about giving of your best to the master. how many of us this morning could honestly say That we give God our best. I'm not just talking about sometime. That's not what he's asking when he asked us to give him our best. It's not just when we feel like it. Giving him our basses giving him our best. All the time. Are we going to be perfect about that? No, we're not, we're not perfect. And that is not an excuse for us to say well because I'm not perfect. I don't have to give him my best. The idea for us is to strive to do the best we can for the Lord. There's a song that was written many years ago. Give of your best to the master. The older generation, probably probably remembers it but it says it's give of your best to the master give of the strength of your youth. Well, as we get older, it's harder to do, isn't it the strength of our youth has gone, but here's what he say throw your souls fresh blowing our door into the Battle For Truth. Jesus has set. The example. Dauntless was he young and brave. Give him your loyal devotion. Give him the best that you have different refrains has to give your best to the master. Give her the strength of your youth, clad in Salvation. Join in the Battle For Truth. Two other verses that go along with that and we're going to talk about that this morning giving of our best. To the master. I want us to think about all the things that God has done for us all the blessings that he has bestowed upon his prior to Salvation. But especially after salvation. Sometimes when we don't have a relationship with God, the way that we should, we don't see the blessings that he bestows upon as they. We just expect a lot of those things. We expect those things to happen. Expect every morning to wake up in to continue on with our day. We expect life to go the way. We want it to go. Life doesn't always go the way we want to go in the back to Romans 12:1 that verse that, we memorize many times. I'm sure. I says, I beseech you therefore Brothers by the mercies of God, that you present, your bodies, a Living Sacrifice. Holy and acceptable unto God. Which is your reasonable service? Have you presented your body a Living Sacrifice requires when we are giving to him? It's not that we're giving him. The leftovers is not that we're giving him something that is defective. It's that he's asking us to give him our best. And our best means to give him our best. Who would ask that when you would to give give a Little Lamb on a ramp that you don't give one that's blemished. You don't give one that has a broken leg. You give that prize-winning lamb, that prize-winning Ram to God.

Living in. Farming communities in the Fairs around as we understand what those ribbons. And what what that Prestige May mean to somebody to have that best cow or that that best year, that best lamb or that best chicken, or that best rabbit, whatever it might be.

The guy says, if that's the best that you have, that's what I'm asking for you to give give of your best. Not your second best, not something that didn't cost you anything that somebody else gave you. So you because they gave it to you, you can give it away and and move out on as what God has blessed you with it. And yes, maybe God has blessed you with that.

What scripture says, why should I give to God? Something that cost me? Nothing and I think many times in life. That's where we look at things around us. Give of your best. To the master. Give him. The strength of your youth, that was one of the tags in that song. One of the verses give up the strength of your youth. How many remember the strength of your youth? Yeah, you remember that? It comes and goes. And I share this many times, y'all Psalm 90 talks about, if we live to be 70 years of age or eighty years of age or are BOCES is working labor and pain and sorrow but then it talks about remembering our days that we live our lives as a sigh our years go by quickly. And you've heard me share this. Illustration waking up in the morning up here, thinking that I'm 18 years of age and then all of a sudden you decide to move and you realize you're not 18 anymore cuz this is popping back in the place. And this snapping back. If you don't have that youthful, 18 years of age, as we used to have, he says to us in that song, give him the strength. Of your youth. An ecclesiastical is chapter 12. In verse 1 says, remember now by Creator in the days of thy youth. While the evil days come not snore, the ears drawn, I, when I say, I have no pleasure in them.

Remember what life was like when you were younger? You had no worries. You had no real concerns. You had no real pairs. Why? Because of mom and dad took care of everything. Somebody else would prove, I eating everything you needed your, your food was provided. Your clothes was provided housing. Everything was it? You needed to go somewhere. You just would ask Mom and Dad and they would take you. Now, I know there's a generation hear that was where will not in my day. I had to walk uphill both ways. We've heard those stories.

He says, remember now like creator. in the days that I, you What worries did you have? Who did you put your faith in your trust in when you were younger? Who were, you were looking to, for guidance for directions? Most of us was able to yet is Mom. It was dead. It was those who were taking care of us, that would provide forest and somewhere along the line. We realized the need. The trust God, more than anything else or anyone else. Remember. The days of value.

The older I get the more I begin to remember. Those younger years, you look at photographs. You look at pictures at take you back to those moments. In those times, a reminder of when maybe life was less hectic. When life was less Troublesome, maybe a time where, where we thought were these are the best days of our lives. And as we get older, we begin to look around the world that we live, and we see the trial the tribulation, the heartache, the hardship that's going on around us. Even this morning, as We Gather here, this morning to worship God in spirit. And in truth, we understand that and other parts of the world in in the Ukraine, there's issues that could happen at any moment at any time. Because of personal desires for other things. We think of those who are In Harm's Way. And we look at ourselves here in a country. Where what do we have to deal with wall? Some, some cold weather and some snow. And if that's the worst of what we've got. We've been very blessed that we not All there's other things around us. We know it's what we focus on is, what we looked at it is what's important to us or what's not important to us and that's not to say that because something is important to you and not important to me that it's not important. It's just not as important to me as it might be to you. But if it's important to you and it's important to God, then then do what God has called you to do. Give him your best. Not your second best not your leftovers. Not just whatever you have that you can get rid of. Give of your best. Jesus is our example. Jesus is the one who laid that example out for each and every one of those. I'm getting his best for you. and for me, Animation of trial of time in which he was beaten. He was ridiculed. He was even put to death. So you and I could have eternal life.

He lay down his life. Willingly. He laid down his life. Really? But he laid it down in his time. He laid it down because he knew exactly when that needed to happen and all those other previous times, when people tried to hurt him, people try to, to do something to him. His statement was now is not the time now is not the time until that moment in the garden. Or actually in the upper room with his disciples when he looked around as a listen. One of you is who puts her hand in the bread. With me this morning is going to betray me. And it caused them all to ponder their own hearts and ponder their own lies, and begin to ask that question. Lord is a tie. Lord is a tie. And I think that's a good thing for us to ponder. Lord. What would it take for me? To betray you. What does it take for me to deny you? What does it take for me to the saint of those around that accused me of being? One of those followers of Christ, one of those people, the way one of those Believers, wasn't for me to say, no. No, not me. I don't know, the man. Even though. In our hearts, we know him. I was raised in church, my whole life. Accepted Christ as my Lord, and Savior at the age of 7, when I finally made that commitment, but I didn't totally commit my life to him until the age of 21. And at the age of 21, when I finally said, okay, Lord, whatever you want me to do. I will do. I will go, I will be

But might I say to you this morning that just because I committed my life to God at 21, doesn't mean that every day of my life. I have gone. I have done. I have been what God wanted me to be. You know why? Life gets in the way. Have you noticed that to be true? Life gets in the way sometimes of what you want to do? Life gets in the way sometimes and what God wants you to do. Lord, I know what you want me to do, but I can't do this because Aunt Susie said or Uncle Joe said or here's what's going on. And I got to take care of this situation. Instead of doing what I know you want. There's nothing wrong with take care of taking care of family should be doing that. But when we do those things, God's way there's blessings. When we do those things, God's way. There's peace. Luke chapter 2 verse 49 says, and he said unto them, how is it that you sought me Wist? Ye not that, I must be about my father's business. Jesus is our example of giving of our best. As a young child, he was giving up his best. We know that story that they got to do some chores for the Passover to offer their sacrifices. They can get back together as a group. They're heading back home and Mary and Joseph having that conversation. And Joseph says the Mary. Have you seen Jesus? Mary says, it feels while I thought he was with you know, I thought it was with you and they're looking around. He's not there in that group, so they have to go back. Backtrack to find him. They find him in the temple. They find him there, teaching the teachers. At a young age, 13 years of age, if you will be teaching the teachers, the things that God would have him to teach. And I'm sure as moms and dads do to their children, regardless of who their child is as perfect as your child. Maybe you yell at them every now and then. Don't you anybody here have perfect children? Besides my, my parents. Right. You yell at them every now and then so Mary and Joseph. Get their Jesus. Where you been? What are you doing? And what is his answer? Did you not know? I need to be about the father's business. Every aspect of Jesus life in his very birth, to his death was about the father's visit doing what God wanted him to do giving up his best. To the master. Give him the strength. Of your youth the few more versus I'm going to throw out there. I don't think I gave him the Scott this morning to put on the screen, but 1st Peter 2:21, since we're even here in to where you called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps.

Leaving us an example that we should follow. Who steps his steps. My steps get a little weary sometimes don't yours. My path gets a little muddled. Sometimes does it yours but we need to do is we need to follow his steps. We need to follow his Direction. And when will following his stuff from the following his Direction? Then we know that we're giving our best. To the master.

Have you been watching the Olympics? Anybody they been on and I'll watch him every now and then the skiing thing isn't is the skating thing? That's not that's not It's not babe. But the skiing things that the ones the race is right when they got those little trails in and they stay in those trails and and they got to keep going it. And if he catch up to the guy in front of you, his responsibilities, that person's responsibility is to get over out of your way. So you can keep going in that path in that trail. There's a rough that's cut their looks like that they stay in and they're going.

God is kind of rough for you and for me. Think about this this morning. He's made a path that you and I must follow. and when we get off that path, It slows us down when we get off that path. It's keeps us from being where we need to be. He's laid away. He's paid a path. For us. He wants us to follow his steps. Give him the strength. Of your youth. There's another refrain in the song that says, give him first place in your heart. Give him first place in your heart. Let me ask you this question. Answered in your own heart. And your own mind is money. What is the most important thing to you? What is the most important thing to you? Now, we know the right answer this morning will be will will. God is Jesus is following him. But reality is. What is the most important thing to you? Because we can say it all day long, but God knows the truth. Scripture says, for me to live is Christ to die. Is gain. If your life was the end today. Would you find that life to be gained? How would you find that the end of that life is pain and sorrow and suffering? See, Jesus made a path. He paid a way for you and for me to escape the trials and tribulations.

That this world throws at us. And our hope is in Jesus Christ. But what he wants from you and for me, it is not to be in second place he wants for you and for me to put him in first place. It's not about you and me winning. It's not about you and me going for the gold and doing the gold know. It's about you and me encouraging Christ to take that place in our life, encouraging, you and me to, to go forward and do the things that God has called us to do. Romans 10:10 for with the heart, man, believeth unto righteousness. And with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

How do I make him first place with the mouth? With the heart I believe in my heart, but I confess with my mouth, the Lord Jesus.

No, I'm not. Going to try to embarrass anybody this morning, but I'm going to share a little story without sharing any names. Okay, and they're here this morning and maybe you've noticed it but a couple of weeks ago before Thanksgiving, I said to a young man trying to get rid of some poinsettias. I said, hey, you should take this and give it to your girlfriend. You know what you read like Valentine's? Don't worry. I got a plan.

Don't worry. I got a plan. I'm, I'm wise enough to figure out. Okay, I think I know what that means.

And of course, it hit Facebook here this past weekend. Couple in Ark. Group this morning. Got engaged. What a plan. You know what that was? That's commitment, right? Making a commitment to someone else and that's important. That commitment of marriage, might be even more. So Is our commitment to Christ? Because through Christ, I can do what all things for me to live is Christ to die is gain. I can do all things through Christ. Who strengthens me. Have you ever had to go It Alone? Have you ever had to strive to make life all by yourself? No family, no friends. Nobody around to give you a helping hand, when trials and tribulations come. It's just you and the world, baby.

30. Some years ago, when God moved us to New York, we knew nobody. My wife and I, it was Lori. It was me one car, one job. When, when one of the kids got sick. It was a struggle. Why? Because we didn't know anybody else to do to help out with the other kids are take care of things. And yes, I, I had to work. So we can survive, pay the rent and eat and all those kind of things. But man, it's so much easier when you got family around to pitch in and help a man. No. Isn't it easier when you got people to pitch in and help? Seems to be. I'm so glad the other day when we had people here pitching and help him with the ice that made life a whole lot easier. Right, when you have those that you can depend on, when you have somebody that you can turn to, when you have somebody there, that's making a path and is made a path for you. As Jesus has. Give him. First place. In your heart, who has first place. Your spouse. Your children, your job. Orgone. We can say, will God does, but reality is when we begin to watch people, we can see what's really important to them. We can see you with the dedication that they have. Yes. God is most important. When the rubber hits the road. We find out that sometimes things don't happen on our way. We began trusting in ourselves more than we trust in anyone else. And when we trust in ourselves above the master. We lose God's got a plan for you. He's got a plan for me and we may not understand what that total plan is right now. But he tells us in Proverbs 4:23, keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it flows, the issues of life. Keep my heart with all diligence for out of it flows, the issues of Life. Where's your heart? Who has your heart? Yes, 40, plus years ago. I, I asked a young girl to marry me in after three tries. She did say yes. And 40 some years. Now later we continue on to have that love have has things changed. Yes, they have. We've gotten older. I'm not sure whether we've gotten wiser or not, but we have learned a few things along life's path. We have learned what to do or what not to do, how to act, or how to react. But most of all we have learned to trust God. Through trials and tribulations of life that we don't always understand or see. And when we give our best to the master, and I'm not going to stand before you to say, I do that all the time because I'm human just like anybody else but I don't want you to use that. As an excuse won't pass, require a man who said he doesn't feel we don't don't use me as an example. Use the master. As the example. Lord. What would you have me to do? Lord, show me the way. Lord guide me in the past that you want me to to go. Jesus at young childhood, do you not know that I must be about my father's business? Doing the things he's called me giving my best to him. In the best that we can give is not offering up the sacrifices of those around us. The best that we can do is offering up what God has given us. Lord. Here I am. I'm Yours. The song about that for a little bit. Let's talk about our own personal sacrifices. Why is it our sacrifices always seem to be more important than other people sacrifices?

Okay, maybe not always. But Our sacrifices are important to us. Are they not? Lord. Let me tell you what I've done. We don't really need to tell God what we've done. He knows, but we voice those things out loud, not so God would know, but to others around us would really know. And really in reality when we begin to voice how much we've done to others around us.

Our sacrifice begins to be less and less. When God knows our heart to you knows why we're doing what we do. Do you knows why we're giving why we're putting things out the way that we are. He knows what's important to us. But we'll all stand here this morning. We all would have to say for the most part. Yes, My Sacrifice is more important than your sacrifice because I had to sacrifice it. And My Sacrifice cost so much more than your sacrifice. But when we began to look at scripture and see what God says about what we give. Give me the rich man, giving in the church in the Widow lady giving in the church. How much does a widow lady put in the offering plate? Two mites. Not much. Not much compared to the rich man who stood around to all the boys. I've given him a thousands and thousands. Look at her. Look at all. She should give a fruit. That's it. She gave to my

But she gave everything she had. The rich man gave up his wealth. What? He had some left over.

How often do we give God our leftovers? How often are we giving him second best because we don't really want to give him the best because we're afraid, we give him the best, then we're going to lose out. But listen, when we give God the best. You know, what he does with it. He takes it, he presses it down. He shakes it together and it overflows. Give of your best to the master. Don't give for me, don't get for those around you give of your best to the master because it's him that we need to please and it's him that we need honors him that we sacrificed for. And when we do it for him, then it overflows to those. Whomever. God would want it. The flow 2. Colossians 3:23, says this whatever you do, do it heartily. As to the Lord. Not into men.

I'm here this morning as a minister of the Gospel.

But I'm here this morning in and part of my personality is I'm a people pleaser. I want to make people happy and I have found out in life. That's not easy to do. I can make people happy, but I can't make everybody happy all the time. I can't even make myself happy all the time. Write the downfall of of me and the ministry is yes. On the people, pleaser. I don't like it. When trials and tribulations heartache. And hardships, come. I don't like it. When there's things going on. Because I want to do, and I want to be what the scripture says, whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord.

What are you doing? What are you doing? Hardly? Not hardly. That's where we are many times but hardly heartily heartily as to the Lord with all your heart.

Are you doing it for him? Are you doing it for yourself?

I shared with you many times. I'm on the small group pastors group. Small Church pastors group. All you have to do to be on the small Church. Pastors group is be a pastor of a church. And I listen to, I don't. I don't post on it by maybe pie posted on it twice and all the years that I've been on. But I, I listen to what pastors had to say. It is a group for pastors to be a church member cuz you don't want to know what we think about you. It's probably a safe space for pastors to get on there and complain about there. Church without you knowing.

I have so many times want to just get rid of it. Because that's all it is.

That's my opinion. If you don't like the people that your ministering with move on. Simple internet. But you know, why they don't. I'm going to make a judgment call here. But it's true. And I'm, in many ways. You know, how many pastors? Aren't even believers.

Let me say that again. You know, how many pastors aren't even believers. They don't believe this pipel to be the word of God. It's mind-boggling when you think about it. Is my wife. Well, it is. It's a good weekend and come you hear that many times. There are so many things that I could have Donna wanted to do and I am so thankful for the way you guys have provided for my family. I have never. Once asked you guys to do anything that I'm not willing to do, but God, you guys have through God, you have blessed my family for the 3029. I've been here. I'm thankful for that. But if I wanted it, my whole thing in a bit in the beginning of all life, going into the Mysteries. I don't want to go in the church because I can make more money out in the world.

But what I be happy.

The love of money is what? The root of all evil money is not evil. It's what we do to gain it is what we do to try to keep it as how we try to hide and cheat and steal. You know, who we still the most rum. God because we're not giving him our best. We're giving him the leftovers were giving him. The blemished. We're giving him the broken. Over and over. Again, in the Old Testament, the Commandments that God was giving to the children of Israel. Bring to me your best. Bring me. Your first born Lambs, your first-born Rams. Not the ones that are the ones that are broken, not the one that you're going to send off the market. Bring me your best your prize-winning animals. Offer them up to me. Is it and see if I will not come at living here a little bit? Okay, see if I will not pour out a blessing upon you that you won't have room enough to store it. Do we believe God's word to be true, or do we not?

Here's where we are in today's society. Our society has gone through a trial and tribulation of financial upheaval. If you will, a lot of people got really, really bad and mortgage wise and in all these other things over the years that everything went into the mortgage. And when they couldn't make the mortgage payments anymore, they lost it all. I know families that have gone through that, everything. They they remortgage the house and pay off cars. They had 20 years ago.

They lose it all because the mortgage in the house, it just doesn't match up anymore. What? What you're paying and what the house is worth.

And you would ask him. Well one of my main questions of somebody when they're struggling financially, will reru blessing god. Well, I can't afford to. Am I answer to that person? As you can afford? Not to?

Cuz he says, prove me. Tell me if I will not pour out a blessing upon you. Well, I just I'm not making any money. Did you prosper this week? The question of that has God has prospered you lay up in store for him. Did you put, did you get a paycheck this week? It's not God's fault, whether what you're getting paid and what you owe doesn't match up and but did you prosper? If you prospered, we have a responsibility to give back to God, a portion of that, and which he has blessed us with how much faster that's between you and God, that's between you and God, but if we're not willing to give of ourselves. Write the rest of it really doesn't matter.

I was taught in Bible College. The find out what's really important to somebody. Look at their checkbook. Look at your checkbook and see what they're paying money for.

Many of us food, very important to us. We got to eat, right? So, I might be cable. Whatever it is, whatever is important to you. Look at the check with the checkbook, with tell you what's important of that person.

God does not need to look at her checkbook. He knows our hearts. And what he's asking of us is give to him, give him the strength of your youth. Give him first place. In your heart. Another portion of the song says, not else is worthy of the Masters. Love meeting. Nothing else is worthy of the Masters love.

We got to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Matthew 16:24 said, then Jesus said unto his disciples If any man will come after me. Let him deny himself and take up his cross. And follow me. now, some May say this morning. I don't know why Pastor clients worried about giving because we're church is doing and we are doing well, which is doing what we are doing well and it's not about the church doing even better. What I'm sharing with you is something that I want God to bless you with. And if we're not willing to give to God as he wants us to, we're not going to get the blessings. He wants to give us.

Can I say that again? If we're not giving to God the way we should, we're not getting the blessings. He wants to give us. Why can't afford it? You can't afford not to. Trust me. He says prove me see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out upon you. A blessing that you do not have room enough to store. Wouldn't that? Be awesome?

Wow, I made too much money this week. So let me just give it away to my friends. Anybody have friends like that, got too much money. Anybody here. This morning may do much money. I'll be your friend.

Wouldn't that be awesome? Wouldn't that be awesome for God to bless us that way? You just won the lottery. Four hundred million dollars. Imagine what I can do with all that money. What are you doing with the money? You got now? What are you doing? What with what God has provided you with now? I mean, I I think of that sometimes I guess you got to play the lottery to win the lottery. But anyway, I guess a lottery ticket to blow my way. Right? I can pick it up and there's be a winner. But my person, I will I got to go find who that belong to. And I go find out who it belong to before, you probably find out, it's a winning ticket because otherwise, I don't know what I want to be honest or not. The human speaking, right? I like to think I'd be off. I like to think if I knew it was Scott Strokes ticket or Scott. Here's your ticket. Don't forget. You owe me half of

I mean you go buy a ticket in that was what it was. What I hear him say to the people in front of me, that pipe tickets. Don't forget where you bought it and I'm your friend.

Far as I know, nobody want because they're still working at Stewart's.

I'm still showing up getting coffee.

Where to take up our cross with a follow Christ.

I want to close this morning. The last few minutes that we have and do this consider. Consider these ways. To give your best.

Always be on your best conduct for the Lord. Where can we take a break? Where can we let our guard down? Where can we say all, you know? What? I don't have to act like a Christian. Nobody here knows me. But when we know Christ is our Lord and savior, wherever we go, we take him with us. Always be on your best conduct. We're probably the name of Christian. Love your fellow, man. Are you never reaching with the gospel? Love is very important. Don't love, is the world. Want you to love? That's very sketchy love. Love as Christ. Wants you to love.

He lay down his life. That whosoever will May Come. Even the thieves on the cross, even those who really killed him and mocked him had an opportunity to put their faith in their trust in him.

Man, somebody really kills us and moxa's. We want nothing to do with them. They're idiots. They're jerks. There's nothing. We need to understand that God has a plan for us. Follow that, which is best. And Doctrine and you know, what's the best in Doctrine? The truth of God. You should know the truth and the truth shall. Set you free. Bob Richardson used to share that that passage. You should know the truth and the truth shall set you free, but then he had this. The first, it'll make you miserable.

Because if you know the truth. And you don't do it. We are miserable. Are we not when I know what I'd be doing? And I did not. I my savior. My best. I'm miserable. I don't want you to be miserable. I want you to be blessed and you are blessed by giving God your best in the best that you can give him as yourself. It's easy to sacrifice others. Right, it's less painful when we sacrifice those around us. But when we lay ourselves down before the Lord, when we sacrifice ourselves, keep takes that he sees it and He blesses his father. We thank you. We thank you for your goodness, your mercy and your love. Father, you know the need, you know, the burdens, you know, the desires I need heart and every life I ask that you take care of those as you see fit. Father, we pray for the things going on in the world around us today. We lift up all those folks in in the Ukraine and the situation going on there. We ask for your hand to take care of that, father for you to guide for you to direct for you to direct hearts and minds and lives. We say that we pray that and we've been begin to the Wonder. Do other people even care? Those that are involved but we know you do. So, we leave that into your hand, we ask for safety, for those all around. We ask that you help us be the best that we can be for you. As we leave this place today as we go up to the world. Help us to minister to those that we come into contact with, by our actions, or words are conduct that your name will be lifted up. Your name will be honored and blessed by our actions and that others can see Christ in us that hope of glory guide us and direct us today. We pray for those in our church and going to illness trials and tribulation. We ask that you touch their bodies, touch your lives, touch their families, encourage them today. Help us. To give our best regardless of where we're at to you. You're blessed in Jesus name, we