Sermon Reflections from Blessing Beyond | Alex Hardt | November 17, 2024
Pastor Alex’s sermon this week touched my heart as he challenged us to look beyond ourselves and our needs. Why do we fear the future? There are multiple answers to this because of healthy, wealth and time come to my mind. However, the overarching answer to all of these is TRUST in GOD! We often worry. Can God meet my needs if I’m sick? Can God meet my needs if my finances fail? Can God meet my needs as I age? Worry or concern often turns to fear as we are confronted with illnesses, poverty or aging debilitations. How can we reverse this trend?
Pastor Alex called us to be a people who walk in wisdom. Not wisdom of the world, science or technology but wisdom from God. Ephesians 5:15-16 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.“ Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” We are to make the best of each day looking to God for strength and guidance. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:34 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” God wants us to live in the moment for Him not worrying or using our energy to worry about what might happen tomorrow. Being about His business and focused on our walk each day with Him will keep our lives in balance and free from worry. That is not to say we are not to plan, but no worry or fear is allowed! James addresses the planning idea and the motives around it. James 4:13-15 “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” Keeping the Lord in our plans is essential and deferring to His will at all times, not ours brings release.
One might ask, why share our gifts with others? The gifts could be money, talent, intellect, good looks, writing, the ability to work hard, be persevering, etc. Why not keep these for our own gain? As a Christian indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we have a passion and love for Christ. We seek to please Him and follow his guidance. Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:36-39 ““Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving Jesus gives us love, concern and caring for those around us- our neighbors. Jesus compels us to share our gifts, given by Him, with others. He gave them to us so we could share and enrich the lives of each other and reflect His love. Sharing brings joy, light and fulfillment into our lives.
Learning to trust in God’s provision is a growing process that goes against our sin nature. Looking out for ourselves and putting me first is ingrained in our lives, you need only watch a toddler and their possessiveness. We are born that way and need to learn to share-a big objective of pre-school teachers. Trusting God comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit as He works to grow us and make us more and more like Jesus. Matthew 6:19-21 gives us Jesus’ perspective on our possessions and possessiveness. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” God promises incorruptible, heavenly treasure if we will set our hearts on eternal, not earthly, things. What does that mean? Focusing on God’s kingdom each day as we seek to walk with Him. Practice and do those things that have eternal value like: telling others about Jesus, testifying to His love, care and provision, studying God’s Word, memorizing scripture, praying and using our gifts and talents to help others. Sharing ourselves and what we have in Jesus is the greatest of gifts. Those things have eternal, lasting value and bring glory and honor to God.
Remember, all generosity comes from Jesus and what He gave on the cross. His shed blood binds and motives us in faith to seek to do His will and walk with Him.
Linda
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