* There is no question in my mind that the most important thing in life we have is not money, is not possessions, it is not even the life we experience here in this world.
* So, what is our greatest treasure? It is the Gospel… the message that Jesus Christ suffered, died, and resurrected for us and by it He gives us a life that does not end. I am not trying by any means to diminish this life’s blessings, but nothing compares to the amazing blessing and gift of living a perfect life… and even better yet, with God… with Jesus forever.
* We constantly receive blessings in this life. In the explanation of the first article of the Apostles’ Creed, Martin Luther says the following about God… “I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.”
* Many blessings, right? We receive so many that it is impossible to count them all! But we cannot forget how the Apostles’ Creed continues. Listen to Martin Luther’s explanation of the Second Article of the Creed that refers to the work of Jesus Christ. He says, “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has REDEEMED ME, A LOST AND CONDEMNED PERSON, PURCHASED AND WON ME FROM ALL SINS, FROM DEATH, AND FROM THE POWER OF THE DEVIL; NOT WITH GOLD OR SILVER, BUT WITH HIS HOLY, PRECIOUS BLOOD AND WITH HIS INNOCENT SUFFERING AND DEATH, THAT I MAY BE HIS OWN AND LIVE UNDER HIM IN HIS KINGDOM AND SERVE HIM IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, INNOCENCE, AND BLESSEDNESS, JUST AS HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, LIVES AND REIGNS TO ALL ETERNITY.”
* Since that is the most precious thing we have, we certainly are called first and foremost to administer the Gospel to the best of our abilities… with the help of the Holy Spirit obviously. I wish all Christians would understand that!
* That is why in the Sermon of the Mountain Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Mt 6:33. Nothing… absolutely NOTHING is more important for us than the eternal kingdom we are offered by Christ. Once we understand that we will be able to administer and live that message AND we will share it with those around us, and we will also be good stewards of everything else we receive daily. Then we will use our time, our skills, our talents, our financial resources within the parameters of God’s will.
* And we will not be stingy and self-centered with everything that God gives us. Instead we will know what is important and what is not… what comes first in life, and what is completely secondary. Paul said, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8.
* Let me tell you a story of someone who understood all of this… R. G. LeTourneau (1888 – 1969) was a Christian industrialist who dedicated his life to being a businessman for God. He was very successful, designing and developing his own line of earth-moving equipment. LeTourneau was the maker of nearly 300 inventions, and had hundreds of patents in his lifetime. As he succeeded financially, he increased his giving to the point where he was giving 90% of his income to the Lord’s work. He said, “I shovel out the money, and God shovels it back, but God has a bigger shovel. – R. G. LeTourneau.
* Maybe you are thinking, “I could give 90% too if I was a multi-millionaire.” Maybe so, but LeTourneau didn’t start out wealthy. So, here is a challenge for you: Whatever percentage of your income you are currently giving, make a lifelong plan to bump that percentage with every opportunity.
* Let me finish today with another short story I read (probably a made up story…) In a church in the Deep South, where the preaching style was a “talk back” sort of style, the pastor was getting the congregation excited about their prospective future. The preacher said, “This church is like a crippled man who needs to get up and walk under the power of Jesus.” The congregation replied, “Let it walk preacher, let it walk.” Then the preacher said, “This church, like Elijah on Mount Carmel, has got to run.” The congregation replied, “Let it run preacher, let it run.” Then the preacher said, “This church has got to mount up on wings like eagles and fly.” The congregation replied with enthusiasm, “Let it fly preacher, let it fly.” Then the preacher added, “Now if this church is going to fly it’s going to take MONEY.” The congregation replied with a lack of enthusiasm, “Let it walk preacher, let it walk.” SO… AS BELIEVERS… AS A CHURCH… WILL WE FLY OR WILL WE WALK (or crawl)?
* Be thankful to God for all of His blessings, especially for salvation, and then, from there be… truly BE A GOOD STEWARD OF EVERYTHING. Have a blessed month of November.
Rev. Don Sonntag
* So, what is our greatest treasure? It is the Gospel… the message that Jesus Christ suffered, died, and resurrected for us and by it He gives us a life that does not end. I am not trying by any means to diminish this life’s blessings, but nothing compares to the amazing blessing and gift of living a perfect life… and even better yet, with God… with Jesus forever.
* We constantly receive blessings in this life. In the explanation of the first article of the Apostles’ Creed, Martin Luther says the following about God… “I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.”
* Many blessings, right? We receive so many that it is impossible to count them all! But we cannot forget how the Apostles’ Creed continues. Listen to Martin Luther’s explanation of the Second Article of the Creed that refers to the work of Jesus Christ. He says, “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has REDEEMED ME, A LOST AND CONDEMNED PERSON, PURCHASED AND WON ME FROM ALL SINS, FROM DEATH, AND FROM THE POWER OF THE DEVIL; NOT WITH GOLD OR SILVER, BUT WITH HIS HOLY, PRECIOUS BLOOD AND WITH HIS INNOCENT SUFFERING AND DEATH, THAT I MAY BE HIS OWN AND LIVE UNDER HIM IN HIS KINGDOM AND SERVE HIM IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, INNOCENCE, AND BLESSEDNESS, JUST AS HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, LIVES AND REIGNS TO ALL ETERNITY.”
* Since that is the most precious thing we have, we certainly are called first and foremost to administer the Gospel to the best of our abilities… with the help of the Holy Spirit obviously. I wish all Christians would understand that!
* That is why in the Sermon of the Mountain Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Mt 6:33. Nothing… absolutely NOTHING is more important for us than the eternal kingdom we are offered by Christ. Once we understand that we will be able to administer and live that message AND we will share it with those around us, and we will also be good stewards of everything else we receive daily. Then we will use our time, our skills, our talents, our financial resources within the parameters of God’s will.
* And we will not be stingy and self-centered with everything that God gives us. Instead we will know what is important and what is not… what comes first in life, and what is completely secondary. Paul said, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8.
* Let me tell you a story of someone who understood all of this… R. G. LeTourneau (1888 – 1969) was a Christian industrialist who dedicated his life to being a businessman for God. He was very successful, designing and developing his own line of earth-moving equipment. LeTourneau was the maker of nearly 300 inventions, and had hundreds of patents in his lifetime. As he succeeded financially, he increased his giving to the point where he was giving 90% of his income to the Lord’s work. He said, “I shovel out the money, and God shovels it back, but God has a bigger shovel. – R. G. LeTourneau.
* Maybe you are thinking, “I could give 90% too if I was a multi-millionaire.” Maybe so, but LeTourneau didn’t start out wealthy. So, here is a challenge for you: Whatever percentage of your income you are currently giving, make a lifelong plan to bump that percentage with every opportunity.
* Let me finish today with another short story I read (probably a made up story…) In a church in the Deep South, where the preaching style was a “talk back” sort of style, the pastor was getting the congregation excited about their prospective future. The preacher said, “This church is like a crippled man who needs to get up and walk under the power of Jesus.” The congregation replied, “Let it walk preacher, let it walk.” Then the preacher said, “This church, like Elijah on Mount Carmel, has got to run.” The congregation replied, “Let it run preacher, let it run.” Then the preacher said, “This church has got to mount up on wings like eagles and fly.” The congregation replied with enthusiasm, “Let it fly preacher, let it fly.” Then the preacher added, “Now if this church is going to fly it’s going to take MONEY.” The congregation replied with a lack of enthusiasm, “Let it walk preacher, let it walk.” SO… AS BELIEVERS… AS A CHURCH… WILL WE FLY OR WILL WE WALK (or crawl)?
* Be thankful to God for all of His blessings, especially for salvation, and then, from there be… truly BE A GOOD STEWARD OF EVERYTHING. Have a blessed month of November.
Rev. Don Sonntag