October 23, 2005

 

Twelve Ordinary Men

The Bean Counter

John 6:1-7

Opening Words: They were not saints. They were not scholars. They were not even religious sages. Among them there were fishermen. There was a hated tax collector and a political zealot. Let me say this clearly. They were common men with an uncommon calling. They were hopelessly human and that is exactly why they speak to us! Today, you are going to hear sermon number four in a ten part sermon series I have called Twelve Ordinary Men.

There are four lists of the disciples in the Gospels. The first name in all those lists is the name Peter. He was the leader. The last name is Judas Iscariot. He was the traitor. The fifth name mentioned is Philip. John Macarthur believes Philip was the secretary or the administrative assistant of the twelve. He was the problem solver and there was a problem. Philip was a bean counter. Five thousand people have come to hear Jesus. That is a good thing. However, the hour has come when those five thousand needed to eat. Jesus looks to his administrative assistant for a solution. Let me call this message this morning The Bean Counter. This is my question today. How do you respond when God tests you?

Introduction

The greatest man I have ever known was my grandfather, Roger Adams. I will never forget his quick whit or his sense of humor. He could take any ordinary experience and make it fun. He had a passion for both people and God. He worked on the docks of Ashtabula but what he really wanted to do was be a preacher. He never had the opportunity. I loved my grandfather and I marvel at his story.

He was born in 1893 in exciting Pierpont, Ohio. In 1907 his life changed forever. His horse and buggy was hit by a train. On that Sunday evening two people were killed. One was a schoolmate and the other was his mother, my great-grandmother, Alda Adams. His leg was severely broken and for the next eighteen months he laid in a bed with his shattered leg held in place by sand bags. He walked with a limp the rest of his life but I never heard him complain. When he got out of that bed he finished high school. He was second in a class of three, Jefferson High School the class of 1911. He traveled the country with his violin with a Chautauqua group and lived a full life.

My grandfather had every reason to be bitter. Everyday was a test for him because he was a cripple. He had every reason to hate God. He lost a friend. He lost his mother. He lost his mobility but he never lost his faith or his love for life. He never forgot people had both physical and spiritual needs. Roger Adams passed the test of life. May the same thing be said about us!

When was the last time God tested you? As you live out your days what test is life offering you? How many people in our community are unemployed or underemployed? How many once secure jobs are now insecure? How many people retired years ago thinking they had enough put away for a comfortable retirement only to find out they were wrong? How many in our community find their lives out of balance? How many in our community are tested with some form of addiction? It could be an addiction to food, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine or sex. How many are being tested by family issues? How many are being tested by health issues? Let me ask you the question one more time. When was the last time God tested you?

Body

In this morning’s scripture lesson Philip is given a test. It is one of the most famous scenes in the Bible. The feeding of the five thousand is unique because it is recorded in all four Gospels. Today, we heard John’s version. A great crowd had come to be with Jesus. The Master is on a mountainside and sees the masses. It is at this moment that Jesus turns to Philip and gives him a little pop quiz. Verse five says, “When Jesus looked up and saw the great crowd coming toward him, he looked at Philip and said, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’” Jesus gives this test for the same reason that all tests are given. Jesus wanted Philip to learn the material. He wants to expand his understanding. So what does Jesus want Philip and us to learn?

I believe life’s tests give us two reminders. We always know they exist but we only really think about them when life is hard. First, tests remind us that we should be concerned about human need. Second, tests remind us that we should be concerned about spiritual needs. Both of these reminders are illustrated in this passage. As you live out your days may you keep them in perfect balance. So if you are ready to be reminded of these reminders say, “Amen!”

Reminder Number One: Human Need The scripture tells us that large crowds came to see Jesus. The question that Jesus asks Philip is about food, the most basic of all needs. Jesus is concerned that the people of this world have the basics. Jesus did not pass the plate one more time. He didn’t get the mass into small groups so everyone could make a friend. Jesus was concerned that they had the basics of life. Jesus expects the church to be concerned about the basic needs of this world. When you are not working the bills keep coming. You are reminded that the basics must be covered. Are we concerned in this church about human need? I am told every seven seconds someone in our world starves to death. Do we really care? I don’t want to sound like a preacher but sometimes I am shocked by the lack of concern. I am concerned that people in this church just live for themselves. I see it all the time.

Next August will be our next mission trip to Russia. We are going to the Black Sea area. We will work with a new church start and the orphans of that area. This will be the most rustic trip we have made yet. I am always amazed by church people’s reaction to these trips. I have people tell me I am crazy. I have had people tell me to help the poor here in America. Every time I hear that I ask them what you are doing to help the poor in America. By their silence, they answer nothing.

Jesus asked what are we going to do to feed these people? Jesus was concerned about human needs. What are you doing as a person? What are we doing as a church to care for human need? When you are going through the test and the kitchen cabinet is empty you are reminded that we should care about human need. If you need that little reminder then say, “Amen!” However, it is not enough to feed the stomach you must also feed the soul.

Reminder Number Two: Spiritual Need When Jesus asked the question about bread, Philip answered with a monetary solution. He said it would take about eight month’s wages. Jesus did not feed these people by passing the plate again. Jesus fed these people by performing a miracle. In other words, Jesus knew there was a spiritual hunger that must be fed. This is what the great have been telling us for years.

Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God.” John Wesley said there is a prevenient grace that is leading us to the point of salvation. Rudolf Bultmann once said, “That with all of us there is a faint recollection of Eden.” Our lives are out of balance until we build our lives on the foundation of God. If you don’t believe me then go to any hospital chapel. That praying person will tell you how important God really is. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Life’s tests remind us we need to keep our lives in balance. We need to care for people’s human needs and their spiritual needs.

Conclusion

I love the story of the Ohio State student was taking his final examination in calculus in a huge lecture hall of with approximately 1,000 other calculus students. It was the only grade given throughout the semester. The only way to pass the class was to pass the exam.  If he failed the test he would have to take the course again. That is a lot of pressure. To make matters worse our student didn’t take tests well. Especially, when there was a time limit. The instructor set a time limit for the test and our student watched as one student after another placed their exam on the table in front of the room. Remember, there are 1,000 students so the pile of exams made a real mess! In time, our student was the only one left. The time expired for the exam but our student kept taking the test. In time, it was just our calculus student and the calculus professor. The student felt like he did well on the exam but the time had expired! When he got up to turn in his exam the professor said, “What do you think you're doing?" "Turning in my exam," the student said confidently. "I'm afraid I have some bad news for you," the professor gloated, "Your exam is an hour late. You've failed it and, consequently, I'll see you next term when you repeat my course." The student smiled slyly and asked the professor "Do you know who I am?" "What?" replied the professor gruffly, annoyed that the student showed no sign of emotion. The student rephrased the question mockingly, "Do you know what my name is?" "No", snarled the professor. The student looked the professor dead in the eyes and said slowly, "I didn't think so", as he lifted up the messy stack of calculus exams and shoved his test in the middle. With that he turned and walked out.

I have some good news and some bad news for you today. The good news is God knows your name. He knows everything about you. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses. He knows your biggest dreams and your greatest nightmares. That is the good news. The bad news is God gives tests.

How do you respond when God tests you? Are you bitter when things don’t go your way? Do you see those tests as an opportunity to remember that life needs to be in balance? People have both physical and spiritual needs. My grandfather passed the test. May the same thing be said about us. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”