May 6, 2007

Attitude Adjustments: Determination

Balanced Lives

Matthew 6:25-33

Opening Words: Austrian psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor Victor Frankl said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.” He knew what we often forget, our attitudes about life is extremely important. They affect the way that we experience life. It is for this reason that I have decided to dedicate this section of our year to examining our attitudes. I have called this fourteen week sermon series, Attitude Adjustments. Today we look at our attitude about determination. Do you consider yourself a determined person? Let me call this message this morning Balanced Lived. The primary text this morning is Matthew 6:25-33.

Matthew 6:25-33 ²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

When the great medical missionary David Livingstone died a great debate broke out. Everyone had an opinion about where he should be buried. Some said his body should be buried in the land of his birth, England. Others said he should be buried in the land where he labored, Africa. Both sides compromised. His body was buried in England, but his heart was buried in the Africa at the base of a tall tree. The natives came to that spot to remember the man they loved and respected. Let me ask you this question. Where is your heart today? That question of priority is at the very heart of this morning’s lesson.

In Matthew’s version of the gospel story the Sermon on the Mount covers three chapters, five, six and seven. Each chapter is thick in theology. Each point Jesus makes can be life altering but let us be honest. Some of what Jesus says sounds confusing. Our little piece of scripture for this morning is an example. On the surface it sounds like Jesus is promoting irresponsibility. Responsible people worry about want they eat and drink. Responsible people worry about the clothes they wear. You and I worry about such things. However, Jesus also knows there is a difference between being concerned about such things and be consumed by such things. Many people are consumed with those issues in their lives. Through the eyes of Jesus, those folks are out of balance. In the text for this morning, Jesus is really promoting balanced lives, where both the eternal and the temporary stand side by side. God designed life so they exist together. The world tells us to be concerned with the temporary, the things needed to exist in this world, food and shelter. That is not all bad. (You can check with the finance committee, I have not turned a paycheck down yet.) Worldly things are not all bad. The problem is they are not enough. That is why the church completes the formula for successful living. The church tells us to be concerned with the eternal issues of life, salvation and the purpose of life, itself. Are you living a balanced life or are you out of balance? Do the temporary issues of daily living and the eternal issues of the soul exist side by side? It is really a question of priorities. God has been calling us to live balanced lives for a long time.

Over the triple doorways of the cathedral of Milan there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches. They remind us why staying in balance is important. Over one side door is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath it is the legend, "All that which pleases is but for a moment." Over the other side door is sculptured a cross with the words, "All that which troubles us is but for a moment." But underneath the great central entrance to the main aisle is the inscription, "That only things that are important are those that are eternal." In other words, life was meant to be lived in balance. Do you consider your life in balance? Do you know anyone whose life is out of balance?

Jessica is a young woman, whose life is out of balance. She was a parishioner of mine in Garfield Heights. I actually had the privilege of confirming her years ago. When I left that church she was a chucky fifteen years old. I returned over ten years later for that congregation’s hundredth anniversary. Everyone looked a little older but Jessica had a transformation. She was no longer that chucky fifteen year old, she had turned into a beautiful woman. No, she wasn’t just a beautiful woman, she was hot. I am not going to go into details but it will have to suffice to say that God had been real good to her and she wasn’t about to hide her blessings. When she saw me she came up to me and gave me a hug and a kiss. The old men from the monthly men’s breakfast gave me a “thumbs up!” I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Later that evening, during the coffee hour I talked to Jessica’s mother, Diane. I said, “Jessica looks great. How is she doing?” Diane almost broke out in tears. She said, “I am so worried about her. She dropped out of college several years ago and is out with a different man every night. Several nights a week she doesn’t come home. Everyone is talking about her. Everyone is laughing at her. Her only plan for the future is to marry a rich man, who will buy her anything she desires. But what decent man is going to be interested in her?” (It was the Anna Nicole Smith plan for a happy life; marry an old rich man who is near death, so you can control the fortune.) I felt Diane’s concern for Jessica. Her daughter’s life was out of balance. Do you know anyone whose life is out of balance? Is your life out of balance? My goal today is to encourage you to live balanced lives, where the temporary and the eternal stand side by side. If you think a balanced life is important say, “Amen!”

This morning we confirm two wonderful young people, Elisa Owens and Collin Schott. They are people of integrity. They are full of potential. Only God knows what the future holds for them. However, before they are confirmed I have a word of advice for them. It is a piece of advice that you may want to apply to your life. It is not too late. You can still apply these words to your life. This is my advice to Elisa, Collin and you. It is based on this morning’s scripture. My advice to you is to live balanced lives, where the temporary and the eternal stand side by side. The world will tell you to be determined about obtaining the things of this world, money, power and influence. That is not all bad. A disciple with these resources can make a great difference for God in this world. But with that same determined spirit go after the things that are of God. There are many. Let me talk about three ever so briefly.

God

With a determined spirit make God a priority in your life. The world is constantly telling us that we are no bodies in a sea of some bodies. I am advising you to cultivate a relationship with God. Not out of some fear for God but cultivate a relationship with God because of what it will do for you. I am always humbled by the divine truth that the God of the universe, who made everything out of nothing, knows our individual names. We are valuable people not because of who we are but are valuable people because of whose we are. You are a child of God! Does that make you perfect! No! We have all made mistakes. However, you are a child of God so you are a person of significance. With a determined spirit make God a priority in your life. That is all part of the good news. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Family

With a determined spirit make your family a priority in your life. Did you know that in the next hour in our country 136 children will run away from home, 76 children will be abused, and 9 children will be arrested on drug related charges? That happens every hour of everyday in America, 24/7. One of the reasons these things are happening is that the American family unit is breaking down. Perhaps, that is why families have passed so much on to our schools. Things that used to be the family’s responsibilities are now the school’s responsibilities. The Bible teaches that education of every kind begins at home. Self awareness, respect for law, concern for others, love of God all begin at home. A preacher once paid the perfect tribute to his mother when he said, “My mother practices what I preach.” With a determined spirit make your family a priority in your life. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Church

With a determined spirit make church a priority in your life. I love the story of Muhammad Ali, who got on a plane during the early 1970’s. It was time to take off but the boxer refused to put is seat belt on. The stewardess asked him to buckle up but the champ said, “Super Man doesn’t need a seat belt,” and he flex his big muscles. She responded, “Super Man also doesn’t need a plane, buckle up.” Everyone needs support from time to time. And let me tell you some thing you already know. The best friends you will ever make in this cold hard world are church friends. With a determined spirit make church a priority in your life. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Let me end with this silly story.

I love this story. I woman sat at the Super Bowl alone. The seat next to her was empty. Surprised to see an empty seat at the Super Bowl, a diehard fan asked the woman about the vacancy. "It was my husband's," the woman explained, "But he died." "I'm very sorry," said the man. "Yet I'm really surprised that another relative, or friend, didn't jump at the chance to take the seat reserved for him." "Beats me," she said. "They all insisted on going to his funeral." Can anyone here question that woman’s priorities in life? Can anyone here question your priorities in life? Do the temporary and the eternal stand side by side? Is your life out of balance?