May 25, 2008

God’s BIG Give: Friends

True Friends

Mark 2:1-12

Opening Words: On March 2 the ABC Television Network premiered a brand new show, Oprah’s Big Give. It stars America’s newest golden girl, Oprah Winfrey. The eight one hour episodes are a competition. The contestants are asked to find creative ways to help complete strangers in some of life’s most challenging situations. As the ABC website states, “lives are changed in the blink of an eye.” When I read that I knew there was a sermon series inside. I found it!

I have called my newest sermon series God’s BIG Give. Consider these three things. First, just like Oprah, God has been giving away some amazing things for a long time. Second, just like Oprah, God’s gifts changed our lives in the blink of an eye. Third, just like Oprah, God expects us to improve the lives of complete strangers. During this seven part sermon series we have been looking at some divine gifts. This morning we are looking at the gift of friends. When was the last time you thanked God for your friends? Let us hear God’s word this morning from Mark 2:1-12.

Mark 2:1-12 ¹A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ²So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. ⁴Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

    ⁶Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

⁸Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? ⁹Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? ¹⁰But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, ¹¹"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." ¹²He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

I love the story of Jackie Robinson. You know his story. He was the first black to play major league baseball. His world was filled with racism, too. While playing one day in his home stadium, Ebbetts Field, in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered. It was at that moment something special happened. Then shortstop, Pee Wee Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson’s shoulder and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career. Let me say this clearly. Never underestimate the power of friendship. How many true friends do you really have?

On Monday afternoon I officiated at a funeral for a woman by the name of Ethel. She was ninety years old. I thought that was the reason the crowd was so small. I could count the mourners on one hand. Her husband died 37 years ago. They remembered him as warm and outgoing. She wasn’t. They called Ethel a recluse. She lived in her house for decades but never knew the neighbors. She lived her entire life in the city but never invested herself in the community. In some ways she was a nothing, a nobody. When she died, no one cried for Ethel because no one knew Ethel. No one is going to miss Ethel. Her emotionless funeral was attended by some extended family members, who didn’t know her. Ethel’s funeral may have been the saddest funeral I have ever done. Never underestimate the significance of a true friend.

Through the generations the brightest minds have discovered the true value of friendships. Let me just offer you a few of their quotes. Maybe you can relate to some of these?

Augustine said, “I would rather have friends who are wise than merely those who are handsome.”

Aristotle said, “Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.”

C.S. Lewis said, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, "What! You, too? I thought I was the only one."

Ben Franklin said, “Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.”

Jeremy Taylor said, “By friendship you mean the greatest love, the greatest usefulness, the most open communication, the noblest sufferings, the severest truth, the heartiest counsel, and the greatest union of minds of which brave men and women are capable.”

Dan Bennett said, “Nothing in the world is friendlier than a wet dog. (I am not sure how that slipped in there.)

The Bible, itself, teaches us the value of true friendship. Do you remember your Bible? There were the wonderful bonds of friendship between David and Jonathon, Elijah and Elisha, Ruth and Boaz. (We will begin looking at their story next week.) The Bible tells us old friends should be cherished (Proverbs 27:10). The Bible tells us friends emotionally stimulate (Proverbs 27:17) and friends position us to profit (Ecclesiastes 4:9) in our friendships. Proverbs 17:17 sums it up best, “A friends loves at all times but a brother is born in adversity.”

Today, we look at a Bible story that defines true friendship. We are in the second chapter of Mark. There are five friends, one is paralyzed. Look at what happens in the story. The need of the one is more important than the comfort of the four. They know their only hope for their friend is Jesus. They have heard of his healing power and they want their friend healed. They take him to Jesus but the crowd is too great. They are forced to think outside of the box. They are forced to do something ridiculous. They take their friend to the roof. They tear open a hole and lower their friend to Jesus. It is every home owner's nightmare but it makes two points that will stand for eternity. First, when Jesus is in the house people will come. Second, true friendship knows no obstacles. True friendship is powerful. How many true friends do you have?

On this holiday weekend I want to take the next few moments to look at three ingredients of true friendship. I am talking about true friendship, not merely acquaintances. These ingredients are not necessarily unique to the faith or the church. They are true of every friendship. However, that does not make them useless to us. So if you are ready for three ingredients in true friendship say, “Amen!”

Friends relate

Two weeks from now Anna is going to be graduating from Canfield High School. It is hard to believe. When I came to this church is was four years old. You have seen her grow up and become a beautiful young woman and what is more important, a wonderful person. We are doing all the graduation events as a family. We will recognize her and our other graduates in worship next week. Family is coming for graduation from various spots in the country. You are invited to her graduation party on June 10. It is going to be exciting for her but it is also exciting for the entire family. Her graduation is a family celebration! I am trying my best to appreciate every moment but it isn’t going to last. When graduation ends and summer begins, we start getting her ready for college. In August she goes to Mount Union and that will be exciting too but it means a chapter in my life is over. That chapter seemed so long in the middle of it but now it seems like it flew. Can anybody here relate to that statement? There are days I wish Anna wanted me to take her to another Jennifer Lopez movie so I could buy her the biggest box of popcorn. Time goes so fast.

The first ingredient that is necessary for true friendship is the ability to relate. It is the ability to understand what someone else is experiencing and respond in an appropriate way. In the Bible story, the friends related to one another. The four healthy friends related to their sick friend. That is why they carried him to Jesus. The first ingredient that is necessary for a true friendship is the ability to relate. And all of God’s friendly people said, “Amen!”

Friends are honest

When Jan Paderewski was to leave his native Poland to play his first recital in London, he asked a friend to give him a letter of introduction to a leading figure in Britain's musical world, who might be of assistance should anything go amiss. The letter was handed to him in a sealed envelope. He hoped that everything would proceed smoothly and he would not have to use it.

He did not; his debut was a success and no snags developed. Some years later, while going through his papers, he came upon the letter and opened it. It read: "This will introduce Jan Paderewski, who plays the piano, for which he demonstrates no talent." His friend wasn’t his friend at all.

My best friend in this world is my wife. I know it sounds childish but it is true. There are so many things I respect about Kathy. I could make a great list but the thing I respect the most is her honesty. She is completely honest with me. She is not afraid to correct my grammar or my spelling. When she says, “Your sermon is good I know it is good.” Because, she has also said, “Your sermon could have been better.” I believe her honesty has made me not just a better preacher, but a better person. Do you have anyone in your life that is completely honest with you? The second ingredient that is necessary for true friendship is honesty. It is obvious but true friends are honest with each other. And all of God’s friendly people said, “Amen!”

Friends share

The third ingredient for true friendship is the ability to share. Sometimes the sharing takes the form of a cup of sugar or a power tool. Sometimes sharing takes the form of a shoulder or an emergency lunch. True friends are not afraid share their most valued possessions. When was the last time you shared Jesus? The friends in the Bible story were sharing Jesus with their friend.

In the early 1960’s the Health Department discovered the healthiest place to live in America was Roseto, Pennsylvania. People in Roseto lived longer! Her residents were healthier. Their heart attack rate is ¼ of the national average, fewer people become senile in Roseto, fewer people get peptic ulcers in Roseto.

Stunned health officials decide they should find out why. Maybe they’ll find the key to good health! But Roseto stumps them. Rosetans smoked as much as people in neighboring towns, exercised as little as people in neighboring towns, faced the same stressful situations as people in neighboring towns, met the national average for obesity and high blood pressure. As a town they ate more meat and fat than the average American. In the end health officials tracked the secret to good health in Roseto – ready for it: close sense of community, very strong bonds of family and friendship. Head of the research team wrote in his report: "In terms of preventing heart disease, it’s just possible that morale is more important than jogging or not eating butter." If you want to live longer then make a friend. If you want your friend to live for eternity, then share Jesus! And all of God’s friendly people said, “Amen!”