[Propertalk] Fwd: Sermon Resources for March 17 - Part 2

[Joe Parrish]

How Much to Spend on The Poor?

What happened at Jesus' anointing in Bethany has plagued the followers of Jesus from then until now. How much do we spend on ourselves and how much do we give to missions? Couldn't we do more good by giving all this money to the poor instead of spending it on, say, a new building?

In partial response to this question, my mind goes back to an experience of William Willimon, chaplain at Duke University. Willimon tells of the time the faculty of Duke was discussing a proposal to renovate the seminary chapel. They had received a modest proposal from the architect. But, would the chapel be renovated? No. "With all the poverty and hunger in the world," said one faculty member, "how can we as Christians justify spending $50,000 to pretty-up our chapel?" Of course, this person failed to offer similar objections when faculty salaries were raised each year, (a figure that collectively exceeds $50,000) nor does he question the morality of the luxurious faculty lounge. Obviously the man was posturing, just as Judas was posturing. Even so, the problem is tough. How much should we give to others and how much should we reserve for ourselves? 

Richard Meyer, Break a Vase
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When I Pause the Longest
 
In the biography of Leonardo da Vinci, Antonio Vallenten tells of a time when the great artist was at work in Milan on his famous painting of the Last Supper. Da Vinci spent many hours meditating in the chapel of the monastery where he was working. The monks resented these "idle periods" and accused the artist of wasting time. But da Vinci defended these periods of reflection by saying, "When I pause the longest, I make the most telling strokes with my brush."
 
Robert A. Beringer, Turning Points, CSS Publishing Company
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Taking a Time Out
 
A woman who worked in a high level job for a major corporation experienced a grueling schedule and a lot of pressure. So when she was offered the opportunity to attend a stress reduction seminar, she quickly accepted. However, she soon realized the seminar might not be as helpful as she first thought. The instructor arrived late, out of breath, and announced, "In order to accommodate everyone's busy schedules, this five-day seminar will be speeded up and completed in two days!"

In our study of turning points in people's lives, we must focus on the dramatic difference that takes place when a person learns the secret of taking "time out" for rest and renewal. No one who reads the gospel accounts of Jesus' public ministry can miss the fact that our Lord lived a very busy and challenging life. Everywhere he went, the crowds followed him. Many people sought his help both day and night. Like many people in our time, Jesus lived with a grueling schedule and lots of pressure. But a careful reading of the gospels reveals that Jesus knew the wisdom of taking "time out" in his busy life for rest, relaxation, and renewal.
 
Robert A. Beringer, Turning Points, CSS Publishing Company
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Critics
 
A young musician's concert was poorly received by the critics. The famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius consoled him by patting him on the shoulder and saying, 'Remember, son, there is no city in the world where they have a statue to a critic.' 
 
Haddon Robinson
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Holding On
 
I have some items in my garage that I have been holding on to. I'm waiting for the day I have a garage sale so I can make some money. You know what they say, "waste not, want not." Why throw away a perfectly good item when you can make some money on it, right? A friend said to me, "Why don't you just set it out. Someone will surely come by that can use it. Then you will have more room and be free of something you really don't need."

My friend was right. We have a habit of holding on to things that might have value. Giving away something that we could turn into cash would be unthinkable. It wouldn't make any sense.

Does love have to make sense?
 
Keith Wagner, The Supremacy of Love
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A Simple Answer
 
Could that have been Judas' greatest downfall, the inability to see himself as a sinner and hence receive God's forgiveness? For without that sense of forgiveness, life holds little joy and the future is hopeless. Someone once said that the person who knows himself or herself to be a sinner and does not know God's forgiveness is like an overweight person who fears stepping on a scale.
 
I once read about a very bitter man who was sick in soul, mind, and body. He was in the hospital in wretched condition, not because his body had been invaded by a virus or infected with some germ, but because his anger and contempt had poisoned his soul. One day, when he was at his lowest, he said to his nurse, "Won't you give me something to end it all?" Much to the man's surprise, the nurse said, "All right. I will." She went to the nightstand and pulled out the Gideon Bible and began to read, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life." When she finished she said, "There, if you will believe that, it will end it all. God loves you, forgives you and accepts you as his child."
 
Such a simple answer...
 
The rest of this illustration and many additional illustrations and sermons for this week, Holy Week, and Easter can be accessed at www.Sermons.com. 



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