HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-08-15, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013.
By Pastor Ernest Dow
Living Water Christian
Fellowship, Blyth
“Sell your possessions and give to
the poor,” Jesus says in Luke 12:33.
What’s He getting at? Is He
exaggerating to make a point? How
literally are we supposed to take
this? In Acts 5:4, Peter implies that
Ananias wasn’t really expected or
compelled to sell his fields and give
the money to the needy, even though
that’s what some others in the early
church at Jerusalem were doing.
Selling possessions was optional.
F.F. Bruce comments, “I prefer to
believe that even Luke sees in the
words not a mechanical rule, but a
law for the spirit.”
But perhaps we ought not let
ourselves off the hook too easily,
dismissing the Master’s words as
mere hyperbole. Jesus may be
saying this world’s values are
untrustworthy, that there’s
something more valuable than
earthly goods and supposed
‘security’. He adds, “Provide purses
for yourselves that will not wear out,
a treasure in heaven that will not be
exhausted, where no thief comes
near and no moth destroys.” Purses
wear out; material “stuff” breaks
down.
On a recent trip to the electronics
recycling container at the North
Huron landfill, I found it so full of
once-valuable electronics that I had
to stand on a big speaker in order to
toss the monitors, printers, and
computer boxes up on top near the
roof. Sobering to realize how much
all that “junk” was once worth when
it was purchased. This year’s hottest
handheld devices will be next year’s
cast-offs, outdated as people move
on and upgrade to the latest and
greatest gadgetry.
Undergirding Jesus’ argument in
this whole section of Luke 12 is the
idea that humans worry about so
much because they fail to understand
God cares for them. “Consider the
ravens” God feeds them; “consider
the lilies” God clothes them; “How
much more will He clothe you!”
(Luke 12:24, 27f) The rich fool
expanding his barns for more
storage left God completely out of
the equation – totally self-focused.
Jesus wants us to understand how
much God would love to share
with us if we only acknowledged
Him.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for
your Father has been pleased to give
you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) It’s
what He wants to do – it’s just that
our sin and rebelliousness, our
unbelief, get in the way. The Father
is keen to share good things with His
children (especially the Holy Spirit –
Luke 11:13).
Also, consider the attitude of Jesus
the Son. If you think Jesus’ attitude
toward wealth is unconventional,
wait till you see His own
unconventional approach to
Lordship! Jesus employs a parable
in verse 35: “Be dressed ready for
service and keep your lamps
burning, like men waiting for their
master to return from a wedding
banquet, so that when he comes and
knocks they can immediately open
the door for him. It will be good for
those servants whose master finds
them watching when he comes. I tell
you the truth, he will dress himself
to serve, will have them recline at
the table and will come and wait on
them.” (Luke 12:35-37) How
unconventional! How unheard-of! A
master tucking his robe in his belt,
rolling up his sleeves to play waiter
to his own servants? Weird! Totally
counter-cultural! What kind of a
master is that?
That’s precisely the point. Jesus is
like no other master. This is exactly
what He has done for us, “stripping
down” from heavenly glory to take
form as a man, being obedient to
what we needed in order to be saved,
all the way to dying on a cross for
our sins. (Philippians 2:5ff) In John
13(4f) He even acted this out by
washing the disciples’ feet just
before He was crucified. Can you
not trust a Master like that, who is so
concerned for your good? Would
you acquire possessions to wall you
off from depending on Him, so He
has no opportunity to come through
for you and show you how He can be
trusted to provide when you obey? A
“crazy” master, crazy for you – to
the point of giving Himself up to
show you kindness. Happy are,
blessed are, servants who have a
master like that – more blessed and
happy than possessions could ever
make them.
At the bottom of all this is the fact
that Jesus doesn’t want your money
– He wants you! The person you are,
with your personality, your interests
and passions, your abilities.
Possessions are all external ‘stuff’ –
Jesus is passionate about an intimate
relationship with you. Are you
entirely at His disposal?
Ralph Waldo Emerson made this
observation about the best kind of
gifts: “But our tokens of compliment
and love are for the most part
barbarous. Rings and other jewels
are not gifts, but apologies for gifts.
The only gift is a portion of thyself.
Thou must bleed for me. Therefore
the poet brings his poem; the
shepherd his lamb; the farmer his
corn; the miner a gem; the sailor,
coral and shells; the painter his
picture; the girl, a handkerchief of
her own sewing.”
Jesus gave Himself for us as the
best possible gift from a loving
Heavenly Father to a world of lost
sinners He loved. “Thou must bleed
for me,” Emerson says – and
that’s exactly what Jesus did for us
on the cross. Knowing how
pleased our Heavenly Father would
be to give us the Kingdom, and to
what lengths the Son of God has
gone to make it possible for us to
experience and benefit from a
holy God’s forgiveness and
grace, frees us from needing to
always seek security in possessions.
Treasuring Him, we discover an
inexhaustible wealth of
goodness that can transform our
hearts so we in turn are liberated to
share material help with others who
need it.
The sixth meeting of the Grey
Township Mosquito Bait Hiking
Club was held at leader Monique
Baan’s home. Ryan Baan started the
meeting with the 4-H pledge and the
roll call was answered by 16
members. Nick Vinnicombe read the
secretary’s report from the meeting
at the Falls Reserve Conservation
area, then Sarah Alexander read the
treasurer’s report.
Leader Reg Vinnicombe then
talked about the judging
competition. All the members are
encouraged to attend. Members then
judged some hiking classes: hiking
footwear, hiking clothes and food
for a hike. The judging competition
was held Tuesday, Aug. 13 in
Seaforth. Reg then showed members
how to use a compass. Monique
talked about the achievement
hike on Aug. 15 at the Stevenson
Tract. Members are to bring
along a parent or guest to show
them what they’ve learned about
hiking.
Some members of the Grey
Township Small Engine project
attended a pool party on Aug. 4 at
the home of Ken and Betty
Glanville. It was a thank you for
helping to serve at their recent
Repowered Diesel Confab Meet
weekend. This group has been
meeting once a year for more
than 30 years to exchange ideas
and see what members have been
up.
Ken and Betty hosted the meeting
this year and members from all over
the U.S. and Canada enjoyed a
weekend of camping and
exchanging ideas. 4-H members
Craig Baan, Haden and Jacob Flood,
Nick Vinnicombe, Emma Baan,
Ryan Baan, Johanna Blake and their
families enjoyed the pool and
refreshments.
President Haden Flood accepted a
generous donation to the Grey
Township 4-H club from Betty and
Ken Glanville as a thank you for
their work at the barbecue.
Mosquito Bait holds meeting
From the Minister’s StudyTreasure God to find wealth of goodness: Dow
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
NEW START TIME FOR WORSHIP IS 10 AM
ALL WELCOME
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
BRUSSELS
Sandra Cable, Pastor
Church Office 519-887-6259
E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am
Sunday School
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
United Church
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Jim Whitehead
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Worship Service 10:00 am
Coffee & Fellowship
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Visitation Sundays ~ Aug. 4-25
Evangelical Missionary Church
Join in worship at
another local church
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, August 18
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
6:30 p.m. service at various locations
for July and August.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
Minister: Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
During the month of August we will be worshipping
with Brussels United Church
at 11 a.m.
IS THIS YOUR
LAST MEMORY
OF CHURCH?
Then you need to discover why
many young families are making
HURON CHAPEL their home.
www.huronchapel.com
See histories and
historic photographs on
the Huron History
section of our website
www.northhuron.on.ca