Our Ministry of Stewardship (2 of 2)

June 27, 2008 in Worth's Sermons by WNG

Last week I began a short series of sermons on “Our Ministry of Stewardship.” I spoke to you about the stewardship of our wealth. This week I want to talk to you about the stewardship of our natural abilities experience and spiritual gifts.

Psalm 84:10-12

Now I don’t know how this sermon will turn out–but the text is a dandy. It is from the assigned lesson–Psalm 84:10:

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

When I read this text I was reminded immediately of the late Br. Albert Tucker, father of Jerry Tucker, and grandfather of Amanda and Holly “Bear” Tucker. For the first seven years of my ministry here, Br. Albert stood just outside the door that leads from the commons area into the sanctuary and greeted me before every service. He would not allow me to touch the door handle. If I reached for it, he would lay his left hand on my extended arm and cover the door handle with his right. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he would say, “That’s my job!” Then, as he said, “I’m glad you got to see me,” he would open the door, and, with his hand in the small of my back, “push” me into this sanctuary.

After a year or two, I started calling him, “The doorkeeper.” And I called his attention to this Psalm. But Albert was not just a doorkeeper, he was also a gatekeeper. During that same period of time, Br. Albert attended virtually every funeral held in this church. I shall never forget the day that Br. Robert Miller or Hayworth-Miller and I were leading a funeral procession from the Sanctuary to God’s Acre. Albert was in his accustomed place, by the gate to God’s Acre, funeral odes in hand. Robert looked up and saw him from a distance. Turning to me, he said, “Worth, this church certainly has a faithful servant in Albert Tucker. He is always here. We can always count on him.” I agreed. Now you may not believe this–but two weeks later, Gene Vogler (the younger– at that time still with Voglers) and I were leading another funeral procession from the Sanctuary to God’s Acre. Gene, looked-up, saw Albert, and said almost exactly the same words. “Worth,” he said, “this church sure has a faithful servant in Albert Tucker. He is always here. We can always count on him.”

Albert’s own funeral is equally significant. When Br. Robert Miller and I left the sanctuary in procession to God’s Acre, we looked at one another and one of us said, “Albert won’t be by the gate today–who will?” Well, when we rounded the corner of the building, we saw not one person at the gate but two–Clarence Gabard and Clyde Dula. As Robert and I took our odes, one from each of them, one of them–I don’t remember which, said, “It took both of us to stand-in for Albert! We can’t fill his shoes, but we can do our part.”

When the Psalmist said, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness,” he was contrasting the most insignificant job in the temple–with what some consider to be the greatest of “sinful” pleasures. Perhaps he was a converted sinner speaking from experience?

Some would say that Albert’s job was equally insignificant. After all–he was not serving , as he once did, as an Elder or Trustee. He was not teaching Sunday School, or acting, as he once did, as the Sunday School treasurer. He was opening the door for me on Sunday, and standing by the gate to God’s Acre at funerals to pass out the ode. It was not a job to which he was appointed–it was a job which he had taken. But it was an invaluable service, rendered out of love and commitment to his God and his church. It was significant–especially to those of us who depended upon him.

The church is a society unto itself. We almost do everything here that a city does. We don’t deliver babies–but we rejoice when they are born, and we baptize them. We don’t have a school–but we have a preschool that affects hundreds of children year after year. And we offer Christian Education opportunities for all ages–from the cradle to the grave. We don’t hold court–but we do offer people an opportunity for forgiveness and reconciliation, and we counsel against a Judgement which is to come. We don’t practice medicine–but we care for the sick. Yesterday morning, thanks to the Friendship Class, we had our own department store—and I bought my daughter’s Christmas present. Likewise, we put on meals that would be the envy of any restaurant, maintain a system of roads and parking lots, and otherwise do many of the things than a small town has to do. We even have elections–and you can participate in one at our annual Congregational Council! Likewise we have our own “newspaper, ” and– I could go on and on, but you get my drift.

Of course, our primary duty, is to be the body of Christ in the world. As St. Paul frequently reminds us, Christ is “…the head of the body, the Church.” (Colossians 1:18) He is “head,” but we are his hands and feet in the world. He permits us not just to speak his word, but to act in his name.

All this implies the need for workers–not just a paid staff, but workers. As St. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4 we, the body of Christ, are not fully operational “Until every joint is knit together… and each part is working properly…” When the joints are knit together, and each part is working properly then, “(it) makes bodily growth and (the body) upbuilds itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:16).

Where am I going with all this? It is simple–we are a “community” unto ourselves; and, if the only workers we had were those who stood up on Sunday morning and gave the “news” (as “good” as that “news” is), we would be a poor community.

We need workers. And all of us are charged by God with being those workers. Indeed, according to the New Testament, God has given us gifts in order that we might accomplish the work.

There are two kinds of gifts. 1) There are those gifts that we all receive in common—-though there is nothing “common” about them. These gifts include things like faith, hope and love, and eternal life, and the Gift of the Holy Spirit, which is the supremely perfect gift which makes all the other gifts possible. Jesus says God is willing to give the gift of the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks Him (Luke 11:13). And the New Testament steadfastly maintains that all who believe in Jesus Christ receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when they believe in him (Acts 2:38, etc.). The Holy Spirit is the “common” gift, because the Holy Spirit is the lowest common denominator of our Christian discipleship. Then, 2) there are a variety of gifts, which are “special” or “unique” that God apportions to us, giving a “special” gift of one kind to one believer, and a “special” gift of another kind to another believer. There are two things to remember about these special gifts: 1) Everyone gets at least one, and 2) those that we have received are not for our selfish use, but for the use of the whole body.

You can remember this handily if you imagine that it is Christmas time for large household. In that household there is a loving Father, and dozens of eager children, of whom you are one. On Christmas morning all the children gather around the tree to open their presents. When they are all opened we–for I imagine myself in that family, discover that the father has given some gifts to each and everyone of his children. We have all received fruits, and nuts, and candies, and we have all received new shoes, and a new change of clothes, and a Savings Bond of an equal amount.

These things we all have in common. We have been lavishly supplied with the things we want and the things we need.

But the father has also picked for each of us a small, personal gift. And he distributes these gifts last of all. I have received a new computer. Bill has received a computer printer. Mary has received a small organ, and Johnnie has received stack after stack of sheet music. Homer has received a set of golf clubs and George has received two dozen new golf balls. Each of you has received something. After the Father has passed out these special gifts, he says to us, “Now Children–each of you has been given a unique gift–something that I think you would like, but, to tell the truth, you will enjoy these gifts more if you share them. Worth, you share your computer with Bill. And Bill you share your printer with Worth. Then both of you share what you can do with your computer and printer with everyone. Mary–I expect you to let Johnnie play your organ. Johnnie, I expect you to share your sheet music with Mary. And I want both of you to share the music you make with the rest of us. Homer and George, you will find that golf is far more enjoyable if you have a set of clubs and a couple of dozen balls to whack at. And by the way George–don’t you let Homer just hit those balls into the woods and leave them. Make them last awhile. If they are hit into the woods, go look for them, for they are not just for you. Your brothers and sisters may want to play golf, too. Indeed, I have given each of you a very special gift which I have picked out just for you–but each of you is to share your special gifts with the all the others. They are for the good of the whole family, and if you use them well, our family will be very, very happy.

Again, I have told this little story so that you can remember the two kinds of spiritual gifts: We have all received the “common” gift of the Holy Spirit, and the faith, hope and love that the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts. Likewise, each of us has received a “special” gift of the Holy Spirit which we are to employ for the common good.

Now let me mention just a few things about spiritual gifts.

First, we ought to note that God usually assigns the task, then supplies the gift that will help us to accomplish the task.

This is just one more demonstration of a Bible study dictum that John Wesley shared with the early Methodist. Wesley said, “Every command of God contains a promise! God never commands something without making it possible.”

I shall never forget the morning I received my “task.” It was the summer of 1973. My wife and I were stationed at Camp LeJune where I was serving as a 1st Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. We were eating breakfast and watching “The Author Smith Show.” It is interesting that George Hamilton was on that morning–and he was connected with the first two churches I served. And Dickie Sculler was on that morning–and his wife Janice was my secretary when I first came here. Well–we were watching Arthur Smith, and Br. Ralph had just done the commercial for Bunny Bread–”That’s what I said, ‘Bunny Bread.’” I then picked-up my daily text. It was my birthday, July 21st 1973. I had been seeking the will of God for my life. The text was from 2nd Timothy 4:2. “Preach the word,” it said, “be instance in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, exhort, be faithful in patience and in teaching.”

I turned to my wife and said, “Elayne, I am going to seminary.”

She looked back at me and said, “Worth, I don’t know what you are supposed to do. I will follow where you lead. But remember this, I didn’t marry a preacher, I married a Marine. ”

In retrospect, I’m glad she said that. I have always been suspicious of those women who have made it their goal in life to marry a minister. I am much more comfortable with the woman herself going into ministry. But, having said that, I am also confident that when God called me, he called Elayne, giving her the gifts–particularly the patience, she needs for the life we lead.

But back to my point. My task was assigned long before I was aware that I had any gifts in the area of preaching.

Second, I think it must be noted that the special tasks/gifts that God gives to each of us can be a great joy.

Most Sundays I delight to preach. Indeed, as much as I enjoy hearing John or Ray, the hardest thing I do is sit idly by while another takes up the task. But there are times when the joy of preaching–or having preached is delayed.

Last night my wife and I saw the Robert Duval movie, The Apostle. It is really worth seeing. One scene in it reminded me of myself. Duval’s character had just lost his wife and his church. He was praying. He prayed, “I’m talking to you, God, I’m mad at you, but I am talking to you.”

There are times when I’m a little mad at God. Usually it is after a long and hectic week in which there has been no time for the preparation I like to do. It is 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning, and I am complaining, “God–everyone else I know is still asleep. I’m exhausted from a long week, and now I have to preach. In a few short hours I’m going to have to stand up and make a fool of myself in front of 500 people. Why did you call me to this life?”

I felt that way last Easter Morning. Of course, God helped, it was not a total disaster. But I don’t mind telling you I was really disappointed with the sermon. Then, about three or four weeks ago, I greeted a visitor after church, asking her if she had ever attended before and where she was from.”

“I’m a Presbyterian visiting from Florida,” she said. “This is the second time I have attended here. The first time was with my daughter on Easter Sunday. I want to share something with you. As we were leaving the church that morning, my daughter turned to me and told me that, as the result of your message, she had decided to trust her life to Jesus Christ. Since that time–she has been a different person.”

God, the Father, knows best. Preaching is a task that brings Joy–even if the joy is sometimes delayed.

Third it ought to be pointed out that a spiritual gift can also be a burden. This is particularly true when the gift is present, but the task is lacking.

I ran into this situation while an associate pastor in Charlotte. I felt called to preach. That church let me preach from time to time, but my primary duty was with our youth. I shall never forget my first Youth Fellowship Meeting. I found that I had traded command of 600 Marines for duties with 7 teenage girls. I will give you one guess as to which group was most responsive!

Naturally, I was miserable. I wanted to preach.

When faced with a situation in which you have a gift but no task, there are but three options.

First, you can look for another place to employ your gift, perhaps outside the church. This is a wonderful option. Not all the gifts that God gives are to be used inside the local church. Remember–we are to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world.

Mrs. Irene Todd is a supreme example. She was laid to rest in God’s Acre just yesterday. In preparing her memoir I discovered something totally unique about her. As a young woman she had wanted to be a nurse. Well, Irene was born in 1908 and her father was of the old school. He did not believe in women working outside the home, and he would not allow her to go into nursing. Later, she did work outside the home. She spent 29 years at R.J.R. Then, upon her retirement, she again felt the “call” to nursing. She spent 13 and ½ years at Baptist Hospital, accumulating 15,000 volunteer hours, the equivalent of 7 and ½ years full time service. For this labor of love she received the Governor’s Award as Volunteer of the Year. But the best reward she received, she received last Wednesday when she came at last to stand before the One who assigned the task, and heard him say, “Well done, thou Good and faithful servant.”

Secondly, you can look for another church. That was my solution. After two years in Charlotte, I asked for another call, to a church of my own. I wanted it sooner. I prayed for it. I begged for it, but I did not ask for it.

It is good I had to wait. While agonizing over my position, I discovered a wonderful phrase in a book by Oswald Chambers, entitled My Utmost for His Highest. Chambers said something like this:

God cannot use us until we become broken bread and poured out wine. Some of us are like a grape that a man holds between his thumb and forefinger. He squeezes, but the grape, not yet ripe, pops out. That is the way with some of us. We are not yet ripe. God squeezes and we pop out. We do not bring forth wine, and it is good that we do not, for it would be bitter wine.

Third, we can ask God for another gift, one that is needed where we are. Robert Schuller says that the way to be a success in any situation is to “find a need and fill it.” That’s it. There are lots of things that need doing. God’ s needs gatekeepers every bit as much as he needs preachers.

There is a fifth thing I would mention. The special gifts of the Holy Spirit are not limited to those listed in the New Testament.

Three passages in the New Testament list spiritual gifts. 1st Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4. I have heard it said that the true spiritual gifts are limited to these list. That is not so. In the Book of Exodus we read how God filled certain men with his Spirit, and with the ability to do things with their hands–to work with wood, or stone, or metal (Ex. 31:6, etc.) And how the gave the women of Israel a special ability to work with their hands in the making of draperies and linens for the tabernacle (Ex. 35:25, etc.)

I shall never forget a man who came to me just as I started at my last church. He held out his hands. They shook as they always did. He said, “Worth–I can’t teach a Sunday School Class–but I can work with these. I will support God’s work here all that I can.” His handiwork filled our church building. Three years later he walked into a Trustees meeting and asked for $300 dollars with which to buy lumber–for building an organ. The Trustees granted it. Another four years passed. He did not live to see the organ’s completion, but he and six other men gave 50,000 volunteer hours in the construction of a 27 rank pipe organ that is still being used in that congregation “to the glory of God.” It is valued in excess of $200,000 dollars. It cost the church less than $20,000 dollars.

It is amazing what God can do through a person to whom he gives a gift.

In closing let me add only that God can give any us any number of gifts, but there is only one thing we can give him in return–our lives!

Many of us would gladly offer God our gifts, while, at the same time, holding back on the control of our lives. The truth is that God is far more concerned with our availability than with our ability. He can supply the experience, the ability, the gift–but only we can furnish our availability. It was a wise man who once said, “With out God, we cannot. Without us, God will not!”

Let us put not only our gifts, but our lives at God’s service.
Finis