Psalm 27:1-5 • Balance

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(This transcript was prepared using software tools and has not been reviewed for complete accuracy.)

WOULD YOU LOOK IN YOUR
BIBLES AT PSALM 127?
PSALM 127.
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE HAVE
BEEN LOOKING AT OUR MISSION AT
WORK, HOW WE AS CHRISTIANS BEAR
THE NAME CHRIST INTO THE
WORKPLACE WHEREVER GOD CALLS US,
RECOGNIZING THAT IF GOD IS
CALLING US INTO THE WORKPLACE,
THEN ALL HONEST WORK IS HOLY
WORK, AND EVERY PLACE WE WORK IS
HOLY GROUND.
WELL, THAT CREATES SOME
COMPETING VOICES IN OUR HEADS AT
TIMES AND SOME PRESSURE UPON US.
IF MY WORK IS NOT JUST MEETING
MY BOSS'S EXPECTATIONS BUT
MEETING GOD'S EXPECTATIONS, HOW
DO I KEEP ALL OF THAT IN
BALANCE?
WELL, PSALM 127 IS HELPING US TO
THINK ABOUT GOD'S PRIORITIES
WHEREVER WE ARE AS WE SERVE HIM.
IT'S REALLY A PSALM ABOUT
BALANCE.
LET ME ASK THAT YOU WOULD STAND
AS WE HONOR GOD'S WORD AS I READ
TO YOU PSALM 127 AND WE THINK
ABOUT HIS WORD COMFORTING,
STRENGTHENING, ENABLING US TO
LIVE BALANCED LIVES WHEREVER HE
CALLS US.
"UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE
HOUSE, THOSE WHO BUILD IT LABOR
IN VAIN.
UNLESS THE LORD WATCHES OVER THE
CITY, THE WATCHMAN STAYS AWAKE
IN VAIN.
IT IS IN VAIN THAT YOU RISE UP
EARLY AND GO LATE TO REST,
EATING THE BREAD OF ANXIOUS
TOIL; FOR HE GIVES TO HIS
BELOVED SLEEP.
BEHOLD, CHILDREN ARE A HERITAGE
FROM THE LORD, THE FRUIT OF THE
WOMB A REWARD.
LIKE ARROWS IN THE HAND OF A
WARRIOR ARE THE CHILDREN OF
ONE'S YOUTH.
BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO FILLS HIS
QUIVER WITH THEM!
HE SHALL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME
WHEN HE SPEAKS WITH HIS ENEMIES
IN THE GATE."
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
>>> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK
YOU FOR A REMINDER IN YOUR WORD
OF YOUR PRESENT POWER IN OUR
LIVES, FOR UNLESS YOU WERE THERE
AND WORKING, NOTHING WE DO WOULD
STAND.
AND, YET, EVEN WHEN WE SAY AS
MUCH, WE CAN PERCEIVE YOUR
PRESENCE AND EXPECTATIONS AS BUT
MORE PRESSURE.
HOW NOW DO I LIVE WITH THIS
EXTRA BURDEN OF PUTTING GOD
BEFORE OTHER THINGS WHEN THE
OTHER THINGS SPEAK SO LOUDLY FOR
MY ATTENTION?
FATHER, YOU ARE NOT MEANING TO
BURDEN US BUT TO FREE US AND
EQUIP US AND STRENGTHEN US.
HELP US TO SEE HOW, SO THAT IN
THE BALANCE THAT YOU INTEND FOR
OUR LIVES YOU WOULD ACTUALLY BE
GIVING US THE REST THAT GIVES US
JOY AND STRENGTH FOR THE CALLING
WE HAVE.
GRANT US SUCH JOY AND STRENGTH
FROM YOUR WORD WE PRAY.
IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.
>>> PLEASE BE SEATED.
THE CHILD'S DRAWING REVEALED HIS
HEART AND AT THE SAME TIME CUT
HIS FATHER TO THE HEART.
THE CHILD WAS DRAWING AT THE
INSTRUCTION OF AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL TEACHER.
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER
HAD SAID, "DRAW A PICTURE OF
SOMETHING THAT YOUR FATHER DOES
EVERY DAY."
THIS MUST HAVE BEEN A NEW
TEACHER, DID NOT KNOW HOW
DANGEROUS A QUESTION THAT WAS TO
ANSWER IN A DRAWING.
[LAUGHTER]
"DRAW SOMETHING YOUR FATHER DOES
EVERY DAY."
AND WHAT THIS CHILD DREW, STICK
FIGURES BUT STILL DISCERNIBLE,
WAS A FAMILY SEATED AROUND A
BREAKFAST TABLE, A DOOR, AND THE
FATHER HEADING OUT THE DOOR.
THERE WAS A BALLOON CAPTION OVER
THE HEADS OF ALL THE CHILDREN
SEATED AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, AND
THE BALLOON CAPTIONS ALL HAD THE
SAME SET OF WORDS:  "HURRY,
DADDY, HURRY!" AS THE FATHER WAS
GOING OUT THE DOOR.
THE CHILD WHO DREW THE PICTURE
WAS MY SON.
[LAUGHTER]
THE FATHER HEADING OUT THE DOOR
IN SUCH A HURRY THAT HE
APPARENTLY DID EVERY DAY WAS ME.
AND THE REASON IT CUT ME TO THE
HEART IS I HAD TO ASK MYSELF THE
QUESTION:  WHY IS IT THAT THE
MOST PRESENT IMAGE IN MY SON'S
MIND OF HIS FATHER EVERY DAY IS
OF HIS FATHER RUSHING AWAY FROM
HIM AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY?
NOW, I CAN HAVE ALL KINDS OF
GOOD EXPLANATIONS FOR WHAT THAT,
WHY THAT WAS.
I COULD SAY, WELL, I WAS DOING
IMPORTANT WORK.
AND THE JOB WAS IMPORTANT AS A
SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR OF A
SEMINARY.
AND IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I
WAS PROVIDING FOR MY FAMILY.
AND IT WAS MY CALLING.
WE WERE TRAINING PEOPLE FOR THE
MINISTRY.
AND THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF GOOD
REASONS TO BE IN A HURRY TO DO
MY WORK.
AND, YET, I KNEW DEEP DOWN IN MY
HEART THAT IF MY SON'S PRIMARY
IMAGE WAS ME RUNNING AWAY FROM
HIM, SOMETHING WAS OUT OF
BALANCE IN MY LIFE.
I THINK AS I SAY THAT SOME OF
YOU NODDED EVEN AS I TOLD THE
STORY, RECOGNIZING YOU HAVE SOME
OF THE SAME STRUGGLES.
I MEAN, I MAY HAVE ACTUALLY
ADDED TO YOUR PRESSURE IN THE
LAST FEW WEEKS.
BECAUSE AS I HAVE TALKED ABOUT
OUR MISSION AT WORK AND REMINDED
ALL OF US AGAIN AND AGAIN ALL
HONEST WORK IS HOLY WORK AND
APPLYING GOD'S GIFT TO THAT
WORK, WHATEVER GIFTS HE HAS
GIVEN US, THAT THAT ACTUALLY
MAKES OUR WORK OUR VOCATION, OUR
CALLING, WHEREBY WE ARE MAKING
PROFESSION, PROFESSING CHRIST.
IF WE ARE CHRISTIANS, WE BEAR ON
US THE NAME OF THE LORD CHRIST.
AND SO WHATEVER WE DO, WHETHER
WE EAT OR DRINK OR WHATEVER WE
DO, WHETHER IT'S THE PHONE
CONVERSATION OR THE MEMO OR THE
MEETING OR THE CONTRACT, WE BEAR
ON US THE NAME OF CHRIST.
WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS BEFORE HIM.
NOW SUDDENLY I FEEL EVEN MORE
PRESSURE.
I MEAN, IF EVERYTHING I DO IS
SUPPOSED TO HONOR THE LORD, HOW
CAN YOU EVER LET UP?
PRESSURE NOT BALANCE.
I THINK OF THE WORDS OF A FRIEND
OF MINE WHO PERCEIVES HIS
CHRISTIAN CALLING.
HE SAID, "WHAT THAT MEANS IS
WHEN I SIT DOWN, I FEEL GUILTY."
IT'S NOT WHAT GOD INTENDS.
BUT WHAT DOES HE INTEND TO BRING
BALANCE INTO OUR LIVES AS WE
CONSIDER HIS PRIORITIES, ASSESS
OUR OWN PERSONALITIES, AND THEN
CONSIDER THE SEASONS OF OUR
LIVES AS WE ARE SEEKING TO
FULFILL OUR CALLING FOR THE SAKE
OF HIM?
OBVIOUSLY, WHAT THE PSALMIST IS
SAYING HERE IS PRETTY CLEAR.
IF YOU WOULD SAY, WHAT IS THE
THEM OF THIS PSALM, VERSE 1:
"UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE
HOUSE, THOSE WHO BUILD IT LABOR
IN VAIN."
WHAT'S THE BASIC THEME?
WITHOUT GOD'S BLESSING, YOUR
WORK IS A BUST.
I MEAN, YOU CAN THINK:  I CAN
JUST KIND OF GATHER MY TALENTS,
GATHER MY ENERGIES ENOUGH AND I
WILL TAKE CARE OF THINGS.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
JUST A LITTLE HICCUP IN THE
ECONOMY, JUST A LITTLE CHANGE OF
CIRCUMSTANCES, A CAR CROSS A
CENTER LINE FOR A FRACTION OF A
SECOND, YOU BREATHE IN A
MINUSCULE VIRUS:  AND WITHOUT
YOUR EVER INTENDING, WITHOUT YOU
EVER KNOWING OR PLANNING, LIFE
AS YOU KNOW IT COMES UNDONE,
COMES UNRAVELED MORE QUICKLY AND
DEEPLY THAN YOU EVER BELIEVED
WAS POSSIBLE.
THE LORD IS SIMPLY SAYING IN
THIS PSALM, "LISTEN, YOU CAN
DEDICATE YOURSELF TO THE WORK
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OR TO THE
GOD WHO GETS THE JOB DONE."
THERE ARE PRIORITIES THAT WE
NEED TO BE AWARE OF AS WE
CONSIDER WHO IS EVEN GIVING US
THIS MESSAGE.
GOD'S PRIORITIES ARE BEING MADE
CLEAR EVEN IN THE OPENING WORDS:
"UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE
HOUSE, THOSE WHO BUILD IT LABOR
IN VAIN."
IT'S REMINDING US OF GOD'S
PRIORITIES, JUST REMINDING US
FIRST OF WHO GOD IS.
HE IS THE LORD.
IN MOST OF YOUR BIBLES, THE WORD
LORD HAS EVERY LETTER
CAPITALIZED, WHICH IS THE
TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW
JEHOVAH.
HE IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY.
HE IS THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS
AND THE EARTH.
THE HEAVENS ARE HIS THRONE; THE
EARTH IS HIS FOOTSTOOL.
IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER.
JEHOVAH IS HIS NAME.
AND JESUS IS THE MANIFESTATION
OF HIS GLORY, THAT ONE WHOM ONE
DAY EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND
EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT HE IS
LORD.
THIS IS THIS LORD.
AND WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT HE IS
LORD, WE GIVE HIM CROWN AND
COVERAGE.
IT'S THE PRIORITIES OF OUR FAITH
AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE CROWN HIM LORD.
WE HAVE SUNG HIS PRAISES TODAY
ALREADY, SAYING HE IS WORTHY TO
RECEIVE OUR PRAISE, HE WHO GAVE
HIMSELF FOR US.
AND IF HE IS REALLY LORD OVER
ALL THINGS BECAUSE HE MADE THEM
ALL AND HOLDS THEM ALL TOGETHER,
THEN THE WORDS OF ABRAHAM KUYPER
CERTAINLY HOLD:  "THAT MEANS
THERE IS NOT ONE SQUARE INCH OF
THIS WORLD OVER WHICH JESUS DOES
NOT STAND AND SAY, 'THIS IS
MINE; THIS IS MINE.'"
WHICH MEANS WE DO NOT JUST GIVE
HIM CROWN:  WE GIVE HIM
COVERAGE.
WE SAY IF YOU ARE TRULY JEHOVAH
OVER ALL THINGS, I DON'T SAY,
"WELL, LORD, YOU CAN HAVE THAT
AREA OF MY LIFE, IN CHURCH, IN
THE WORSHIP SINGING, BUT THIS
AREA OVER HERE:  THIS IS MINE.
I GOT TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN OVER
HERE."
NO, HE IS LORD OVER ALL, OR HE
IS NOT LORD AT ALL.
WE GIVE HIM COVERAGE, BECAUSE HE
IS TO BE CROWNED JEHOVAH.
BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IS AS WE GO
ABOUT OUR JOBS, HE'S GOT PLACE
THERE TOO.
AND AS WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND
THAT, IT IS GIVING US SOME SENSE
OF THE BALANCE TO WHICH WE ARE
BEING CALLED.
YES, BECAUSE ALL WORK IS TO
HONOR HIM AND ALL PLACES ARE TO
HONOR HIM, THERE IS A GENUINE
BUSYNESS TO WHICH WE ARE CALLED,
A DEVOTION TO HIS PURPOSES.
BUT IT IS NOT A DEVOTION TO HIS
PURPOSES THAT EXCLUDES HIM.
BIBLICAL BALANCE IS BUSYNESS
THAT KEEPS US AVAILABLE TO GOD.
HELLISH HARRIEDNESS IS BUSYNESS
THAT MAKES US UNAVAILABLE TO
GOD.
I'M TOO BUSY.
I CAN'T BE INVOLVED IN WORSHIP.
I CAN'T THINK ABOUT HIM BEFORE
THIS DECISION.
NO, IF IT'S BIBLICALLY BALANCED
BUSYNESS, THEN I HAVE TIME FOR A
SPOKEN PRAYER TO GOD, MAYBE JUST
AN ARROW THOUGHT TO GOD, BEFORE
I PICK UP THE PHONE FOR THIS
PHONE CONVERSATION.
I HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK,
BEFORE I SIGN THIS CONTRACT, IS
THIS TRULY GOING TO HONOR MY
GOD?
IS THIS GOING TO PROVIDE FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO I WORK FOR OR WORK
FOR ME?
IS THIS AN APPROPRIATE
EXPRESSION OF HIS CHARACTER AND
CARE IN THE WAY IN WHICH I'M
DOING IT?
THE WORDS THAT I SAY, THE WORK
THAT I DO:  AM I AVAILABLE TO
GOD IN THE WAY IN WHICH THIS
WORK IS BEING DONE?
BECAUSE YOU AND I KNOW WHAT CAN
HAPPEN TO US SO EASILY IS WE GET
SO OCCUPIED IN THE WORK THAT WE
ARE TOO PREOCCUPIED TO MAKE
OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO GOD AT
ALL.
IT'S NOT EVEN WHAT WE WANT.
AND SO WE ARE BEING CHALLENGED
HERE BY JUST REMEMBERING:
UNLESS GOD BUILDS THE HOUSE,
UNLESS GOD'S IN THE WORK, THEN
YOU'RE ACTUALLY WORKING IN VAIN,
EVEN AS YOU BRING ALL OF YOUR
EFFORTS TO THE TABLE.
SO WHAT MAKES US ACTUALLY
INVOLVE GOD IN OUR WORK OTHER
THAN JUST FEELING GUILTY IF WE
DON'T?
WELL, WE'RE NOT JUST TO
PRIORITIZE OUR FAITH.
WE'RE ACTUALLY BEING CALLED UPON
IN THIS PSALM TO TREASURE IT.
YES, THE FIRST VERSE SAYS,
"UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE
HOUSE," AND WE'RE REMEMBERING HE
IS THE LORD KING ALMIGHTY, BUT
EVEN BEFORE THAT, WE HARDLY EVER
EVEN READ IT AS WE'RE READING
THROUGH THE PSALMS, THERE IS A
SUPERSCRIPTION, GOES RIGHT WHERE
IT SAYS IN YOUR BIBLES PSALM
127, AND IT'S REMINDING US OF
THE SOURCE AND PURPOSE OF THIS
PSALM.
DO YOU SEE THAT IN YOUR BIBLES?
IT SAYS, "A PSALM OF ASCENTS, A
SONG OF SOLOMON."
THIS IS A PSALM WRITTEN BY
SOLOMON FOR A VERY SPECIFIC
WORSHIP PURPOSE.
AS PILGRIMS WOULD COME INTO
JERUSALEM, AS THEY WOULD BEGIN
TO ASCEND MT. ZION, THE HOLY
MOUNTAIN, TO GO UP TO THE TEMPLE
TO PRAISE GOD, THIS IS ONE OF
THE SONGS THAT THEY WOULD SING.
AND WE'RE BEING REMINDED THAT
THE SAME ONE WHO IS THE LORD HAS
MADE HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO US.
WE CAN APPROACH HIM.
IT IS ACTUALLY HIS INTENTION
THAT WE WORSHIP HIM AND THAT WE
COME NEAR.
AND THAT'S EVEN MORE PRECIOUS AS
YOU CONSIDER THE ENDING WORDS OF
VERSE 2.
HIS INTENT OF IT ALL IS THAT HE
WOULD GIVE TO HIS BELOVED SLEEP.
HE'S NOT JUST AN APPROACHABLE
LORD.
HE IS EXTENDING HIS LOVE TO US.
HE IS TELLING US HE IS THE LORD
WHO LOVES AND HAS MADE A WAY TO
HIMSELF.
THOSE OLD TESTAMENT IMAGES,
WHICH WERE OBJECT LESSONS FOR
THE OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLE, ARE
SAYING, "YES, HE IS JEHOVAH GOD,
AND HE'S APPROACHABLE.
YOU CAN COME TO HIM.
YOU CAN ASCEND THE HOLY
MOUNTAIN."
AND WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING THERE
IN THE SACRIFICES, IN THE
PRAISES, IN THE PRIESTS WHO ARE
THERE, IS HE'S MADE A WAY FOR
YOU TO UNITE YOUR HEART TO HIM,
BECAUSE YOU ARE HIS BELOVED.
IT'S REALLY THE GOSPEL IN
NUTSHELL FORM:  HE'S THE LORD
WHO HAS MADE A WAY FOR YOU TO
KNOW HIS LOVE.
AND WHEN THAT BEGINS TO HIT YOU,
THAT HE'S THE LORD AND YET HE
LOVES ME AND IS CONCERNED FOR ME
AND HAS WADE--, MADE A WAY TO
HIMSELF, THERE'S A CERTAIN AWE
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO COME INTO
YOUR HEART.
HE SHOULDN'T CARE ABOUT ME.
I WOULDN'T THINK HE WOULD CARE.
HE'S GOT A UNIVERSE TO RUN.
AND, YET, THE ONE WHO IS LORD
LOVES ME AND HAS MADE A WAY FOR
ME.
AND WHEN I BEGIN TO TREASURE
THAT, THAT'S WHEN I BEGIN TO
INVOLVE HIM, FOR REASONS MORE
THAN GUILT, IN MY WORKPLACE, IN
MY WORK DECISIONS, IN MY WORK
CONVERSATIONS.
I SAY, "HE'S GOT MY BEST
INTERESTS IN MIND; WHY WOULDN'T
I INVOLVE THE LORD OF CREATION
IN MY BEST INTERESTS?"
AND SO I PRAY TO HIM AND PUT MY
HEART ON HIM AND READ THE
SCRIPTURES AND MEDITATE ON HIM,
EVEN WHEN THE HARD THINGS COME.
KATHY AND I HAVE FRIENDS WHO
MISSIONARIES IN THE PHILIPPINES.
THEY'RE IN THE MUSLIM PORTIONS
OF THE PHILIPPINES.
AND AT TIMES THEIR WORK IS NOT
ONLY DIFFICULT:  IT IS
DANGEROUS.
AND I OCCASIONALLY READ TO YOU
THEIR MISSION LETTERS.
THIS IS RENE KEMBO.
AND RENE WRITES SUCH, SO
MOVINGLY OF THE WORK OF THE
LORD.
AND IT REMINDS ME OFTEN OF MY
OWN NEED OF AWE AS I GO THROUGH
MY WORK AND AS YOU GO THROUGH
YOURS.
HE WRITES OF HIS AWE.
"WE HEARD GUNSHOTS THE OTHER DAY
AND THE SOUNDS OF RUNNING FEET
AS PEOPLE RUSHED BY OUR MINISTRY
CENTER.
THE COFFEE AND THE RUBBER FARMS
WERE ON FIRE.
WE WERE IN SHOCK, BECAUSE WE
WERE TOLD IT WAS MOST LIKELY
INTENTIONALLY DONE.
WE WERE UPSET, BUT WE LIFTED
EVERYTHING TO GOD WHO HOLDS
EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
MANY TEARS WERE SHED, BUT WE
PRAYED THAT WHAT PEOPLE INTENDED
FOR EVIL GOD WOULD WORK FOR
GOOD.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT BECAUSE
GOD IS GOOD, IT SHOULD WORK OUT
SO.
SO WE COULD SLEEP."
I LOVE THE WORDS.
IT'S REMINDING ME THAT AWE IS
THE ANTIDOTE TO ANXIETY.
IF I'M AWED BY THE FACT THAT HE
IS GOD AND YET LOVES ME, THAT
HE'S WORKING IN MY INTEREST,
THEN I NOT ONLY APPROACH HIM:  I
RECOGNIZE HE'S MY PEACE; HE'S MY
MEANS OF TURNING OFF THE
THOUGHTS THAT WON'T TURN OFF, OF
SETTLING IN WHEN I NEED TO BE
FREED OF ANXIETY.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT THIS
PSALM IS TALKING ABOUT.
HE BEGINS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T HAVE AWE.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU'RE NOT TRULY
IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT THAT HE
IS LORD AND YET HE LOVES YOU,
HAS MADE A WAY TO HIMSELF?
IF YOU HAVE NO AWE, YOU CANNOT
PROCESS VERSE 2.
YOU SEE WHAT THAT SAYS?
"IT IS IN VAIN THAT YOU RISE UP
EARLY AND GO LATE TO REST,
EATING THE BREAD OF ANXIOUS
TOIL; FOR HE GIVES TO HIS
BELOVED SLEEP."
YOU KNOW THAT.
"GOD PUTS HIM IN PERFECT
PEACE," SAYS ISAIAH, "WHOSE
HEART IS STAYED ON THEE."
ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL?
IF OUR HEART IS STAYED ON THE
LORD JEHOVAH, THEN THEY'RE AT
PEACE.
IF WE FORGET HIM, IF WE'RE NOT
THINKING ABOUT HIM, THEN WE'RE
TOTALLY FOCUSED ON OUR
ABILITIES, OUR ENERGIES, THE
PRESSURES, THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT IF OUR MIND IS STAYED ON THE
LORD WHO LOVES US, WE FIND
ANXIETY AT LEAST DIMINISHED.
WHAT KEEPS IT FROM ACTUALLY
GOING AWAY?
OUR PERSONALITIES.
NOT HIS PERSONALITY, OUR
PERSONALITIES.
OUR PERSONALITIES IS WHAT KEEPS
THE ANXIETY IN PLACE.
VERSE 2 IS ACTUALLY DESCRIBING A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
PERSONALITIES, RIGHT?
ONE IS ADDICTED TO ACTIVITY.
ONE IS ADDICTED TO ANXIETY.
THERE ARE THE OUT--, THERE ARE
THE WORKAHOLICS, RIGHT?
THEY'RE DESCRIBED AT THE
BEGINNING.
"IT IS IN VAIN THAT YOU RISE UP
EARLY," THERE ARE THE EARLY
BIRDS GETTING A JUMP ON THINGS,
"AND GO LATE TO REST," THERE ARE
THE NIGHT OWLS, CAN'T TURN IT
OFF.
AND, OF COURSE, SOME OF US ARE
THE ONES WHO BURN THE CANDLE AT
BOTH ENDS, RIGHT?
THAT'S OUR PERSONALITY.
AND, BY THE WAY, THAT'S--, IT'S
NOT A NEW FACTOR IN HISTORY THAT
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST
KIND OF WORKAHOLICS, THAT CAN'T
TURN IT OFF AND BELIEVE THEY'RE
GOING TO CHANGE THE DAY JUST BY
NEVER STOPPING WORKING.
I LOVE THE STORY OF THE ANCIENT
GREEK NAMED DEMOSTHENES.
HE WAS A STATESMAN THAT WAS
WORKING AGAINST CORRUPTION IN
ANCIENT GREECE.
AND HE COULD NEVER TURN IT OFF.
HE HAD TO KEEP WORKING.
AND HE KNEW IF HE EVERY STOPPED
THAT THE WORLD WOULD CRUMBLE.
AND SO WHAT HE DID WAS HE SHAVED
HALF OF HIS HEAD SO HE WOULD BE
TOO EMBARRASSED TO GO OUT IN
PUBLIC AND WOULD JUST KEEP
WORKING.
I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF ANYBODY'S
DONE THAT.
[LAUGHTER]
NOT EVERYBODY'S A WORKAHOLIC.
SOME PEOPLE ARE ANXIETY ADDICTS,
THAT THEY ACTUALLY FEED OFF OF
THAT, THEY GET ENERGY TO FACE
THE WORLD, TO FACE THEIR TACK--,
THEIR TASK JUST BY DOING MORE
AND MORE WORRY INSIDE.
NOW, AGAIN, THAT'S JUST SOME
PERSONALITIES.
I CAN THINK OF ONE PARTICULAR
DAUGHTER THAT WE HAVE AND SOME
YEARS AGO WE WENT TO A MINISTRY
CONFERENCE AND AS WE WENT TO
THAT MINISTRY CONFERENCE, THEY
GAVE US A CONDO ON THE SEASHORE.
I MEAN, IF YOU WALKED IN THE
FRONT DOOR, YOU LOOKED OUT
THROUGH PICTURE WINDOWS TO THE
SEASCAPE.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
AND WE HAD ONE DAUGHTER AS SOON
AS SHE WALKED IN THE DOOR AND
SAW THE BEAUTIFUL SEASCAPE, SHE
SAID, "OH, NO, MOM AND DAD, NOW
THE HURRICANE CAN GET US."
[LAUGHTER]
WE SAID, "THERE IS NO HURRICANE;
ENJOY THE OCEAN."
YOU KNOW.
[LAUGHTER]
BY THE END OF THE WEEK, THERE
WAS A HURRICANE.
[LAUGHTER]
WHICH IS WHY ANXIETY SOMETIMES
WORKS.
SOMETIMES IT PAYS OFF, RIGHT?
THE SAME AS WORKAHOLISM.
SOME PEOPLE JUST WORK AND WORK
AND WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE
THE RESULTS:  IF I WORK HARDER,
LONGER, IT CAN PAY OFF.
AND IF I'M ANXIETY, IF I WORRY
OR PLAN ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS,
SOMETIMES THERE'S A PAYOFF TO
THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T JUST
AUTOMATICALLY SAY THAT HARD WORK
AND EVEN LEGITIMATE CONCERN IS
WHAT'S WRONG.
IT'S WHAT IS DRIVING WORKAHOLISM
AND WHAT IS DRIVING ADDICTIVE
ANXIETY THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE
ACTUALLY ADDRESSING.
WHAT ARE THE PERSONALITY
DRIVERS?
SO OFTEN FOR THE WORKAHOLIC OR
FOR THE ANXIETY ADDICT, IT IS
FIRST FEAR OF THE LOSS OF STUFF.
I HAVE TO KEEP WORKING; I HAVE
TO BUILD THIS HOUSE.
I HAVE TO BUILD THIS BUSINESS.
I HAVE TO BUILD MY REPUTATION.
I'VE GOT TO BUILD; I'VE GOT TO
BUILD.
I'VE GOT TO DO ALL THIS.
AND IF I DON'T KEEP GOING, THEN
GOD CANNOT KEEP IT GOING,
BECAUSE GOD IS OFF THE TABLE,
BECAUSE OUR FAITH IS NOT REALLY
IN HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT:  OUR
FAITH IS ENTIRELY IN US.
AND THE PRESSURE BUILDS AND THE
BURDEN MOUNTS, BECAUSE IT ALL
DEPENDS UPON US.
AND WHAT IS DRIVING US IS THE
FEAR OF THE LOSS OF STUFF,
BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY GOT US TO
DEPEND UPON INSTEAD OF BELIEVING
THAT OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF THE
UNIVERSE.
HE OWNS THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND
HILLS.
HE PROVIDES FOR OUR FAMILY.
HE LOVES MY CHILDREN MORE THAN I
DO.
HE LOVES ME MORE THAN I DO.
AND BECAUSE HE IS THE PROVIDER,
HE PROVIDES WHAT IS MOST NEEDFUL
INCLUDING RESPECT AND LOVE AND
SIGNIFICANCE.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE END OF
VERSE 2 JUST CAN'T BE
OVEREMPHASIZED.
"HE GIVES TO HIS BELOVED SLEEP."
SO OFTEN WHAT IS DRIVING PEOPLE
IS NOT THE FEAR OF THE LOSS OF
STUFF:  IT'S THE FEAR OF THE
LOSS OF LOVE.
IF I DON'T KEEP GOING, I WON'T
BE SIGNIFICANT.
I WON'T GET THE PROMOTION.
I WON'T GET THE POSITION.
I WON'T BE THOUGHT ENOUGH ABOUT
OTHER PEOPLE.
MY PARENTS WILL NOT RESPECT ME.
MY SPOUSE WILL NOT RESPECT ME.
I WON'T HAVE THE REGARD OF THE.
AND SO WE ARE DRIVEN, DRIVEN, BY
TRYING TO MAINTAIN OUR
SIGNIFICANCE BEFORE OTHERS, NOT
RECOGNIZING THE GREAT BLESSING
OF THE LORD IS THAT WE ARE LOVED
ETERNALLY BY THE KING OF
CREATION.
THE ETERNAL GOD HAS CALLED US
HIS CHILDREN.
HE HAS SAID WE ARE AS PRECIOUS
TO HIM AS HIS OWN SON, JESUS
CHRIST.
AND BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
IDENTITY IN CHRIST, WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO WORK HARD, YES, TO
PLEASE AND HONOR HIM IN
GRATITUDE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME TO REST IN
THE REALITY THAT IT DOESN'T ALL
FALL APART BECAUSE I'VE NOT
SATISFIED OTHER PEOPLE OR EVEN
HAVEN'T SATISFIED MYSELF.
COMEDIAN JIM CARREY, REMEMBER,
"LIAR, LIAR," AND "BRUCE
ALMIGHTY," MADE SOME RATHER
AMAZING STATEMENTS AT THE GOLDEN
GLOBE AWARDS AS HE WAS
INTRODUCING A PARTICULAR PRIZE
AND TALKED ABOUT THE HONESTY IN
HONESTY, NOT A LIE ANYMORE NOR
WITH ANY SENSE OF ALMIGHTINESS,
ABOUT WHAT WAS DRIVING HIM.
HERE'S WHAT HE SAID AS HE
INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO INTRODUCE
THE AWARD:  "I AM TWO-TIME
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD WINNER, JIM
CARREY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO TO SLEEP AT
NIGHT, I'M NOT JUST A GUY GOING
TO SLEEP.
I AM TWO-TIME GOLDEN GLOBE
WINNER, JIM CARREY.
AND WHEN I DREAM, I DON'T JUST
DREAM ANY OLD DREAM.
NO, SIR.
I DREAM ABOUT BEING THREE-TIME
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD WINNER, JIM
CARREY.
BECAUSE IF I COULD WIN THREE,
THEN I KNOW THAT I WOULD BE
ENOUGH AND I COULD STOP THIS
TERRIBLE SEARCH FOR WHAT I
ULTIMATELY KNOW WILL NOT FULFILL
ME."
WELL, THE HUMOR KIND OF GOT LOST
THERE, DIDN'T IT?
AMAZING TRUTH:  IF I JUST KEEP
TRYING TO FIND SIGNIFICANCE IN
WHAT I CAN ACCUMULATE AND WHAT
OTHER PEOPLE THINK, I KNOW IT
WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH.
AND, YET, YOU FIND THE
WORKAHOLIC, THE ANXIETY ADDICT
IS STILL DRIVEN, DRIVEN, DRIVEN
TO DO WORK BECAUSE OF WHAT IS
WORKING ON US.
NEW YORK CITY PASTOR, TIM
KELLER, TALKS ABOUT IT THAT WAY.
HE SAYS, "WHAT IS THE WORK UNDER
THE WORK?
NOT JUST THE WORK YOU DO:  WHAT
IS WORKING ON YOU THAT'S DRIVING
YOU?
FEAR OF LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE,
POSSIBLY.
LOSS OF STUFF.
WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S A LOSS OF
THE GOSPEL."
BECAUSE YOU RECOGNIZE WHAT GOD
IS SAYING TO US IS, "I DON'T
LOVE YOU BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU
HAVE ACCOMPLISHED; I LOVE YOU
BECAUSE I'VE GIVEN MY SON FOR
YOU, AND YOU'VE PUT YOUR FAITH
IN HIM.
AND BECAUSE YOUR FAITH IS IN
HIM, YOU HAVE HIS IDENTITY
BEFORE ME.
YOU ARE MY PRECIOUS CHILD.
I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AS I
KNOW IS BEST FOR EARTH AND FOR
ETERNITY.
AND BECAUSE YOU ARE MINE, NOT
ONLY DO I LOVE YOU:  I GIVE YOU
PURPOSE AND CALLING IN LIFE, TO
REFLECT IN GRATITUDE AND
THANKSGIVING THE WONDER OF MY
HEART FOR YOU."
AND THAT REALITY OF THE GOSPEL,
THAT I AM PRECIOUSLY HELD BY
GOD, IS WHAT IS ACTUALLY
SUPPOSED TO GIVE US FREEDOM FROM
FREE, TO KEEP US FROM THE
DRIVENNESS THAT MAKES US TYRANTS
OR KEEPS US UNDER THE THUMB OF
TYRANTS.
DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT
BALANCE ACTUALLY IS IN THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE IS FREEDOM FROM
FEAR?
I CAN REST.
I CAN TAKE SOME TIME OFF.
I CAN BALANCE MY PRIORITIES,
BECAUSE GOD LOVES ME.
AND, BY THE WAY, WHATEVER I'M
WORRIED ABOUT, HE'S GOT THIS.
HE'S GOT THIS.
I THINK OF HOW DEAR IT IS WHEN I
HEAR PEOPLE THAT SOMETIMES SAY,
"I WAS SO STRUGGLING WITH ANGER
OR BITTERNESS OR ANXIETY, AND
THEN I JUST HAD TO TURN IT OVER
TO GOD."
AND I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IS A
TREASURED STATEMENT:  I HAD TO
TURN IT OVER TO GOD, BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, HE'S JEHOVAH, AND HE
LOVES ME AT THE SAME TIME.
SO I HAD TO TURN IT OVER TO HIM.
WHEN YOU TURN IT OVER TO GOD,
WHAT'S THE CONSEQUENCE IN YOUR
LIFE?
YOU CAN SLEEP.
[LAUGHTER]
WHAT KEEPS US AWAKE?
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT KEEPS US
AWAKE.
OH, I'LL JUST TELL YOU WHAT
KEEPS ME AWAKE.
WHAT KEEPS ME AWAKE IS I REPLAY
AND FUME AND FRET.
DOES THAT HAPPEN TO ANYBODY
ELSE?
[LAUGHTER]
OH, SAY YES.
[LAUGHTER]
THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME.
WE REPLAY AND WE FUME AND WE
FRET.
AND IT DOESN'T CHANGE A THING.
AND THE REASON WE'RE DOING THAT
IS WE'RE KIND OF THINKING, WHAT
CAN I DO OR WHAT SHOULD I DO OR
WHAT SHOULD I DO TO THEM INSTEAD
OF BEING ABLE TO SAY, "GOD'S GOT
THIS."
IT'S IN HIS HANDS.
THE EVIDENCE OF THE IMBALANCE IN
OUR LIVES IS THAT WE CAN'T REST.
AND IT'S THE VERY THING GOD
INTENDS FOR US.
"HE GIVES TO HIS BELOVED SLEEP."
WHAT KEEPS US FROM THAT SLEEP?
WELL, OUR OBVIOUS IDOLS OF SELF
IMPORTANCE AND AMBITION AND
RECOGNITION, ALL THE NEEDS THAT
ARE DRIVING US THAT WE HAVE TO
TAKE CARE OF WITHOUT GOD'S HELP.
I AND YOU BOTH RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN OUR
SOCIETY THAT ARE JUST KEEPING US
FROM REST.
THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S SUPPOSED
TO MAKE OUR LIVES EASIER:  DOES
IT REALLY?
I MEAN, IN SOME WAYS IT DOES.
BUT, NOW JUST HONEST CONFESSION
HERE.
YOU KNOW, I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I
LOVED GETTING ON A PLANE, AND
THE REASON WAS NO PHONE.
[LAUGHTER]
NO TEXTS, NO EMAIL.
NOW WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO ME?
THEY PUT WIRELESS ON THE PLANES.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET AWAY
FROM IT.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
FOR SO MANY OF US, WHAT IS
TECHNOLOGY DOING TO US?
THE RESEARCHERS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD SAY IT
CAUSES US TO BE AVAILABLE 24
HOURS A DAY, NOT JUST TO THE
BOSS BUT TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA
FRIENDS.
SO WHAT'S THE LAST THING WE DO
BEFORE WE GO TO BED AT NIGHT?
CHECK OUR MESSAGES.
AND IF YOU WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT, WHAT DO YOU DO?
BE HONEST.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
CHECK YOUR MESSAGES.
CAN'T BE OFF.
GOT TO STAY ON.
GOT TO STAY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
HAVE EXPECTATIONS.
I READ AN ARTICLE RECENTLY,
WHICH WAS SIMPLY ENTITLED, "WHAT
WOULD JESUS DO WITH A
SMARTPHONE?"
[LAUGHTER]
WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT YOU KNOW ONE THING I THINK
HE WOULD DO?
I THINK HE WOULD TURN IT OFF
OCCASIONALLY.
I THINK HE WOULD FIND SOME TIME
FOR AWE RENEWAL.
I NEED TO REMEMBER THE LORD.
I NEED TO REMEMBER MY FATHER.
I NEED TO REMEMBER HE LOVES ME
AND HE'S GOT THIS.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I CAN
SLEEP, AND I CAN TURN THIS CELL
PHONE OFF.
MORE AND MORE, WE ARE
DISCOVERING THE REAL WISDOM OF
THE BIBLICAL NOTION OF SABBATH:
THAT GOD COULD ACTUALLY DO MORE
WITH OUR LIVES IN SIX DAYS THAN
WE CAN DO WITH OUR LIVES IN
SEVEN DAYS OF NONSTOP; THAT
SABBATH IS, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
JUST A DECLARATION OF FREEDOM.
MY GOD'S GOT THIS.
I DON'T HAVE TO STAY ON 24/7.
THAT I'M ABLE TO RELAX AND PULL
BACK AND TRUST HIM WITH SOME
THINGS.
YES, DO I SERVE HIM IN
OBEDIENCE.
YES, DO I SERVE HIM IN LOVING
GRAT--.
OF COURSE I DO.
AND THAT FILLS ME WITH ENERGY
AND ZEAL.
BUT EVEN OUR BUSINESSES KNOWS
THAT IF YOU HAVE NO REST, YOU
CAN'T WORK.
SO THEY REQUIRE US TO TAKE OUR
VACATION DAYS.
RIGHT?
THEY TRACK IT TO MAKE US TAKE
OUR VACATION DAYS, BECAUSE EVEN
THE BUSINESSES KNOW:  IF YOU
NEVER REST, IF YOU'RE NEVER OFF,
YOU WILL BECOME UNPRODUCTIVE.
BUT THE BUSINESS PRINCIPAL IS
ACTUALLY A BIBLICAL PRINCIPAL
THAT GOD IS HELPING US TO
DISCERN.
WHAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO
REST?
THE LORD WHO MADE THE UNIVERSE
AND SENT HIS SON FOR ME.
HE'S GOT THIS.
AND BECAUSE HE'S GOT THIS, I CAN
REST IN HIS PROVISION.
AFTER ALL, THE REASON I CAN BE
FREE FROM SLAVERY, FREE FROM
DRIVENNESS, FREE FROM OTHER
PEOPLES' EXPECTATIONS IS HE GAVE
JESUS FOR ME.
SOMETIMES OUR ABILITY TO
INCORPORATE THAT THOUGHT INTO
OUR LIVES, THAT DESPITE MY
PERSONALITY, MY DRIVENNESS, MY
ANXIETY, THAT I CAN ACTUALLY
REST IS UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE
SEASONS IN LIFE THAT ANYBODY
NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE GOD HIMSELF
HAS PROVIDED.
NOW, GRANTED, THERE ARE SEASONS
IN LIFE AT WHICH THE BUSINESS IS
GROWING, THE FAMILY IS GROWING,
WE'RE SOMEWHERE IN MED SCHOOL,
WE'RE APPLYING MEDICAL
APPLICA--, WHATEVER IT IS:
THERE ARE THOSE INTENSE TIMES
WHEN WE JUST CAN'T LET UP.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE PATTERN OF
LIFE THAT GOD INTENDS FOR US
ALL, THAT WE CAN NEVER LET UP.
THERE ARE INTENTIONAL SEASONS.
SOME TIME AGO, MY WIFE, KATHY,
WAS ON A MINISTER'S WIFE'S
PANEL.
AND AS SHE WAS ON THAT PANEL, A
QUESTION CAME FROM ONE OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU
KNOW:  WHAT ARE THE OBLIGATIONS
OF THE PASTOR'S WIFE?
AND ONE OF THE FIRST PERSONS TO
SPEAK WAS THE WIFE OF ONE OF THE
SENIOR STATESMEN IN OUR
DENOMINATION.
AND SHE BEGAN TO SPEAK AND SAY,
"WELL, IF YOU'RE A PASTOR'S
WIFE, YOU NEED TO BE AT CHURCH
EVERY TIME THE DOORS ARE OPEN.
AND YOU NEED TO BE THERE BEFORE
TIME AND YOU JUST STAY LATE
AFTER TIME.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
SUPPORT YOUR HUSBAND IN
EVERYTHING HE DOES.
YOU NEED TO BE THERE ALL THE
TIME, EVERY TIME."
NOW, AS SHE WAS TALKING, THE
OTHER WIVES ON THE PANEL BEGAN
TO LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER.
[LAUGHTER]
AND THE MORE THEY LOOKED AT ONE
ANOTHER AND THE MORE SHE TALKED,
THEY BEGAN TO LOOK A LITTLE
DESPERATELY AT ONE ANOTHER.
AND THEN THEY BEGAN TO LOOK A
LITTLE ANGRILY AT ONE ANOTHER,
LIKE.
AND THEN, FINALLY, THEY SAID,
"WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
YOU JUST SAID."
AND THEY BEGAN TO TALK.
THEY ACTUALLY WERE KIND OF DOING
IT IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY AND
BEGAN TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE
PERSON WHO FIRST TALKED WAS AN
EMPTY NESTER:  NO SOCCER GAMES,
NO NURSING BABIES.
JUST SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE
ABLE TO KIND OF DEVOTE
THEMSELVES ENTIRELY TO THAT
WORK.
BUT THE OTHERS WERE IN VERY
DIFFERENT LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND THEY BEGAN TO RECOGNIZE, YOU
KNOW, THERE ARE SEASONS.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT SEASONS OF
LIFE THAT WILL CALL ON DIFFERENT
THINGS FOR US THAT HELP US TO
RECOGNIZE THAT AS WE ARE
THINKING THROUGH PRIORITIES AND
PRESSURES, THERE ARE DIFFERENT
SEASONS OF LIFE.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY INDICATED
HERE.
VERSE 3, "BEHOLD, CHILDREN ARE A
HERITAGE FROM THE LORD, THE
FRUIT OF THE WOMB A REWARD.
LIKE ARROWS IN THE HAND OF A
WARRIOR ARE THE CHILDREN OF
ONE'S YOUTH."
THERE IS A TIME OF RAISING
CHILDREN, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER
TIME TOO.
VERSE 5, "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO
FILLS HIS QUIVER WITH THEM!
HE SHALL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME
WHEN HE SPEAKS WITH HIS ENEMIES
IN THE GATE."
NOW, THIS IS A MAN WHO IS OLDER.
THE GATE, WE HAVE TROUBLE KIND
OF REMEMBERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES
IN OUR SOCIETY, BUT IN AN
ANCIENT CITY, THE GATE WAS KIND
OF LIKE THE CAPITAL.
IT WAS THE COURTHOUSE OF THE
CITY.
IT'S WHERE THE SENIORS, THE
ELDERS OF THE CITY WOULD GATHER
TO MAKE DECISIONS, TO GOVERN, TO
MAKE COURT JUDGMENT.
AND NOW, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
SOMEBODY WHO'S AT THE GATE, THIS
IS NOW SOMEBODY WHO'S LATER IN
LIFE.
THIS IS SENIOR TIME.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME OF RAISING.
THIS IS THE TIME OF RECKONING.
AND EACH HAS SOMETHING TO
CONSIDER IN THE DIFFERENT
SEASONS OF LIFE.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE TIME OF
CHILDREARING, THAT'S VERSES 3
AND 4, YOU RECOGNIZE WHAT'S
BEING INDICATED IS THAT CHILDREN
ARE TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS PRECIOUS
TO YOU.
THERE'S A PRIORITY ON CHILDREN,
BECAUSE THEY ARE A HERITAGE FROM
THE LORD.
NOW, THAT WORD HERITAGE COMES
FROM THE SAME WORD WHICH WE GET
INHERITANCE.
NOW, USUALLY YOU GET AN
INHERITANCE WHEN SOMEBODY DIES.
GOD ISN'T DYING.
HE'S REMINDING US INSTEAD THAT
THE CHILDREN THAT WE RECEIVE ARE
FROM HIM AND REMAIN HIS, SO THAT
WE ARE STEWARDS FOR A TIME OF
THE ETERNAL SOULS THAT GOD HAS
PUT INTO OUR HOMES, INTO OUR
FAMILIES.
AND WE ARE TO BE--, SEE THAT
BECAUSE THEY ARE HIS AND WE ARE
STEWARDING THEIR INHERITANCE,
THEIR ETERNITY, THAT WE ARE TO
CARE FOR THEM AS THOUGH THEY ARE
ETERNALLY PRECIOUS.
WE'RE IN THE INFORMATION AGE.
AND THAT MEANS INFORMATION IS
VIEWED AS THE COMMODITY OF THE
MOMENT THAT IS OF MOST VALUE.
BUT HERE'S A PROBLEM:  WE'VE NOT
GOT A WAY OF STORING
INFORMATION.
I MEAN, ALL THAT DIGITAL
MATERIAL THAT WE HAVE, I MEAN,
THE BEST STORAGE WE HAVE WILL
LAST, WHAT, A FEW DECADES AT THE
MOST?
EXCEPT SOME SCIENTISTS IN
ENGLAND HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED
THAT YOU CAN PUT DATA ON A
QUARTZ GLASS CHIP THAT WILL
LAST, THEY CLAIM, FOR 13
BILLION, THAT'S WITH A B, 13
BILLION YEARS.
NOW, I MUST TELL YOU, I DON'T
KNOW WHETHER TO BELIEVE THAT.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I DO BELIEVE?
EVEN IF IT'S 13 BILLION YEARS,
IT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF
THE ETERNITY THAT GOD INTENDS
FOR THOSE WHO ARE HIS CHILDREN.
AND WHEN WE ARE MAINTAINING THE
SPIRITUAL PRIORITY OF OUR
CHILDREN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE THINKING
OF OUR PRIORITIES, OF OUR
BALANCE.
GOD PUTS US IN PERIODS OF LIFE
THAT SOMETIMES SEEM UPSIDE DOWN.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT?
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE LEAST
MONEY WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS.
AND YOU HAVE THE MOST MONEY WHEN
THE KIDS ARE OUT OF THE HOME.
WHO THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD
IDEA?
[LAUGHTER]
GOD.
BECAUSE PART OF THE PROTECTION
THAT GOD INTENDS FOR OUR SOULS
IS THAT BY THE AFFECTION WE JUST
NATURALLY HAVE FOR OUR OWN
CHILDREN, UNLESS SOCIETY AND
PRESSURES AND WORK ARE DRIVING
OUR PRIORITIES OUT OF OUR
HEARTS, THE AFFECTION OF OUR OWN
HEARTS SAYS, "THIS IS THE
PRIORITY OF MY LIFE.
MY FAMILY'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN
MY BUSINESS.
MY FAMILY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
MY BANK ACCOUNT.
MY CHILDREN ARE MORE IMPORTANT
THAN MY CHECKBOOK."
WHEN GOD IS USING THE AFFECTIONS
OF OUR HEART TO HELP US BALANCE
THINGS, WE'RE BEING DRIVEN FROM
THE EARLIEST MOMENTS OF RAISING
OUR CHILDREN TO KEEP THE BALANCE
THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR OUR
SOULS.
DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IN SO MANY
WAYS WHAT THIS PASSAGE IS
REMINDING US THAT OUR CHILDREN,
I DON'T MEAN TO BE DISRESPECTFUL
HERE, BUT OUR CHILDREN ARE IN
SOME MEASURE THE CANARIES IN THE
MINESHAFTS OF OUR SOULS?
TO SEE HAVE WE MAINTAINED THE
BALANCE THAT IS APPROPRIATE
THERE FOR ETERNAL THINGS.
AND BECAUSE WE ARE ASSESSING, AM
I PRIORITIZING MY CHILDREN,
THEIR SOULS, THEIR ETERNITY, AS
I'M THINKING ABOUT ALL THE
THINGS IN MY LIFE, THEN ALL
THOSE PRESSURES OF HOW MUCH
TIME, HOW MUCH INCOME, HOW BIG A
HOUSE, HOW LONG A VACATION:  ALL
THOSE THINGS THAT WE ARE
WEIGHING OUT ARE BEING FORCED
INTO A SPIRITUAL GRID TO
CONSIDER FOR BALANCE.
YES, I'VE GOT THESE THINGS TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT.
ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
STILL ON THE PAGE?
AND AS WE ARE WEIGHING THOSE
THINGS OUT, WE ARE ULTIMATELY
DISCERNING THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE
NOT MERELY PRECIOUS:  THEY ARE
PROTECTION.
DID YOU CATCH THAT?
VERSE 4, "LIKE ARROWS IN THE
HAND OF A WARRIOR ARE THE
CHILDREN OF ONE'S YOUTH.
BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO FILLS HIS
QUIVER WITH THEM!"
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU HONESTLY: I
DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARROWS IN A
QUIVER.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE
RIGHT NUMBER?
I ACTUALLY THINK THERE'S A
REASON THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY
HOW MANY ARROWS SHOULD BE IN
YOUR QUIVER, BECAUSE WE WOULD
EITHER MAKE IT AN IDOL OR
PRESSURE, RIGHT?
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THIS MANY OR
YOU'RE NOT REALLY HOLY.
NO, THE BIBLE'S NOT DOING THAT.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT QUIVER
CAPACITIES BASED UPON AGE AND
HEALTH AND INCOME AND PRIORITIES
THAT ARE IN DIFFERENT PEOPLES'
LIVES.
WE'RE NOT TAKING CHRISTIAN
PRUDENCE OUT OF THE EQUATION.
BUT GOD IS SIMPLY SAYING TO HIS
PEOPLE, "REMEMBER, YOU ARE
RAISING ETERNAL SOULS."
AND ONE MEASURE, NOT EVERYBODY
HAS CHILDREN.
NOT EVERYBODY'S IN THE STAGE OF
LIFE TO HAVE CHILDREN.
WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE SEASONS
AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT PERSONS
AND FAMILY CATEGORIES.
WE UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.
BUT IF GOD HAS PUT CHILDREN INTO
YOUR LIFE, THEN IT'S ONE OF THE
MEASUREMENTS OF BALANCE THERE,
SO MUCH SO THAT GOD WOULD SAY,
"SO WHEN YOU ARE OLDER, WHEN
YOU'RE A SENIOR, YOUR CHILDREN
WILL NOT BE USED AGAINST YOU."
IT'S REALLY JUST SAYING CHILDREN
INVESTED IN YOUNG ARE A WISE,
MATURE INVESTMENT.
THAT WHAT HAPPENS OVER TIME IS
GOOD FOR THEM, BUT IT'S ALSO
GOOD FOR YOU.
SO THAT GOD IS ACTUALLY NOT JUST
THINKING WHEN YOU HAVE ARROWS IN
YOUR QUIVER OF PROTECTING YOU
FROM EARTHLY ENEMIES:  DID YOU
EVER THINK THAT OUR CHILDREN,
RIGHTLY BALANCED IN OUR LIVES,
ARE ACTUALLY PROTECTION FROM THE
ENEMY, AS SATAN IS AFTER OUR
SOULS BY BEING AFTER OUR
PRIORITIES THAT GOD PUTS
PRECIOUS THINGS IN OUR LIVES TO
DRAW OUR HEART'S AFFECTION, OUR
ATTENTION, AND OUR PRIORITIES
INTO BALANCE, IN THE VERY THINGS
WE MOST WANT TO DO IF WE WILL
REMEMBER HIM AND THEIR STATUS
BEFORE HIM?
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING:
IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, WHENEVER I
GET TO HEAR A SERMON ON
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS TO
CHILDREN, I FEEL GUILTY.
BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN'T GET IT
ALL RIGHT.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT YOU REMEMBER WHAT THIS
PSALM IS ABOUT IS ABOUT GOD'S
PROVISION TO HIS BELOVED.
HOW COULD HE LOVE PEOPLE WHO
MESS UP ALL THE TIME?
BECAUSE HE HAS MADE A PARDON FOR
THEM IN HIS PROVISION.
AND I NEED TO REMEMBER THAT AS
YOU DO TOO.
I HAVE ANOTHER SET OF STICK
DRAWINGS IN MY HOME NOW.
THE DRAWING OF MY SON THAT HAD
ME GO OUT THE DOOR:  I THREW
THAT ONE AWAY AS FAST AS I
COULD.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT ABOUT TEN YEARS LATER, MY
DAUGHTER WENT TO THE SAME
SCHOOL.
AND AS OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER GOT
TO THE SAME ASSIGNMENT, THEY'D
ACTUALLY CHANGED THE QUESTION A
BIT.
I LIKE THIS QUESTION MUCH BETTER
THAN, "WHAT DOES MY FATHER DO
EVERY DAY?"
THIS SAYS, "WHAT I LIKE BEST
ABOUT MY DADDY."
THIS IS NOT HER.
[LAUGHTER]
THIS IS NOT HER HANDWRITING, BUT
THE PICTURES ARE HERS.
AND THE FIRST PICTURE SAYS,
"WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT MY
DADDY:  HE PLAYS GAMES WITH ME."
SECOND, "HE MAKES GOOD OATMEAL."
[LAUGHTER]
THIRD, "HE JOGS WITH ME BEFORE
SUPPER."
THIS WAS BEFORE BOTH KNEE
OPERATIONS, BY THE WAY.
[LAUGHTER]
NOW, THERE'S A REASON I KEEP
THIS NEXT TO WHERE I EXERCISE IN
THE MORNINGS.
ONE IS TO CELEBRATE THAT BY THE
GRACE OF GOD WE CAN MAKE SOME
PROGRESS IN LIFE.
RIGHT?
IT'S NOT JUST TO CONGRATULATE
ME.
THAT'S NOT IT.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THE REASON THIS
IS PRECIOUS IS BECAUSE THERE
WERE FAULTS IN ME THAT MADE THIS
PRECIOUS.
BUT GOD'S GRACE WAS SUFFICIENT
FOR GIVING ME THAT, GIVING ME
NEW PRIORITIES, AND HELPING ME
MAKE SOME PROGRESS BY HIS GRACE.
IF ALL YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS NOW
PAY ATTENTION OR PAY ATTENTION
TO YOUR KIDS MORE OR FEEL GUILTY
LONGER WITH YOUR ADULT CHILDREN,
LET ME TELL YOU:  THAT WILL
ACCOMPLISH NOT A THING.
BUT IF WHAT YOU CAN DO IS THIS,
IF YOU CAN SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT,
I'M LEARNING THAT JEHOVAH GOD
HAS MADE A WAY TO HIMSELF FOR
PEOPLE WHO LOVE HIM," THEN I CAN
CELEBRATE HIS PARDON, AND I CAN
CELEBRATE HIS PROVISION.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY THE PEACE OF
GOD IN MY HEART THAT WILL
FOUNTAIN THE GRACE THAT WE WANT
TO TOUCH OUR CHILDREN AND OUR
GRANDCHILDREN AND NEIGHBOR AND
COWORKER.
IT'S NOT GUILT.
IT'S NOT DREAD OF THE THINGS IN
THE SCRIPTURE.
IT'S ACTUALLY CELEBRATION.
YES, GOD HAS GIVEN US THESE
LITTLE CHECKS IN OUR HEART AND
LIFE, BUT HIS PURPOSE IS THAT WE
WOULD CELEBRATE THE WONDER AND
THE GOODNESS OF THE GRACE THAT
WE HAVE FOREVER AND THAT AS WE
HAVE THAT JOY IN US, FOUNTAINING
FROM US SO THAT OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN AND NEIGHBORS WANT
WHAT WE GO, THAT'S THE JOY THAT
GOD INTENDS BY HIS GRACE, THAT
WE CAN MAKE A LITTLE PROGRESS.
AND WHERE WE HAVEN'T, WE GOT HIS
PARDON.
SO WE CAN TRUST HE'S GOT US.
AND BECAUSE HE'S GOT US, WE
CELEBRATE HIM FOREVER.

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