WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:01.520 Good morning. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:03.439 I love that song. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:05.440 What a great God we have. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:08.800 Well, welcome everyone. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:13.679 If you're here for the first time, hope you can tell you can just relax and uh be yourselves. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:16.079 We're certainly glad that you're here with us. 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:20.559 Thanks for everyone that helped out Wednesday on the 4th. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:23.120 Uh had a lot of people making that happen. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:27.760 That was uh I think it was our third weird 4th of July in a row. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:30.399 Three times ago. 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:34.799 Um I guess we didn't know to turn off the smoke detectors inside. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:44.159 And so when the all the smoke came and it came in through the vents, and then we had the, if you were here, we had the fire trucks and firefighters rushing in. 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:52.079 And um last year we had the big storm, and then uh this year we had the uh the big delay. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:01:13.680 And it was actually concerning, you know, there was uh a couple people injured when the fireworks went off too close to the ground, and for a while we weren't you know sure how serious it was, but we got to pray for them, and uh you hopefully heard that the injuries weren't serious, and uh the fireworks eventually happened, even though by about 11 I was like, come on, grand finale, come on. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:16.560 But it was worth it. 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:19.920 Um got a few things uh to remind you about. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:24.000 Uh one is the women's uh retreat, I guess, uh 21. 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:25.599 That's this weekend. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.200 And uh that's gonna be a good time. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:40.239 Susan just wanted to make sure I reminded you that um check-in on Friday is between four and six, and the place is about an hour and forty-five minutes north. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:46.159 And so in your packet, you'll have directions and all that, but make sure you allow enough time um to get there in time. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.359 We've got 4th of 4th of July. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:54.560 We've uh got Red Cross training here on Saturday, July 28th. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:02:00.319 We've got the opportunity and honor to be a mega shelter for the Red Cross. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:10.159 And um it's something they haven't had to use very often in this county, but if if they ever do, it'll be such a great opportunity for us to help. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:14.080 Um to participate with that, it's an uh uh day training, and it'll be here. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:19.120 It starts at 8, finishes at 5 on uh on that Saturday, July 28th. 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:24.719 And when you do that, it allows you to help here if it's needed, but also gives you the opportunity to go to Red Cross shelters anywhere. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:30.719 You know, if there was a natural disaster or situation, if you want to, you'd be able to go and help out there. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:37.280 And so if you'd like to be part of that, uh there's a sign up in the lobby um today to help with that. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:45.439 Uh reminder about giving, you know, we it really is a reminder because we don't pass a plate, and so sometimes uh it's easy to forget. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:50.319 But particularly during the summer when we have so many people traveling, we can get a little bit behind. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:52.479 So thanks for your generosity with that. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:57.520 We've got giving stations in the back, and you can give online um as well. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:02:59.840 So let's pray. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:07.199 Father, we just thank you for being such a great father, such a great dad. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:11.439 We sang of the names we can call you, and Daddy is one of the greatest of them all. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:15.199 So we just praise you, and we thank you for adopting us as your very own children. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:18.479 And Holy Spirit, we thank you for being our our teacher and our counselor. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:26.240 And please speak to each one of us today that we'll leave knowing we we heard something uh specifically for us and and from you. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:30.400 And Jesus, we do thank you for being our Savior and our friend. 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:32.479 We love you, and it's in your name we pray. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:33.360 Amen. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:39.680 So we're learning a little bit of God's wisdom uh together. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:48.319 And you know, it's important that it's God's wisdom, because there's plenty of wisdom out there, plenty of ideas people have about the right way to do things. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:04:00.479 In 1 Corinthians 1 25, it says, This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strengths. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:10.240 You know, and so when we can get a hold of God's wisdom, his way of doing it, ask him to uh to help us trust him that his way is the right way. 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:16.000 You know, it leads to a good and enjoyable and even a healthy life. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:35.279 I was thinking about the book of Proverbs and how if it had not been saved, and just today they you know find it in a cave in the Middle East somewhere, and it was the writings of Solomon, you know, uh expressing the wisdom that God Himself had given him. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:37.120 I mean, the world would go crazy. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:39.680 I mean, it would be an instant bestseller. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.639 Everybody wanted to see what Solomon would say about uh being wise. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:50.160 But because we have it, you know, and we've always had it, I think it's just so easy for me to take it for granted. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:54.480 But if we apply it, um, Proverbs makes some pretty big claims. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:59.920 In Proverbs 3, it says, Wisdom is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:04.480 She offers you long life in her right hand and riches and honor in her left. 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:10.399 In Proverbs 4, it says, My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:13.759 In Proverbs 19, it says, To acquire wisdom is to love oneself. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:17.439 People who cherish understanding will prosper. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:23.199 And so we're going through each week and we're calling them choices because they're things that we have to um decide. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:24.959 You know, they're not going to happen by themselves. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:27.279 We're going to be confronted with different choices. 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:35.519 And so we just have to decide to do it God's way, decide to trust Him, and uh also ask Him to give us the strength and help with it. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:47.360 And so we've made some great choices already to seek wisdom, to work hard, to choose our words, to choose our friends, and last week to choose self-control. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:49.360 That was a good choice. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:56.800 You know, we saw that it can be easier if we make have big goals and big hopes and and big dreams, but it's still a tough topic. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:58.959 You know, I can feel I felt it preparing for it. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:05.040 I felt it uh even as I was speaking, because I think it's an area that most of us struggle with. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.839 I certainly do, you know, struggling with self-control. 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:13.199 Uh but this morning will be a nice break because it isn't really that uh tough of topic. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:23.199 It's actually more of a fun topic, and it's just uh one of two or three of the more enjoyable choices I think that we'll make. 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:30.480 Proverbs 3.27 says, do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:33.759 And so today we'll choose to do good. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:40.800 And the reason I think that's an easy choice is just that I'm so thankful for all of you. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:48.720 I mean, you're such an amazing group of people, and really individually and collectively do so much good in so many ways. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:54.079 You know, we're a volunteer church, everything is done by you. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:07:18.480 And there's people here every day, uh every Sunday, every time there's events, uh helping people during the week, you know, love squad and bringing mills and construction projects, and every time there's uh there's something to do, there's an overwhelming response, you know, whether it could be Christmas Angels, where they all seem to get taken, you know, uh right away, it could just be anything. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:27.199 That that this is a group that I'm really proud to be part of because you you do so much good in so many ways. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:30.879 And so I think this morning we're not gonna leave feeling guilty. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:38.399 Um we'll probably leave filling a little bit free in in some areas that uh that we'll talk about. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:46.800 And we're not talking this morning about uh financial generosity, even though there'll be a time to make a choice about that. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:52.000 But we're really talking more about our time and the talents and and abilities that God gives us. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:08:00.879 We're talking about noticing people, helping people, you know, seeing outside of ourselves, uh, encouraging people, whatever, whatever the situation calls for. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.439 You know, for me, I was a pretty tough case. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:09.839 I guess I still am, but um, you know, just trusting God. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:21.920 You know, it was so hard for me to trust God um with my money because I didn't have enough of it, you know, and and over time he showed me that I absolutely can trust him with money. 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:27.839 But then I had a hard time trusting with time for the same reason because I didn't have enough of it, you know? 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:32.480 And uh but over time he showed me that I can actually trust him with that. 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:36.960 And in some ways, he can multiply time just like he does other things. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:53.279 But one way was uh at the church we went were part of before we started this, I decided you know to help and I was gonna do it uh financially, and so they make an announcement, and there's a four-week outreach for kids. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:55.600 And what they needed was a bike. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.559 I think I've shared this, I'm sure, uh, once before. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:04.000 But they needed a bike, and so I thought, you know what, I'm I'm gonna buy them a bike to help with this outreach. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:09.840 And so not only that, I decide I'm gonna buy them two bikes. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:19.360 And so I head back to the children's church to meet with the guy that leads it, you know, anticipating both his joy and great appreciation. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:23.200 And I uh say, hey, I want to help with the bikes. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:24.720 You know, I heard about that in the announcements. 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:26.960 He's like, Well, we already got the bikes covered. 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:30.399 What I could really use is just your help for the four weeks. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:33.120 And I'm like, you know, bikes are pretty good. 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:37.360 I mean, I could an extra bike, that would that would go a long way. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:39.200 But he said, No, I really need you. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:42.080 That I had some people that help and they're gonna be gone. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:54.320 And so um, and so I said, Okay, and what he needed me to do was basically stand up in front of the kids and like lead the dances, you know, like Father Abraham and all this stuff. 00:09:54.559 --> 00:10:02.080 And uh God did not create me to dance in front of any group of people, uh, even seven-year-old kids. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:08.879 Um, but that's what I did, you know, it was a way of giving time, and um I'd like to say how much I enjoyed that. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:19.360 I mean, I'd like to, but it was actually moments of terror every single uh every single time. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:21.519 Um, but it was good. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:32.080 You know, if we want to be like Jesus, uh, you know, we'll spend our lives looking, seeing, helping, and doing good. 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:36.159 In Acts 10.38, it sums up Jesus' life on earth pretty simply. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:40.960 It says, And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:47.840 Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.480 It's kind of like Nathan was sharing during the Lord's Supper. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:57.679 You know how Jesus was always noticing somebody, you know, helping somebody, encouraging somebody. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:01.279 And in other words, he spent his life doing good. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:07.519 And that's such a great way for people to um sum us up as individuals, to sum us up as a church. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:10.320 Wow, they really do a lot of good. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:13.519 And there's two qualifiers in this Proverb. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:19.679 Before we talk about kind of doing good specifically, there's a couple qualifiers. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:27.600 In Proverbs 3.27, it it says, do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:31.039 And so the first qualifier is for those who deserve it. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:37.440 And that's kind of an example maybe of God's wisdom for those who deserve it. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:39.360 Everyone deserves love. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:40.879 Everyone. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:45.279 And we can always give as much of that as possible. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:51.600 But we can actually hurt people sometimes by giving to them in the wrong way or at the wrong time. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:52.799 Susan and I found that out. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:12:10.480 When we did get excited about giving, you know, we really kind of went for it and saw how sometimes we would get in God's way, how sometimes we would enable someone, or some way we would actually hurt by helping when we just meant to help. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:15.600 And so that's one of the reasons that we need the Holy Spirit. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:19.039 You know, we can't just always have a list of what to do and what not to do. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:25.600 We need the Holy Spirit to help us see when and how and what to do to help. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:36.240 Along the same lines in 2 Thessalonians 3.10, it says, even while we were with you, we gave you this command, those unwilling to work will not get to eat. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:43.039 So sometimes people don't deserve help, as harsh as that sounds. 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:47.679 In Proverbs 16, 26, it said, it is good for workers to have an appetite. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:50.399 An empty stomach drives them on. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:13:03.120 And so sometimes, not often, just sometimes, there's a way we can help someone that actually takes away motivation from them to be successful, to have a good life themselves. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:06.879 And so Paul lays out this attempt this attention in Galatians 6. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:11.679 He says, carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:15.279 If anyone thinks they are something when they're not, they deceive themselves. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:23.440 Each one should test their own actions, then we can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone to someone else. 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:26.559 For each one should carry their own load. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:34.320 And so in the same section, Paul says, carry each other's burdens, we each should carry our own load. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:38.559 And so a burden is something that's just too big for one person to carry. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:41.519 And we all have those at different times in our lives. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.679 We just can't make it ourselves. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.919 We need someone to help us. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:52.240 But we also all have personal responsibility, things that we should take care of. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:55.360 You know, and that would be our own load, if you will. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:04.720 And so we can look for burdens to share, and we can also, you know, decide that we're gonna uh be responsible and care for ourselves when we can. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:09.120 I think this is especially true with family members. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:12.399 You know, uh many of us have experienced that. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:21.200 But asking God to show us how we can help someone without feeling the total responsibility, you know, trying to save someone. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.440 You know, Jesus is the savior. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:38.399 And I've certainly done that in my life where I've just taken too much personal responsibility, kind of emotional responsibility, if you will, for helping someone that, you know, I wanted to help them more than they wanted themselves to be helped. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:44.000 And um and so we, you know, we just it's not wise to do that. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:46.639 I mean, we have a bunch of people involved with AA here. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:48.399 Thank thank God for that. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:58.639 Um but I think you know, you learn to go all out to help someone, but in the end, we can't want it more for someone than they want it for themselves. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:09.519 And so that's part of God's wisdom, is is is determining when how and how to help. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:21.519 And that's just a small reminder, you know, but it and that's the part I I think these two qualifiers really are the part that might leave us feeling a little freer and a little less guilty uh in ways. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:25.279 But the the second qualifier is when it is in your power to help them. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:29.039 You know, sometimes it's just not in our power. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:36.799 You know, we might not have the time, we might not have the money, we might not have the energy, we might not even have the ability. 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:43.120 You know, sometimes I'll talk with someone and there'll be a situation, and I'm like, you know, I this one's over my head, you know. 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.480 It's not within my power. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:48.240 Here's someone that that that you should speak with. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:57.039 I had a friend, a good friend, who almost went bankrupt because he filled up so many credit cards helping people. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:04.720 He would pay for them to go on mission trips, he would pay for supplies, he would help people in in all kinds of ways. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:12.080 Now that was nice, but it wasn't wise because in those situations he didn't have the power uh to help. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:15.840 And so here at his hands, there's always something to do. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:21.679 You know, when we started, it kind of freaked me out because there was always something more to do. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:29.840 And so I just had to make peace with that, that I could only do what's within my power, I guess. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.679 But it's the same's true with with y'all, because there's always something more to do. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:40.000 And so it's good sometimes uh to say no and not feel guilty about it. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:43.840 You know, it might be that you need refreshed, you need encouraged, whatever it is. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:48.879 But there's sometimes it's just not within our power uh to help. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:17:00.879 And that's one way we can just kind of live more lighthearted, is when we have when we have hearts of love looking to help, but we also have boundaries realizing we can't do it all ourselves. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:05.359 You know, the most famous story about helping was one that uh Jesus told. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.559 It was in Luke 10. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:14.079 And he's talking to a religious scholar, and they were talking about loving God and and uh loving people. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:22.000 And so the scholar asked, the man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.039 Jesus had said, Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:30.799 And Jesus replied with a story A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:34.880 They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, left him half dead beside the road. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:40.079 By chance a priest came along, but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:44.720 A temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:49.200 Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man he felt compassion for him. 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:54.400 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:58.640 Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:02.799 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, Take care of this man. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:06.160 If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:10.799 Now, which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits? 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:11.920 Jesus asked. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:14.480 The man replied, the one who showed him mercy. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:18.240 And then Jesus said, Yes, now go and do the same. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:32.160 So Jesus' main point that he's making to this particular person and a group of people is really the difference between self-righteous religion and loving people and helping people. 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:35.039 Did this man who was attacked deserve help? 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.160 I mean, certainly. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.440 Certainly he did. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:39.759 Was it in the Samaritan's power to help? 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:40.799 It was. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:46.000 He bandaged him up, put him on his donkey, took him to Ann, he was able to pay for the inn. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:52.240 But what he didn't do is he didn't cancel his business trip. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:55.119 He didn't take him home. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:19:01.039 He didn't decide that he personally was going to have to stay with him until he was completely better. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:04.480 He did what was within his power to do. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.640 And then went on with his life. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:13.519 You know, it it's good to help every way we can, but it's also good to have good boundaries and good wisdom. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:21.680 But that's the smallest part really of this proverb, is those couple of qualifiers. 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:30.160 The main point is that we want to live lives doing good, seeing people's needs, interacting with people, helping them in all different ways. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:35.839 Jesus said in Matthew 25, Then the king will say to those on his right, Enter you who are blessed by my Father. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.839 Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:41.599 It's been ready for you since the world's foundation, and here's why. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:45.680 I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:53.200 I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:56.640 Then those sheep are going to say, Master, what are you talking about? 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.720 When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:04.640 And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you? 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:07.680 Then the king will say, I'm telling the solemn truth. 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:13.839 Whatever you did, one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:16.000 You did it to me. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:19.839 I mean, there's so many ways to do good. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.680 Jesus mentioned several here. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:27.759 Give someone a meal, give some something to drink, clothes, visit someone who is down. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.279 I mean, there's other ways. 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:37.440 It's encouraging people, treating everyone as valuable because everyone is. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.319 Include people who aren't being included. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:45.359 Jesus said something really profound at a dinner party once. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:47.440 It's in Luke 14. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.400 Then he turned to the host. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:54.880 The next time you put on a dinner, don't just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:58.480 Invite some people who never get invited out. 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:01.200 The misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:04.079 You'll be and experience a blessing. 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:07.680 They won't be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:12.559 Oh, how it will be returned at the resurrection of God's people. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:38.240 Some people go their entire lives without anyone treating them as important, as valuable, having any kindness shown to them, noticing them, caring about them, just seeing them, thinking to invite them out somewhere with us or spend some time with them, care about them. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:40.960 It could it literally can change a life. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:43.119 You know, it's just to live that way. 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:57.359 You know, I think of uh waiters and and and waitresses, you know, and cashiers and and people, how we have this choice are are we gonna treat them like our servants or are we gonna show the truth that they're valuable? 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:59.599 You know, God's sons, God's daughters with. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.200 Kindness and respect and gratitude, and it makes such a difference. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:09.359 You know, the smallest thing can literally make somebody's day, make somebody's month. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:14.240 You know, a few words of encouragement can change the course of somebody's life. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:22.559 In Proverbs 11, 17, it says, when you're kind to others, you help yourself. 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:28.640 This proverb in the Living Bible says that when you're kind to others, you nourish your own soul. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:34.319 You know, it's we are created in God's image, each of us. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:40.960 And part of that is that we literally are created to help others, to do good and to help others. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:53.119 And we only really feel at peace, and we only really feel in sync when we're seeing outside of ourselves, when we're noticing other people, when we're pitching in, when we're making a difference. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:57.039 In Ephesians 2.10 it says, For we are God's masterpiece. 00:22:57.279 --> 00:23:03.759 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:07.519 Galatians 6 says, So let's not get tired of doing what is good. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:12.799 At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don't give up. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:17.920 Andy Andrews writes about a man who did good. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:22.880 He saved the lives of over two billion people. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:26.000 His name's Norman Borlock. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.559 And he won the Nobel Prize. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:31.440 What he did is he developed a hybrid corn. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:38.480 There's a type of corn that could be grown in arid parts of the world, like Africa and Asia and South America. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:45.599 And that corn that could be grown there, it is estimated, saved over two billion lives from starvation. 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:49.359 Just from this new type of corn. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:53.200 And so he's credited for saving more than two billion lives. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:58.720 But maybe it wasn't Norman Borlock who saved the lives. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.880 Maybe it was Henry Wallace. 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:09.519 Henry Wallace was vice president of the United States, but before he was vice president of the United States, he was Secretary of Agriculture for the U.S. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:22.880 And he created a station that was there to research the idea of a hybrid corn, specifically for the southwestern U.S. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:26.640 And he hired Norman Borlock to run it. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:40.480 And so while Norman Borloch won the Nobel Prize and is widely credited for saving over two billion lives, it was really Henry Wallace's initial act that saved two billion people. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.880 But maybe not. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:46.000 Maybe it was George Washington Carver. 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:48.799 Now most of us have heard of George Washington Carver. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:53.200 He developed over 260 some uses of peanuts. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:25:00.960 He also came up with the victory gardens in World War II, which ended up feeding much of the country. 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:10.640 When he was 19, he was a student at Iowa State, and he had a professor there, and he befriended this professor's six-year-old son. 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:17.279 He would do things with him on the weekend, and he would encourage him to live a life of meaning and impact. 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:21.519 That boy was Henry Wallace. 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:32.319 So maybe it was George Washington Carver who really is the one that saved over two billion lives from starvation. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.400 But maybe not. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:44.160 There was a couple that owned a farm, Moses and Susan, they owned a farm in Diamond, Missouri. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:50.000 And Missouri at the time was a slave state, but they didn't believe in slavery. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:53.440 And so they were tagged as sympathizers. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:57.519 And one night the clan attacked their farm. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:26:04.480 And they burned it and they shot several people and they kidnapped a woman and her little baby. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:08.160 And the woman was Mary Washington, who was Susan's best friend. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:13.519 And so Moses put out word that he would do anything to get them back. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:18.880 And so a few days later, he got on his horse and he rode to Kansas. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:26.640 And there in the middle of the night, he met four men with white hoods and torches, and he gave them his only horse. 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:30.559 And they threw a burlap sack on the ground and then rode off. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:37.519 And so he opens the sack, and it's a cold, naked, almost dead baby boy. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:42.000 And it's Mary's son, and he knows now that Mary's been killed. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:50.079 And so he picks up the boy, puts him inside his coat, and he promises, he promises him that he's going to always raise him as his own son. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:55.440 And he promises him that he's going to educate him in honor of his mom. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:27:04.079 And so that's how Moses and Susan Carver came to adopt little George Washington Carver. 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:14.559 So maybe it was the two, it was the couple on the farm in Diamond, Missouri that saved over two billion people. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:20.880 See the thing about acts of kindness and goodness is they build. 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:24.720 They build and they build and they build. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:32.000 And eventually we cannot just change lives, we can literally change the world. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:43.759 It says, always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:47.599 And so today we choose to do good. 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:52.000 And you love people, notice people, help people. 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:56.720 It's one of the keys to a healthy and happy life. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:59.440 So today we choose to do good. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:02.480 If the worship team will come up, we'll stop there. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:09.759 In fact, let's stand, let's get ready to sing one more worship song together. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:26.240 I didn't really have the power, I guess, or even a soft enough heart to do good, you know, until I connected with Jesus. 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:33.920 Until God filled me up so much with his love that there was something there that could overflow into anybody else. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:38.799 You know, and that's Jesus is the greatest choice that we all ever make. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.640 And it's so easy to connect with him. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:43.279 You know, it's just in our own words, in our own way. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.880 Jesus, I need you. 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.640 Jesus, help me. 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:48.480 Jesus, I want to trust you. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:51.839 Jesus, I'm sorry, you know, wherever we're at, whatever that is. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:54.000 And he, man, that's what he wants. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:55.359 That's what he wants. 00:28:55.680 --> 00:29:03.519 And we are created in God's image, and we have a spirit, you know, and when we put our trust in Jesus, that spirit comes alive and it connects with God's spirit. 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:05.359 And then he starts changing us. 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.400 He does the heavy lifting. 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:13.759 All these choices we make, that's the thing, is that we've got to make them, but we can't do it without God's help. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:18.960 You know, it's it's Him transforming us, changing us from the inside out. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:25.519 And eventually our whole lives change, and then we can have that kind of life that it talks about in Proverbs. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:31.519 So that's a great choice to make, and we thank God for having such a great and loving daddy. 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:34.240 Hope you all have a really great and blessed week. 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:34.960 Let's pray. 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.319 So, Father, we praise you. 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:40.960 We thank you for all you do for us, for writing down this great wisdom. 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:45.839 Please just infuse it into our hearts and give us the power and the strength to apply it in our lives. 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:50.559 And we do ask you to bless each one here to have the kind of life that you talk about in Proverbs. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:56.160 Some of us are going through such tough times right now, God, and please give each of us everything that we need. 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.039 We thank you. 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:58.079 We love you, we trust you. 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.200 It's in Jesus' name. 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.079 Amen.