Old Enough to Know Better - Nov. 21st, 2010

Date: November 21st, 2010

Speaker: Pastor Kevin Snyder

Title: Old Enough to Know Better

Text: Joshua 23

Introduction

There are a lot of things we can learn in life by listening to the people who have been there, done that.

We are one of the 1st generations to dismiss the wisdom of those who are older. We have confused, in our techno-savvy age, knowledge with wisdom.

We are a generation where the young often know more in terms of knowledge than the old.

But there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom.

Knowledge is knowing things – how they work, run, what they can do.
Wisdom is knowing when and how to use that knowledge.

And we are a generation who has been long on knowledge, but often short on wisdom. Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be done. Wisdom is what tells us that.

I’ve discovered the value of listening to the wisdom that comes with “been there, done that” many times in my life.

Several years ago I saw a live theatre of “Tuesdays with Morrie.” Prompted me to buy this great little book.

Story of a young sports announcer who goes back and begins to visit an old professor who has Lou Gehrig’s disease, and how those conversations change his life.

The book has chapters on every topic they covered on Mitch’s Tuesday visits. They talk about death,family, emotions, aging, money, marriage, culture, about forgiveness.

Over my life I have had some Morrie’s that God has put on my path. Older people who have influenced and quietly shaped the direction of my life.

i.e.

1. 19 years old – internship

Assignments: visit 7 of the old people per week – most in Senior’s homes, some on oxygen, etc

I remember going to meet with one old gentleman named John Schledewitz. John shuffled along. 1st week met John.

2nd week heard his story – learned about 5 - 7 languages lived through a couple of wars. Was from the old country in Europe.

By the 3rd week I was coming with a pad and paper because this guy just oozed with wisdom.

I would raise a question and then pull out my pen as this guy just spilled out these profound answers.

The best I could offer John was I prayed for him at the end.

2. Confidants in Winnipeg

In my years in Wpg I had 3 Seniors who were my personal advisors. We did prayer retreats together. I shared my pain with them because it wouldn’t rattle them….they’d just listen and pray.

I remember in a rather discouraging time: “Guys is it my time to leave?” Because I knew they would tell me the truth.

I remember one prayer retreat where one of them asked me one question & I started to answer and my answer choked in my throat and I began to sob in front of these guys. And they prayed for me.

I remember when one of these men got terminal cancer. We had shared our stories with each other. He told me of being an orphan…chasing his father’s car down the road as they drove and left him with this family. How he was mistreated bythis family and made to sleep in the barn. How he was called stupid, and experienced a lot of physical abuse.

I would go over and we would talk about death, heaven , family, forgiveness, and the spiritual battle. I’ll never forget when he called me quite urgently and asked if I could come right away. When I got there he told me about how the Devil was playing on his mind. How the spiritual battle was more intense than the physical.

And we prayed.

So perhaps you are asking by now: “What’s this got to do with… anything?”

Transition

In Joshua 23 we read Joshua’s “Tuesday with his leaders”.

He is 83 and sees the end of his life.
And we have in this chapter Joshua’s convictions.
The wisdom he doesn’t want his people to lose.
The secrets to his success.
And he takes the time to share this with the new leaders.
And folks perhaps we would be wise to pull out our pens.

1. REMEMBER “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU”

The story he tells isn’t about him but about God. It’s God’s story.And the story isn’t just about what God has done for him. It was about God’s mission in this world. It was about how God enabled, provided, went before , went with and worked through him in this mission.

Joshua could point to changes in his world. Places where God had pushed back the darkness. Where life was better for Israel because he gave himself to that cause.

Listen to his words:Joshua 23

Joshua, who was now very old, 2 called together all the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. He said to them, “I am now a very old man. 3 You have seen everything the Lord your God has done for you during my lifetime.The Lord your God has fought for you against your enemies.4 I have allotted to you as your homeland all the land of the nations yet unconquered, as well as the land of those we have already conquered—from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea?*? in the west. 5 This land will be yours, for the Lord your God will himself drive out all the people living there now. You will take possession of their land, just as the Lord your God promised you.

9 “For the Lord has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you. 10 Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.11 So be very careful to love the Lord your God.

14 “Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!

What are your ambitions in life? Are they to get a good career to make lots of money so you can have nice things?

Or is your greater ambition to be what God wants, and do what he has gifted you for…to make a difference in the world.

i.e.

Undercover Boss the other night.

Boss goes and works in the trenches.

Interesting how it affected him

At the end he called the whole company together and retold the story of the company. It was started by his parents to help people. That was there goal. He said along the way he lost that. The ambition became money. People became a commodity on his way to profit. He loved things and used people. Committed himself to going back to those original values for which the business was started….to benefit people.

i.e.

Charles Schultz philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. They are not second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school...

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.

You see, at the end of life it’s not what you’ve accumulated or accomplished for you that really matters…it’s the world you’ve left.Is it a better place? The people you helped. Wisdom is seeing “it’s not about me….it’s about a cause, a mission, that is bigger than me.

My life will be significant if it turned on a light in a dark place.

2. INVEST WISELY

Story:

2 men – 1 was rich and self-indulgent. He enjoyed much and lived in a mansion.

The other was his servant. He was under-paid, over-worked, but generous.

The 2 died and went to heaven.

They were being shown their new residences.

The servant was shown his first. Big beautiful mansion that was just fantastic.

The rich man was excited by what his would be like.

The angel then took the rich man to a little shack that stood beside it.

What’s this?! I had better on earth! The rich man said.

Angel threw up his hands and apologized saying: “I’m sorry but we did the best we could with what you gave us.”

Story is about investing in the K of God, but let me tweak it and ask:

“How much are you investing in your spiritual well-being and growth?

i.e.

Bible

Worship

Learning – small group

I remember a man saying to me when I was younger:

“Tell me what you read, watch, attend, and do…and I’ll tell you who you will be in 5 years.”

We are all influenced. The question is: Who & What is influencing us? What influences are we investing in?

How much?

The 2nd thing Joshua says to his young successors is watch where you invest.

(Josh. 23:5–8)

So be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote in the Book of Instruction. Do not deviate from it, turning either to the right or to the left. 7 Make sure you do not associate with the other people still remaining in the land. Do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or serve them or worship them. 8 Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now.

He tells them guard your influences. Invest wisely in your spiritual well-being.

Apply To Parents

How much as parents are you investing in the spiritual well-being of your children?

I applaud those parents

who took their children on mission trips
Who sent them to Orlando
Who sacrificed for them to go to camp
Who make sure that their kids get to Kid’s Place, to youth events & conventions

In 2nd service some of the youth who went to Orlando shared. One of the youth said “that’s where I found God.”

Investing in your kids is a bit like investing in the stock market.

There are no guarantees that it will reap payoffs. Chances are they will but no guarantees.

But I do know one thing you can’t expect any results if you don’t invest at all

i.e.

How much are you investing in your kids’ spiritual wellbeing?

Time?

Intention?

Are you relying on 1 hour a week here at church…when it fits around everything?

We fool ourselves if we think that 1 hour a week of Christian teaching is going to prevent our kids from going south.

(As a parent if we did anything right we spent a lot of money on youth conventions, camps, Christian school, getting involved in serving, getting our kids to events, inviting over other kids from church, …everything we could do to put a Cn presence and influence around our kids. We invested heavily in that regard.)

i.e.

Challenge many of you as parents to invest spiritually in your kids well-being. Conventions, camps, retreats are where those destiny decisions are made. Kid’s Place is where they are affirmed and encouraged.

REVEAL Survey – strong programs for children & youth

Hired people to do that
Invested substantial dollars as a church
Increased level of children & youth programming

Disheartening –at some of these things – low level of participation by kids from ES,

Events & programs where only 10% of the kids there are from ES

Challenge you. Invest in your kids’ spiritual well-being.

Invest time
Invest Effort – daily home activities & conversations
Invest money -
Participate in the bridging events where your kids meet Cn friends.
Invest in them being a Upward Camps
Invest in them being in Kid’s Place
Invest in getting together and inviting other kids from church to spend time with your kids. Get together as families.
Invest in getting them to camp.
Invest in spiritual climate of the family
Let kids watch hours of TV, filled with values we don’t want them to adopt but tentative and timid about reading bible to them or praying out loud or even saying grace at the table…who will win?

Proverbs says:

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

That isn’t a promise…it’s a proverb…a wise saying. A statement of probability.

We increase the probability as we invest.

Invest wisely.

2. BE INTENTIONAL (Choose Your Direction)

i.e.

Suppose you wanted to get to Phoenix AZ.

What are the chances that if you just got in the car and drove that you would get there…not good.

We don’t generally just happen upon our desired destination.

i.e.

Goodyear commercial – if do that instead of Hawaii end up on plane to Winnipeg)

It generally requires intention. You need to look on a map. Choose your route. You have to be intentional.

We know that in a lot of areas of our lives:

a. Marriage – talk recently

Happy, lifelong, joyful relationship doesn’t just happen.

Sometimes we think it just happens when we find the right person. If we get married.If we get married in a church. It doesn’t just happen.

Good marriage requires us intentionally doing some things – intentionally giving up self
Intentionally giving ourselves to our spouse
Intentionally noticing

b. Financially

If we want to retire early…or ever…it takes a plan

c. Life goals

If we want to accomplish our dreams or make a difference in our life it requires some intention.

d. Church

If we want to grow, if we want to make a dent on this community in a positive way, it takes intention, purpose.

And yet, somehow spiritually we don’t often get that. We think spiritual growth will just happen…osmosis.

Joshua shares a significant principle.

You make your decisions then your decisions make you.

Joshua 24:15 –

14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua put before the people the options and declared his direction. His intention.

Dads

Have you done that? Have you declared with words and by your actions and commitment your spiritual direction?

Are you initiating and showing that leadership?

You make your decisions and then your decisions make you.

Wrap-Up

So what’s the action step?

1. Re-examine your ambitions. What are your goals in life? What’s important?

Volunteer – do something for someone else.

Morrie told this to Mitch when they were talking about a meaningful life. He wrote:

“Remember what I said about finding a meaningful life? I wrote it down, but now I can recite it: Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

2. Investing wisely

Perhaps it is deciding to turn the TV off and do more reading of something good…Christian library here.
Perhaps it is discussing some changes of priorities where you begin to invest more in your own and your family’s spiritual well-being. Maybe that moves up the priority list.

3. Being Intentional

Maybe it is setting some spiritual goals for yourself over this next year and as a family. Developing a growth plan for your soul.
Maybe it’s deciding that you are done with comfortable, complacent, coasting, maintenance Christnity…It’s no longer going to be business as usual.

Decide to get baptised
Decide to get involved
Decide to sign up
Make a decision to become a sold-out follower of Jesus Christ
Maybe it is to set up the God jar (2 weeks ago), to right a broken relationship (last week)
To become part of the team endeavouring to make a difference in community.

Click here to return to sermon page

* Hebrew the Great Sea.

Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Jos 23:1-14

Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Jos 23:6-8

Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Jos 24:14-15