Paul Harvey told recently about a college basketball coach who was shaving when his wife called upstairs to tell him that SPORTS ILLUSTRATED was on the phone. The coach was so excited he knicked himself shaving. He was so eager for recognition for himself and his school that rushing to the phone he fell down the stairs and bruised himself up. Staggering to the phone breathlessly he said, "Hello." The voice at the other end said. "Yes sir. I'm happy to tell you that for only 75 cents per week you can receive a one year's subscription..."
What is your idea of success? Recognition--wealth--early retirement--college education for you children? Some of you are thinking, yes, all those and a few more items you haven't mentioned. Others are thinking, "I'll feel fortunate if I just make it thru the Christmas holidays."
When the Gallup organization polled Americans about their most important criteria for judging personal success, here is what they found:
* Good health was listed with a score of 58%
* An enjoyable job was second--49%
* A happy family was third-45%
* A good education, fourth-39%.
* Peace of mind, fifth-34%
* Good friends, sixth-25%
* Such materialistic factors as unlimited money, a luxury car, and an expensive home brought up the rear.
We are not a nation of money-grubbers, regardless of what some people might have imagined.
I hope no one will think that I have been infected too seriously with the theology of success if I say to you that God is not opposed to our being successful. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was right: "The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought that takes success for its standard."
Christ did not die so that we could enjoy gold-plated yachts, $100,000 automobiles and a boundless supply of trinkets. I did not say that it is God's will for you to become rich. I will leave such self-serving statements to the TV hucksters. Still, except for Jesus' warnings about the dangers of wealth, there is no Biblical bias against people achieving prominence in the community or a healthy level of material comfort.
REMEMBER THAT IT WAS GOD WHO GAVE US OUR ABILITIES, TALENTS, AND OPPORTUNITIES.
Everything we have is from God! The presumption that we are somehow self-made people is a myth. Even our ambition and our willingness to excel are gifts from God. We dare not imagine that we can take pride in our accomplishments--no matter how extraordinary they may be. Rather we should each get on our knees each day and say with contrite hearts, "Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord."
David Steindl-Rast points out that in our English language there is no such thing as being half full of thanks or gratitude: we are either thankFUL or grateFUL. It is impossible to celebrate an occasion like Thanksgiving half-heartedly. Either we recognize that everything we have comes from God and give Him the glory that is due Him, or we delude ourselves into thinking that we have been living in a vacuum where everything has been up to us. And if we acknowledge that He IS the source of all we have and all we are, then we must begin living accordingly.
A little boy of a Vietnamese refugee family was having a difficult time learning English. He had a particular problem with "g's" amd "l's." On Thanksgiving Day he attended church sevices with his family. After the service he tried hard to join in the Thanksgiving greeting. He shook the pastor's hand and said, "Happy Thanksliving, pastor!" Hopefully that is where we are. Happy thanksliving. We are to live out the gratitude that we feel. This brings us to the second thing to be said.
BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN US OUR ABILITIES, TALENTS & OPPORTUNITIES, WE ARE TO USE THEM IN SERVICE TO THE WORLD.
One had multiplied his gift tenfold and he was given dominion over 10 cities. One had multiplied his five-fold and he was given dominion over 5 cities. But one poor fellow, out of fear, had buried his gift in the ground. The master was highly displeased. The poor servant had his gift taken away.
Did you read this past summer about the fellow in China who actually made this same mistake? Literally. Zhang Dexiang from Liaoning province learned the truth of this parable. Five years ago the old farmer buried his life savings of $1,200. With the intervention of a little mold and mildew, he discovered that only $400 of the money was now recognizable enough to be exchanged for new bills at a local bank. It is horrible to bury what God has given you in a hole in the ground.
God has given us abilities, talent, and opportunities, and He means for us to use them in serving the world whether that be as teachers or pastors or physicists or stockbrokers. The main thing is that we use to the utmost what He has given. That is the secret of happy, productive living. Take stock of your life. Who am I? What gifts has God given me?
How can I use those gifts to better the world and thereby glorify the Creator? Then go out and follow the dream that God has placed in your heart. You may be amazed at the results. Let's use an analogy.
When World War II started, the United States was using a fighter plane called the P-40. It was lamented as inferior to practically every type of enemy fighter against which it had to fly. For example, the Japanese Zero was far superior at high altitudes, was much quicker in turns and much more maneuverable, was faster in a climb, and carried more potent firepower.
Supposedly, the P-40 was a sitting duck against a Zero, and in the early days of the War, that was actually true. Later, however, American commanders learned to use their planes to capitalize on the advantages of the P-40. The P-40 was faster in a dive, fought well at low altitudes, and her guns fired a lot of rounds very rapidly. When the American fighter switched to hit-and-run dives at groups of enemy planes, they were eliminating 13 1/2 enemy planes for every P-40 lost.
It pays to identify and use your strengths! God wants you to use the abilities, talents and opportunities He has given you. And if the world rewards you for your service, then you need not apologize. That means the world values the work you are doing. Just remember not to forget the ultimate Source of these blessings and give Him the praise, not just one day, but every day of the year. That is the second lesson from this parable. But there is one additional truth we dare not lose sight of.
WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WAY WE USE ALL OF LIFE INCLUDING OUR SUCCESS.
In fact, if you live according to the standards of discipline and devotion which God demands, you probably will be successful--not because God is like a Heavenly slot-machine. Put in a dime of devotion and get back a dollar of success. Such theology is sickening. But it is true that a disciplined, enthusiastic person who gives his or her best to life is likely to achieve a level of success. That success, then, becomes part of our blessings from God and we are to use it accordingly. Jesus showed us two ways.
WE ARE TO SHARE OUR BLESSINGS WITH THOSE LESS FORTUNATE.
In Eugene O'Neill's play, DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS, the drama centers on the character of Ephraim Cabot, a closefisted, greedy, self-righteous hypocrite. Through a series of tragedies, the play ends with Ephraim Cabot left alone on his farm. His self- centered goals have led to the death of his wife and to nothing but hatred and rejection from his sons. As the sheriff leaves Ephraim there by himself, the sheriff comments that it is the best farm in the county, a place anyone would want to own.
It may have been the best farm around, but it was probably the loneliest place around as well. Certainly Ephraim Cabot had discovered the truth of Jesus' teaching about those who gain the whole world but lose their soul. If God has prospered us, it is our joyful opportunity to share our bounty. No person can be called successful if he or she has not learned to share. There are no happy misers.
AND, OF COURSE, WE ARE TO RETURN A SHARE OF OUR BLESSINGS FOR USE IN GOD'S WORK IN THE WORLD.
"No," answered the miser gruffly. "Well, then," said the usher "take some out. After all, it's for the heathen."
That usher's tact may have left something to be desired, but his understanding of faith was on target. How can we say that we are a follower of Jesus, how can we say we are genuinely thankful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon us, when we return unto Him only a pittance of what we have received?
Do not apologize if you have become successful from the honorable use of the abilities, talents and opportunities God has given you. He has made us accountable for the way we use our lives. The worst sin is to take what he has given us and hide it in the ground. So do not apologize, but be thankful. And remember, as we prosper we are still accountable--to share with those less fortunate and to participate with God in His ministry through His church.
In 1910 Olav Olavson, a Swedish citizen, fell upon hard times and decided to sell his body for medical research after his death to the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The following year he inherited a fortune and resolved to buy himself back. The institute refused to sell its rights to his body, went to court, and won possession of it. Moreover, the institute obtained damages, since Olav had had two teeth pulled out without asking their permission as ultimate owner of his body.
Our lives and all we own are on loan to us. The King is returning. Let us give thanks and let us remember our accountability to Him who is the Source of all we have.
