Looking Back and Looking Ahead

January 4, 2009

Introduction

 

            This is the first Sunday of 2009.  It is the time of year that businesses close their books, figure there profits, and make plans for a new year.  As they do this, it is an opportunity to reflect on what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong, or could do better.

 

            This morning, as Christians, perhaps we should do the same.  This morning, what is your greatest asset?  What is your net worth?  What are you worth to other people?  How do others think of you?  How will you be remembered?  At what stage of life are you?  Are you just a baby?  Babies are cute, and they can bring a lot of joy, but they could not survive without the help and supplies that are furnished by loving caring parents.

 

            Where are you in your walk with the Lord?  What are your assets?  What do others think of you?  Something as simple as a smile is important in the impression it leaves on other people.  How do you respond to other people?

 

Body

 

I.        What does the Bible say about our spiritual assets?

 

A.  Peter speaks of the assets of wives.

 

(1 Peter 3:4 KJV)  "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

 

1.  Do you have a “Meek and quiet spirit”, or are you the opposite?

2.  A gentle spirit is something that is appreciated by all.

 

B.  Do you have the asset of  love? 

 

(1 Corinthians 13:1-2 NKJV)  "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."

 

C.  How much do you have in your heavenly bank account?

 

1.  Jesus spoke of  having treasures in heaven.

 

(Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV)  ""Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; (20) "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

2.  In Jesus parable of the farmer, He also spoke of our heavenly riches.

 

(Luke 12:16-21 NKJV)  "Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. (17) "And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' (18) "So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. (19) 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' (20) "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' (21) "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.""

II.     How do others perceive of you?

 

A.     How will, or do your children remember you? 

B.     What is your spouse’s assessment of you?

C.     What do those who work with you think about you?

 

III.   We need to examine ourselves.

 

A.     We are told very clearly to examine ourselves so that we will not be judged with condemnation.

 

(1 Cor 11:31 NKJV)  For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

 

B.     We are told to judge ourselves so that we will have a proper assessment of ourselves as we relate to others.

 

(Rom 12:3 NKJV)  For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

 

C.     We must judge ourselves with proper judgment.

 

(Mat 23:23-24 NKJV)  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. {24} "Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

 

1.      This seems like a simple easy concept, but those who strain at the gnats, miss what Jesus is saying.  They focus on “These you ought to have done”

2.      They miss the “weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy¹ and faith.”

 

 ¹compassion (human or divine, espec. active):--(+ tender) mercy.

 

3.  Remember how they treated the woman taken in adultery!

4.  Remember how they treated the Lord Himself.

 

D.     Some easy things to check.

 

1.  How is my daily Bible reading?

2.  How is my personal prayer life?

3.  How is my church attendance?

4.  How is my out reach to others around me?

5.  In general, am I growing or slipping?

 

Conclusion

 

·        Who are you?

·        What do you communicate?

·        Who do others say that you are?

·        Are you what you should be?

·        Are you a Christian?

 

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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