Pastor Cal Lord's Recent Sermons
"Unearthing Buried Treasure"
Exodus 20:12 August 5, 2007
Today I want to talk about a precious gift that God wants us to have and enjoy. Some people
spend their whole life looking for buried treasure. Maybe that’s why we identify with Captain
Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean or Benjamin Gates in National Treasurer. We are all
searching for something out there that will bless us and turn our world upside down. But as we
turn back to our study of the Ten Commandments, the fifth commandment suggests that the real
treasure God has put aside for us is right in our own back yards.
I like the story told about a cross country flight where a pastor was seated next to an atheist. I
know this sounds like the beginning to a bad joke but bear with me.
Every few minutes one of the Pastor’s children or grandchildren would come to his seat to see if
he needed anything - food, drink, something to read. They’d just come and check on him. The
atheist commented, "The respect your children and grandchildren show you is wonderful. Mine
don’t show me that respect. "
"Think about it" the Pastor said. “To my children and grandchildren I am one step closer to God,
the author of life, the one who opened the gates of heaven. They see me and see a man who has
walked with God his whole life. They respect me because of the company I keep.” To yours,
you are just one more monkey climbing up and down the family tree."
That story, in a not-so-subtle way, communicates an important message. It says that our faith or
lack of faith will inform how the people in our lives are viewed and as a result how we will treat
them.
I was in the Providence Place Mall this week and saw a number of bumper stickers in one
novelty shop. A couple of them spoke to me as a middle age parent with children.
The first read "Be nice to your children; they’ll pick your nursing home. "A second one read,
"Honor thy father and mother; they haven’t made their will yet."
We laugh but these bumper stickers are a reflection of a society where our elders are often
looked at as being unimportant and disposable. It happens in the workforce when a person turns
fifty-five. It happens in the home when a child becomes a teenager. It happens in the grocery
store or on the highway whenever someone with gray hair gets in our way.
Having said this, I think we are ready to look at the fifth commandment. “Honor your father and
your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord gave you.”
There are three things to note right off. First, it is one of only two positively stated commands.
The other is the fourth commandment, remember the Sabbath. Second, it is the only command
that comes with a promise, “that you may live a long and happy life.” Third, this commandment
stands in an important location in the list. It is transitional. The first four addressed how we are
to relate to God. The last six, beginning with this one, address how we are to relate to each other.
There is an inference here that suggests how we treat our family, how we treat our parents, will
be a good indicator as to how we treat everyone else. And God says if you learn your lesson
well, it will come back to bless you. If you fail, then you will have to live with the consequences.
One of Grimm’s fairy tales is about a little boy who lived with his father, his mother, and his
elderly grandfather. The grandfather was feeble and his hands shook. When he ate, the
silverware rattled against the plate, and he often missed his mouth. Then the food would dribble
onto the tablecloth. This upset the young mother, because she didn’t want to have to deal with
the extra mess and hassle of taking care of the old man. But he had nowhere else to live.
So the young parents decided to move him away from the table, into a corner, where he could sit
on a stool and eat from a bowl. The young mother said, "From now on, you eat over there." And
so he did, always looking at the table and wanting to be with his family but having to sit alone in
the corner.
One day his hands trembled more than usual; he dropped his bowl and broke it. The young father
yelled, "If you’re going to eat like a pig, you’re going to eat out of a pig’s trough!" So they made
the old man a wooden trough, put his meals in it, and told him to eat out of it. And he did.
Not long after that, the couple came upon their four-year-old son playing out in the yard with
some scraps of wood. His father asked him what he was doing. The little boy looked up, smiled,
and said, “I’m making a trough, to feed you and Mamma out of when I get big.” The next day
the old man was back at the table eating with the family from a plate, and no one ever scolded
him or mistreated him again.
We learn by what we see. If you honor your parents, then there is a good chance that your
children will honor you. That’s the blessing in this commandment. It is like saying the measure
you give shall be the measure you receive.
So here are 5 things we must do if we are going to truly honor our parents.
First, respect them. Paul said in Ephesians, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is
right. Honor your father and mother." But honor or respect is more important than mere
obedience. It’s possible to obey without showing respect. You can do as you’re told and still be
rebellious at heart.
It’s like the little boy who was standing in the back seat of the car, riding down the road with his
parents. His parents told him to sit down and put on his seat-belt because they were concerned
about his safety. His father told him once, then twice, then a third time. His mother looked back
and asked him to sit down. He defiantly said, "No, I will not sit down!" His father told him if he
didn’t sit down he would give him the spanking of his life. So the boy sat down. But then he
said, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside.” I’ve seen that
before. There’s obedience, but there’s no respect.
We tend to honor people whom we think deserve it or earn it –But God says that we are to honor
our parents not just because of what they have done, but simply because of who they are.
Nowhere in this commandment does it tell us that we are to honor them because they are great
parents, or even good parents. We are to honor them because of the position they hold in relation
to our lives.
Second, Value Their Advice. Another way we honor our parents is by valuing their advice.
Proverbs 13:1 says, "A wise son heeds his father’s instruction..." That’s not always an easy
thing to do because most of us have gone through a stage where we didn’t think their parents
know much of anything at all.
I was like most teenagers; I believed that my parents didn’t know a lot about life. But I’ve
learned over the years that they knew a lot more than I gave them credit for. Now when my
father talks, I listen. There are some things that nobody learns except by living, having
experience, failing at some things and bouncing back.
Third, Let Them Know You Appreciate Their Efforts.
Listen to the way Today’s English Version translates Proverbs 23:22: "When your mother is old,
show her your appreciation."
There is a popular trend today in counseling to blame all of a person’s problems on the mistakes
of his or her parents. "You can’t help the way you are," the thinking goes. "It’s not your fault.
Your parents messed you up. You’re the victim.”
Now, the Bible doesn’t say that parents are perfect. God is saying that we should make our
parents feel treasured simply because they have done so very much for us. At birth we were
totally dependent upon them for nurture. The moment we came into this world our parents kept
us warm and fed us and protected us until we were old enough to care for ourselves – so of
course we should be grateful!
According to a recent study done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a family with a child
born in the year 2003 can expect to spend about $170,630 for food, shelter and other necessities
to raise that child over the next 17 years.
I heard about a boy who was talking to a friend at school. He said, "I’m really worried, my dad
works hard to provide for the needs of our home. Mom washes the clothes, prepares the meals,
and keeps the house clean." His friend said, "Well, what in the world are you worried about?"
The boy replied, "I’m afraid they might try and ESCAPE!"
We owe our parents a huge debt of gratitude. They have done so much for us! I don’t know
about you, but it really took becoming a parent myself, before I began to realize how much my
parents did for me. This is the hardest job I’ve ever had. It’s difficult and it’s costly, not just in
terms of finances, but of time, energy, and emotions. If nothing else, we need to thank them
because they took on a difficult job.
Fourth, Meet Their Needs. We read in 1 Timothy 5, "But if any widow has children or
grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is
good and acceptable before God.....But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially
for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Honor of
parents involves, among other things, providing for them when they can no longer provide for
themselves. Did you notice that Paul used the word "repay" here in this verse?
I’ve made mention of the many sacrifices our parents made to take care of us. How can we ever
begin to repay our parents for their time, money and love? Part of the answer comes in meeting
their needs. Just as parents spend twenty years or so providing for the needs of their children,
those children should be willing to spend whatever time and money is necessary to care and
provide for their parents if the parents should become unable to do so for themselves.
Five, Forgive Their Failings. This one really hits home. The older I get the more I realize that I
have been stumbling through this parenting thing. I have tried to make good decisions and
worked hard at preparing my children to be good people. But as I look back I know I made
mistakes. No one told me how to do it. As a result, this experience has humbled me and I realize
my parents went through the same thing. They weren’t perfect but they did the best they could.
Most of us did not live in homes with Donna Reed or Ozzie Nelson. Yet many of our parents
tried their best. To honor them we need to forgive them and move on.
How we treat our parents not only impacts them, it also impacts us. This is where the blessing
can be found. So look for the buried treasure in your own backyard. If you still have your
parents but have been reluctant, embarrassed or simply thoughtless in telling them you love them
or thanking them for what they did for you, don’t make the mistake so many others have lived to
regret. Drop them a note or call just to let them know you are thinking of them. Spend time with
them. Don’t wait til Father or Mother’s Day. Do it today.
One last word -- a challenge, really -- to those of us who are parents: be honorable. Even though
our honor isn’t based on our worthiness, we still need to live a life that makes it easy for our
children to honor us.
We are to be teachers of what is good and right. We’re to teach our children the values that build
character and the God that defines those values. And we’re to model for our children God’s
values and his integrity and unconditional love. If we take our role as God’s authority in the home
seriously, we have reason to hope that when our children leave home they will always choose to
act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with their God. When that happens, we will be
blessed again. So honor your father and your mother and enjoy the blessing of the promise.
Amen.
Exodus 20:12 August 5, 2007
Today I want to talk about a precious gift that God wants us to have and enjoy. Some people
spend their whole life looking for buried treasure. Maybe that’s why we identify with Captain
Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean or Benjamin Gates in National Treasurer. We are all
searching for something out there that will bless us and turn our world upside down. But as we
turn back to our study of the Ten Commandments, the fifth commandment suggests that the real
treasure God has put aside for us is right in our own back yards.
I like the story told about a cross country flight where a pastor was seated next to an atheist. I
know this sounds like the beginning to a bad joke but bear with me.
Every few minutes one of the Pastor’s children or grandchildren would come to his seat to see if
he needed anything - food, drink, something to read. They’d just come and check on him. The
atheist commented, "The respect your children and grandchildren show you is wonderful. Mine
don’t show me that respect. "
"Think about it" the Pastor said. “To my children and grandchildren I am one step closer to God,
the author of life, the one who opened the gates of heaven. They see me and see a man who has
walked with God his whole life. They respect me because of the company I keep.” To yours,
you are just one more monkey climbing up and down the family tree."
That story, in a not-so-subtle way, communicates an important message. It says that our faith or
lack of faith will inform how the people in our lives are viewed and as a result how we will treat
them.
I was in the Providence Place Mall this week and saw a number of bumper stickers in one
novelty shop. A couple of them spoke to me as a middle age parent with children.
The first read "Be nice to your children; they’ll pick your nursing home. "A second one read,
"Honor thy father and mother; they haven’t made their will yet."
We laugh but these bumper stickers are a reflection of a society where our elders are often
looked at as being unimportant and disposable. It happens in the workforce when a person turns
fifty-five. It happens in the home when a child becomes a teenager. It happens in the grocery
store or on the highway whenever someone with gray hair gets in our way.
Having said this, I think we are ready to look at the fifth commandment. “Honor your father and
your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord gave you.”
There are three things to note right off. First, it is one of only two positively stated commands.
The other is the fourth commandment, remember the Sabbath. Second, it is the only command
that comes with a promise, “that you may live a long and happy life.” Third, this commandment
stands in an important location in the list. It is transitional. The first four addressed how we are
to relate to God. The last six, beginning with this one, address how we are to relate to each other.
There is an inference here that suggests how we treat our family, how we treat our parents, will
be a good indicator as to how we treat everyone else. And God says if you learn your lesson
well, it will come back to bless you. If you fail, then you will have to live with the consequences.
One of Grimm’s fairy tales is about a little boy who lived with his father, his mother, and his
elderly grandfather. The grandfather was feeble and his hands shook. When he ate, the
silverware rattled against the plate, and he often missed his mouth. Then the food would dribble
onto the tablecloth. This upset the young mother, because she didn’t want to have to deal with
the extra mess and hassle of taking care of the old man. But he had nowhere else to live.
So the young parents decided to move him away from the table, into a corner, where he could sit
on a stool and eat from a bowl. The young mother said, "From now on, you eat over there." And
so he did, always looking at the table and wanting to be with his family but having to sit alone in
the corner.
One day his hands trembled more than usual; he dropped his bowl and broke it. The young father
yelled, "If you’re going to eat like a pig, you’re going to eat out of a pig’s trough!" So they made
the old man a wooden trough, put his meals in it, and told him to eat out of it. And he did.
Not long after that, the couple came upon their four-year-old son playing out in the yard with
some scraps of wood. His father asked him what he was doing. The little boy looked up, smiled,
and said, “I’m making a trough, to feed you and Mamma out of when I get big.” The next day
the old man was back at the table eating with the family from a plate, and no one ever scolded
him or mistreated him again.
We learn by what we see. If you honor your parents, then there is a good chance that your
children will honor you. That’s the blessing in this commandment. It is like saying the measure
you give shall be the measure you receive.
So here are 5 things we must do if we are going to truly honor our parents.
First, respect them. Paul said in Ephesians, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is
right. Honor your father and mother." But honor or respect is more important than mere
obedience. It’s possible to obey without showing respect. You can do as you’re told and still be
rebellious at heart.
It’s like the little boy who was standing in the back seat of the car, riding down the road with his
parents. His parents told him to sit down and put on his seat-belt because they were concerned
about his safety. His father told him once, then twice, then a third time. His mother looked back
and asked him to sit down. He defiantly said, "No, I will not sit down!" His father told him if he
didn’t sit down he would give him the spanking of his life. So the boy sat down. But then he
said, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside.” I’ve seen that
before. There’s obedience, but there’s no respect.
We tend to honor people whom we think deserve it or earn it –But God says that we are to honor
our parents not just because of what they have done, but simply because of who they are.
Nowhere in this commandment does it tell us that we are to honor them because they are great
parents, or even good parents. We are to honor them because of the position they hold in relation
to our lives.
Second, Value Their Advice. Another way we honor our parents is by valuing their advice.
Proverbs 13:1 says, "A wise son heeds his father’s instruction..." That’s not always an easy
thing to do because most of us have gone through a stage where we didn’t think their parents
know much of anything at all.
I was like most teenagers; I believed that my parents didn’t know a lot about life. But I’ve
learned over the years that they knew a lot more than I gave them credit for. Now when my
father talks, I listen. There are some things that nobody learns except by living, having
experience, failing at some things and bouncing back.
Third, Let Them Know You Appreciate Their Efforts.
Listen to the way Today’s English Version translates Proverbs 23:22: "When your mother is old,
show her your appreciation."
There is a popular trend today in counseling to blame all of a person’s problems on the mistakes
of his or her parents. "You can’t help the way you are," the thinking goes. "It’s not your fault.
Your parents messed you up. You’re the victim.”
Now, the Bible doesn’t say that parents are perfect. God is saying that we should make our
parents feel treasured simply because they have done so very much for us. At birth we were
totally dependent upon them for nurture. The moment we came into this world our parents kept
us warm and fed us and protected us until we were old enough to care for ourselves – so of
course we should be grateful!
According to a recent study done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a family with a child
born in the year 2003 can expect to spend about $170,630 for food, shelter and other necessities
to raise that child over the next 17 years.
I heard about a boy who was talking to a friend at school. He said, "I’m really worried, my dad
works hard to provide for the needs of our home. Mom washes the clothes, prepares the meals,
and keeps the house clean." His friend said, "Well, what in the world are you worried about?"
The boy replied, "I’m afraid they might try and ESCAPE!"
We owe our parents a huge debt of gratitude. They have done so much for us! I don’t know
about you, but it really took becoming a parent myself, before I began to realize how much my
parents did for me. This is the hardest job I’ve ever had. It’s difficult and it’s costly, not just in
terms of finances, but of time, energy, and emotions. If nothing else, we need to thank them
because they took on a difficult job.
Fourth, Meet Their Needs. We read in 1 Timothy 5, "But if any widow has children or
grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is
good and acceptable before God.....But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially
for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Honor of
parents involves, among other things, providing for them when they can no longer provide for
themselves. Did you notice that Paul used the word "repay" here in this verse?
I’ve made mention of the many sacrifices our parents made to take care of us. How can we ever
begin to repay our parents for their time, money and love? Part of the answer comes in meeting
their needs. Just as parents spend twenty years or so providing for the needs of their children,
those children should be willing to spend whatever time and money is necessary to care and
provide for their parents if the parents should become unable to do so for themselves.
Five, Forgive Their Failings. This one really hits home. The older I get the more I realize that I
have been stumbling through this parenting thing. I have tried to make good decisions and
worked hard at preparing my children to be good people. But as I look back I know I made
mistakes. No one told me how to do it. As a result, this experience has humbled me and I realize
my parents went through the same thing. They weren’t perfect but they did the best they could.
Most of us did not live in homes with Donna Reed or Ozzie Nelson. Yet many of our parents
tried their best. To honor them we need to forgive them and move on.
How we treat our parents not only impacts them, it also impacts us. This is where the blessing
can be found. So look for the buried treasure in your own backyard. If you still have your
parents but have been reluctant, embarrassed or simply thoughtless in telling them you love them
or thanking them for what they did for you, don’t make the mistake so many others have lived to
regret. Drop them a note or call just to let them know you are thinking of them. Spend time with
them. Don’t wait til Father or Mother’s Day. Do it today.
One last word -- a challenge, really -- to those of us who are parents: be honorable. Even though
our honor isn’t based on our worthiness, we still need to live a life that makes it easy for our
children to honor us.
We are to be teachers of what is good and right. We’re to teach our children the values that build
character and the God that defines those values. And we’re to model for our children God’s
values and his integrity and unconditional love. If we take our role as God’s authority in the home
seriously, we have reason to hope that when our children leave home they will always choose to
act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with their God. When that happens, we will be
blessed again. So honor your father and your mother and enjoy the blessing of the promise.
Amen.
| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
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