mini sermons

 

s I'm sometimes prone to do, I like to present an editorial lesson in the form of several "mini-lessons." I save up little bits and pieces from everyday things that inspire a scriptural thought and when I have a sufficient amount, I lump them together for you to consider. Here's a few for today.

I would be willing to wager that from the time Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees people have complained about the "younger generations." And, I would further be willing to wager that not one generation passed without this occurring. And I'm no exception to this phenomena either. I heard someone, about my age, make a statement a while back that, I have to admit, I'd never thought about in this light. He said, "We're the last generation that saved to buy something."

I immediately wrote that down and began thinking about it. Here's what I've thought so far. This explains, at least to me, why the current younger generation buys everything "on credit." And that's from a McDonald's cheeseburger to a new house or car. You don't think the banks and or credit card companies passing out cards to high school graduates for the last 30 years or so might possibly have an influence on this type of purchasing, do you? Nah, me neither. (Yeah right)

Now here's what bothers me about this situation. People are now being told, and businesses have even sprung up to teach them how, to NOT pay their debts. From their credit card bills to paying for houses they contracted to purchase. Basically, just walk away from them. The government, like their parents before that, will bail you out.

See, this "younger generation" has been "provided" for all their lives. They've never had to wait (IE: to save up) to obtain whatever it is they want. They want it and they want it now. No waiting. No saving. Just put it on credit and if I can't pay, then I'll just walk away. Somebody will take care of me.

Do you think that this way of thinking, this type of behavior, might possibly carry over into the religious world too? I certainly think that it's possible. Haven't we seen people's attitudes in other areas of behavior influence their ideas about religion? That God works like the government? That however I want to live, however I want to conduct myself, that I can do so and in the end, God, who is love, will bail me out? I don't have to maintain any personal responsibility for my "debts." As if to say, I don't "owe" God anything, but I expect Him to save me. I mean, someone always has.

Next mini-lesson. We've been studying in the book of Proverbs for quite some time now, and one of the reasons I like this study is that these wise sayings are so relevant to everyday life. And, many times, they're echoed by some non-Biblical sayings showing the same principles. I thought about this study a while back when I ran across an "old cowboy proverb." Since Solomon talked a lot about avoiding "fools" and not getting caught up in their "foolish" endeavors, I thought you might like to read what the "old cowboy" said.

    "NEVER APPROACH A BULL FROM THE FRONT....A HORSE FROM

    THE REAR....OR A FOOL FROM ANY DIRECTION."

Just so you'll see what I mean: "Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs, than a fool in his folly" Prov. 17:12

Next mini-lesson: Have you ever had the question asked you, usually by one of your kids or another youngster in class: "How does God see everything and know everything at all times?" Or, the question: "If everybody's praying, how does God hear them all at the same time?" How do you answer that?

I was reminded of these questions recently when my 87 year old uncle posed another one of his statement/questions to me. I've mentioned his questions before and this one is no different in nature than his earlier ones. He first said, "There's cell phones everywhere. Everybody's got one and they shoot their talk up to a Sputnik (does this date him or what?). He then asked me, How does it work? Why don't they get all mixed up?"

My answer: "I don't know." And that applies to both of the aforementioned questions. I just know this - in regards to cell phones and Sputniks - someone with far greater mental abilities than I designed the system and, with a few exceptions, it seems to work most of the time.

But, in regards to God - neither the greatest human mind that ever lived, and especially not mine, can comprehend the infinite mind of God. I don't care how many wonderful things we can invent, how many rocket ships and Sputniks we can shoot into outer space, those abilities are infinitesimal compared to God's abilities. And that's the reason I have to answer "I don't know" because there is no way I can fathom "how He sees all, hears all and knows all our thoughts" (we don't even have to actually speak our prayers out loud - Mt.

Ron Covey