September 15 “Living Abundantly” John 10:10
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)
**We will re-open church services on Sunday, September 27, 2020. 11:00 service with safety procedures in place.**
What is the worth of an individual? How can we count value? Growing up in a farm community in rural eastern Wayne County, there was one farmer that everyone considered to be of great value. He had the newest equipment, the nicest trucks, the largest house and the largest labor force, in the area. The man was a living example of the “Worldly” view of worth and value! It so happened, that one day, we happened to be at A.O. Price’s store, at the same time. Keeping in mind, I was not in a hurry, yet, I was next in line to be checked out. As I approached the counter, this “Well to Do” farmer broke in front of me and set his stuff down on the counter. Having been taught to be respectful of my elders, I politely said, “Sir, I was next!” Well, what he said next has lingered with me for a lifetime. He looked back at me, as if I were an irritating and nasty dog, and said those immortal words, “Do you know who I am? I am in a hurry and my time is certainly more valuable than some trash!” Needless to say, this “Wealthy and Respected member of our community immediately occupied the last space on my respect list! This was the man that I had been led to believe that was the bastion of virtue and the one that we should respect, just because his pockets were full? I went home and told Mama about my encounter with this “Great Man!” She smiled and she told me that, just because some people have earthly wealth, does not guarantee spiritual and Godly wealth. So, how could it be that this man, who seemingly was blessed in every area and was held up as an example of what we young boys should aspire to be, was nothing more than a wealthy rude and hateful old man? When Daddy got home, I shared the story with him and, as always, he spoke in some type of combination of parable and riddle (Absolutely Nerve-Racking). Finally, he said, Psalm 37:16…“A little that a righteous man has it better than the riches of many wicked.” “Pray for him, son! He is, actually, a good guy who has had some hard times!” He has Hard Times? Come to find out, his wife was very sick with cancer and one of his son’s was an alcoholic and all that he really had was the money! How sad! This man had an abundance of living, yet no life! I asked daddy, “What can I do to help him?” “Leave it alone Son!” “All you can do is pray!” That just didn’t rest well with me. Surely, there was something that I could do! It just so happened that I was riding my bike down the road that he lived on and I noticed that his grass needed mowing and the weeds needed pulling from his flower garden, so, I rode home, attached the lawnmower to my bike and away I rode. I mowed the grass and I was on my knees when he pulled up. I noticed that his wife was with him. He bounded out of the truck and asked me, in a somewhat unfriendly voice, just what I thought I was doing. I said, “Sir, I am just trying to help!” “Well I am not going to pay you!” “I didn’t do it for money; I did it because you needed help!” “What is your name, boy?” I told him and he said, “Oh yeah, you’re Brock’s boy!” As his was helping his wife from the truck, I noticed the amazing smile on her face. She spoke so softly that I could barely hear her. She said, “Thank God and Thank You!” I moved to help and he started to say something and his wife said, “Thank you so much!” Making this long story short, his wife (through much prayer) beat the cancer, his son received treatment and is a recovering alcoholic (Still today) and I continued to maintain their yard, with pay! One day, while I was cleaning out the barn shelter, this “Wealthy Man” came outside and asked me if I had a moment to talk. I told him absolutely. He seemed troubled, as he shifted from side to side, with his head looking down. “I have been meaning to ask you why you chose my yard, back some weeks ago, to cut without me asking you to!” I shared the story of my encounter with him, at the store, and the caustic way in which he treated me. “So, I treat you like crap and you decide that helping me was the proper response?” “Sir, my parents have taught me to treat folks like I want to be treated, however, that is just part of the answer. Because of my faith in God and my relationship with Jesus, I felt it necessary to show you love, not scorn and I chose to show you by a tangible expression!” He shook his head and he asked how long that I had been like this (almost as if it were an affliction). A couple of weeks later, I brought Daddy with me to visit them, and I had been praying (Remember, that was my instructions) that this “Wealthy” neighbor would be receptive to Daddy and to Jesus. Daddy shared Jesus; this man accepted Jesus and he requested that I baptize him in his farm pond! Guess What? I almost dropped him, yet I did it! Just a few years later, I was honored to be a part of his celebration of life service. What started out as a negative, ended in a positive! My friend, my neighbor went from bitter to sweet; from hateful to pleasant; from lost to saved! Regardless of the amount of money in your pocket, your abundant living is fully and completely dependent on the Saving Grace of God through Jesus Christ! What God does with you always will depend on you! Choose to serve!! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!