I-10. ENCOURAGEMENT REQUIRES GENEROSITY

(I John 4:12-17)
This is the final message in our Encouragment series:

Encouragement requires generosity and to have generosity we must share our time and energy and resources with each other.

The Scripture says, “They helped every one his neighbor; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage” (Isa. 41:6).

There are many ways to share. The year before he retired, Troy Aikman visited a boy named J.P. who was dying of cancer. When Troy gave him a cap, J.P. asked him if he would throw a pass for him. Troy said he would do better than that. He would make a touchdown for him. J.P.'s mom told Troy that the child probably had only a few more weeks, and Troy told her not to worry, that he would get the job done.

The following week, the Cowboys were playing what some people would call a meaningless pre-season game. The first team was only going to play for one quarter. Toward the end of the quarter, the Cowboys were on the Oakland Raiders fifteen yard line. Troy reached back for a pass but all of a sudden he dashed for the end zone. Two Oakland Raiders tackled him there. J.P.'s mom said that the next day the Dallas press was unmerciful in their criticism. How could Aikman risk injury in a meaningless preseason game? J.P.'s mom said. ‘Troy knew that it was not a meaningless game. He was helping a dying child that night.’

There’s a story about a Navy pilot whose plane was blown apart in Vietnam. He was able to eject from the plane, and his parachute settled him to safety on the ground. Years later,

as he was dining in a restaurant, a man wandered over to his table called him by name and said, "You flew jet fighters in 'Nam and were shot down!"

"How did you know that?" the startled ex-pilot asked.

“Because I packed your parachute!" the other man said with a grin

The ex-pilot grabbed the man's hand and thanked him profusely. "If that parachute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today!"

You see, that man did what he could. Many largely unseen and unknown people provide the emotional, physical and spiritual "parachutes" that we need every day.

As Christians we need to be generous with each other.

To have generosity:

I. WE NEED TO SHARE OUR TIME.

This story was told about the best selling author Claypool (who died Sept. 3, 2005)3. The man was just ahead of Dr. Claypool when he rounded a corner. A disabled child had a table with candy, gum and other snacks. The businessman knocked the little boy and his table to the terminal floor. The table spilled merchandise everywhere. The businessman cursed the vendor for being in the way. Dr. Claypool stopped, picked up the chair, sat the little boy in it, handed him a handkerchief, and began to retrieve all the scattered merchandise and money.

After the boy was "back in business," Dr. Claypool handed him a twenty dollar bill. The child stopped crying and said, "Mister, are you Jesus Christ?" Dr. Claypool smiled and replied, "No, son, I'm not. I’m just trying to do what He would do if He were here."

Ministry is doing what Jesus would do and being what Jesus would be if He were in our shoes. That’s what John meant when he said, “As he is, so are we in this world” (I John 4:17).

It takes so little to make a memory. A man described his family’s vacation to Disney world. He said, “We were chased by pirates. We hugged Goofy. We witnessed 3-D movies and train wrecks at the MGM Studios. We were carried by monorails, cable cars, steam trains, horse-drawn trolleys. But I think the best part of the vacation was the parade.

Each night a spectacular parade of floats covered with strings of lights rolled down Main Street. One evening we were sitting on the curb, watching the parade. Karen, my 8-year-old daughter was waving to Snow White, Mickey Mouse and a host of other characters she recognized. But none of them waved back. Then a number of young women costumed as beautiful butterflies danced by. Karen waved and waved. Then, suddenly, one of the butterflies flitted over, shook Karen's hand and asked, in a beautiful Southern accent, ‘Are you having fun?’

If you ask Karen today what she remembers best about our trip, she’ll tell you that it was a simple greeting from a butterfly.”

As Christians, we must share our time with each other. James said, “Religion that God our Father accepts . . . is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress . . .” (James 1:27).

Then, to have generosity, we must:

II. Share our energy.

An old man said, "When I was just a child, my Father and I went to Mr. Trussel's blacksmith shop. We had left a rake and a hoe to be repaired, and there they were, ready, fixed like new. Father handed over a silver dollar, but Mr. Trussel refused to take it. "No, he said, "I wouldn’t charge for that little job. But Father insisted that he take the dollar.

If I live for a thousand years," the man said, ''I’ll never forget that great man's reply: "Ed, can't you let a man do something now and then—just to stretch his soul?"

Doing little favors, perhaps mere trifles in themselves—making life a little brighter for those we meet—not expecting any return, this is "stretching the soul."

One lady decided to do that. She said, “I could send flowers to that teacher who practically doubled my confidence level the year I was in her class. Attaching a simple thank-you note signed "one of your grateful students" would most likely speak for a hundred others besides me.

Then, I know a little girl who loves Barbie dolls. Just suppose I made a tiny valentine and dropped it off in her mailbox. "To Barbie... From A Secret Admirer." Wouldn't that bring a sparkle to her eye?

And that lonely man who lost his wife. I wonder if I took the time to bake a pie today, and left it on his doorstep with an unsigned note, wouldn't it make him feel less lonely?

Opportunities are all around us

As Christians we must share our energy with each other. Paul said, “Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13).

Finally, to have generosity we must:

III. SHARE OUR RESOURCES.

Everyone has something to share. Wealthy people can donate to charities and endow universities. Talented people can perform or entertain. But, often, it’s the small things that have lasting value.

A World War II Veteran was revisiting Europe. He said, “ The walls of the house were rubble. Fallen rafters jutted out from a heap of debris on the ground. I stood looking at the ruins, my heart beating rapidly as I remembered similar homes where we had so often taken shelter from enemy fire here in Italy.

In faltering Italian I spoke to an old man, who was standing nearby. "Battle damage?" I asked. More than half a century had passed since the Italian campaign, but everything changes slowly in these poor, isolated areas.

The man, dressed in threadbare black, looked me over carefully before answering. "Yes," he said, and then he asked a question of his own. ‘Are you an American?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Were you here in the war?’ ‘Yes.’ At this reply, the man became animated. "I've been wanting to thank an American," he said, grasping my hand. "I was eight when you came to Italy. You know what we remember most? You guys gave us your chocolate. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Now, GIs had risked their lives in Italy, but this man remembered us for the bars of candy. I suspect, it is always the little kindnesses that are remembered.

Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8);

As Christians, we must share our resources with each other. Paul said, “If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously . . .” (Rom. 12:8).

CONCLUSION:

Encouragement includes sharing our time, energy and resources with each other. James said, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16).

John said, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? ” (I John 3:17).

These verses refer to physical gifts, but there are other ways to share. We can share our knowledge, or expertise and our experiences. We can bring out men and women’s potential. We can help others find their niche.

Many people are not aware of their abilities or talents. Not everyone can teach, preach, sing a solo, play an instrument, direct music, or even pray in public. Too often, we feel that if a Christian cannot do one or more of these five major things, he is not much as a Christian. That attitude is wrong! Everyone can find a place of service in the church. A minister said, “Let me give you an example: If you held a gun to my dad’s head and said to him, ‘Neil, pray in public or we are going to pull the trigger,’ he would say, ‘I cannot pray in public. Pull the trigger.’

If you said, ‘Neil, we want you to teach a Sunday School class or we are going to pull the trigger,’ he would again answer, ‘I cannot teach. Pull the trigger.’

‘Neil, we want you to sing a solo.’ ‘Pull the trigger.’

‘Neil, we want you to play an instrument.’ ‘Pull the trigger.’

But my dad have talents. God gives different people different abilities, and consequently different expectations.

Not all of us are saved to serve in the same capacity. In my dad’s church there is not one door that squeaks. You see, he goes around oiling all the hinges. There is not one electrical outlet that does not work. He takes his electrical testers and makes sure they work. There’s not one light bulb that is burned out in the auditorium or the classrooms.”

These services are extremely important. We encourage people by having confidence in them and helping them discover, develop and use their abilities.

Can you point out special talents? Can you give people opportunities to exercise their gifts? Can you share your time and energy and resources on a regular basis? The Scripture says, “Let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may simulate and incite to love and helpful deeds and noble activities; Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together, as is the habit of some people, but . . . encouraging—one another . . .” (Heb. 10:24-25a, Amp).
***

(Word Count 1834)

------------------------------------------------------------------

Please be assured, we do not share addresses with anyone without your permission.

This message is from an unpublished manuscript © copyrighted 2005 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THEM IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE. The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works.

EMAIL SERMON SERVICE is a free service from Diversity Press.

You may find other messages and a book list on our Webpage:
www.diversitypress.net.

Voice messages: 580-286-3148; Fax 580-286-2650.

I have had excellent response to my offer to send books for postage only. I have depleted my supply until I only have about 11 books I can share with you, but I will be happy to send you all the books we have available at this time. All you need to do is reimburse me for the postage which comes to about $3.50 (which is the cost, the last time I mailed them). Please wait until you receive your books before remitting.

Even though my stock of some books is rapidly becoming depleted. I have most of them on a CD which I will send with your order. All I'll need is your Mailing Address and the Word Processing program you use. (I use Word Perfect, but can also supply it in Microsoft Word and ASCII).

Mailing books outside the US is prohibitave, but the cost of mailing a CD is a rather inexpensive way to get copies of our books.

I don't plan to have any more books printed, unless there is a demand for them.

To prevent SPAM filters from deleting messages from Diversity Press (Miles Wesner), please add diversitypress@netscape.net to your address book.

Miles E Wesner