Word of Salvation – Vol. 54 No.4 – January 2009
Taking,Breaking Or Making?
A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema
on Heidelberg Catechism, LD 42
Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-10
Congregation…
How would you feel if you were told a story like the one we read from 2 Samuel 12? A story that tells you of something so absolutely unfair you cannot help but grow very angry. What a terrible injustice! A devastating example of man’s inhumanity to man. How could anyone treat someone the way that rich man treated the poor man, just taking his lamb?
The reaction of David to this must be shared by all. We would have to say what he said: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!” For sure he has to be punished! How could anyone ever think of stealing like this? Ah, that’s the crunch, isn’t it? We all have stolen. David stole by taking Bathsheba away from Uriah, by getting him killed at the battlefront. David’s theft appears especially bad, but each of us has taken in some way or another what wasn’t ours.
The LORD in the 8 th Commandment is reminding us that through stealing we have actually taken from Him! He who is the King over all, and who should be Master of our lives through His Son Jesus Christ, shows us we should be loving Him as the Giver of all that we have. How lovingly He describes His giving through His servant Paul in Romans 8:32: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
Friends – He does give us all things! We take what we shouldn’t because we don’t trust the Great Giver! And that’s no way to have a relationship. Especially not the one relationship that matters most of all!
That’s why we have to learn to be more like Him. In the words of Ephesians 5:2, we have to learn “to live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Yes, let’s learn how to give!
Before we think about our giving, let’s see first how we’ve been taking from others; or misusing what we ourselves have been given. So, following the Catechism, we serve our Lord when there is:
NO TAKING… NO BREAKING… BUT MAKING.
No Taking
Congregation… firstly there is NO TAKING! There are so many ways in which we can take wrongly! Look at that list in Answer 110. Forget any excuse about not being so bad that you’ve never robbed a bank or anything like that, because every possible avenue is covered! All those dodges which make us seem like clever people, all kinds of deception – even bold up-front extras!
Here are a few modern examples… fraud, larceny, looting, loan-sharking, swindling, shop-lifting, blackmail, conning, counterfeiting, cheating, purse-snatching, pilfering, plagiarising… Quite a list! And it all describes when we TAKE something that doesn’t belong to us.
How about the way you fill out your company’s tax return? Are you tempted to add a little extra? You know, just to throw in that receipt for what’s really a private item rather than a business cost. Students – what about when you sit a test at school? Aren’t you tempted to do all you can to get that good mark – to pass? Even if it means cheating a little? And what about when we find something? Is it finders keepers? Is possession really nine-tenths of the law?
Yes, we can come up with all kinds of excuses to justify what we’ve done. But God’s Word – the Bible – doesn’t let us get away with it. Instead Scripture is very clear.
About lost property Deuteronomy 23:13-16 says, “If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, don’t ignore it but be sure to take it back to him. If the brother does not live near you or you don’t know who he is, take it home with you and keep it until he comes looking for it. Then give it back to him. Do the same if you find your brother’s donkey or his cloak or anything he loses. Don’t ignore it.”
Don’t ignore it. These words tell us we are responsible to care for what belongs to our neighbour. The last thing we should be doing is taking something that doesn’t belong to us. Ah, but in this age of electronic wizardry, with tremendous scientific advances, we often steal without realising. I mean, you tape television programs on a video recorder. That’s okay. Did you know making a copy of a movie is illegal? Have you thought about the music you’re down-loading off the net? We all have to be very certain we’re doing the right thing. Then we show a very clear example to those around us.
I’m sure you have noticed the way unbelievers are quick to see when a Christian is wrong! No matter how obscure the offence; or even if they break that law themselves; lo and behold, if they catch you doing it, then they know the law very well!
Congregation, unbelievers should not force us to do the right thing. We ought to be careful to know and do the right thing all along!
A Christian friend once found a wallet with a huge amount of money in it. Instead of keeping it as many others would have done, he brought it into the Police Station. Just a day later he had a most grateful man coming to his house to thank him personally. That man was amazed and so pleased that the money had been handed in to the Police. What a loving way that believer showed his faith – and he told that man that’s why he did it. He was concerned for someone else. By respecting the property of others we also shine the light of Jesus.
No Breaking
But, secondly, for us there must also be… NO BREAKING. That’s how Answer 110 concludes: “In addition He – that is, God – forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts.”
You may be wonder why I use the word “breaking”? Congregation, God’s gifts are good. But we so easily make them bad; we distort and break them up from what they were meant to be. We sing this in one of our hymns: “All that we have is Yours alone, A trust, O Lord, from you.” It’s all God’s! It’s not ours! We must not misuse or abuse anything.
The attitude which says, “It’s mine; I worked for it, and I’m going to do with it what I want” is absolutely wrong. We don’t have anything. We’re only stewards placed here to manage what belongs to our heavenly Father.
This is the point of The Parable of the Talents, found in Matthew 25. In this story a man goes on a journey. To three of his servants he entrusts different amounts of money. With these talents of money each of those servants is called to work hard for their Master. Two actually do that. However, the third abuses his talent, and is thrown out. In the same way, we all have different gifts within the Church, which is Christ’s Body. That’s why it’s not simply a matter of whether or not to steal, but how we show what we’ve been given in a positive way. Kingdom service is the serving of the King and dedicating everything for His glory.
After all, we believe that because of His ascension Jesus is now at God’s right hand directing all things for good. So how are we showing appreciation for His good gifts right now? Do we actually realise what we have?
The writer of Proverbs 30:7-9 asked God: “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God.”
That seems like a nice balance to have. But just the fact that the writer asks for it from the Lord shows that it’s more of a wish than a reality. The situation as it stands is that we have all been given different talents, and different amounts of wealth. The one may have five talents. The other two. And yet another just the one talent. But each one of us has to use what we’ve got for God’s glory!
Even the ability to give money is a gift from God. Romans 12:8 tells us: “…if one’s gift is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously.” Oh you who are so blessed financially; your homes are well supplied; your clothes are fashionable; are you breaking ? Are all those excellent things you have also reflecting the high value of your giving back to God? Surely you aren’t like the child who, straightaway after getting his Christmas presents, wrecks them? Or do you lovingly care for what God has given you?
Brethren, let’s know what we have, and let’s learn how to use it in the very best way. This starts with the Lord. We can show this clearly with that rich man in Nathan’s story. He had everything – sheep, cattle, a nice home, and much property. But he wanted more. As he had become rich through his greed, so now it’s that same greed which makes him take from the poor man. He served his own selfish wishes. He was looking after the Number 1 is his life – yes, himself !
But who is Number 1? God of course!
But Making
That means there must be MAKING… using what we’ve been given for good; to truly serve the LORD. The third part to our Lord’s Day. This is where we show the difference Jesus makes in our lives. In the words of Ephesians 4:28, “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”
Dear believer, we show our thankfulness to God by MAKING. Zaccheus is an example of this. Do you remember him, boys and girls? Zaccheus was that short man who had to climb into a sycamore-fig tree to be able to see Jesus. He was the chief tax-collector and was very rich.
Jesus called him down out of that tree and insisted on staying at his house that day. Wasn’t Zaccheus, after all, the worst of sinners? He was a tax-collector! Yes, Zaccheus had been a terrible sinner, just like we have been. But his meeting with our Lord changed his life. Of his own free will he stood up and said to Jesus in Luke 19:8, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Zaccheus has gone from serving himself to serving God! Gone was his previous concern to make it rich; now he was concerned for others.
This is exactly the thought of Answer 111. Because we now know that this commandment shows us the way of love! What else can these words mean? Listen to them: “That I do whatever I can for my neighbour’s good, that I treat others as I would like others to treat me, and that I work faithfully so that I may share with those in need.” Christians care! And we care because Christ Jesus cared for us with His immense compassion.
It’s well known that church folk give more than twice as much to charities as unbelievers. But then there are also those constant acts of caring – practical help – which happen all the time between believers. Just think for a moment of constant acts of caring – done in our church. There are those who help drive others around; those who visit the sick; those who ring up, send cards; the prayers through which we appeal to God for the poor; and the offerings.
On top of all that we have the highest form of care shown whenever the Gospel is preached. Whether from the pulpit or with a simple sharing, when we communicate the gospel we give also with spiritual treasures. Friends, we’re busy MAKING. This is so opposite to TAKING and BREAKING that it shines out the love of the Lord. As we go out of our way to be MAKING something to share, we reflect Jesus, who went all the way to death on the cross.
And when we’re busy with others, God gives us an even better gift. It’s called contentment . Brother, sister… you compare what you enjoy with those who don’t have faith. The world isn’t happy with what they have. They cry out for more and more. In fact, doesn’t the whole advertising industry exist simply because they feed on this frenzy of self-fulfilling desire?
Yet you, in following your Lord, have the utmost satisfaction. You’ve got just what you need. Even when it’s not much at all. You don’t want for anything at all! Real peace is not found in some passing earthly fad, all of which thrives on doing our own thing; real peace is found in serving God. Then we MAKE together the most beautiful response to His great love.
In the words of Hebrews 13:15-16, “Through Jesus, therefore, let’s continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Congregation – we’ll have all eternity to do it! Our Master will be there! The One who always thinks about us! What bliss beyond compare! But, you know, we can already begin to have it here!
Amen.
PRAYER:
Let’s pray…
Dearest Lord Jesus, what a light you have shone on our lives! We already now can reflect part of the brightness of who you are! Oh, do make us shine! Lord, so work in our lives that we can’t but help show who we know in our deepest heart!
Amen.