Sermon by Pastor Dale Wolcott

February 24, 2001

(Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version unless noted)

Let’s begin by reading three Bible verses - each a quote from Jesus. Matthew 19:23, 24; Revelation 3:17; and Matthew 6:21. In these verses Jesus speaks to us as Americans, telling us this is the most spiritually handicapped nation on earth today.

Now let’s read them:

Matthew 19:23-24, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Revelation 3:17, "Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ -- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."

Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

That's the trouble with treasure. That's why America is so spiritually handicapped. Let's think about this a bit. What percent of the world's population lives in the U.S.? Only 6 percent.

What percent of the world's wealth do those 6 percent hold? Fifty-nine percent.

Now contrast that with the fact that the majority of all the people in the world live on less than $2 per person per day. [Ronald J. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, 4th ed., p. 2. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1997.] And in which parts of the world is the gospel going the most quickly? The poorer parts of the world.

Yes, America is a spiritually handicapped nation! Our hearts are with our treasure -- right here on earth. And even as Christians, simply because we live in America, we have got to learn how to cope with this serious spiritual handicap, according to Jesus.

We often speak of our blessings -- I thank God for them, usually 3 times per day! We are blessed! Even people who live below the poverty level -- some of us do -- are wealthy by global standards. People who have to live on around $30/day are considered below federal poverty level; yet the majority of the world's population lives on $2/day or less.

But Jesus said those material blessings are a spiritual handicap. It's hard for rich people to get into heaven! In another place, the Bible says that God has "chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith." (James 2:5)

Before I go any further: Nancy and I have been here 15 months; we have been amazed and in awe of the faithful generosity of the people in these two churches (Mt. Pleasant and Midland Seventh-day Adventist). I want to mention the faithful workers at our Community Services Center on Carpenter Jefferson Street where needed clothing and household items are collected, sorted and given back to those who need assistance; Tri-City Seventh-day Adventist School would not exist without the generous commitment of the Midland church. In addition to that, we support a substantial Worthy Student Fund; and recently we've committed to a Frontier Mission Project in Africa. It's wonderful to preach on stewardship when the church's finances are in good condition!

But because the Bible talks so much about money, I believe it's important for us to talk about it here at church on a regular basis. This morning, let's look for a Bible formula for coping with this handicap. Open your Bibles to 1 Timothy 6; take your worksheet.

Paul concludes his first letter to Timothy with a whole chapter, basically, on how to relate to money. The theme of the chapter is found in verse 10, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." That's the trouble with treasure -- what it does to our heart. So I've titled the worksheet "Overcoming the Treasure Handicap."

Note that chapter 6 addresses two different groups of people; or rather, Paul instructs Timothy how to address the two different groups: the "Have-nots" and the "Haves."

The Roman world had basically two kinds of people -- slave owners and slaves; haves and have-nots. Only a few were in between, leaving a large gap between the rich and the poor. Which group would you expect was larger, haves or have-nots? Yes, the have-nots.

So Paul speaks first to "bond-servants," have-nots. He says more to them than to the wealthy people. We'll not spend a lot of time on this first section, but note that poor people can have trouble with treasure too. In verses 1and 2 he says to slaves, "Honor your master." And if your master is a Christian, all the more reason to serve him with diligence and respect. There's nothing in the Bible about organizing ourselves into labor unions, or trying to force employers to treat "us" fairly. Yes, even for the people who don't have much money, he mentions a couple of "treasure handicaps:"

Vs. 5, they may "suppose that godliness is a means of gain."

Vs. 9, they may "desire to be rich."

But let's come quickly to verse 17. My Bible gives as heading for verses 17-19, "Instructions to the Rich." What's the handicap of the "haves"? (This is talking about us now!) Let’s read verse 17a "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty." In the King James Version it says, "be not high-minded." Also in Romans 12:16 Paul admonishes, "mind not high things."

Okay, shall we have a show of hands: How many haughty folks do we have here this morning? NO! Just kidding! I might be able to think of someone else who's a bit haughty, but not me.

If you spend some time on an Indian reservation out west, as Nancy and I did, (or any other of the world's "poverty pockets,") you'll soon discover in yourself a terrible tendency to think, "I know better than they do because I have more than they do." That's being "haughty."

After World War II, Americans launched into the biggest foreign-aid program in history of the planet. America was both generous and wealthy. At the same time, Americans started traveling overseas in large numbers. In 1968 a book was published that shocked all of us generous, good-hearted American tourists. The title was The Ugly American, and it depicted the American tourist as the rest of the world saw us: arrogant, condescending, demeaning -- ugly -- or, to use a Bible word: "haughty."

Only humble people can enter heaven. And it's hard to be humble when you're as great as we are! So we are talking about a serious handicap.

Going on in verse 17 - "nor to trust in uncertain riches." America truly believes that riches are a sure thing. We Americans believe that the free market economy is the world's savior -- don't we? Thanks to Alan Greenspan and people like him, economic growth can be expected to go on indefinitely -- can't it? If you put your savings into a 401k or an IRA and invest it in good solid mutual funds, in 30 years you will be able to retire very comfortably -- won't you? Some of you have done it!

But the Bible says, maybe so, maybe not. Riches are uncertain. Don't put your trust there.

And that's hard! It's as hard as trying to thread a camel thru the eye of a needle. But brothers and sisters, I believe we're going to see a global economic meltdown that will make the Great Depression of the 1930's look like a picnic. People who have put their trust in uncertain riches are going to be committing suicide left and right. And then when Jesus comes, the ones who still have some left are going to be throwing it to the moles and bats and saying, "It's worthless!"

So what is the formula for overcoming the treasure handicap? First, note verses 6-8 -- counsel to the non-wealthy majority. As we read this, we naturally apply it to ourselves, and we should. But remember that this was written to that majority of the world's population who live on under $2/day. So before you read this, imagine yourself living in a cardboard shantytown next to the municipal dump in Juarez, Mexico (across border from El Paso, TX). The only oranges your little girl has ever tasted are the half-rotten ones she finds in the heaps of garbage where your whole family makes its living by scavenging the leftovers thrown away by the wealthy people of the city. But you and your family start attending a Bible study held by some Christian people, and you're reading Timothy. (This really happens again and again, all around the world, and people with almost nothing find strength and joy and salvation in these words.) Listen now with your heart. This is not a command or an exhortation; it's a statement of fact, a promise: "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content."

Elsewhere Paul says, "Be content with such things as you have" (Hebrews 13:5). In India, Africa, the Philippines, the former Soviet Union, hundreds of Seventh-day Adventist people

who live on one-tenth what we live on are leaving their homes and incomes and becoming Global Mission pioneers in their own countries. When I read the stories, it's clear these brothers and sisters of ours have learned the secret of contentment, as Paul and Timothy had.

"But I want a better computer, a newer car, another pair of Nikes . . ." Oh Lord, forgive us. Oh Lord, teach us to be content.

Some years ago a couple of wealthy Americans took an overseas sightseeing tour. They were Christians and as they traveled, they made contact with local missionaries, who often were glad to show them around. Well, these American tourists (I hope they weren't ugly Americans!) were traveling with a missionary in a rural area of Korea when one noticed an unusual sight.

"Stop," he said, "I want to take a picture." So they stopped and saw a boy pulling a plow while an older man was guiding it across the field.

"They must be very poor," the wealthy tourist said to the missionary.

"Yes, they are," responded the missionary quietly. "That is the family of Chi Nun. When the church was being built they were eager to give something for it, but they had no money. So they sold their only ox and gave the money for the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves."

The two Americans were silent. Finally one said, "I think I've learned something about sacrifice. I've never in my life given anything to the church that really cost me anything."

"Oh, no," said the missionary, "they didn't consider it a sacrifice. They considered themselves fortunate to have an ox they could give." Having food and clothing, they were content. They had overcome their treasure handicap.

But now let's go back to verse 17. If you're a have-not, contentment may be all you need to overcome your treasure handicap. But we Americans need something more than contentment if we're going to successfully cope with our specific handicap of superabundance. It's too easy to be content in America! The contented American Christian is the Laodicean Christian -- rich, increased with goods, having need of nothing.

Let's finish reading verse 17, then we’ll see the formula in verse 18. "Command those who are rich . . . not . . . to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy."

We need to "trust in the living God." In 1956 the United States Congress adopted as America's official motto: "In God we Trust." Guess where they wrote it? On the coins. Some people think it's a misprint that is was intended to say, "In gold we trust."

Now verse 18 - your specific formula for overcoming the treasure handicap: "Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share...." Someone says, Americans do that. Americans are generous people. And it's true; in one recent year, Americans donated $2.3 billion for charity. Pretty impressive, isn't it? . . . until you find out that in the same year we also spent the $2.3 billion on chewing gum . . . and $49 billion on soda pop!

The way we keep our treasure from stealing our heart is not by trying to figure out how much of it we can spend on ourselves, or how much we can salt away for a comfortable retirement. The way we keep our treasure from stealing our hearts is by trying to figure out how much we can give away! How much we can invest in eternal things, which means storing it up in heaven.

The only wealthy person -- and all of us are wealthy by global standards -- whose treasure isn't causing him trouble, isn't handicapping him, is the person whose primary financial question is not, "How can I keep this, or How can I get more," but "How little can I keep and how much can I give away? How can I do the most good with what I have? How can I be an open channel for God's blessings?" For where your treasure goes, that's where your heart is going to go.

As we close, I want to share a dream I have. Some of you are already giving like the Korean farmer. You're finding contentment in living simply; you're finding joy in giving sacrificially. That's why we have a Community Service Center; a school; a frontier mission project; and many other ministries, plus money in the bank when emergencies arise. But I believe God has plans for us in Midland that we may not have dreamed of yet. What would happen if every member of this church purposed to get out of debt and live as simply as possible, so we could put more of our heart in heaven? What would happen if each of us were trying to figure out how much we could give away? What would happen if every member of this church purposed to give a second tithe, or maybe more, as freewill offerings for special missionary projects?

When Nancy and I were married we decided to start out by giving a second tithe, and the Lord blessed us. So over the years we've looked for ways to increase the percentage we return to the Lord. The last time we got a pay raise, we decided we could add another half a percent to our monthly giving. It's fun to figure out how much we can give back to God!

What would happen if the main item of business at every church business meeting was how to spend what had come in to the personal ministries fund, or the evangelism fund, or the community involvement fund, or perhaps a health evangelism fund? What would happen if we were doing a mailing of some kind of gospel literature or Bible study offer every three months, and then visiting those who responded? What would happen if anybody who wanted and needed to go through the Battle Creek Lifestyle Health Center program knew they could apply for church sponsorship and there was a fund that would cover it? What would happen if we were able to set up a Wellness Clinic or an ongoing Lifestyle Evangelism Program that would put the Seventh-day Adventist health message "on the map" in Midland? What would happen if the Midland and Mt. Pleasant churches had an annual short-term Mission Trip to Latin America, or maybe to an Indian reservation out west somewhere, or maybe even to an inner-city mission field in Detroit or Chicago?

You can think of more ideas -- folks, everything in this world is going to burn. I want my treasure in heaven; what about you?

You have a pink card in your hands, a personal stewardship commitment for the current year, 2001. Set some percentage targets; stretch yourself. Note the letters SGG, for "Suggested Giving Guide," including 4% for our local church combined budget (this includes school subsidy, Sabbath School expense and personal ministries as well as operating costs for the church building.)

Don't ask, how much do I have to give? Ask, how much more can I give? This is between you and God. No one will ask you what you decided. But write it down and keep it with your Bible . . . or your checkbook. This guide is to help you cope with your handicap!

Sergio Conde was the chief tax collector in Juárez, Mexico, across border from El Paso, Texas, back in 1973. Like Zacchaeus, the famous tax collector in the Bible, Sergio and his wife lived very comfortably. They often shopped at the most exclusive jewelers and clothiers in El Paso. Sergio had grown up poor, but he had always wanted to be rich, and now he enjoyed nothing more than seeing his wife in diamonds and furs, and driving one of the most luxurious vehicles in the city.

One day in his tax office he found himself looking across his desk at a lady from another very wealthy family in Juárez -- a former classmate, in fact, of his wife's, in an American school in El Paso. He knew this lady was involved in some charitable causes, but the reason he had called her in was to inform her that the illegal store she was operating for the "dump people" out at the municipal landfill must apply for a business license and collect sales taxes like everybody else in town. If not, Sergio had decided, he was going to arrest her and close the operation down.

But after listening to this lady tell what they were doing for the "dump people," he found himself saying, "Well, you can continue to operate your store, but only if I receive a report of its activities every week." So he began getting weekly reports on "the Lord's Store" from members of a prayer group in El Paso that operated the store as part of their "dump ministry." And then he and his wife began making trips with her friend out to the landfill to visit the dump people. And then they began attending the evening Bible study group.

One evening, the pastor who led the Bible study, and the dump ministry, said, "We've got another big deficit down at the Lord's Store. We're going to pass the hat, just put in whatever you can." Five hundred dollars came in at that meeting, but it wasn't enough to meet the deficit.

That night as they were getting ready for bed Sergio noticed his wife rummaging in a dresser drawer. She came across the room with something in her hand. "Sergio, I love this gold bracelet because you gave it to me on our anniversary. But . . . would it be okay if I give it for the Lord's Store?"

And when Sergio opened his mouth to protest, he saw in his mind's eye a little girl he'd noticed the week before out at the dump, eating a rotten orange.

The bracelet covered the deficit at the Lord's Store for a week. They began looking around their house for things they could sell: A television set...an antique vase...some silverware...a fur coat. And the more they gave away, the happier they were. Eventually Sergio quit his job to become manager of the Lord's Store.

Then came the day when Sergio's banker called him to tell him they had withdrawn the last of their savings. That same weekend, as he and his wife sat in church in El Paso, he opened his wallet and saw three one-dollar bills. He looked at his wife with a question in his eyes. She nodded yes. He put the three dollars in the plate. That afternoon they drove the long way around to get home; they didn't have money for the toll bridge. And as they drove they wondered how they were going to pay the bills.

At eight o’clock that evening, the phone rang. It was a man who had borrowed $5,000 from Sergio, years before. He was apologizing for not paying it back. The check was in the mail, he said. Sergio says it's been like that ever since.

Here’s the final paragraph of the story he wrote: "Once in a while when Lucia and I are passing a jewelry store we look in the window to enjoy the lovely things there. We don't own jewelry now, but that's not because we're too poor. We simply don't equate abundance with money. I no longer try to chase away the specter of poverty by surrounding ourselves with things. I don't need to. We're far too rich." [Sergio Conde Varela, "More Than Enough," Guideposts, Oct. 1997, pp. 14-17.]

In conclusion, let’s read verse 19: "Storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

Treasure laid up in heaven never causes trouble!

Our hymn of response is #634, "Come, All Christians, Be Committed."