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For What It’s Worth
Tony E Dillon Hansen
18 August 2019
A Sermon based upon Hebrews 11:29-12:2, Luke 12:49-56, Jeremiah
23:23-29
Let us begin with prayer. May the words of my mouth and
meditations of all of our hearts be accepted in Your sight, Our Rock and Our
Redeemer!
For our lesson today, I would like for us to consider the
phrase, “for what it’s worth.” Today, we will put Hebrews in the “for what it’s
worth” department. We talked last week and were given the example of Abraham
and Sarah as foundational examples of faith. This chapter that we have been
reading is chronology of faith journeys that appear throughout the Hebrew
Bible.
History.
So why are given this history, and for what it’s worth, I
enjoy reading about history, and I know how many in my high school consider it
a snoozefest or the coach’s job. Yet what happened, who are the characters and the
stories of why things may have happened the way they did is fascinating.
So why do these people get lifted from the scrolls of time
and trials as markers of faith? If you are sitting in a prison like Paul was,
you might find interesting connections to your story as well. Broadly, the lesson from Hebrews reminds us
of trials of many that came before us.
Yet, this poses an interesting question for us today as
to why do we study history?
I would say that history can teach us about where we have
come so long as we don’t sanitize it. The Bible is full of stories (some
powerful stories of perseverance, faith and some as tremendous failures).
Depending upon which prophet and even books of chronicles, the Bible likes to
tell different perspectives of the same stories: e.g. exodus, law, exile, good
and bad kings and return from exile – reminding us there is more than one way
to describe events.
Each of these are lessons about our humanity, our
community and our connection to the Creator (or rejection of). The thing about
these stories is they are, in fact, lessons, and lessons typically have some
journey that involves a “teaching moment.” Saturday and weeknight cartoons used
to have section that were dedicated to these whether He-Man’s “moral of the
story”, Gi-Joe’s “knowing is have the battle…” or entire shows like Sesame
Street. These days, for what its
worth, I am a fan of Law and Order type drama because they also share a
moral dilemma, a tale with a teaching moment.
How do we heed lessons?
Still, we could go further with that question about
lessons: what does history teach us if we do not heed those lessons of our past?”
For what it’s worth, remember the old adage, “those, who do not study history,
are condemned to repeat it” but tweaked to “those, who study history and ignore
its lessons, also are condemned.” So what does the Bible, Hebrews and God teach
us in these moments that are important for us today? (Great question!)
The clue may be a little further into the text that
includes one of my favorite verses.
Hebrews 12: 7-8,10-12.
7 Endure trials for the sake
of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a
parent does not discipline? 8 If you do not have that discipline in which all children share,
then you are [lost]. 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them,
but [God] disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share divine
holiness. 11 Now, discipline always
seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the
peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your
drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make good paths for your feet, so that what
is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Grit.
This can described in one word: “grit.” In order for us
to really understand the Gospels, Bible stories and our relationship with our
Creator, these lessons of faith tell us how people had the “grit” to proceed
and to do right. Even those that failed,
failed “daring greatly” and discipline to keep going. They had “discipline” to find strength to use
their gifts of faith.
Dimensions of Discipline
What is discipline? Some immediately conjure the image of
strict, inflexible parent model that commands and we obey, but that is
over-simplification. For one, this model can lead to significant abuses. Essentially,
discipline is adherence to something, to the good, to perseverance, to finance,
to spirit, to health, to diet, - or even pain and abuse. To what do you adhere?
Yes, discipline is a tool, but discipline is more than command
and obedience. Discipline is finding strength (grit) and finding relationships.
It is an opportunity for each of us to reflect, to live and to shine.
Discipline is better?
Does discipline make us better than others? Some like to
wear this like a scout badge to be admired. As a wrestler and taekwondo
competitor, discipline is what helps athletes achieve and some become champions
because they do the necessary. Discipline
opens opportunities for relationships and growing strength to meet goals
because the truth is that journey-to-the-goal is full of even more opportunities
-- ways that we, in our own little ways, might dare greatly – even when it
feels like for what it’s worth is difficult. You would think sports like
these invoke a personal discipline, however even the most talented person needs
and wants help – a sparring partner, a coach, a parent, a spouse, a team, a
spirit.
Even when we don’t feel like it is worth, discipline helps
us find strength because we are not alone.
If we look at verse 12:10, God is rewarding us for “good
in order that we may share” our gifts with our community and our
Earth. So, Hebrews is not saying we need
to keep silent about our faith or our struggle because it is real – precisely because,
it is our stories and your story. Your story is one that needs to be told.
Telling that story is not always easy, but it is your story and your faith that
needs shared.
This is the history of faith stories that we study in
church. We are more than ourselves through our connections to our community,
our mutual stories and to our God. What
is our community without our diligence to share it, help it and nurture it?
What is our community if we do not learn the lessons from our past so that we
might have discipline for today?
For what it is worth, faith is precious because it is
part of our story. Discipline is precious when we nurture our relationship (our
covenant) rather than command and obey.
Discipline and faith are precious when use our gifts to do the good work
and share those gifts.
We might trip and fall once in a while or face
overwhelming obstacles, but you are not alone.
We have this whole church and our Creator ready to help. Yes, faith and discipline are more than
single dimensions, but opportunities to see light in darkness; Opportunities to persevere when times are
tough; Opportunities to see flowers or find vegetables in our garden of weeds.
Through faith and discipline, we are reminded that your
stories and your treasured hearts are precious.
Through faith and discipline, your story connects us together
in community and church.
Through faith and discipline, you are not alone.
Let that reassure you.
Thanks Be to God.
