LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“Easy Gain, Lots of Pain”
1 Kings 21:1-16
8/2/20
8th Comm pretty obvious one: “You shall not steal”
lines up w/ our natural sense of morality, right & wrong
stands at base of most ethical, moral, legal systems
might be reason why, interestingly enough, Bible doesn’t actually say much about it
so obvious, don’t need to explore very deeply why should obey
remember: this summer not why we should obey, how to obey
but how commandment brings grace & healing for wounds of humanity
8th comm to address wound of taking easy way to get what we want
wound: easy because do it at expense of others
In order to recognize is problem or wound, need to be able to put self in other’s shoes
empathize: see world from their perspective
and once do this, actually care about it
make decisions that take other people’s welfare into account
unfortunately, more & more people unable/unwilling to do so
read book recently: narcissism (caring only/primarily about self) on the rise
See perfect example of this in Ahab & Jezebel, what did to man named Naboth
Ahab k of Isr: kingdom prospered militarily & economically under him
but dark period of lack of devotion to Lord: pagan wp promoted by wife Jezebel
story illustrates their moral bankruptcy: seek gain for self at expense of other
Ahab wanted vineyard: close to palace, perhaps to consolidate lands
or perhaps building project: no such thing as eminent domain
asked Naboth to sell, or exchange: at surface, seems reasonable
until remember importance of land: ancestral property must remain in family
commonly held value of society: Naboth refused
but Ahab only cared about what he wanted, not Naboth’s values
sulked like spoiled child about not getting his way
Jezebel brings in theft-oriented mindset: total loss of empathy in the process
“Is this how you act as king over Israel?”
as king, your desire more important than what Naboth wants
your needs matter more than his, because have power to get what you want
OK to use deceit, injustice, murder to get it
Jezebel arranges for Naboth to get set up: if dead, king can take his land
2 elements of Jw law: need two witnesses to convict; blasphemy has death sentence
invited to event, arranged for two “scoundrels” to give false testimony (next week)
execution had appearance of justice, but rotten at core
opened way for Ahab to get vineyard he wanted
illustrates wound of humanity: getting what you want at expense of others
act of selfishness: get what I want/need/deserve w/out working for, earning, paying for
take what someone else worked for, earned, bought
if have to hurt, even destroy, in process, that’s their problem
As said, not much teaching in Bible about stealing, beyond 8th comm & laws if break
only 3-4 passages in OT, 2 in NT: look at NT passages
demonstrate how we can act from completely different mindset
instead of getting what want at expense of others, what others want at your expense
Ephesians 4:28: “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands,
that they may have something to share with those in need.”
at 1st blush, not that surprising: don’t take easy way out by stealing
value in work & productivity: doing something useful w/ hands
but notice motivation: not “so that you will be able to satisfy own needs”
nothing about work to take care of self, but to take care of others!
work so you have something to share w/ those in need
how often, if ever, do we hold this attitude when it comes to work?
not working to support self, but working so have something to give away?
Titus 2:9-10 a bit more complicated: talks about how slaves should treat masters
“Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,
to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them,
but to show that they can be fully trusted,
so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”
not an endorsement of slavery, but recognition of its reality in society
most early Xns from lower classes of society, inc slaves
if anything, masters are stealing from slaves: benefitting from labor of their hands
but does not give slaves a right to steal back
reason not what may expect: be submissive, accept your place, don’t cause problems
show can be trusted, “so that will make teaching about God our Savior attractive.”
what matters isn’t justice: getting what you deserve
what matters is testimony you are making in conduct: lead others to faith
hard message to hear when you’re the one being mistreated, esp if systemic & ongoing
no excuse for others not to seek just treatment for them
but Paul’s message to slaves similar to Jesus’ message to us all in S on Mount [5:40]
“If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.”
Take messages from Eph & Titus together
show how to find healing from wound of easy gain at expense of others
go beyond empathy for the other person: see situation from their point of view
not just see, but act on
replace narcissism with love: put their needs/wants ahead of your own
reason to work not just so won’t steal, even to be able to meet own needs
so can share w/ those in need
reason not to steal, even from someone stealing from you, treating unjustly
to strengthen your testimony for JX
because above all, what matters isn’t what’s good for you, even other person
what brings glory to God
1 Kings 21:1-16
8/2/20
8th Comm pretty obvious one: “You shall not steal”
lines up w/ our natural sense of morality, right & wrong
stands at base of most ethical, moral, legal systems
might be reason why, interestingly enough, Bible doesn’t actually say much about it
so obvious, don’t need to explore very deeply why should obey
remember: this summer not why we should obey, how to obey
but how commandment brings grace & healing for wounds of humanity
8th comm to address wound of taking easy way to get what we want
wound: easy because do it at expense of others
In order to recognize is problem or wound, need to be able to put self in other’s shoes
empathize: see world from their perspective
and once do this, actually care about it
make decisions that take other people’s welfare into account
unfortunately, more & more people unable/unwilling to do so
read book recently: narcissism (caring only/primarily about self) on the rise
See perfect example of this in Ahab & Jezebel, what did to man named Naboth
Ahab k of Isr: kingdom prospered militarily & economically under him
but dark period of lack of devotion to Lord: pagan wp promoted by wife Jezebel
story illustrates their moral bankruptcy: seek gain for self at expense of other
Ahab wanted vineyard: close to palace, perhaps to consolidate lands
or perhaps building project: no such thing as eminent domain
asked Naboth to sell, or exchange: at surface, seems reasonable
until remember importance of land: ancestral property must remain in family
commonly held value of society: Naboth refused
but Ahab only cared about what he wanted, not Naboth’s values
sulked like spoiled child about not getting his way
Jezebel brings in theft-oriented mindset: total loss of empathy in the process
“Is this how you act as king over Israel?”
as king, your desire more important than what Naboth wants
your needs matter more than his, because have power to get what you want
OK to use deceit, injustice, murder to get it
Jezebel arranges for Naboth to get set up: if dead, king can take his land
2 elements of Jw law: need two witnesses to convict; blasphemy has death sentence
invited to event, arranged for two “scoundrels” to give false testimony (next week)
execution had appearance of justice, but rotten at core
opened way for Ahab to get vineyard he wanted
illustrates wound of humanity: getting what you want at expense of others
act of selfishness: get what I want/need/deserve w/out working for, earning, paying for
take what someone else worked for, earned, bought
if have to hurt, even destroy, in process, that’s their problem
As said, not much teaching in Bible about stealing, beyond 8th comm & laws if break
only 3-4 passages in OT, 2 in NT: look at NT passages
demonstrate how we can act from completely different mindset
instead of getting what want at expense of others, what others want at your expense
Ephesians 4:28: “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands,
that they may have something to share with those in need.”
at 1st blush, not that surprising: don’t take easy way out by stealing
value in work & productivity: doing something useful w/ hands
but notice motivation: not “so that you will be able to satisfy own needs”
nothing about work to take care of self, but to take care of others!
work so you have something to share w/ those in need
how often, if ever, do we hold this attitude when it comes to work?
not working to support self, but working so have something to give away?
Titus 2:9-10 a bit more complicated: talks about how slaves should treat masters
“Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,
to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them,
but to show that they can be fully trusted,
so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”
not an endorsement of slavery, but recognition of its reality in society
most early Xns from lower classes of society, inc slaves
if anything, masters are stealing from slaves: benefitting from labor of their hands
but does not give slaves a right to steal back
reason not what may expect: be submissive, accept your place, don’t cause problems
show can be trusted, “so that will make teaching about God our Savior attractive.”
what matters isn’t justice: getting what you deserve
what matters is testimony you are making in conduct: lead others to faith
hard message to hear when you’re the one being mistreated, esp if systemic & ongoing
no excuse for others not to seek just treatment for them
but Paul’s message to slaves similar to Jesus’ message to us all in S on Mount [5:40]
“If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.”
Take messages from Eph & Titus together
show how to find healing from wound of easy gain at expense of others
go beyond empathy for the other person: see situation from their point of view
not just see, but act on
replace narcissism with love: put their needs/wants ahead of your own
reason to work not just so won’t steal, even to be able to meet own needs
so can share w/ those in need
reason not to steal, even from someone stealing from you, treating unjustly
to strengthen your testimony for JX
because above all, what matters isn’t what’s good for you, even other person
what brings glory to God
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com