January 23, 2005 Sermon Notes

Last week, Dr. Ron Fowler taught us three things from Hebrews 11:27:

1. God is beyond defeat
2. God is fully behind His word.
3. God remains beside His own.

1. Worry does not make sense.
   "Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?" –Matthew 6:25

2. Worry ignores our value.
   "Are you not much more valuable than they?" –Matthew 6:26

3. Worry has no future benefit.
   "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" –Matthew 6:27

4. Worry forgets God's provision. "… will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" –Matthew 6:28-31

1. Remember: God knows your needs.
   "… and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." –Matthew 6:32

2. Commitment: Put God first.
   "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." –Matthew 6:33

3. Faith: Live one day at a time.
   "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow …" –Matthew 6:34

Meditation

One of my most worrisome moments came when I was invited as a fourteen-year-old to play the piano for the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority’s formal dinner. I was also invited to dine as their guest. I wore my only sport coat and pants, put on a bow tie, and attempted to look as ravishing as I could for what turned out to be 70 debutantes. They were all dressed up for the formal dinner and entered the long dining room together at the sound of the chimes. Much to my amazement, the table sat all seventy women, myself, and the housemother. The linen by candlelight, real china, full set of silver place settings, and array of crystal, all took this farm kid’s breath away. We had a set of china and some crystal at home, but not of this dimension.

On the very first course, a lime jello fruit salad on a lettuce leaf was served. I remember having to wait until everyone was served to begin eating, and while eating, I was attempting to make conversation with these college women whose sophistication and looks alone made me sweat. All of a sudden, as I was bringing the salad fork to my mouth, the portion of jello salad slid off onto the tablecloth. I believed no one saw it, so I quickly pushed it under my plate. There. Everything is fine. No one will notice.

Each course came and went. All the while, however, I kept worrying about the jello and trusted we would all be gone from table when everything was removed. The main course was served on the last remaining plate. By this time, I was beginning to relax a bit with my new surroundings and still attempting to figure a way, when no one was looking, to peek under my plate and see if I could remove the hidden jello remains. All of a sudden, I saw the bus boys beginning to remove each table setting. My heart was racing, and I could feel my face flush with anxiety. As my plate was lifted, there sat this squished blob of green jello and fruit for everyone to observe. All I wanted to do was run from the room. “Proper ladies would never accept a klutz like me,” I thought.

I played music for them that night in their living room of overstuffed chairs and couches. It was a courteous evening. I do not remember what I played, nor can I recollect any person or conversation, but I can vividly, in detail, tell you about the green jello. Today, in the grand scheme of things, that was a most insignificant and silly circumstance to ruin an entire evening, let alone worry about it for days afterward. Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life … Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” [Matthew 6:25 & 27].

–George Skramstad, 2005