From grumbling to grace
By the Rev. Bob Colerick, First Christian Church
Friday, October 10, 2008
My wife loves to tell the story of when she and a friend, both barely teenagers, visited a carnival in Paris, France. The two wandered the nearly deserted carnival and were the only two to get on the roller coaster. For some unknown reason, the operator had a sadistic bent and did not let the girls off for what seemed a lifetime. Wobbly and half sick the two girls staggered off the rollercoaster to the snickers of the operator and his friends.
Recent weeks have been a roller coaster ride for Americans, and now, Europeans are being forced onto this wild ride. The stock market; banks failing; hurricanes; rampant fears of a financial meltdown; foreclosures; senseless accidents and terrorist attacks. I’m ready to get off this roller coaster ride. I need to catch my breath.
I can imagine the Israelites feeling like that. Enduring the 10 plagues; just released from captivity; crossing the Sea of Reeds; heading toward the Promised Land; free after hundreds of years in captivity.
It didn’t take long for things to start to go south. The Israelites got hungry, thirsty, tired and disillusioned. Just weeks after being freed from captivity and hopelessness in Egypt, the Israelites began to complain. They even wondered if Moses and Aaron were trying to kill them!
We, too, sometimes have short memories. We forget the blessings of God and instead conjure up conditions and situations to complain about. I’m sure there were dangers, shortages, inconveniences. Any wilderness can be a hostile and fearsome place. The people begin to complain — actually, grumble, moan, whine and whimper.
And then, bread and meat are provided by God. God, once again, provides for His people, and we cannot avoid the distinct impression that this whole event is part of a plan. It’s not an accident, nor is it a matter of God giving in to His people’s complaints. God has planned for this eventuality. God has an idea of what we need and will provide for us. God knows what is going on even if we don’t.
I would never presume to know the future, or try to predict the outcome of world/national/local events. I can speak with assurance that God knows what we have need of and will provide for us. I believe God hears our moans and cries and engages us. I believe God makes a way for us and will not leave us to wander aimlessly. On a recent trip to Michigan — its beautiful land, wooded areas, water and lakes, so lovely and placid, we noticed the leaves changing and we thought of how winter, with howling winds, blowing snow and below-zero temperatures would grip this serene land in a couple of months. But then we visited Bronners’ Christmas store — the largest Christmas store in world — and thought of the promise of Christmas. While we traveled, my wife had an attack of bursitis — some of you know how painful that can be. But God also provided medication and relief when she needed it. God does not enjoy or take pleasure in our suffering and stress, but in being God’s companions and objects of God’s love.
This is a message God constantly wants us to hear. We forget it so quickly. God provides bread for us along the journey. Jesus is an example of that bread: “I am the bread of life ... I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” John 6:48-51.
The message of the scripture is unmistakable: God provides for His people and we are to emulate the actions of God, providing for the needs of others — to be the hands, eyes and heart of God.
Our culture encourages us to get more, accumulate more, get the newest, the best, the biggest. God has a different message for us: take only enough; leave some so that others can also share in the bountiful things that God has put in this world for everybody. If we had more of that attitude, our world would change. We would not have a world where a billion people lack water, food, and proper education; we would have a world where everyone would have what he or she needs to realize their full potential as God’s children. When will we learn to trust God to meet our needs and to be satisfied with what God provides? It’s our choice: Grumbling or God’s Grace. Which will you choose?
• “Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Bob Colerick, senior minister of First Christian Church in Emporia.
Comments
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Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by methusla (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One thing that I learned from GODS word and the teachings of JESUS CHRIST is that you may have "things of a material world", but do not covet those things that are material or worldly. I (man) may need some material or wordly things in the world of today, in order to survive, but do not covet or worship them.
I may have misinterpreted this particular teaching, I don't really know !
Posted by methusla (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also believe that the recent wordly crisis is because some men, have decided to covet and worship "material wealth" and have either lost or never had compassion for their fellow man.
None of these "material wealth" worshipers can buy their way to salvation with "material wealth".
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