Pastor Elwin Ahu
January 16, 2005 - W0503

Change can be frightening and may take time getting used to. On the other hand change can be as delightful as finding a new restaurant or planning the next vacation. But whether it’s finding a good restaurant or a good bargain, having information before hand helps us make better decisions. So for this new year, there are some tips that will help us find where we should be heading and how to live life better.

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too.” (Matt. 5:44-45 NLT)  Imagine what His disciples must have thought after hearing this. To love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you may not have been well received or even understood. Nevertheless, this was Jesus’ instructions to His disciples and it required them to choose change instead of comfort and go the extra mile.

“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you shall not enter into the kingdom of God.”(Matt. 5:20) In other words, we need to be willing to go beyond the call of duty. And though it’s not always easy, it is necessary. Sure it’s a challenge to step out into what is unfamiliar and uncomfortable because we like things the way they are. That’s just human nature. Of course, this will require a change of heart, mind, and attitude within us, so God gives us some tips on how to incorporate…

PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE YOU TOWARDS CHANGE

The first tip is…

1. DON’T OVERLOOK THE BASICS.

Take care of the basic responsibilities the Lord placed in your life--basic things such as loving your family. However, He also warns us: “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. …For you love the front seats in the synagogues, and the respectful greetings in the market places.” (Luke 11:42-43) You see, the Pharisees wanted maximum return for minimum effort. They did enough to get by. They wanted recognition for following the law, but disregarded the basics: justice and the love of God.   

Q1) How are you doing with the basic responsibilities the Lord has placed in your life?

Q2) In what ways can you improve?

We live in a world that trains and shapes humanity to want the most out of life for the least amount of contribution. Think about it! How many of us would take an opportunity to receive more than we put into? Of course we would. And sometimes we carry that kind of mentality into our lives. We want Godly marriages, yet we invest very little into it. We want all the benefits with minimal work. Well listen to what God says about this very subject.

“And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Matt. 5:41). The historical contents of this scripture took place when the Romans had jurisdiction over the Jewish people. At that time, under Roman law it was permissible for any soldier to take a Jewish man and force him to carry his equipment for one mile. There were no arguments about this because this was the law. And, under this law, when a Jewish reached the one mile marker he was no longer obligated to help carry equipment any further.

Not only does God want us to do what is required, He wants us to go above and beyond what is expected. However, the Lord tells us to carry it further to the second mile. Just think if we are all following that principle. Imagine the impact on the world. This will grab their attention because it is unheard of or unworldly. People would naturally be curious and wonder why we’d do more than needed. In turn, their curiosity will be an opportunity for you to share the Gospel. So if you want kingdom benefits, invest in the basics. You’ll be surprised at the changes that start to take place.

Sometimes you may be stirred to change something within. It may be a teaching from New Hope or something from devotions. In any case, you’ll know because it will wrench you out of your comfort zone. Just recently, I was asked to do something outside my area of comfort. I was asked to get involved with the musical “The Children of Eden”. This was out of my comfort zone. The part not only required acting, singing, dancing but get this, doing it all together! I had no idea how it was going to turn out. I was asked to play the role of the serpent. Now, prior to being in this play, I was never in any musical production. But as uncomfortable as I was learning the dance steps, I practiced doing the steps while I was doing my routine running exercises outdoors, on the sidewalks! So although you may doubt your knowledge or ability, just go back to the basics and start from there.

Q3) Can you recall a time when you were requested to do something out of your area of comfort or expertise? What was your response and what was the lesson from this?

Each day is not just a chance occurrence. The Lord blesses us each day filled with opportunities. This is where eternal treasures are buried. Don’t forfeit His blessings. Take an extra moment to go above and beyond the call of what’s asked for. It’s up to us to uncover those treasures as we live each day. Then once you’ve got the basics, the second step is to discover…

2. ETERNAL REWARDS ARE OFTEN HIDDEN IN EVERYDAY OPPORTUNITIES.

A story is told in the book of Genesis of a wonderful woman named Rebekah. She lived in the land where Abraham came from. Abraham had a son named Isaac. In those days, it was the father who chose a bride for his son. However, Abraham being too old to travel back to his hometown gave this responsibility to his servant, Eleazar.

He was given one instruction. He was to go to Abrahams’ hometown and select a wife without anyone getting involved. The servant knew that his master’s lineage would continue through Isaac. This worried him, for he knew he had to find the right woman. So he packed gold and gifts onto ten camels. This was an incentive for this woman to leave her homeland, her family, her comfort zone and move far away to marry a man she’d never seen before.  

The story continues with Eleazer praying to the Lord “Behold I’m standing in the spring and the daughters’ of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. May it be to whom the girl I say, please let down your jar so that I may drink. And the one who answers drink, and I will also water your camels - may she be the one whom you have appointed for thy servant Isaac. And by this I will know that thou has shown love and kindness to my master.” (Gen.24:13-14) Now the reason He prayed this was because during those times, to be hospitable required you give a drink to someone who asked for one. To give drink to the animals would be out of the ordinary. This was going beyond what was expected.  

After he asks for a drink, Rebekah answered: “Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, ‘I will draw also for your camels until they have finished drinking.’ So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw more water, and she drew for all his camels.” (Gen. 24:19-20) After this, Eleazer stood in silence! Imagine bringing water for 10 camels that drank 20-30 gallons of water each. Commentators estimate that Rebekah must have taken about two hours to complete that task. What an amazing heart of service and for a complete stranger at that.

As Rebekah committed herself to do the task, Abraham’s servant undoubtedly knew she was a woman who was not content with doing just enough. Indeed, she went the extra mile.

Like Rebekah, we may not realize that the Lord asks us to serve Him daily in simple ordinary tasks. So instead of just “getting by” why not go the extra mile as Rebekah did! It may not be something spectacular, but little did Rebekah realize her simple action sealed her destiny. She not only became the wife of Isaac, she then became the great, great, great, great-grandmother of the greatest man who walked the earth! Yes, the Messiah traces his lineage all the way back to Isaac and Rebekah.

The essence of this story is that a simple everyday task impacted the world. And the same is true for us. The eternal rewards are hidden in everyday tasks. We may never know what the rewards are, but it shouldn’t matter because “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” (Heb. 13:2)

Remember, don’t over look the basics God placed in your life. For if we are faithful in little, God will entrust us with more that we could ever imagine. The second principle to keep in mind is that eternal rewards are often hidden in everyday opportunities. Don’t miss it! And finally the third tip will probably be the most spiritual thing you’ll hear this year…

3. WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND.

Yes, we hear this a lot and it is so true. “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.” (2Cor. 9:6) “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” (Lk. 6:38)

There isn’t enough time in a year to tell you how many times the Lord blessed my wife Joy and me. I learned this principle of giving from a woman who I’d sat next to once. This woman had her own business and told me that whatever she made, she’d give ten percent right off the top. And this was before taxes. She then told me that since she started giving, she’s never had a need. The principle of giving of time, money, service, mentoring - is that it will always come back! And, we can never out give God!

So though I earned a nice salary as a circuit-court judge, when I stepped down from that position, the Lord provided for every need. For instance, every time my 1990 Nissan Maxima needed to be fixed, I somehow got just enough to cover it. The Lord is good and faithful. So as we learn how to change within, understand that what we give away: in time, love, respect, honor, and patience to someone else, it will come back beyond what we could ever imagine.  

Group activity) Share a blessing you’ve recently had. Pray and give thanks for each one.

So be open and allow the Lord to change you. It may be uncomfortable at first, but He’s left wonderful God glorifying principles to follow. The first is to love those who the Lord places in your life and be willing to go above and beyond what is called for. Next, remember to show hospitality to others in everyday circumstances. Keep in mind that each day is not a chance occurrence, but a blessing from the Lord filled with occasions to glorify Him! For in these opportunities lay eternal rewards hidden in simple tasks.

While you grow and go the second mile in giving of your time, your kindness and yes your forgiveness, you shall reap bountifully! Instead of living to get by, step out of your comfort zone and into the Kingdom. Go the extra mile. Invest in the basics for kingdom benefits. Let’s be a Church that will go the extra mile in 2005!

Q4) What is the Lord asking of you in your everyday life? Is there someone or something the Lord is bringing to your attention?

Q5)  How will you be a better person because of what you’ve learned today?

Please thank Doreen Rabaino for this week’s summary. She is an amazing woman of God who continually steps out into the Kingdom going above and beyond. “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Matt. 5:41)