Humpty Dumpty’s Mistake

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

And all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.

Can you see it? I would bet when you read this old nursery rhyme that visions of an egg sitting on top of a wall fill your mind…right? That is a story your mom or dad likely read to you out of a nursery rhyme book, but the original author probably found the idea for this rhyme in the old New England Primer.

Author David Anderson suggests this as the most likely origin of our Humpty Dumpty rhyme. He says that children learned their grammar from books like this and that children picked up ideas from the couplets used in that primer for the letters A and X. In the NE Primer it reads, “In Adam’s fall we sinned all; Xerxes the Great did fall and so must you and I.”

This little couplet, therefore, not only teaches the letters A and X, but also an important spiritual doctrine. That truth is that in the Fall (Adam & Eve’s sin), we all sinned. You see, the author of our Humpty Dumpty rhyme was not originally talking about an egg that fell, but a man. And yes, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, and every king and every horse since then, still cannot put Humpty Dumpty back together. We were lost, all of us, when man fell (sinned). Yes, it was Adam who fell originally, and it was a mighty fall—a fall from fellowship with God. Who can put us back together again?

Beginning this weekend at Shadycrest. 

New sermon series "True and Better".

Join us at Shadycrest Sunday, May 24th at 10:30 AM

Money is a Curious Thing

“Having plenty of money will make me happy!” I’m sorry to burst the bubble but this is simply erroneous thinking.

To be clear, money does have its benefits. Money offers us choice and a level of freedom to make those choices. Also, having no money or being homeless is a terrible existence for any person; however, I’m not focusing on this extreme. Instead, consider the biblical principle of learning to be content with whatever you do have (Philippians 4:11). The truth is being rich does not solve our problems and it certainly does not miraculously make us happy…although most people admit they believe it will make them happy, or at least they’d love to test the theory. The truth is, if you aren’t content today, then no amount of money will help you learn contentment.

The philosophy of the world has led us to believe that money, and a lot of it, is necessary for a good life. We like to daydream about what life would be like if money were not an issue. The reality, however, is different. The testimonies from the rich about their personal unhappiness are viral…why? Because money doesn’t fix what is broken in us. The truth is, once you start earning a lot of money you are presented with a new set of problems and many more temptations…one of which is worrying about losing all your money.

Even people who do not subscribe to the biblical worldview testify to the utter failure of money to produce happiness for them. Consider Sharon Osbourne, popular TV personality and wife to Ozzy Osbourne (lead singer of the famous rock band, Black Sabbath).

Sharon writes, in her autobiography Unbreakable:

“From the day I married Ozzy, I’d always had this thing in my mind that, if I made the perfect home, if there were flowers, if there was fruit, if I got the bloody right curtains, if it smelt lovely and looked gorgeous, then it would make everything right in our world.”

She goes on to say,”I realized it wasn't Ozzy that was blind, it was me. I have always placed so much emphasis on the ambiance of a place; I would want every house to make us happy. And if it didn’t then it would be, Oh God, it’s the wrong layout, the wrong location, it’s too small, it’s too big…I must sell it and then everything will be perfect and we’ll be happy and so will the kids. But recently, after all those years of trying, of fretting about that painting ruining the room or those cushions not being plumped properly. I’ve realized that it means [expletive]. You can’t manufacture happiness. The happiest times were when we were broke and we had nothing.”

She is right. Having money and loving money and fine things doesn't buy happiness in the slightest.

The Pharisees were lovers of money and Jesus had a lot to say about money to them. He said it was overrated and challenging to the hearts of men (Matt 25:14-30; Lk 16:19-31). We can do a lot of good with money. We can help a lot of people with money. We can help spread the gospel far and wide with money. So, we should give “hilariously” to protect our hearts from greed and the love of money. And, we should know money doesn’t buy happy!

Moms Are Awesome

The phrase, “working mother,” is redundant. 

Of course she works, and harder than we men and we her children fully realize! We know our mother’s work hard and we often wonder why they don’t complain more than they do? This answer is obvious too…because they are too busy to have time to complain! We all can learn a lot from this example. Proverbs 31 describes her well when it says, “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

Have you ever wondered what it is about your mother’s house that makes you feel like you can fully relax? Let me help you with the answer…it’s your mother! Even the memory of your mother there is comforting and helps you feel at home, helps you relax, and helps you think everything will be okay. In other words, moms are kind of like superheroes. They should be given super hero capes upon leaving the hospital after giving birth to each child.

Quite possibly my favorite quote about moms is this: “you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool your mom” (anonymous). Oops, shame on me for trying all those years.

Washington Irving once said of mothers, “A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” 

Exercise Your Faith

 
“Without faith it is impossible to please God” the author of Hebrews tells us (11:6), so yes, exercising faith is extremely important.

Some of you have known the Lord for many years, whereas, some of you haven’t been followers of Christ for long. Do you remember when you first trusted Christ as Savior and Lord? I understand it can be hard to remember something that happened a long time ago…but try to remember that day. Do you recall feeling that now everything was going to be okay? Do you remember a feeling of peace, of hope, or of joy?

For those of you who have known Christ for many years now you certainly realize that faithfully following Christ requires a lot of hard work on your part. Maybe you have discovered like me that in order to be healthy, your spiritual life in Christ needs constant attention.

Let me add to this that if you are struggling spiritually, if you find it difficult to put God first and consistently put His Word into practice in your life you are not alone. If you struggle to have the right thoughts you are not alone. If you often can’t help but complain about your life and the people around you then you aren't alone. And, if you are struggling in any of these ways then maybe you are beginning to discover that there is some work that needs to be done. Maybe you too are realizing that your spiritual life needs constant attention. In other words, we need God’s help every day to live up to God’s standards for our lives.

I love the plants and flowers that are in my flower beds and flower pots around the outside of my house. There is something about their beauty that gives me a feeling of peace and reminds me of the presence of God, the Creator of all beauty. But right now, most of my flower beds are in disarray.

Right now plants, trees, and flowers need to be trimmed/pruned and flower beds need to be weeded and cleaned up. The beauty isn't really there right now…there is too much clutter…too many distractions…why is that? Because if there is no gardener, then there is no garden. Since I am the gardener I have to find the time to get in there and do the work that will create the beauty that is desired.

There is no way around the need here. There are no labor-saving devices that will fix my flower beds and there are no labor-saving devices that will grow a garden of spiritual virtue in us as well. Becoming a person who reflects the light and love of God is work of God in us, but don’t miss the reality that it is “work.” Becoming a person who is full of spiritual fruitfulness requires attention and time…mostly time spent with Jesus.
When God saves you He calls you to a life of obedience. Just as a garden will not take care of itself, your spiritual relationship with God will not take care of itself either. If you’re going to be a fruitful Christian then you need to put forth some effort by living in obedience to God’s Word.

Our faith is the means through which we connect with God every single day. Our faith in God is what grants us access to His promises. Our faith in God is what helps sustain us through the trials and tribulations of life. Our faith also makes us a reliable instrument to be used by our great God.

Do you want to be used by God? Do you want to experience the “abundant life” that Jesus offers to His followers? If you say yes, then it’s time to exercise your faith…to put on your gardening gloves, set aside time and get in the Word and listen to the Lord’s instruction for you. The results will be beautiful.