THE LAW OF BIBLICAL OWNERSHIP Dr.DavidHaun Hope Christian Church February 15, 2004 II Corinthians 9:6-15
Many things happened in 1904. Theodore Roosevelt was our 26th president. The effort to dig a canal through the Isthmus of Panama moved forward, and for $10 million the US gained control of the Canal Zone. Thomas Edison’s new recording device was growing in use. The first Olympic Games were held in the United States. John Fleming invented the radio vacuum tube, and Charles Menches invented the ice cream cone at the world’s fair. Harvard’s football team played its first game in the country’s first football stadium. (1)
Another event occurred that year. A young man, William Borden, graduated from a Chicago high school. As heir to the Borden Dairy estate, he already was a millionaire. His graduation gift was a trip around the world. That trip changed Borden’s life. As he traveled through the middle east, he developed a feeling of burden for the many people who were hurting and lost. He wrote home to say to his parents, "I’m going to give my life to prepare for service on the mission field."
After making this decision, Burden wrote in the back of his Bible two words that would guide his life. The words were: "NO RESERVES."
That fall, Borden started as a freshman at Yale University. His fellow students soon recognized in him a spiritual depth that many longed for themselves. During his first semester, He and a friend started a breakfast discussion group which transformed the campus. His friend described how it happened: "Bill would read to us from the "Bible, show us something that God had promised and then proceed to claim the promise with assurance."
This small breakfast group spread until there were daily groups of prayer in every one of the college classes. By the end of Bill’s freshman year, 150 freshmen were meeting for weekly Bible studies. By the time he was a senior, 1000 of Yale’s 1300 students were meeting in such groups.
During his Sophomore year at Yale, Bill determined to reach the most "incorrigible" students, and try to bring them to salvation. He also started a ministry at night to reach and rescue drunks on the streets of New Haven. He used his income to establish the Yale Hope mission to rehabilitate the men and women he brought in from the streets. By his senior year at Yale, he had become a major leader on the campus and was chosen to preside over the huge student missionary conference held that year at Yale.
The point arrived when Borden recognized that God’s call for him was to focus on Muslims in China.
So, upon graduation, he turned down the job offers he was given, and enrolled instead in Princeton Seminary with a major in world missions.
In the back of his Bible during that period of time, Bill wrote two more words: "NO RETREATS."
Upon graduation from Princeton, Bill sailed for China to work with Muslims. He stopped first in Egypt to study Arabic. While in Egypt, he came down with spinal meningitis, and within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead. Shortly before he died, Bill wrote a final two words in the back of his Bible. Underneath the words "No Reserves" and "No Retreats," he penned the final two words: "NO REGRETS." (2)
Those three comments in the back of Bill Borden’s Bible, "No Reserves, No Retreats and No Regrets" could serve as the basis for our consideration of God’s Law of Biblical Ownership.
The Scripture basis for our sermon is found in Paul’s second letter to the Christians in Corinth. Paul Writes:
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! II Cor 9:6-15 (NIV)
Two authors, I have found helpful are leaders in an organization called Enjoy, which help pastors like me in our efforts of ministery. They point in a book out how these three affirmations by William Borden can help us better can understand this relationship with Christ. (3)
I.
THE FIRST TWO WORDS
WRITTEN IN THE BACK OF
WILLIAM BORDEN’S BIBLE:
"NO RESERVES."
We own nothing. We merely are stewards who have been trusted with material items. God owns it all (4) A portion of the poem "Accumulators or Stewards" by Leslie Brandt expresses this truth.
"What you have acquired and accumulated is not yours; All the good things that have come your way
have come from the hand of the father. While they are given to enrich your life here upon earth, they are also granted for the purpose of enriching and blessing the lives of others.
When, however, you make God’s gifts the objects of your loyalty and devotion,they take His place in your life, and become a curse rather than a blessing and may render you ineligible for that life and kingdom.
In that event, you are, in the midst of your grand accumulations, truly and eternally poverty-stricken. (5)
Look at today’s scripture, verse 10: Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
God made and owns the sun -- it gives heat, light, guidance. God owns the moon -- it gives tidal pull, moonbeams, beauty. God owns the stars -- they give direction, a point of orientation, awe. God owns the earth -- it gives grandeur, resources, nourishment. Can you see it? God owns it all! God owns the air, the seas, the trees, the flowers, the birds, all animals, God made and owns everything. More specifically, God owns you. (6)
It’s not logical to state that we own nothing. Common sense, society and life all around us implies that getting, gaining and owning is a goal of life.
Each year, Miami, Florida hosts the world’s largest boat show. There will be untold millions of dollars worth of boats sold during the show. Countless individuals will take home boats, so proud of what they bought and own, without realizing that the two happiest days in the life of a boat owner is the day he buys his boat ... and the day he sells it.
New things get old. Valued items lose their value. Precious possessions end up their lives in the garbage. The truth is that what we own, we don’t own. They grow old, rust out and rot away. The highest mountain in South Florida is just east of Interstate 95. It is known as the Broward County Garbage Dump. It’s full of dreams and acquisitions which grew old.
Jesus told the story of a wise fool. Do you remember it? The fool grew grain and said "where will I keep all my crops?" Then he said, "I’ll build bigger barns to store my grain." That night, God visited the fool and called him what he was. "Tonight," God said, you will die. "Then, who will own the grain? (7)
It isn’t logical to say we don’t own the grain we grow, the money we earn, the car we drive, the house we’re paying for. It isn’t logical, but what matters most to God is not our logic but our love.
On one occasion Jesus was asked by a rich young man how to enter the kingdom of heaven. The Lord answered that the young man must first recognize what he owns and doesn’t own. Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give to the poor, and then follow Christ.. (8)
Mother Theresa was once asked to describe her background. Her reply: "By blood and origin, I am Albanian. My citizenship is Indian. I am a Catholic nun. As to my purpose and calling, I belong to God and the whole world." (9)
We are not our own. The Bible says we were bought with a price, and we owe to God our existence, our loyalty and honor. (10) To say that nothing should be held back from God - that’s radical. William Borden took that radical step and committed his life and his possessions to God with the simple pledge, "No Reserves."
II.
THE SECOND TWO WORDS WRITTEN IN THE BACK OF WILLIAM BORDEN’S BIBLE:
"NO RETREAT"
Each of us needs to select a purpose for our life. Why are we living? What is your purpose? To what do you give yourself wholeheartedly? What do you practice over and over in order to do better? What do you think about when you daydream? That’s your purpose. Whatever we may say we are in life, what we really are is what we strive daily in our life to achieve.
The best selling book among all Christian books right now is The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. Warren begins his book with these words:
It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God." (11)
Consider today’s scripture in verse eleven: "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
Everything you give - whether it’s your money, time, energy, influence, other gifts ... every thing you give is to be an expression of that Christ centered purpose. Everything we do or don’t do for Christ’s church is an indicator of how firm and faithful we are to God. When you write a check to the church, don’t think of the benefit of its tax deduction. Think, rather, of God’s blessing which enables you to live and give.
From verse 12 in today’s Scripture: "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else."
No Retreat. When William Borden graduated from Yale, he was offered company positions that would grant him prestige and power. But he had made a commitment to a greater power. He had set a purpose for himself to be God’s missionary -- God’s servant, and he wouldn’t retreat.
If you have accepted Christ as Lord, you’ve committed yourself to him. You and I are called by God to give all of ourselves - our lives, our service, our actions, our possessions, our abilities ... we are called to give all of ourselves to our Heavenly father who owns us. No backing up, no retreat ... that’s His call to us.
III.
THE FINAL TWO WORDS WERE WRITTEN IN BILL’S BIBLE SHORTLY BEFORE HIS UNTIMELY DEATH AT AGE 25.
TWO SIMPLE, HOPEFUL WORDS:
"NO REGRETS."
Blessing others is a delight, not a duty. Consider again today’s scripture: 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
The word of God is true. When one if faithful to God, there is sacrifice. That’s not true only of God. To be a good husband or wife requires sacrifice. To be a good parent or a faithful employee demands sacrifice. However, when it’s over, there is a sense of accomplishment and joy. There are no regrets. In my 40 years of ministery, I have shared in hundreds of death bed experiences and funerals. Never have I had a funeral of of an elderly individual who has been faithful to Christ, and spent a lifetime of service and love, who at the time of death expressed regret for a faithful life in Christ. I’ve stood at bedsides and shared with a dying individual who expressed regrets. But never, ever, did the regret relate to a life lived faithfully in love of Christ.
Anthony Campolo, popular author and speaker, tells of his experience one year at a Women’s Conference where he was making a major address. At the point in the program when the women were being challenged with a several thousand dollar goal for their mission projects, the chairperson for the day turned to Dr. Campolo and asked him if he would pray for God’s blessing upon the women as they considered what they might do to achieve the goal.
To her surprise, Dr. Campolo came to the podium and graciously declined her invitation. "You already have the resources necessary to complete this mission project right here within this room," he said. "It would be inappropriate to ask for God’s blessing when God already has blessed you with abundance and the means to achieve this goal. The necessary gifts are in your hands. As soon as we take the offering and underwrite this mission project, we will thank God for freeing us to be the generous, responsible and accountable stewards that we are called to be as Christian disciples." When the offering was taken, the mission challenge was oversubscribed and Dr. Campolo led a joyous prayer of thanksgiving for God’s abundant blessings and for the faithful stewardship of God’s people. (12)
There are three possible ways to relate to God’s ownership. First, is to respond grudgingly: to say, in effect, "It’s mine. I’ll keep it" My money is mine. I’ll put a $20.00 bill in the plate once in a while and feel good. My time is mine. I’ll go to church every few weeks when there’s nothing more "important" to do. My life is mine. I’ll choose the way I’ll live, thank you just the same. God owns it all! If you and I are going to be worth anything to God, we can’t have reserves.
The second way to relate to God’s ownership is to see it as duty. I ought to give. It’s expected of me to return to God what is his. This is obligation. There is no freedom, there is only rule. It succeeds in responding to God’s Lordship, but it can miss the joy our heavenly father desires for us.
There’s a third way to relate to God’s ownership. It was the way of William Borden. It was the way of Peter and Paul, of Augustine and Luther. It is the way of Mother Teresa. It is the way God would wish for you and me. It is Thanksgiving. It is wanting to give because of who we are and what we have been given by God already.
God’s standards reqauire us to make him the focal point of our eye, to love him with all your heart and being. I am so thankful. God owns me, so I will serve him with No Reserve, no Retreat,and no Regrets. It is this response that opens the gate to the throne of God and instills God’s song of joy in our heart.
That’s the way to respond to Biblical Ownership: no reserve, no retreat, and no regret. Let’s each of us begin today to do it.... Amen.
FOOTNOTES
(1) (www.en.wikipedia.org)
(2) Christian Missions web page at www.home.snu.edu.
(3) Direction for the sermon was offered by Dave Sutherland and Kirk Nowery in their book The 33 Laws of of Stewardship. (Camarillo, CA. Spire Resources.2003) 77-83 (4) Psalm 50:10 (5) Leslie Brandt. Jesus/Now. (St. Louis. Concordia; 1978) pp. 63-64.
(6) AutoIllustrator.com.
(7) Luke 12:18.
(8) Luke 18:18-23
(9) "Mission Update" (Pasadena, CA) Newsletter of the Presbyterian Center for Mission Studies, April-June, 1992.
(10) 1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV.
(11) Warren, Rick. Purpose Driven Life. (Grand Rapids MI. Zondervan. 2002) 17.
(12) Submitted by George H. Tooze, Jr. Auto illustrator. com.
(13) Brandt op cit p. 36.
