Opie And The Spoiled Kid Series

Mayberry Moments:

Opie & the Spoiled Kid

Scripture Reading: Col. 3:23-24

Wow...

Twenty-seven cents a week, eh?

Andy’s a big spender, isn’t he?

Just to set the record straight,

my kids got THIRTY CENTS a week!

And Opie’s got a lot to learn about how to throw a temper tantrum, right, kids?

I think Sheena Johnson could probably smoke him

in that department, right, Sheena?

Ah, well, it’s fun to watch these old episodes together, isn’t it? And it’s more than fun . . . it can teach us something, too.

That’s why we’re doing this here at Cobblestone Community Church through Father’s Day, June 17th

. . . to give us all an opportunity to kick back,

relax,

laugh together,

and see what principles from the Bible we might be able to learn from spending a few light-hearted moments in Mayberry. . .

So, just before we conclude our celebration

by praying together for a few minutes,

let me ask you to turn in your Bible

to the New Testament book of Colossians,

where we’ll look at chapter 3, verse 23. . . .

You’ll find it on p. 818 of the Bibles

we provide for your use

either under the chairs

or by the railing on your way in . . .

And let me just say, if you don’t have a Bible of your own, we would love for you to take one of ours home with you, absolutely free,

because we believe in the Bible

and we love to give it away . . .

Now, at this time of year a lot of us are starting,

or preparing for,

or contemplating

new jobs.

Steve Woodburn starts a new job soon,

many of our high school school and college students are embarking on new jobs or new careers,

and some of us are just PRAYING for a new job.

So, if you’ve found Colossians 3:23,

let me just mention three things from that short passage that I believe God wants every one of us here to keep in mind, whether we’re a homemaker,

a chemist,

a writer,

a cashier,

a construction worker, or

a candlestick maker, and the first is:

1. Your standard

Paul says,

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart (Colossians 3:23, NIV).

Remember when Andy asked Opie, “You feel good after working, don’t you?” and Opie replied, “Uh huh. Good ‘n’ tired.”

Well, there is a good feeling that comes from working with all your heart. When you work for someone, work for them. Work wholeheartedly. That’s our standard.

Secondly, let me point out to you

2. Your purpose

Paul says,

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men (Colossians 3:23, NIV).

I would say to you, don’t work primarily for men.

Don’t even work primarily for money.

Work for the Lord.

Work to please him.

Work to bring a smile to his face. . .

And that’s possible whether you’re

in full-time Christian ministry like Kara Cutshall,

or a professor of Microbiology like Joe Carlin,

or a full-time mom like Judy Conrad,

or somebody with three or four jobs like Jon Montani.

So, whatever you do, keep in mind your standard,

your purpose,

and finally,

3. Your Reward

Let’s read into the twenty-fourth verse, where Paul says,

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV).

Whatever you do for a living,

whatever your job or career or vocation,

whether you earn a few thousand dollars a year

or a few hundred thousand,

your ultimate reward--and the most profitable--will be the inheritance you receive from the Lord, whether it’s paid in this life or the next.

God always pays his servants.

Sometimes he pays in dollars,

and sometimes he pays MUCH more generously . . .

Let’s pray:

[Prayer based on Mt. 6:19:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal]