THE MISUNDERSTOOD GOD**: THE “IT’S ALL ABOUT ME” GOD
1 CORINTHIANS 13:4
Big Idea: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Supporting Scripture: John 15:12-13; Romans 2:4; Philippians 4:8;
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love … does not envy.
INTRO
Sadly, too many times and in too many ways we have been taught that love takes; that love amasses for its self. That is how stalkers justify their actions. That is the core of materialism. Because of this, love is seen as selfish and self-absorbed.
But we know love is just the opposite. Love is not hunting and hoarding – love is magnanimous, generous, and gives of itself.
Billy Graham once said, “True love is an act of the will – a conscious decision to do what is best for the other person instead of ourselves.” That …. Is … God! God is not a “taker.” God is a giver.
But sometimes his followers have a misunderstanding here. They allow the world’s warped view of love to infiltrate their view of the Father’s love. As a result the way they love their church and their other relationships are hindered.
On too many occasions I have seen otherwise well-adjusted believers inflict themselves with guilt because they assume God is a “taker.” They don’t use those words but the the way they live their faith shows it is embedded within them. They behave as if God demands every second of their time be overtly religious and pious. They take passages like 1 Corinthians 10:31 which says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” And turn it into a guilt-inflicting legalistic law that sucks the life and love out of the relationship.
For example:
I have watched Christians go to hockey games and then feel guilty about either enjoying themselves or because they did not spend that time doing something overtly religious. But, assuming you are following Christ and your heart is turned to him, I can assure you God is not sticking his lower lip out, slumping his shoulders, folding his arms and frowning because you did not spend it with him in Bible study and prayer.
I have watched Christians feel bad because they took a vacation and did not witness to the person in the seat next them on the airplane. But I assure you, God is not going putting you on the naughty list or accusing you of being ashamed of him. If the door opens to share Christ, by all means do it but don’t inflict guilt upon yourself for being “carnal” or “a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God” (2 Timothy 3:4).
I want you to understand that God is not pouting because you went to a hockey game, or played a computer game, or went to The Phantom of the Opera or watched a TV show. Good art, music, and other activities are healthy and appropriate. God is not saying “What about me!? It’s all about me!” Now, if you are neglecting your walk with Christ or if you are making your recreation into a god, that is an entirely different matter. But I am talking about otherwise well balanced believers whose hearts are turned to him. It is ok to enjoy life and be a holy human – God will be glorified through a life surrendered to him as it interacts with His world.
Have you ever heard a preacher say something like, “God is a jealous God and wants you all to Himself. He wants you to give yourself to him and him alone?” Well, I know you have heard me feed you that line and, I guess, taken in context it has a truth to it but it also has a lie in it.
Have you ever heard a preacher say something like: “God wants you saved so bad that he will make you miserable or even sick in order to get your attention?” That’s what a stalker does not Jesus! Love does not say “If I can’t have you nobody can.” The New Testament never teaches that and you certainly never see Jesus employing such a stunt to get people to turn to him. Romans 2:4 asks, Don’t you realize “the kindness of God leads us to repentance?” God may use your pain or misfortune to offer himself to you but God does not do bad things to get good results. God does not slice your tires like a jilted lover hoping you will call him to help with the repair so he can show you how important he is to your life.
I read where a host of an outdoors show on the Sportsman’s Channel was shot and killed this week when a man saw the host talking to his wife. Simply talking, nothing more … and the man flew into a jealous rage and shot and killed him. God does not do that. God does not see you doing something other than reading and praying or whatever and send harm your way to show you he is all you need. God is not a sullen jealous lover who feels slighted whenever you enjoy things that are worthy and refreshing. In fact, the Holt Spirit says through Paul, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).
And, truth be told, God does not want you all to himself anyway. There are plenty of other things God wants you to give yourself too. He is pleased when you to give yourself to your spouse, your children, your work, and even to the world. Yep – the world. In fact, Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they used devotion to God as an excuse to not serve others (Mark 7:11 ff.).
God is not insecure and threatened. He is not envious.
• Envy is love in competition.
• Envy is coveting what someone else has.
• Envy is selfish and resentful.
• Envy is a feeling of ill-will toward another.
God is just the opposite of envious. God is giving, rewarding, and liberating. Truth be told, what God wants is to give Himself to you! That’s the God we see in Jesus … a God who came to us. He took the initiative and it was motivated by magnanimous love!
WRAP-UP
The writers in the New Testament were all in agreement on the supreme place of God’s magnanimous Love.
John speaks of it more than any other. Paul follows a close second. Peter makes no bones about its supremacy either; he speaks of loving each other in every chapter of his first epistle. The rest of the New Testament’s authors follow suit.
You see, the writers of the New Testament knew that, to use Henry Drummond’s phrase, “HIS CHARACTER IS HIS MESSAGE.” His character is what he pouring into us so that it can flow out of us.
All I can say is that, for me, when I discovered that God gave (and gives) Himself to me; my response was a desire to give myself to him in return … but not only to him … to the whole world! I will never forget my sophomore year of college while in a chapel service when I heard a speaker make one statement … one statement that changed my life forever. He simply said, “When you gave yourself to Christ you gave yourself to the world.”
Unselfish love is seen clearly in the story of what is now known as “The Immortal Chaplains.”
The USAT Dorchester was a troop transport ship used during WWII. It left New York on January 23, 1943 with approximately 900 soldiers and four army chaplains; George Fox, Alexander Goode, Clark Poling, and John Washington.
During the early morning hours of February 3, 1943, at 12:55 a.m., the Dorchester was torpedoed by a German U-boat.
The ship was damaged beyond repair and began to sink in the icy waters off Greenland. Panic set in among the men on board, many of them trapped below deck. The four chaplains sought to calm the men and organize an orderly evacuation of the ship guiding them and loading them on the life boats. As life jackets were passed out to the men, the supply ran out before each man had one. The four chaplains removed their own life jackets and gave them to others. They continued helping as many men as they could into lifeboats; there was no room left for the four chaplains. Then they linked arms and, saying prayers and singing hymns, went down with the ship.
Grady Clark, one survivor gave this report. “As I swam away from the ship, I looked back. The flares had lighted everything. The ship came up high and she slid under. The last thing I saw, the Four Chaplains were up there praying for the safety of the men. They had done everything they could. I did not see them again. They themselves did not have a chance without their life jackets.”
That’s how God loves.
Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13).
Let’s read our “Congregational Covenant of Love” together.
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** Much of the material for this sermon is derived from two specific books. 1) Darin Hufford’s “The Misunderstood God” and Henry Drummond’s “The Greatest Thing in the World.”
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
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CONGREGATIONAL COVENANT OF LOVE
Heavenly Father, you have taught us that you are love, and your Spirit has poured your love into our hearts.
Because you are patient and kind
We will be patient and bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2)
Because you do not envy
We will seek to make peace and build up one another (Rom. 14:19)
Because you are not boastful or proud
We will give preference and honor to one another (Philippians 2:3)
Because you are not rude and self-seeking
We will accept and encourage one another (Rom. 15:13-17)
Because you are not easily angered and keep no record of wrongs
We will forgive others just as we have been forgiven by you (Col. 3:13)
Because you do not delight in evil but do rejoice in truth
We will be loving yet truthful with one another (Ephesians:4:25)
Because you always protect, trust and hope
We will look after the interests of one another and carry one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
Because you always persevere and never fail
We will be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Rom. 12:10)
We thank you for showing us how to love.
We will reflect that love in our care for each other. Amen. (1 Cor. 12:25)
