Chan Willis – C.P.C.

                                                                                                                                                July 25, 2010

“Secret Service”

Matthew 6:1-4

            You have no doubt noticed the sermon title for today:  “Secret Service.”  Now, I don’t know about you, but when I hear these words, I think about those men (and women) who are entrusted with the safety of the President.  You know, guys dressed up in dark suits and sunglasses, with very serious, business-like expressions on their face.  Maybe someone who looks like this… [pic of “Blues Brothers”]  Or, maybe not.

            Well, rest assured that I am not going to be talking about the 1980 cult movie hit “The Blues Brothers.”   Nor will we be discussing that federal law enforcement agency characterized by dark suits and sunglasses. Rather, we will be considering a different type of ‘secret service.’  Last week our focus was on the importance of putting others first. We considered the examples of Abraham and Jesus, who showed us how to fulfill the words of Ephesians 6:7 (which are on the cover of the bulletin):  “Serve wholeheartedly, as though serving the Lord, not men.”  That as you and I put someone else’s needs ahead of our own… perhaps by doing something as simple as washing a child’s feet off, or letting someone in line in front of us… we show the love of Christ.  As we humble ourselves before someone else, serving them as Jesus served others, we find the truth of Jesus’ words to His disciples:  “you will be blessed.”

            This week we get to the core of WHY we serve others.  What is our motivation for ‘lending a hand’ to someone else?  Because we will be ‘blessed’ in return… either by God or by the recipient of our good deed?  Because God tells us to in His ‘instruction manual’?  Do we serve so that others will see our good deed and pat us on the back, and we can say to ourselves, just like ‘little Jack Horner’ of nursery-rhyme fame… “what a good boy am I!”  What is it that drives us to do something good for another?

            Back in the 80’s… about those ‘Blues Brothers’ times… I remember a conversation I had with a neighbor.  This was long before I ever dreamed I’d be an ordained minister one day.  But this guy knew that I was active in a church, and therefore one of those ‘Christian-types.’  He asked why was it that Christians felt so compelled to do charitable acts for others.  Because of his very cynical, secular world-view, he just knew that there must be selfish reasons, some less-than-noble motivation… what was our “angle” for being such ‘do-gooders?’

            In our brief passage today, Jesus challenges his followers to consider what their ‘motivation’ was.  Was there a selfish reason, an ‘angle’ which drove them to do for others?  In particular, Jesus focused on the danger of doing one’s “acts of righteousness

…to be seen by men.”  That giving to those in need should not be ‘announced with trumpets,’ “as the hypocrites do,” but rather, to “not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.”  That our giving should be “in secret.”  Secret service.

            As Jennie and I discussed today’s worship, and particularly, what image to use to communicate the sermon’s message of “Secret Service,” we came upon this one.  This sweet picture of a little girl bending down to tie the shoelace of another young child.  Though its power struck me immediately, there was a part of me that questioned yet another tie in with children.  After all, I am speaking to group of, for the most part, ‘mature adults.’  I mean, we are already using the “Cross Country” children’s program virtue as our theme.  I’ve just referred to an old nursery rhyme.  And here we have yet another facet of today’s message focusing on children. 

            But as I thought about today’s service, and those three precious children we have welcomed into our church family today, I thought of how appropriate this picture was.  We have proclaimed our vow to do our part to nurture, to encourage, to teach, to LOVE Rylee, Ryann, and Reagan as they grow in their faith and service of Jesus Christ.  The church’s responsibility is to make a positive impact on our community for Christ.  And one of the ways we do that is by helping parents to fulfill the words of Proverbs 22:6:  “Train a child up in the way he (or she!) should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

            As you and I put the needs of others… particularly children… ahead of our own, we are putting forth the example of Jesus Christ.  As you and I teach our young people… and more importantly, lead by example… the importance of serving others, we are leaving a Godly legacy that will continue on for generations to come.  Jesus’ words to His disciples in Matthew19 are for us as well:  “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” AND, as Jesus reminds His followers in the previous chapter, our relationship with young people is not just about what we do for them:  “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  (18:3) 

            So, what does this image of one little child tying the shoelace of another have to teach us about ‘entering the kingdom of heaven?’  How does this picture relate to our attitude, our motivation, the ‘spirit’ of giving we are to have?  For one, giving is about  meeting a need of another… no matter how small it may seem.  Sometimes the smallest thing to us means a whole lot more someone else.  Like a smile to the checkout clerk at the grocery store.  Or looking up from your menu at the restaurant to look the waiter in the eye and asking him/her how their day is going.  Or, maybe actually rolling down your window and giving that scruffy-looking guy a gift card to Chic-fil-a.  Actively looking for ways to ‘lend a hand.’  Like, maybe, tying a little person’s shoelace.

Service is also about humbling oneself.  Being willing to put oneself below another, perhaps physically.  Whenever I go to the  hospital or nursing home to visit a patient, I always like to either sit or kneel by the person’s bedside, so that they can look me more comfortably in the eye.  I don’t want to look ‘down’ on them… if anything, I want to be below their line of sight.  To say, without words, I’m here to serve you.

Finally, true Christian service… like true character… is what you do when nobody is looking.  It’s not about being in front of a crowd… not “to be seen by men”, in Jesus’ words.    If all we are looking for is recognition by other people, then “we have received our reward in full.”  We must always be mindful of who our service to others is really for, and who will demonstrate the ultimate appreciation for our actions… GOD!  In the words of our Lord, “your Father, who sees what is done is secret, will reward you.”  Our giving, secret or not, pales in comparison to the love God freely gives to us.

If God’s love for me is relative to the number of e-mails His children forward to me, then I KNOW I am truly loved.  I don’t know about you, but I am deluged with them.  (Next time you get one, try something really novel… write them a personal message back!  That’ll sure surprise them!)  And, I must admit, I’m not always good at reading ones whose subject line begin with those three little letters, ‘f-w-d.’

This week I got one that was, however, particularly meaningful.  It actually was from someone I hadn’t heard from in a while.  And it contained a quote from Sister Therese, whom was referred to as the ‘patron saint of little things.’  Intrigued by this, I wanted to know more about her, so I … that’s right, googled her name.  I would find that Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 – 1897), was a French Carmelite nun. She is also known as "The Little Flower of Jesus".  Became a nun at 15 and died of tuberculosis at the age of 24. The impact of her posthumous publications made her one of the greatest saints of the 20th century, named co-patron of France with Joan of Arc in 1944.  The Basilica of Lisieux is the second greatest place of pilgrimage in France after Lourdes, which attracts millions of pilgrims each year.

In her quest to live a more Christ-like life, Sister Therese believed that it was not necessary to accomplish heroic acts, or "great deeds", in order to attain holiness and to express her love of God. She wrote, "Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love." Within the Catholic Church Thérèse's way was known for some time as "the little way of spiritual childhood."  This humble ‘little’ woman would actually celebrate her slight stature by saying that “I rejoice to be little because 'only children, and those who are like them, will be admitted to the heavenly banquet'."  Hmmm… sounds like some words we heard earlier from another ‘humble servant.’

As you and I, baptized believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, seek to follow His example, let us remember some of Therese’s words.  “Love proves itself by deeds.”  We prove the love of Christ that is within us by “scattering flowers” … every little sacrifice… every glance and word… doing even the littlest actions for love.  Know in your heart that ‘a little is a lot when God is in it.’  So COME ON!  Join in some ‘secret service’ today… no dark glasses required.

CHARGE & BENEDICTION   (Saint Therese's Prayer) 

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and

pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and

allow your soul the freedom to Sing… Dance… Praise… and Love.      

It is there for each and every one of us.