05.09. For Such is the Kingdom of God- A Lad
For Such is the Kingdom of God- A Lad Mark 10:13-16 ; John 6:1-13 Not Learned in Graduate School
Robert Fulghum wrote in the KANSAS CITY TIMES, "Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.
"These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don’t hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody . . . When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. " This writer has captured part of what Jesus meant when he said, "Unless you become like little children, you won’t enter the kingdom of heaven." - Hugh Duncan
We find an unlikely hero in our series today. May I say that hero’s come is all sizes, shapes, races, genders, and economic classes. Who would think that a child could lead the way and be a hero to emulate Notice what Jesus said in Mark 10:13-16 "And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them."
I- A Few Thoughts:
Before we venture into the story of our hero today let me make a couple of statements. I heard a statement the other day by a children’s minister that I think is one of the greatest statement concerning children I ever hear.
"God must have a special place in his heart for children because He is not making adult, He is only making children." Jesus told us about what is often called a child like faith. We can learn a lot from a child.
Sometimes they are so plain and blunt they say what we as adult would never, we would only think it. The Junior Sunday School Teacher asked her eight eager 10-year-olds if they would give $1,000,000 to the missionaries.
"YES!" they all screamed!!
"Would you give $1,000?" Again they shouted "YES!"
"How about $100?" "Oh, YES we would!" they all agreed!!
"Would you give just a dollar to the missionaries?" she asked. The boys exclaimed "YES!" just as before except for Johnnie.
"Johnnie," the teacher said as she noticed the boy clutching his pocket, "why didn’t you say ’YES’ this time?"
"Well," he stammered, "I HAVE a dollar."
II- The Hero’s Story:
I still recall a sermon outline that someone preached concerning this text. I have hear thousands of sermons but this simple outline stayed with me. The simply thought was when this boy returned home to his mother he said, "Mom I meet a man, I gave him what I had, He used it to bless others." Simply but profound. Our hero today is a young man who is at a place Jesus was preaching near the Sea of Galilee. You probably know the story well. A multitude came to Jesus and heard Him teach. It come time for what probably was the evening meal and there was no one prepared, except one little boy.
John 6:1-13 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Some may say he was just a little boy how. Can he be a hero?
III- Lessons From the Lad:
There are a lot of lessons we can learn from this little boy.
1- The heart of a child.
Jesus said remember that unless we come like a child in faith. A child has a heart that is pure before God in worship. A child can commune with God unlike any other. Story of Daniel asking Jesus for a boy.
2- Didn’t understand everything. This boy did not certainly understand what Jesus might be about to do. May I say he didn’t need to understand it all or even a small part. Many times we adult analyze and dissect everything to death. It seems that we have to be able to predict the outcome to ever venture into anything. I remind us all that this is the opposite of what the Bible teaches we need to do. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
3- Knew He could give what he had. Did you notice that he didn’t say well I won’t give this little because it is not enough. He gave what he could. This lad challenges us to give to God of ourselves. Did you notice he did not sneak off and eat his meal behind a rock so others could not see him. He gave unselfishly. The outstanding Baptist preacher, Dr. George W. Truett, was helping a struggling congregation raise money for their church building. They still needed $6500. Truett found the response weak. With only $3000 pledged he said in exasperation, "Do you expect me to give the other $3500 needed to reach your goal? I’m just a guest here today." Suddenly, a woman near the back stood. Looking at her husband seated on the platform recording pledges, she said in a shaking voice, "Charlie, I wonder if you would be willing for us to give our little home? We were offered exactly $3500 cash for it yesterday. If the Saviour gave His life for us, shouldn’t we make this sacrifice for Him?"
Truett reported that the fine husband responded with equal generosity. "Yes, Jennie, I was thinking the same thing." Turning to Truett, he said, "Brother Truett, if it’s needed, we’ll raise our pledge by $3500." Silence reigned for a few moments. Then some of the folks began to sob. Those who fifteen minutes earlier had refused to do more now either added their names to the list or increased their donations. In a short time, their goal had been achieved, and Charlie and Jennie didn’t have to forfeit their home. Their willingness to sacrifice had stimulated others to similar generosity.
Leslie B. Flynn, in Resource, July/August, 1990 IV- Have you meet this man called Jesus?
Have you learned to give what you have for the Master to use? Have you meet the Man who can change your life?