Jun 02 2002
Where Does It All Begin
Moody First United Methodist Church
Moody-Leon United Methodist Church
Rev. Eddie Smart
Matthew 7:21-29
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell–and great was its fall!” Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
It was 1978, and I was working in the Technical Services Department of the Guiberson Division of Dresser Industries. We were located in a 40 story building in downtown Houston called Dresser Tower. My department consisted of 2 engineers, 1 supervisor, 1 graphics artist, and 1 secretary. We were moving into new offices for our newly organized group. What made it interesting was two offices on the outside part of the building and the rest on the inside portion. Two engineers, me and Joe, and one supervisor, Dick. There was no doubt that Dick would get one of the offices with a window. Joe and I drew straws to see which of us would get the other office complete with window. I won. That put Joe on the side of the hall without a window.
For months Joe bemoaned his lot in life-no window. We took frequent business trips in those days. All the glamour spots of the world…that had an oilfield. Joe was gone for several days on a trip. Dick came into the office with a window for Joe. He purchased it at a salvage yard. It was the lower portion of an old wooden window complete with a sash cord still attached to each side. We used those sash cords to mount that window on the wall behind Joe’s desk.
Then we waited for Joe’s return. We were ready to announce to Joe that he now had a window. Joe didn’t see nearly as much humor in that window as Dick and I. While Joe wanted a window, that was not what he had in mind.
Joe had one desire with regard to the window. Dick and I chose to satisfy that desire in our own way. We did what we wanted, not what Joe wanted… By the way, we moved a year later and the only one with a window was Joe. Of course he had to take it off the wall in Houston and hang it in Dallas.
We did what we wanted, not what Joe wanted. Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by telling all those gathered that even when they do good things, if they are not God’s will, they are of no heavenly value. He said, you can call me Lord. You can prophesy in my name. You can cast out demons in my name. All this is good, but if it is not what my Heavenly Father wants, it will not get you one inch closer to heaven. Doing good things just because you had a good idea won’t cut it. When we fail to follow God’s lead, we are lost. When we do things our way, good as they may be, rather than God’s way, then Jesus as our judge will not be moved.
So how do we know God’s desire? Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man…” He also said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man.” What words are we to hear? The words that have preceded the ones we read today. How do we find God’s will? Hearing the words of Jesus. Matthew has quoted Jesus for three chapters. We call those words, “The Sermon on the Mount.”
Jesus tells us that we are to be poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and expect persecution for righteousness sake.
Jesus tells us that we are to be light for a world of darkness. We should obey the Ten Commandments. We are not to foster anger, but be reconciled to our brothers and sisters. Jesus reminds us even beyond the ten commandments that adultery begins with a look and is outside of God’s will.
Jesus teaches against retaliation, even when we believe we are right. He teaches us to love not only our neighbor, but even our enemy.
Jesus teaches us to give and to pray generously and in secret. Jesus teaches that were we find our treasure, we find our hearts. We are told that we can not have two masters, God and wealth.
Jesus says to worry rather than to trust God is a sin. He entreats us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Don’t worry, seek God.
Jesus tells us, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
We are urged to ask God for our needs, and we are assured that our Heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him.
Jesus told the crowd on the mountain side, “If you do all these things I have taught you, then you will be in God’s will. If you hear what I say and do what I say, then you will know and do the will of your Heavenly Father, and you will enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus closed his message with that promise. He told them what it would take to be wise rather than foolish. They heard all that he said. They were astonished. They said to one another, “He has taught us as one having authority.”