The Rev. Herbert G. Hand

Faith Anglican Church

Cordova, Tennessee

August 2, 2009

 

 

Title: Work for That Which Endures

Text: John 6:24-35

 

 

I.       A Hunger for Material Possessions

 

A Racket

Recently I heard a story about a man who decided to take up tennis.

 

He went to a locally own sporting goods store and told the owner of his new enthusiasm.

 

The owner sold him:

A designer warm-up suit for $250.

 

A pair of tennis shoes for $100.

 

Three cans of tennis balls for $30.

 

A book of tennis tips for $15.

 

And a membership in a local tennis club for over $1,000.

 

As the new tennis enthusiast was leaving the store, he realized he had forgotten the most important thing. He asked,

“Could you also supply me with a racket?”

 

The owner beamed with joy and replied,

“Of course, how about a half interest in this store?”

James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 341. – Edited

 

 

God has designed each and every one of us to work and to work hard, to be productive, to provide for our families:

In Deuteronomy chapter five, God’s command is clear:

¹³Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁴but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God...
Deuteronomy 5:13-14 (NIV)

 

In Proverbs 10:4 God says:

⁴Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 10:4 (NIV)

 

But sometimes that holy and wholesome desire for basic provision, turns into a gluttonous insatiable hunger for more and more material possessions.

 

 

Hunger for the Things of God

In our reading from John chapter six, verse 27 Jesus said,

“...Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you...”

John 6:27 (NIV)

 

Is Jesus  telling you not to work and provide for your family?

Of course not!

 

He’s telling you not to become so hungry for material possessions, that you no longer hunger for the things of God.

 

 

As theologian and author Richard Foster once said,

“For the Christian, the bottom line can never be the bottom line.”

Richard Foster in Money, Sex and Power. Christianity Today, Vol. 35, no. 2.

 

As the great 16^th century reformer, Martin Luther once said,

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess.”

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

 

As in our reading from John chapter six, sometimes we start out hungering after the things of God, but then all of a sudden we find ourselves lusting after the gift and not the Giver.

 

 

II.      Hungering for God, Then Hungering for the Giver’s Gifts

 

Let’s take a look at how our hunger for God can be twisted into a hunger for the fleeting things of this world.

 

In John chapter four, Jesus prophetically spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well:

Revealing her sinful past.

 

Offering her eternal life.

 

And proclaiming that He was the Messiah.

 

She was so moved that she went back to her village telling everyone about Jesus!

 

In the previous chapter, John chapter five, Jesus healed a man who had been crippled for 38 years—the glory of God, the power of God revealed!!!

 

Earlier in John chapter six:

Jesus fed the 20,000 thousand – “five thousand men, besides women and children” (John 6:1-15, Matthew 14:21).

 

Then in today’s reading, late at night, in the midst of a raging storm, Jesus walked on the water to His disciples.

 

In Luke chapter seven, Jesus publicly forgave the sins of a notoriously sinful woman.  He said,

⁴⁸...“Your sins are forgiven.”

 

⁴⁹The other guests began to say among themselves,

“Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Luke 7:48-49 (NIV)

That is the question: Who is this Jesus?  This Jesus:

Who prophetically sees into people’s lives.

 

Who heals the sick.

 

Who multiplies the loaves and fishes.

 

Who has power over the created order, who can walk on water.

 

Who forgives sins!

 

Who is this Jesus?

The Messiah.

 

The Christ.

 

The Son of the Living God.

 

God Incarnate.

 

The Bread of heaven.

 

 

A Hunger for Material Possessions

They had originally come to hear Jesus’ teachings and see his miraculous signs, but when he feed the 20,000, something changed:

Instead of seeing His miracle of the multiplication of the loaves as an indication that He was the same God who provided manna in the wilderness during the time of Moses, they simply saw it as a free lunch, a means of wealth.

 

Like the ancient Israelites, their love for God quickly degraded into their love for food.

 

This same temptation threatens us today, the temptation to seek God, not for a deepening holy relationship with Him,

But to seek Him for His gifts, His benefits, His blessings.

 

Take a look at our reading from John chapter six, beginning at verse 24:

²⁴Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

 

²⁵When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him,

“Rabbi, when did you get here?”

 

Then Jesus went to the heart of the matter, he said:

²⁶...“I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
John 6:24-26 (NIV)

Then He commanded them:

²⁷Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you...

John 6:27 (NIV)

In other words, Jesus is commanding you and me:

To not become all wrapped up in the things of this world.

 

To not strive for, toil for, and become obsessed with temporal things.

 

But rather to become all wrapped up in the things of God.

 

To strive for, toil for, and become obsessed with Jesus, His Kingdom, and “that which endures to eternal life.”

III.    Hungering for the Things of God

 

The question is, how do we do that?  How do we hunger for the things of God?

 

In Psalm 23 King David opens with these words:

¹The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

Psalm 23:1 (NIV)

 

When the Lord is your Shepherd, when the Lord is the one you look to, to guide you and provide for you,

Then you will not be obsessed with the wants of this world.

 

Rather, you will be satisfied in Him.

 

As St. Paul said in Philippians chapter four:

¹²... I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

 

¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)

 

The secret of being content, in any and every circumstance in life:

Is not to trust in your material possessions.

 

It’s to do everything through Jesus, who gives you strength.

 

 

As Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount:

⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

 

When you hunger and thirst after the things of God, the emptiness in your soul will be filled.

 

“Inside of everyone, there is a God shaped void.”

Though anonymous, this is often attributed to French mathematician, physicist, and Christian philosopher Blaise Pascal.

Though we’ve tried to fill this God shaped void with many many things:

This God shaped void, can only be filled with Jesus.

 

 

The Sea of Galilee Boat

During the drought of 1986 two brothers, Moshe and Yuval Lufan, who live in a kibbutz near the Sea of Galilee made an incredible discovery.

 

These two Israeli fishermen found the remains of ancient first century fishing boat along the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee.  It has been dubbed the “Jesus Boat.”

 

Since Jesus would have sailed in a boat just like it, it’s possible that that Jesus Himself actually sailed in it.

 

The only reason Moshe and Yuval found the “Jesus Boat,” was because of the terrible drought:

As they looked at the muddy shore, they saw something they had never seen before.

 

They saw something glistening in the sun.

 

They suspected it was something of great importance, so they called in professional archeologists, who dated it to the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

 

After the archeologists carefully excavated it, the “Jesus Boat” was submerged in a chemical bath for seven years.

 

It’s now on display in a museum for all to see.

 

When Mary and I were in Israel, we had the privledge of seeing it.

 

It took  this period of dryness to unearth this thing of great importance and value.

Greg Asimakoupoulos in Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Baker), from the editors of Leadership.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sea_of_Galilee_Boat

 

When we wander from our Good Shepherd, when we hunger for “food that spoils,” and not “for food that endures to eternal life,”

We can’t help but enter a period of spiritual drought.

 

Often it’s during these periods of spiritual dryness, that we begin to again look to Jesus for help.

 

As we look to Jesus, God unearths that which is of great importance and value.

 

 

Jesus is the Bread that Satisfies

Going back to our reading from John chapter six, take a look at verses 32-33.  Then Jesus said to them,

³²...“I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

John 6:32-33 (NIV)

This true bread is Jesus.

 

In the first century, bread was the staple of life.  So when Jesus compared himself to bread, we know he is saying that we all need Jesus to truly live.

 

 

Bread

This time of year at our house, it is not unusual for bread to begin to mold before we can finish the loaf.

 

The bread from heaven will never never go bad.

 

The bread from heaven will always satisfy.

 

Jesus said to them,

³⁵...“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.   John 6:35 (NIV)

In other words, when you come to Jesus, the longing of your heart will be satisfied.

 

 

Some seek Jesus for fire insurance.

They=re afraid of God=s judgment and going to hell.

 

So they seek the sure and certain mercy of God.

 

 

Some seek Jesus for a free lunch.

They show up at the soup kitchen knowing that their empty stomach will be filled.

 

Let me assure you Jesus is still in the business of feeding the hungry.