Debt Free - Humility

September 13 “Debt Free –Humility” Proverbs 1.20-33, *James 3.1-12 Jacqueline Hines

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Today is Rally Day, the beginning of a new year of teaching and learning the ways of God. It is also the beginning of the New Year on our Judeo-Christian calendar. It is Rosh Hashanah, meaning the head of the year, or the New Year, or the Feast of Trumpets.  It is a time to loudly give thanks to God, offer praises for our many blessings, and humble ourselves by asking God to bring sweetness into the New Year. 

Scholars say that today’s scripture lesson - used to begin this new year and this sermon series on being debt free-  is passed down to us from James who was one of Jesus’ brothers. James starts off in chapter 3 by reminding Christians not to be in a hurry to teach because teaching must work extra hard to be accurate and inspiring. James, the brother of Jesus goes on to talk about how important words are. He notes that we all have the spiritual challenge of controlling our words rather than letting words control us. Words, James says, can start a destructive fire like a forest fire.  We all know what James reminds us, words matter. The words we will teach in our three adult classes and our 7 children’s classes will make a difference for years to come.

Since the beginning of this church in 1844, for 171 years, we have been known for excellence and dedication in teaching. Year after year we have been diligent and intentional about teaching. Now today James reminds us that our words matter. James tells us that there is a certain way we should talk. There is a time to speak and a time to study before you speak. There is a time to be quiet and listen. 

It is not natural for most of us to accept being told when to speak and how to speak and what to say and what not to say. Nevertheless, God has given us high standards. As teachers, formal and informal – for we are models of something wherever we go and whatever we say and do – God is always ready to teach us.  

One of our greatest affirmations of the lessons God teaches is found in our youngest children. Weren’t we amazed when we heard the children summarizing all they had learned at Vacation Bible School? One student from our own Bethel Christian Preschool remembered all the characters even a week later. Grandma was shocked.

I heard a precious story last week about another one of our 4 year olds. Last Sunday his grandmother gave a very inspiring children’s message with several examples of how to pray to God when you are in trouble.

His father was driving him home from church when another car went right through a stop sign without stopping. “Gee wiz,” he said out loud. The little one asked, “What’s wrong, Dad?” He said, that man did not stop at the stop sign and that could have caused an accident. I hope when you get old enough to drive you remember to stop at the stop signs. Branden said in very serious tones, “I think he is in trouble.” And, before he knew it, this father was hearing his 4 year old son I the back seat, praying as his grandmother had just taught him in the children’s message: “Dear Jesus, help that man remember to stop at the stop signs.” 

Let us all watch and pray so that we can be great models and teachers. We want the goodness of God to be passed down from heart to heart and generation to generation and year to year in ways make the world a better place.  We change the atmosphere one prayer at a time, one humble student at a time. Thank you Kaleb and Branden, and thank you mom and dad and grand mom and grandad, thank you Sunday School, thank you Bethel Christian Preschool,  and thank you all of Bethel and friends. Amen.