Why Can't we All Just Get Along?

September 19, 2021 James 3:13-4:3,7-8 17th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 20 Year B Why can’t we all just get along? Opening Song Welcome Opening Prayer Are you longing for more wisdom in your life? Do you face conflicts that need answers, tough situations that require special insight? Do you need more peace in your life? Do you long to bear good fruit in your life? Draw near to God, the giver of wisdom, and God will draw near to you. Stewardship Moment Are you wise and understanding? That is the question of the day. If we consider ourselves to be wise, then we should show it in our lives. Our lives are not focused on what we want, but on what God wants. Invitation to the Offering (Proverbs 31:20, Mark 9, James 3) The writer of Proverbs teaches that God’s Wisdom is present and active in our lives in this way: “She opens her hand to the poor, / and reaches out her hands to the needy.” Jesus lived this wisdom in his life, and called his disciples to this same generosity. Let us give out of this same generous wisdom—a wisdom that seeks a presence and purpose in our lives on behalf of all. Offering Prayer (James 3) You are the generous one, full of mercy and goodness for your creation. Send your wisdom with these gifts, that they may reach those who need your love and welcome. Bring about a harvest of goodness through these gifts sown in peace. Amen. Scripture We have been thinking about wisdom for this entire season. It is rare that all of our lectionary readings fit the same theme. But today Proverbs, James, Mark and even psalm 1 all have the same theme – Wisdom and Christian living go hand and hand. Wisdom is not our decisions in life, it is what goes behind our decisions. Wisdom comes only from God, and learning God’s ways is the only way to get it. James 3:13-4:3 Common English Bible Wisdom from above 13 Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. 14 However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic. 16 Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil. 17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. 18 Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts. Conflict with people and God 4 What is the source of conflict among you? What is the source of your disputes? Don’t they come from your cravings that are at war in your own lives? 2 You long for something you don’t have, so you commit murder. You are jealous for something you can’t get, so you struggle and fight. You don’t have because you don’t ask. 3 You ask and don’t have because you ask with evil intentions, to waste it on your own cravings. 7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Sermon – Why can’t we all just get along? September would be my favorite month, even if it was not my birthday month. I think that there is something sacred about September. September is the end of summer, and the beginning of fall at the same time. As I was walking around yesterday, I could feel the change in the air. It is getting colder, windier, the humidity is not as stifling, and you can look at the trees and see subtle signs of change. I learned that one of my favorite music artist Michael Franks wrote a song “I wish I could convince September to stay.” I think a lot of us feel that way. I didn’t realize until yesterday that there are over 60 songs with September in the title. Everyone gets a little nostaligic and prepared for change in September. There is one rule that I have in my life about September – no mention of pumpkin spice until October 1st. There is another ritual of September, I think it usually starts in late August, but it is on full swing in September – that is football games. Like many I sat in the stands on Friday watching the game between Wilmington and Peotone. During the varsity game the score was 0 to 0 until the second half, until Wilmington pulled ahead and one 10 – 0. Part of the fun of the football game is watching the score – and we continue to root for our team until the very end. Usually when the team is not doing well – we start to hope for a miracle. We hope that one of the team members will perform a hail Mary move – that one move that will overcome all of the bad plays in the game and win at the last second. That is okay for football games, but the problem is that is how a lot of us play our faith life as well. We go to church, we assume that we are good people and that God is on our side. Whatever we do is justified. We don’t need to pray on a regular basis – then something goes wrong, and we have nothing else but to pray a hail mary prayer. God I am at the end of my rope. I need a miracle, come and save me. And when God does not answer that prayer – we are angry, bitter, and hopeless. We asks ourselves that if I go to church every Sunday, why is it that God does not hear my prayer? I have prayed my fair share of hail mary prayers. And I still ask why God does not answer my prayers. We all ask that question – why does God not answer my prayers. This scripture in James is for us – it answers that question. Unlike Paul who was writing to fall semester freshmen churches, James was writing to Christians who were no longer freshmen in the faith. His letter was a general or "catholic" epistle for us all. Eugene Peterson has written a book for us that James would enjoy. It is called A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. The book speaks honestly about the Christian journey. Millions of people all over the world begin it. But as soon as discipleship gets arduous or prayers are not answered the way we wish for them to be, people start to drop out. The attrition rate is dreadful. Few of us have enthusiasm for what Peterson calls "the patient acquisition of Christian virtue."4 The Christian journey, which starts like a sprint, winds up as a lonely, silent marathon. What starts out so beautifully is never finished. So it is with wisdom. We can start beautifully but often it's the middle of the race that breaks us. We transfer from heavenly wisdom to earthly wisdom. We often die with our greatest wisdom, that which comes from above, still within us, unused, unspent, unrecognized. Yet the world looks at us and calls us "wise in the ways of the world," "a great preacher," "a shrewd businesswoman," or "a beloved philanthropist." James wants us to avoid such endings. He wants us to be declared the winner in the Battle of the Wisdoms, by the only judge whose decision ultimately matters. James is written for us who have been at this church thing for quite awhile. We still have things to learn about God and more importantly about ourselves. We still might be doing it all wrong. t. It reminds me of a certain born-again believer who was suffering from constant headaches. He visited his doctor. "Doctor, I don''t know why I keep on getting these awful headaches," he said. "I don''t drink like so many others do. I don''t smoke like so many others do. I don''t run around at night like so many others do. I don''t overeat like so many others do. I don''t . . . " The doctor interrupted at this point. "Tell me," he said, "this pain in the head you complain of, is it a sharp, shooting kind of pain?" "Yes," the patient replied, "that describes it perfectly. A sharp, shooting kind of pain!" The doctor then made his diagnosis: "Simple," he said, "your problem is that you have your halo on too tight. All you need to do is loosen it a bit." There is a difference between knowing about God and being a Christian. There is a difference between going to church and having an encounter with God. There is a difference between praying for results and having a relationship with God. I heard recently of a very wealthy, knowledgeable businessman whose hobby was hunting for pheasant and quail. One day before leaving for the countryside, he remembered that this was his wife''s birthday. In a flash of uncharacteristic guilt, he breezed by an expensive pet shop and purchased a parrot which could speak eleven languages. The cost was enormous--$300 for each language. The shop delivered the sophisticated bird to his wife while he continued his hunting expedition. The wife, accustomed to her special day being forgotten, saw nothing unusual about this bird brought by the UPS. So she promptly wrung its neck, dressed it and shoved it into the oven. That night the husband arrived late, dirty and tired. The first thing he asked was, "Did the bird arrive by UPS?" She replied, "Yes, she''s in the oven and almost done." "In the oven," he shouted in a state of shock. "Good heavens, woman! That bird could speak eleven languages!" The wife indignantly replied, "Well, why didn''t it say something?" The man had knowledge--but little wisdom. If he had spoken the words, "I love you," and stayed at home where he belonged on her birthday--he would have been happier and $3300 richer. His knowledge did not help him act as a wise man. Knowledge and wisdom is what James is all about. Our scripture for today says that there are two kinds of wisdom. James is talking to Christians who have been in the church for quite a while. He is pointing out that at that point we know enough to be teachers for other people. James points out that there are 2 kinds of teachers – those who know it all, and those who are willing to tell others what they know, at the same time that they are still learning for themselves. James is a continuation of the wisdom conversation that we had last week in the book of proverbs. We know that the two wisdoms that James is talking about is the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God. Wisdom is an important part of our faith. Two types of wisdom, two types of teachers – which one are you? One type of wisdom is We may find in this passage four characteristics of the wrong kind of teaching. (i) It is fanatical. The truth it holds is held with unbalanced violence rather than with reasoned conviction. (ii) It is bitter. It regards its opponents as enemies to be annihilated rather than as friends to be persuaded. (iii) It is selfishly ambitious. It is, in the end, more eager to display itself than to display the truth, and it is interested more in the victory of its own opinions than in the victory of the truth. (iv) It is arrogant. Its attitude is pride in its knowledge rather than humility in its ignorance. The real scholar will be far more aware of what he does not kno The other type – is pure, peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair and genuine. Which one is God’s wisdom. James points out another truth about who we are as Christians – in our lives we all use a little bit of both types of wisdom in our lives. James calls that being double minded. He encourages us to work on getting closer to God. Someone asked the great evangelist George Whitfield what he would do if he were sure that Christ would come again within three days. He reached into his pocket, took out his date book, his schedule book, and opened it up. He said, "I would do that which I have scheduled to do." He said that because he''d sought God''s will for every decision, every activity in the days that lay ahead, and he felt he had the backing of God there. We should rely less on hail mary prayers and more on our daily spiritual practices. The point James is making here is that when we are not right with God -- when our friendship with Him is blurred because of our friendship with the world--we either don't ask Him for what we need, or we ask Him for good things but with a wrong purpose and motive. We pray for good things with the intention of using them for our own gain and selfish pleasure. here is an old saying that the best things in life are free. Well, I have also learned that the sweetest things in life are simple. A good indication that we are using the wrong kind of wisdom – When we feel that prayers don’t make a difference, when we feel that God does not care, we are using the wrong wisdom. When we are skeptical that nothing will ever change – we are using the wrong wisdom. Just like the leaves of late summer, God changes every day – we just have to pay attention. When we are at odds with other people and think they are the problem – we may be using the wrong wisdom. The key to our suffering is our own thoughts. When we are convinced that God is not answering our prayers – and no is sometimes an answer. James says that we may be making a selfish request. We may be asking God to be on our team instead of realizing that we are on God’s team – along with everyone else. A popular prayer of Christians… I am like James and John, Lord. Lord, I size up other people in terms of what they can do for ME, how they can further MY program, feed MY ego, satisfy MY needs, give ME strategic advantage. I exploit people, ostensibly for your sake, but really for MY own sake. Lord, I turn to YOU to get the inside track and obtain special favors, YOUR direction for my schemes, YOUR power for my projects, YOUR sanction for my ambitions, YOUR blank check for whatever I want. I am like James and John. Change me, Lord. Make me a man who asks of you and of others, What can I do for you? (1) Our reading skips around in chapter 3 an 4 of James. It left our much of the harsh words of James. Next week is chapter 5 if you want to read it. We wont look at it in church. The whole message of James is that faith without works is dead, knowledge without wisdom is useless, prayer is not what you say, it is what you do and how you live. James is not preparing us to walk into the church, but to walk out of the church and into the world as Christians. I think that the ending of our scripture today is key. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will run away from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. God is always there, we just have to realize that. An older couple was driving down the road on Sunday afternoon. She was leaning against the door on her side -- some would say polishing the chrome -- and he was driving. They were eager to get where they were going, but were slowed down dramatically by a young couple, who were cuddling in the car before them -- the young woman was almost sitting in his lap, rubbing his face, and now and then kissing him on the cheek, and ever now and then -- though it was dangerous -- he would turn around and kiss her. They were in no hurry at all -- that is, in no hurry as far as moving the car along. Finding it impossible to pass, the older couple finally began to strike up a conversation. The woman looked across at her husband, then looked ahead to the young couple, and she asked her husband, "why don't we sit together like that anymore?" Quick as a flash he responded, "I haven't moved". Only when a man realizes his own ignorance will he ask God’s guidance. Only when a man realizes his own poverty in the things that matter will he pray for the riches of God’s grace. Only when a man realizes his weakness in necessary things will he come to draw upon God’s strength. Only when a man realizes his own sin will he realize his need of a Saviour and of God’s forgiveness. In life there is one sin which can be said to be the basis of all others; and that is forgetting that we are creatures and that God is creator. When a man realizes his essential creatureliness, he realizes his essential helplessness and goes to the source from which that helplessness can alone be supplied. Looking for God? Draw near to God and God will Draw near to you. Let us pray……… Prayer God, how amazed we are at the solutions Jesus offers to his disciples when they question their importance to him and his kingdom. They want to know if they will receive the great rewards, if they will be recognized and praised for their accomplishments or at least their efforts. We are still so much like those early disciples. We want you to know how hard we work. We want to be praised and recognized for our efforts and successes. And we want you to pass over our failures as though they were inconsequential. When Jesus was confronted with their fears and concerns, he responded that they should be ready for service rather than adulation, And then he placed a small child in their midst; a child with no guile, no pretense. “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me.” Help us to reach out to others, not with thought of importance or gain, but in love and compassion; truly caring for each one we meet. When we have done this, we will have truly give our hearts and our service to our Lord. AMEN. Song I surrender all - UMH 354 Announcements Debbie is the liturgist, she is also our lay representative to annual conference – give a brief report on what happened July. Closing Prayer for Facebook We are planted by the streams of God’s wisdom. We meditate on the desires of God, taking delight in the laws of God. Sink your roots deep into the soil, and draw on God’s wisdom. For God will nourish us every day with insight. Go forth, knowing that God watches over you. Community Time Benediction Go in confidence and peace, joyfully serving the Lord who walks with you. Bring hope to the hopeless, joy to those who sorrow, peace to the afflicted. Be true witnesses to the love of God through Jesus Christ. AMEN. Children’s Sermon Object: Bricks and raisins. Good morning, boys and girls. Isn't this beautiful weather we are having at this time of the year? How many of you like fall? (Let them answer.) What do you like most about this time of year? (Let them answer.) I think I like the warm days and the cool nights and the changing colors in the trees. Even though it is the same thing every year I never grow tired of the beautiful fall days. Lots of things don't change. I brought along with me some things that I found to help me tell you something that I learned from the Bible. The first thing I have with me is a brick. How many of you know what a brick is used for? (Let them answer.) That's right, it is used to build houses. When you build a house with bricks, do you have a wood house? (Let them answer.) Of course not. You build a house of bricks, and you have a brick house. Bricks don't change to wood shingles or boards. A house built with brick is a brick house. I also brought some raisins. I like raisin bread. If the baker uses raisins in his dough and bakes it, then what kind of bread will the baker have when it is finished? (Let them answer.) Right, raisin bread. He won't have rye bread or whole wheat bread or just plain white bread when he finishes; he will have raisin bread. That means that whatever he puts into the bread is thekind of bread that he will have when it is baked. The Bible tells us that the goodness of our lives and the world we live in is a little bit like the brick layer making a house and the baker making bread. Your life will be just as good as the good things you put in it, or just as bad as the bad things that you put in it. Our world will be as good or as bad as the people are that live in it. If you want peace in the world, then you must have peace in your heart. If you want happy and joyful people in the world, then you must be happy and joyful. If you want people who are filled with love and like to share, then you must have love and be ready to share the things that are yours. Our world is made up of people like you and me, and the kind of world we get is the same as what we put into it. You can't have raisin bread unless you put the raisins in the dough. You can't have a brick house unless you make it with bricks. You can have a good life if you are good. God made his world this way, and it is the best kind of world that I can think of. You make our world a better world by loving, sharing, forgiving and being joyful. You will also help other people in the world be good and joyful, too. Amen. C.S.S. Publishing Company, ON THE MOVE WITH JESUS, by Wesley T. Runk Additional Illustrations I recently read of an old Arabian ruler who had three rather ungrateful but brilliant sons. As the old man lay dying, he called the sons into his bedroom to discuss their inheritance. "You will inherit my herd of camels," he said. The oldest son was to receive half (-) of the herd, the middle son one third (1/3), and the youngest son, one ninth (1/9). When the old man died, the sons met and divided up the herd. But, alas, there were 17 camels. There was no way to divide up a herd of 17 camels one half, one third and one ninth. The sons began quarreling with one another. The quarreling got worse. Gradually it infected the entire household, then the town, and then the Sheik''s entire region. It was like a church that had lost its focus and perspective. They were ready to hire Johnny Cochran and Al Shapiro to settle the argument. Finally, one day an older and wiser woman walked into town holding a rope attached to a single camel. "Here," she said quietly, "if it will stop the quarreling, I will give you my camel. I will now divide your inheritance for you." You should have seen her in action. Well, of course, the problem was solved. The oldest son received nine camels; the middle son, six camels; the youngest 2 camels. Everyone seemed pleased and content. Then they thought: 9 + 6 + 2 = 17. With just the hint of a smile on her face, the wise old woman picked up the rope from her camel and headed for home. She had wisdom that stopped a war --and was winsome. This is the trademark of truth. When our actions and words agree the message is always loud and clear. James would agree. This is why we must tame the tongue. After a period of question and answer exchange between the Dean and the student, the parent finally asked a question. "What is the largest major in this university?" With perfect candor, the Dean replied, "In the fall we have the highest number of majors -- engineering. In the spring, business undecided has the highest number of majors." He explained that new, eager, and bright students enter the School of Engineering in the fall with commitment, excitement, and promise. Their initial academic work goes well. Then, in the spring term, they are required to take a certain physics course. It is a back-breaker. Only the strong survive. Attrition begins to occur as more and more start to transfer away from engineering. The rubber hits the road, so to speak, and by the end of that term, when freshmen are no longer freshmen, the engineering major is no longer the largest on campus. There was a little boy on an airplane and he was talking to his mommy, and he said, "Mommy, do you see that light blinking on the end of that wing?" She said, "Yes." He said, "Do you see the other light blinking on the other side of that wing?" She said, "Yes." He said, "Did you know that as long as that pilot stays between those two lights, he will always be headed in the right direction?"