Show and Tell

I recently heard an amazing sermon that I believe everyone could benefit from. The basic premise of the sermon was how our life is just like a kindergarten "show and tell." From early on we are comforted by material things. For the rest of our adolescence, through adulthood, we use our possessions (the show) to express our identity (the tell).  The speaker told of his excitement of taking his Knight Rider Big Wheel to his first grad show and tell. He told of how his persona changed when he was on his Big Wheel. 

In today's society we bring our houses, cars and jobs to our friends, coworkers and acquaintances in our own version of show and tell.   We show how fancy our material belongings are and let that tell society how successful we are. Every person no matter their skill set or social circle has been sucked in to this habitual show and tell pattern.  Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 6: "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. "

 

So how do we get ourselves out of this pattern of self righteousness?  This speaker pointed out 3 steps. 

 

1. Embrace humility over pride by following the example of Christ.  

2. Eliminate the competition by allowing Jesus to transform the way we see the world and how we fit in it. 

3. Embrace people over possessions. 

 

I encourage you to listen to this sermon via the website at this link. It is a great message. 

http://www.worthingtoncc.org/site2/archives/sermons/sermondoc.php?date=20090315&lvl=A