Building a Better Me – Responsibility (Part V)
Sermon Title: Becoming a Better Me – You Are Enough
Good News Statement: God created us with a purpose
Summary: Three strategies to live spiritually responsible lives.
Preached: Sunday, October 20th, at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC
Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.
Scripture (NRSV): Psalm 139:1-4, Today’s scripture reading comes from the Book of Psalm: specifically to the leader of David. In this Psalm we learn that our worth is noticed by God, who searches for us, who knows our ways, and who knows our life before we do. Let’s read from David’s words, Psalm, Chapter 139, Verses one thru four. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.
Psalm 139
The Inescapable God
To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
The Word of God, for the People of God; And all God’s People said, “Thanks Be To God.”
Introduction:
Before “graduating” from the third grade, my classmates and I were given a book sponsored by several businesses in the area: Central Bank, State Farm Insurance, Vandemore Funeral Home, Village Maytag, Lifetime Eyecare, McClimon Pharmacy, Chicago Street Decorating Center, and Hanford Insurance Agency. The book is titled, Eight Keys to a Better Me: Character Development for Young People, written by William J. Briggs and illustrated by Lynne Marie Davis.
The premise of the book focuses on eight key practices by which could help mold us and shape us into better versions of ourselves. These keys are honesty, respect, patriotism, kindness, courage, responsibility, feelings, and self-worth; and all of these keys were explained by highlighting tasks that students encounter or talk about during the school year and by which they did (or tried to do) on a regular basis whether at school or at home. In a way, the booked summed up what we learned in kindergarten through third grade; but also was a source that was reminding us that we must keep practicing these key traits as we progress through school and life if we want to continually create a better version of ourselves.
Now to be honest, as a soon to be fourth grader, I really had no idea what it meant to become a “better me.” I thought I was a good kid: I rarely got in trouble, I listened to my teachers, did what I was told, and helped out when I could. If I knew getting a book at the end of third grade was our sign of achievement, of success, I would have suggested other reading material that was more interesting. However, over the years this book has remained on my bookshelf: never packed away in box or shoved behind other books. It may have accumulated some dust and been placed under Bibles and renowned works by theologians, but it was still visible. In third grade, this book was just a book; but today, this simple read has a powerful message that I believe we all need to think about. And what we need to think about is “How do I become a ‘better me’?” How do I become a “better me” for me? How do I become a “better me” for those in my life? How do I become a “better me” for Jesus Christ and his church?
Over the next few weeks—now until October 20th—we are going to explore five of the eight keys that William J. Briggs wrote about. Not only are we going to read about five of those eight keys, but we are going to relate them to scripture and see how a book written for children actually highlights marks of a true disciple in, for, and of Jesus Christ. We are going to talk about honesty, respect, courage, responsibility, and self-worth.
I understand that many of you are probably saying to yourself, “I’m the best version of me I can be.” And to that I say, “I’m proud of you!” However, Jesus didn’t call people to follow him that were the best versions of themselves: he called upon people who knew there was a better version of themselves found in the footsteps of Jesus. Jesus knows we have room to improve, to become a better version of ourselves, but do you believe that? Are you willing to pursue whatever is needed to help you say, “I am a better me today than I was yesterday”? Today, we close this sermon series by reminding ourselves that we have self-worth.
Body:
For the past few weeks, I have been asking you “What does it take to become a better you?” We’ve looked at how honesty—being honest with ourselves, with our neighbors, with those in our life, and with God—is a characteristic that can help us become a better version of ourselves as it helps us realize what is best for us at any particular time and in any kind of relationship. We’ve examined that, while giving the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us that we need to practice and live out this idea of respect so that we can be kind to ourselves, our neighbors, those in our life, and kind to God. A few weeks ago, we realized that even when we don’t feel courageous or brave because of fear or lack of confidence, we still have courage within us because God is within us; and as long as God is within us, we have the courage to face what is placed before us. Just two weeks ago, we looked at the words of the Apostle Paul, who in his second epistle (or letter) to the people of Thessalonica, instructs them to take note of those who take advantage of the church—those who aspect others to do everything for them when they in turn do nothing for others. Paul invited us to examine our responsibility; and how our responsibilities are not to ignore those people or to treat them like enemies, but to do things that lead them to Christ. Our responsibilities should reflect the ways of Jesus Christ; and if they do, then we are on the way to becoming a better version of ourselves for ourselves, our neighbors, our church, and for God.
Over the past few weeks, have you been more honest with yourself? Have you shown a little more respect? Have you demonstrated courage or even told yourself that you can do it? Have you shown more responsibility to the people and the things that God has placed in your life? If you want to become a better version of yourself, then these are just a few questions that you need to be asking because these are the same questions that Jesus was (subliminally) asking through his lessons, parables, and teachings and even through his three-hundred questions that he asked to the early disciples and followers and undecided ones. We are called to become better versions of ourselves today; but are we willing to do that?
We conclude this sermon series by examining the idea of self-worth. Believe it or not, no matter what others may say or what you perceive about yourself based upon what others have told you, you have self-worth. However, it’s hard to believe that when, according to Psychology Today, “…roughly 85% of people worldwide (adults and adolescents) have low self-esteem.”[1] What this means is that of the 8 billion people in this world, 6.8 billion people struggle with having low self-esteem and self-worth. Furthermore, 6.8 billion are asking themselves, “AM I ENOUGH?” Are you one of those 6.8 billion people? If you are, please hear this message: “You are enough. You are worthy.”[2]
Life, as we all know, is harsh some days and even cruel in this world. And as we strive through this life journey, we all wonder if we matter: am I worthy? We must come to understand that God knows our story. We are valuable to our God because He created each of us for his Symphony. We all are a part of His master plan. As clearly stated in Genesis 1:27, God created people in His own image; God patterned them after Himself…He created them. Nicky Gumbel stated it best in his quote, “Don’t undervalue yourself; God loves you. Your worth is what you are worth to God. Jesus died for you. Therefore, YOU are created in infinite value.” If you want to become a better version of yourself, then begin realizing that God created you with a plan, with a purpose, and with worth and value. Don’t let others say to you that you are not worthy when God knows you are. Let me offer you three points for you to consider today regarding your self-worth.
Movement One: Psalm 139:1-4 – Do not undervalue your Worth
First, “Do not undervalue your worth.” Let me define the word undervalued: if someone is undervalued, people think they are less able, less skillful, or even less important than they are, possibly even lazy. How many of you here today have had that same feeling about yourself? You have felt undervalued, unworthy, and underappreciated. I’m sure we have all felt undervalued at some point in our life; and the feeling of being undervalued can lead to depression, brokenness, anxiety, and even bitterness. If you have ever felt this way, you are not alone: remember 6.8 billion people feel undervalued and unworthy.[3] Even people in the Bible felt undervalued and unworthy.
For example: When the Israelites were suffering under the oppression of the Midianites, God sent an angel to Gideon, who was threshing wheat in secret so the enemy couldn’t steal it. Scripture tells us, “When the angel appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’” Gideon responded, “If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?…The LORD has abandoned us” (Judges 6:11-13). The angel persisted saying, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14). Gideon replied, “’How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ The LORD answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive’” (Judges 6:15-16). Gideon felt too weak for this task. He felt undervalued and unworthy for what God needed him to do for the people of Israel. Have you ever felt too weak to do something?
Another example involves the Prophet Jeremiah. God said to the Prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah answered, “Alas, Sovereign LORD…I do not know how to speak; I am too young” (Jeremiah 1:5-6). Jeremiah felt inadequate to be a prophet. He believed in God but doubted He could use him. The LORD encouraged him saying, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you” (Jeremiah 1:7-8). Even a prophet doubted his ability: he believed he was unworthy for what God was calling him to do. Have you ever let your unworthiness be the reason you can’t be he God needs you to be?
Lastly, while Jesus was in Capernaum, a Centurion, an officer in the Roman army, sent word to him asking him to come and heal his terminally-ill servant. The Jewish elders he sent spoke highly of him and how he had helped the Jewish people. When Jesus headed to his house, the Centurion sent word again, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Luke 7:6-7). The Centurion felt unworthy: he felt as if his worth wasn’t enough to come to Jesus and ask for help. Has your level of self-worth been the reason to which you have limited yourself to receive help from Christ?
There are many, many, many, more examples in the Bible of people feeling undervalued and their unworthiness being a reason why that can’t lean on God: King David, the bleeding women, the Samaritan woman at the well, Moses, Mary and Joseph, etc. We have even felt like these Biblical characters. Some of us may have felt this way last week, yesterday, or even a few hours ago. My point is we should never let our feeling of being undervalued strip us away from the worthiness that God has put in our lives.
Let us look at Psalm 139:1-4: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.” In times of feeling undervalued, we must not let the temptation to fulfill that title draw us away from God. We will encounter moments and situations and even people who make it their goal to make us feel unworthy—like we are not good enough; but in those moments we must remember that they are not the ones searching our heart, finding us when we are lost, raising us up from our falls, and creating a path for us. God is the one who knows our worth: He knows that who we are is exactly who we need to be. The Psalmist wrote, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth” (Psalm 139:14-15). Do not undervalue your worth just because someone told you differently. They don’t know you like God knows you.
If you want to become a better version of you, don’t say that you are undervalued; instead tell yourself I am valued; I am valued by God and by those who truly love me for me. And church, don’t let others tell you that we are undervalued because of our size, because of our location, or even because we don’t have everything put together. Church we have value because we are a church formed and built by Christ and we are doing things today that are making a difference in our community and beyond. We have value and worth. You have value and worth.
Movement Two: Philippians 4:6-9 – Let go of Anxieties and Be Content
Second, “Let go of Anxieties and Be Content.” Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-9, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Church, to be content, we must lose ourselves in God. Content is defined as a state of peaceful happiness or satisfaction. We must lose ourselves in peace, we must lose ourselves in happiness, we must lose ourselves in this idea of satisfaction and be okay with it. We must lose ourselves in being and doing what Christ needs us to do. In Exodus 36:5, Moses tells the people that they have given enough for the building of the tabernacle: what they have offered and given is satisfactory, for now. Paul told the people of Corinth, “And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause” (2 Corinthians 9:8). God will give us what is needed to have a peaceful and satisfactory life—nothing more and nothing less. We are called, not to be anxious about our worthiness, but to be content with the worthiness that God has given us because what He has given us is more than enough to be who He needs us to be as a church and as a disciple of His teachings: “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.” We are called not be anxious but to be content with whatever God gives because what He gives us is more than enough to fulfill His plan in our life.
To be content with your worthiness is echoed in the words of Jeremiah as he composed a letter to the exiles in Babylon, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:11-14). To be content with your worthiness means to understand you have a future in God’s plan, you have welfare, you have hope, you can call upon God and pray to Him and He will hear you, He will search for you and find you, He will seek you out amongst the weeds, and He will restore your fortunes and draw you back to Him. Your worthiness is found within your willingness to being content with what God has planned for you.[4]
If you want to be a better version of yourself, then don’t let anxiety—things you can’t control—devalue your worthiness; instead, allow peace, happiness, and contentment build up your worthiness. You are worthy because God is working in your life: He is giving you exactly what you need to succeed. And church, if we want to build up our worthiness, we must not let setbacks, or challenges, or ideas, or even people push us away from what we are capable of doing; instead, we must continually believe that what God is giving us is more than enough to make a difference. We should always be willing to do something more.
Movement Three: Psalm 113:1-4 – Let God’s character preach your Worth
Third, “Let God’s character preach your worth.” The Message Bible, written by Eugene Peterson, paraphrases this idea in Psalm 113:1-4, “Hallelujah! You, who serve GOD, praise GOD! Just to speak his name is praise! Just to remember GOD is a blessing—now and tomorrow and always. From east to west, from dawn to dusk, keep lifting all your praises to GOD! GOD is higher than anything and anyone, outshining everything you can see in the skies. Who can compare with GOD, our God, so majestically enthroned, surveying his magnificent heavens and earth? He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the forgotten who’ve been thrown out with the trash, seats them among the honored guests, a place of honor among the brightest and best. He gives childless couples a family, gives them joy as the parents of children. Hallelujah” (Psalm 113:1-4, MGS).[5]
Looking at the way of the world today and in the past, several have attempted to analyze God. Which, too many, has been confusing; therefore, it is essential that you truly understand how God’s character preaches your worth. We all have torn, crinkled, folded, pages in our book of life and many chapters that we care not to discuss, but God, who is writing the story, is pouring His character into you. And to be honest, He is pouring more than His character into you: He is breathing life into your lungs, He is empowering you with His spirit, His Son abides in you as you abide in him, He is helping you and supporting you, He has given you a strength that allows you to do all things, and He gifts you a love that nothing can destroy. There is value, there is worth, in what God is pouring into you.
God’s character brings so much unto each of us that sometimes we need to be reminded of what some of His characteristics are. Here are just a few of the attributes of God’s character shared by both Moses and the Psalmist: “God is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, faithful, and forgiving (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 86:15). Taking into account the whole Bible we learn that God’s character is more than what we are told by Moses, David, and other prophets. As a matter of fact, we learn that God’s character consists of the following: God is infinite and powerful, God never changes, God is all-knowing, God is self-sufficient, God is wise and loving, God is faithful and righteous, God is glorious and holy, and God is merciful and graceful. We know this list is brief, but what this list tells us is that we should be giving praise to God for what God is allowing to pour into us because we are worthy in His sight. God is pouring Himself, His characteristics, into each of you because He knows that you are more than enough—that you are worthy to fulfill the plan that He has for you.
If you think about it, these character qualities can preach our lives when we surrender ourselves to God completely. For He is your story, for He frees you from the prison of life, holds your sorrow and pain, heals you from all illnesses, and never leaves you alone. And know that everything is working according to His plan. God understands that we have thoughts and desires, but the key is to trust in Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight” (Proverbs 3:5).
If you want to become a better version of yourself, then allow who God is to not only live within you but be something that you preach, something that you praise, and something that you live by. When you preach the characteristics of God, you will be reminded of the worth that God sees in you. Are you willing to preach God’s worth in your life?
Conclusion:
In conclusion, I invite you to really listen to these words. You are worthy, no matter what others say. You are worthy, no matter what others think. You are worthy, no matter if you have more bad days than good days. You are worthy whether you like green or red tractors. You are worthy whether you root for a team that wins championships more frequently than a hundred years or not. You are worthy, no matter if the kids listen to you or not. You are worthy, no matter if you got everything or nothing off of the grocery list that your spouse left for you in the morning. You are worthy even if your vehicle has written on the back window “Wash me.” You are worthy whether you come to church on time or a few minutes late. You are worthy whether or not that first cup of coffee or bottle of soda has kicked in before someone approaches you with a question. You are worthy, even if you can’t find the right words to say. You are worthy, even if you and your neighbor disagree. You are worthy whether or not you understand what God is telling you. You are worthy even if life isn’t being fair right now. You are worthy even if sorrow and grief and doubt walk beside you. You are worthy because God made you that way: God made you as someone He values.
And church, no matter what others say about us, what we do, the obstacles we face, the struggles we endure, the conversations we have, the questions we ask, the setbacks we encounter, we are worthy because we are still here. And if we are still here, then I believe God is telling us that our mission is not done yet; there is still more work to be done. But what is that work? What do we need to do show our worth to others?
Remember this week, do not undervalue your worth, let go of anxieties and be content with what God has given you, and let God’s character preach your worth. During this week take a few moments to recognize what you’re good at, be kind to yourself, be honest, show respect, embrace the courage that resides within you, take note of your responsibilities, and tell yourself “I am enough.” We are God’s creation; rest assured that He knows how much you can bear in this life—because you are enough.
The book that I was given in third grade describes self-worth this way: “Self-worth is feeling good about myself by…being honest, being respectful, being courageous, and being responsible.” You have worth. Church, we have worth. So go out living this worth in all that you do. Let it be so…
Closing Prayer:
Dear God, when we don’t feel worthy, remind us that we are. When others say that we aren’t worthy, say to us that we are worthy. Guide us today to live a life that demonstrates the worth that you created us with. In your mighty name we pray, Amen.
Benediction:
This week, I challenge you to take inventory of your honesty, respect, courage, responsibility, and self-worth, and ask yourself, “How can I become a better version of myself for me, for those in my life, for my church, and for God?” And let God remind you that you are worthy. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth finding ways to become a “better you.” And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.
[1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sustainable-life-satisfaction/201906/the-relationship-yourself#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20it’s%20estimated%20that,suicide%2C%20and%20low%20academic%20achievement.
[2] As we have lived daily, we have chased money or power or love, yet even in pursuing those things, they are just symptoms of our never-ending search for one thing—our self-worth? Have you ever pondered in your thoughts that I am worthy and deserving, and does my life serve a purpose? Joyce Meyers wrote the book – Battlefield of the Mind—and in this book she teaches the reader how every decision they make, their words, and their actions begin in their minds. Within their minds, not in their heart, they decide whether or not they are worthy: whether or not they are enough.
[3] Dogwood Prairie UMC average attendance: 35 x 85% = 29.75 of you here feel undervalued. Seed Chapel UMC average attendance: 30 x 85% = 25.5 of you here feel undervalued.
[4] Where can we find this kind of worthiness? We can find it in this place. In this place, the Holy Spirit surrounds us and fills us with the Grace of God. Disregard the whispers in your ear that tempt you to question your value, for there is a war between guilt and grace. Grace wins every time. Today, I want each of us to understand that with God’s grace, we can be content, for, in grace, we find peace in the midst of it all. To be strong through the storms of life, contentment is our key to not allowing the circumstances to cause conflict, anger, depression, anxiety, hurt, or shame.
[5] The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 113:1-4, “Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations and his glory above the heavens.”
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