Inconvenient obedience
1.
Our nation loves
convenience.
2.
We want convenient
ways to lose weight, do our banking, shopping, and everything else.
3.
A high percentage of
the people in this country will pay for convenience.
OUR LOVE FOR CONVENIENCE CAN HAVE SOME IMPACT ON OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
a)
We may look at certain
acts and think, “That is not a convenient thing for me to do.”
b)
If something in the
spiritual realm is not convenient, it may not get done.
2)
Beginning tonight we
want to look at some Bible characters who obeyed but were inconvenienced.
3)
This evening’s study
is based upon the life of Caleb.
a)
We begin with Numbers
13, a chapter that describes spies being sent into the land of Canaan.
b)
A single man was taken
from each Hebrew tribe to check out the land of Canaan.
c)
Caleb was one of the
chosen men and he was from the tribe of Judah.
d)
The mission he and the
others went on was like a military reconnaissance operation.
e)
The twelve men were to
look at how many people there were and how strong they were (verse 18).
f)
An evaluation was also
to be made of the land (verse 19).
g)
Even the number of
trees was to be evaluated (verse 20).
h)
Going on this type of mission may have been thrilling but
it would have also been somewhat inconvenient.
4)
Caleb and the other
eleven men went and did as they were told.
5)
Their report about the
land was very good – verse 27 – READ.
6)
While the land was
good, the report about the people was not good – verse 28 – READ.
7)
Caleb was enthused
about going and conquering the land but others were not (verses 30-31).
8)
Not only were the
others unenthused, they began to circulate bad reports – verse 32 – READ.
a)
Caleb faced some
opposition to what is right as did Joshua, another righteous scout.
b)
When we have a
project, we often face find inconveniences and problems.
c)
In this case, Caleb
was one man against several others; he had some issues to face.
d)
It didn’t take long
before other nay sayers started to object to Moses – 14:2-4 – READ.
e)
Trying to stand up
against a crowd of opposition is difficult.
f)
It is certainly not convenient.
9)
Moses and Aaron
pleaded with the people (verse 9), but that didn’t help.
10)
Let’s move to verse 10
– READ.
a)
By this time there is
a clear majority and a clear minority.
Caleb was with the minority.
b)
Today this same
situation can arise; Christians may be in the minority as far as physical
numbers.
c)
When this type of
thing occurs, Num. 13-14 provides for us a practical lesson.
d)
Other Christians are
in this same situation.
e)
If faced with
opposition, there are others who are facing similar circumstances.
f)
When something is
inconvenient for us, somewhere else others are also being inconvenienced.
g)
If we struggle with
time or some issue, others have that same struggle.
11)
Knowing that we are
not alone or are being inconvenienced should encourage us.
12)
It should also compel
us to find a solution to somehow overcome whatever obstacle we are facing.
13)
Inconveniences and
problems are hindrances but they should not be insurmountable barriers.
14)
We know that Israel
finally did get to the land of Israel.
15)
It took some time and
not everyone made it—there were inconveniences—but the job did get done.
a)
Caleb and Joshua were
the only two spies who made it into the promised land.
b)
Many of they people
they knew and probably saw on a regular basis did not make it.
16)
An interesting text about
Caleb is found a little later in the book of Numbers, Num. 32.
a)
In Num. 32:12 we find
that Caleb “whole-heartedly” followed the Lord.
b)
This is a key verse
regarding inconveniences.
c)
We can excuse almost
any part of Christian living because it is not convenient.
d)
Pick out almost any
part of Christian service and we can make an excuse for it.
e)
It is not always
convenient to come to services.
f)
Everyone who attends
on a regular basis has found that to be the case at least once.
g)
We either had a late
work day, a sick child, a vehicle problem, or something else.
h)
When a call is put out
for help, answering that call is not always convenient.
i)
It is not always
convenient to be an example, teach, visit, or a hundred things.
17)
Christianity is not
about convenience. It is about
dedication.
18)
People often need our
help at times that are not convenient.
19)
If convenience is our standard for rendering service to the
kingdom of God, we need to re-study some thing.
20)
Deut. 1:36 is another
passage about Caleb.
a)
This passage has a
reason (cause).
b)
Caleb and his children
were to inherit the land “because” of something.
c)
The reason is that he
“wholly” followed Jehovah.
21)
Imagine a conversation
like the following on the day of judgment:
22)
Jesus says to a
Christian: “Why didn’t you do this,
this and this?”
23)
“Didn’t you know my
will?” “Well, Lord, yes I did know
what you said.”
24)
Jesus then asks: “Why didn’t you obey?”
25)
“Lord, I guess it
wasn’t convenient.”
a)
Jesus could point back
to Caleb and say, “look at this man.”
b)
Being obedient was
certainly not convenient for him; why couldn’t you follow his example?
c)
Or, Jesus could point
to Himself. Jesus was inconvenienced in
nearly every way.
d)
The apostles were
inconvenienced, especially the apostle we know as Paul.
e)
The next time were
tempted to think, “this is not convenient,” remember who we are.
f)
We are someone who has
said we have committed our lives to God as a living sacrifice, Rm. 12:1-2.
g)
Jesus said His people
“take up His cross and do that daily.”
h)
Bearing a cross is not
convenient.
26)
Sometimes we find convenience
associated with age.
a)
A person may say “I’m
too old” when they really mean “it’s not convenient.”
b)
There are times when
age does prevent people from doing things.
c)
A person who is 40 has
lost some of the abilities he or she had at the age of 20.
d)
Someone who is 60
usually has more limitations that someone who is 40.
e)
At 80, there are
changes from when someone was 60.
f)
We may slow down with age, but let’s not push set aside
Christian responsibility because of convenience.
27)
Caleb was 40 years old
(Josh. 14:7) when he went to spy out the land.
28)
At this time he was
certainly not the oldest man in the land of Israel.
29)
Neither was he the
youngest.
30)
There were younger
people who may have been better able to make the trip but Caleb went.
a)
Convenience usually
lessens with age but God doesn’t have a retirement plan for this life.
b)
Part of being
inconvenienced involves our children.
31)
I am drawing this
information from Josh. 15, another verse that talks about Caleb
a)
Caleb offered a deal
where he would give his daughter to someone who did something.
b)
If a man met certain
conditions, he would receive Caleb’s daughter as his wife.
c)
A man did this job and
he was about ready to receive Caleb’s daughter as his wife.
d)
Before the marriage
Caleb’s daughter made a request (verse 18) – READ.
e)
A certain section of
land had been given to the fiancé for a wedding present.
f)
The daughter wanted
more territory so she asked dad; Caleb granted the request.
32)
When children want or
need something, their requests often come at inconvenient times.
33)
No parent in the
history of the world has probably raised a child without saying, “not now.”
34)
Parents may be too
tired to respond to a request, too cranky, or involved in another matter.
35)
Children ask for or
may need things at times that are not convenient.
36)
When these times come,
Caleb is a good reminder of how parents can respond.
a)
Unless the matter
requires immediate attention, we can treat matters in an appropriate way.
b)
Tell a child we need 5
minutes, we will deal with it the next day, or something similar.
c)
The request may never
be convenient, but we can respond to it in a good way.
37)
Later in the Old
Testament (1 Sam. 25:3) we again read about Caleb.
38)
By this time he is
gone but the text describes one of his descendants.
a)
The writer tells us
about Nabal, one of Caleb’s relatives.
b)
Nabal was not a nice
man.
c)
He received a request
and it was not convenient so he dismissed it.
d)
Here is the point I
would extract from this text.
e)
Others may not be
willing to inconvenience themselves.
f)
Perhaps we are willing
to be inconvenienced but others will not also come forward and help.
g)
Caleb was willing to
be inconvenienced but one of his descendents was selfish and mean.
h)
What others do is not
our standard. It has never been the
standard and never will be.
i)
Yet, in the church we
can have the attitude, “Others are not doing that.”
j)
“Others are not
willing to be inconvenienced so why should I?”
39)
Our standard is not
convenience or even what others choose to do or not do.
40)
Our standard is God’s
word and being obedient to it.
41)
Throughout the Bible
we have people being inconvenienced for the sake of the gospel.
a)
It was not convenient
for Christians to leave their homes (Acts 8:1f).
b)
It was not convenient
for some of the apostles to leave their businesses.
c)
It was not convenient
for sinners to give up sin.
d)
For people like
thieves, they had to change careers.
e)
Many in the world want
a Christ of convenience.
f)
The world offers that
but the gospel does not.
42)
It’s not always
convenient to be compassionate, caring, and peace seeking.
43)
We make a choice about
convenience:
44)
A convenient life now
resulting in an eternal wage of punishment and separation from God.
45)
Inconveniences for
life everlasting.
46)
We must make a
choice—which road will we take?