Garments
of Love
Proverbs
31:10-12, 25-29, Colossians 3:12-17
May
11, 2014
Grace
Presbyterian Church
Rev.
Dr. Richard E. Miller
Happy
Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers and happy Christian Family Week to
each and every one of you. Now the first greeting is one about which all of you
are aware. After all, this is the day mothers are given flowers and candy, and
Mother’s Day cards flood the post office. However, you would be hard pressed to
find a card that said, "Happy Christian Family Week" wouldn't you?
Yet today is the conclusion of a week dedicated to celebrating Christian
families. This morning, I’d like to combine these two as we honor or remember
our mothers and as we celebrate the importance of Christ's presence in the
family.
The
story is told of five and seven year old sisters who presented their mother
with a small bouquet of flowers on Mother's Day. Since they had used their own
money and had picked it out themselves, needless to say mom was quite thrilled.
As she was thanking them, she noticed that her seven-year-old was rather sad.
She asked why. She said, "There was a real pretty bunch of flowers we
wanted to buy you, but it cost too much. It had a ribbon on it which said,
“Rest in Peace,” and we thought it would be perfect for you since you are
always asking for a little peace around here so that you can get some
rest."Importance of Mothers
The
importance of mothers cannot be overstated.
This is illustrated by the story of the
little girl who had an important role in a children's day program in church.
The rehearsals had gone splendidly. She never missed her cue and always knew
her lines. But on opening night, she
came out on the stage, saw all the people, and froze. She couldn't think of one
of her lines. Her mother, sitting in the front pew, whispered her daughter's
opening line, "I am the light of the world."
Immediately
the little girl relaxed, smiled and said with supreme confidence, "My
mother is the light of the world."
And
in our scripture from Proverbs, we heard the following praise of mothers:
“Strength and dignity are
her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth
with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to
the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children
rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her.”
Christian
Families The fact is, family is the most powerful emotional and
spiritual support system we have. When functioning correctly, a family provides
nurture, love and security to its members. Of course, family life can become a
bit hectic at times.
The
story is told of two mothers talking about their families. The one proudly
said, "I have three children!" The other woman replied, "That's
nice. I wish to heaven I had three
children." The first woman, with a touch of sympathy in her voice, said,
"Don't you have any children?"
"Oh, yes," sighed the second woman, "I have six."
At
the same time, as we know, sometimes families aren’t in perfect harmony.
The story is told of
a father who went to work after having had a loud disagreement with his wife.
When he returned home, he found his small son sitting on the front steps, head
in his hands. "What's the matter, son?" the father asked. The little
boy looked up and said, "Just between you and me, Dad, I can't get along
with your wife either."
Importance of Families If we turn for a moment
to the larger concept of families, we realize that families exist in many
different settings. Families form whenever any group of people spend great
amounts of time together, get to know each other, and begin to care about each
other. So for many of you, this congregation is also your family. And for some
of you, we are the only family you have. Why are we family? Because we care for
one another. Because we enjoy fellowship with each other, especially as we
worship together, fellowship together, sing together, and make apple sauce
together. We’re family because we pray together and laugh and cry together.
We’re family because we love one another and forgive one another.
Celebration
on Aging An example of this
occurred last Tuesday, May 6th, when the presbytery held its annual
Celebration of Aging at St. Mark Presbyterian Church. Congregations throughout
the presbytery were invited to send one or two of their members to be
recognized for their many years of service. Grace Presbyterian honored Bob and
Marcia Dennison. As each person was introduced, their achievements were noted.
There were Sunday School teachers, choir directors, PW leaders, Fixer-uppers
around the building, elders, deacons and trustees, ushers. On and on the list
of accomplishments went. But in each and every case, the person or persons
honored were seen as family by the congregation honoring them. And, as we know,
Bob and Marcia are an important part of our family here at Grace.
Clothing
This morning I’d like to dwell a bit on clothing. When we got ready to come to
worship this morning, each of us made a decision on what to wear. I,
personally, chose not to wear shorts, t-shirt and work boots. Why? Because it
would not be appropriate and my attire would get in the way of my ministry with
you. You’d be commenting so much to each other about this strange looking
preacher that you’d never hear a word I say. And in like manner, I wouldn’t go
out and weed my garden this afternoon wearing my pulpit gown.
In
other words, we choose our clothing to fit the occasion. We want clothing to
keep us warm when its cold or dry when it rains. We want clothing that fits
right and looks right.
At
the same time, we can become over occupied with clothing for our bodies.
As
you might remember, at one time, Imelda Marcos, wife of Ferdinand Marcos,
President of the Philippines, owned 1,200 pairs of designer shoes. If she wore
a different pair each day, it would take her over three years to wear them all.
Spiritual
Clothing Although we would consider owning 1,200
pairs of shoes excessive, there is a different kind of clothing which God asks
us to wear - day and night, year in and year out. What are these garments? Paul
answers that question in our morning scripture.
“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Above
all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony.” [Colossians 3:12ff NRSV]
So
here are six garments that God picked out for us to wear every day of our lives
-
compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness and patience and love. That’s quite a wardrobe,
isn’t it? And in other places in the Bible, our wardrobe is expanded. For
instance, Paul tells us to “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans
13:12).
We are to put off our old nature which
belongs to our former manner of life and put
on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness
and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
We are to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11) This includes the
belt of truth around our waist, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of
faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
Now
if we clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience
and love, and if we put on a new nature created after the likeness of God, and
if we arm ourselves with the whole armor of God, then we truly become a
Christian family.
And
each of these are to be worn for particular occasions. We clothe ourselves with
compassion and kindness for the less fortunate. We put on humility when tempted
to be proud. We put on the whole armor of God when tempted to stray from God’s
commandments. And we put on love that enables us to love God and love one
another in spite of our frailties and sins.
Final
Thoughts Our problems arise when
we forget to put on the spiritual garments which God offers. Or sometimes we
adamantly resist being clothed by the Spirit of the living God because we don’t
want to change. We like our old nature just as it is, thank you. Some folks use
family conflict and arguments as a way of avoiding emotional intimacy and of
hiding from God.
We
can think of a thousand reasons why we don't want to be outfitted by God. After
all, to be clothed by God means we must give up certain sinful behaviors which
we dearly love.
However,
if there is something missing in our family relationships, it may be the way
we're dressed spiritually. What kind of spiritual clothes do we wear at home?
What kind of spiritual clothes do we put on our children or grandchildren?
If
they are the kind to which Paul refers, then ours will indeed be a Christian
home.
As
you leave this morning, look around at your family - at your brothers and
sisters in Christ. As you love them, so you love Christ. And as you love
Christ, so you love them. Rejoice each day that you are a part of a Christian
family - at home and here at Grace.
I
would like to end with this anecdote: A reporter once asked the great
theologian, Karl Barth, "Sir, you have written many huge volumes about
Jesus and the Gospel; tell me, how do you know it is all true?" The learned German, eyes laughing, is said to
have answered, "My mother told me."
Proverbs 31:10-12, 25-29 NRSV
A capable wife who can find?
She is far more
precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no
lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her
life.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the
time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of
kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her
household,
and does not eat the
bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her happy;
her husband too, and he
praises her:
‘Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them
all.’
Colossians 3:12-17 NRSV
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive
each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above
all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you
were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in
your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you
do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him.
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