#7 GARAGE FULL, GETTING BUSTED

Pastor Todd Christopherson
Mid American Stock Car Series
June 25, 2014

This is only an example, do you want a shop full of cars and tools and parts that are great quality? Then honor the LORD. You could take the next section of verses to mean that but that is not what they are talking about. Of course many would like to have the tools and parts and not have to worry about having them when needed. Proverbs 3:9-10 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Careful of that last line too because that can be taken out of context and make us think we are to store up alcohol. Our plenty and our store house should be filled with the LORD and His Word. If we are storing up things it better be things that are good in God’s eyes. We should be ready and willing to give up the things/money when God calls on them. It would be a sad thing to have full barns, garages of cars and parts and not to have a life full of the LORD. The guys of the Mid AM lived this out at Milwaukee when Scott Dunning lost a motor and the Gutknecht’s and others stepped up with a motor and the hands to get it replaced and on the Mile. It was one of the great examples that come out of the MASCS. Stop and think about this. If those things happen in the race community and in the world then how are we doing as part of the Church. Do you need to get anything out of the way so you can make more room for God?

Next, have you ever broken a rule and deserved to have a win taken away or moved back in the running order or lose a lap? I know none of you drivers or teams have ever deserved that :) Of course we all have deserved that at one time or another. The Bible echoes that we fall short, sin. It is in Romans and Titus and Psalms and Proverbs and Isaiah and so on. Too often we get ticked off because we get caught, not because we are sorry. We are just sorry we got busted. I am not just talking to the kids right now. We adults are guilty too. Listen to the next set of Proverbs verses. Proverbs 3:11-12 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

On the other side of those verses is a blessing, a promise by God. Proverbs 3:13-18 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,14 for the gain from her (wisdom) is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Can you see that “wisdom” is going to be a reoccurring theme in Proverbs? Can you see it is going to be important?

Have a great day racin’ in the SONshine and see you at a local race track soon,

Pastor Todd