INTRODUCTION: What is the strangest creature on earth?

• Not the penguin, not the python, not the pelican, not the porcupine, not the porpoise, not the polecat, not even the platypus (though it is strange indeed).
• It is PEOPLE
  • Not how strange they look,
  • Not the strange names they have.
  • Not the strange places the live.
• PEOPLE ARE STRANGE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DO

SEVEN strange things about people…

I. Youth and Old Age.

WE SPEND OUR YOUTH WANTING TO BE OLD, THEN SPEND OUR OLD AGE WANTING TO BE YOUNG.

Impatient in our youth … long for youth in our old age.

We can’t wait to be:

• 5 (kindergarten)
• 6 (first grade)
• 12 or 13 (teenager, Jr. high)
• 14 or 15 (get into high school)
• 16 (drivers license)
• 18 (Get out of high schoo, adult, vote, etc)
• 21 (really an adult), 25 (insurance), (get a house), (advance career), etc.
• Wake up at about 35 and realize we just wished half our life away.
• Just the other day I caught myself thinking “I can’t wait until I’m old enough to retire….

We are indeed strange about youth and old age.

The best part of life is some other time.
Respect – duing youth 1 Sam 17

(1 Sam 17:28-29 KJV) And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. {29} And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
(1 Sam 17:33 KJV) And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
(1 Sam 17:42-44 KJV) And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. {43} And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. {44} And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

Old age not a guarantee of respect.

(Prov 16:31 KJV) The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.\

MUST BE IN WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

What happens when we get old?  We talk about the good old days!

(Eccl 7:10 KJV) Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

We need to take advantage of every day

(Psa 90:10-12 KJV) The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. {11} Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. {12} So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
(Eph 5:15-16 KJV) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, {16} Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Yes, people are strange regarding our thoughts of youth and old age.  We are in a rush to grow older and the when older, we long to be young again.

II. Health and Wealth

WE SPEND OUR HEALTH TRYING TO GAIN WEALTH, AND THEN HAVE TO SPEND ALL OF OUR WEALTH TRYING TO REGAIN OUR HEALTH.

You’ve probably seen people who work all the OT they can get, and maybe even take a 2nd job, and they do it simply to get more money. Not that they need, but that they want.

THEY THINK LIFE IS ABOUT MONEY

(Luke 12:13-31 KJV) And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. {14} And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? {15} And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

So many people think life is all about how much stuff you can accumulate.

Bumper sticker on Truck – “Whoever dies with the most toys wins.”

(Luke 12: 13-31 continued) {16} And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: {17} And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? {18} And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. {19} And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. {20} But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? {21} So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

It is not wrong to have “stuff”, not wrong to have barns, and I doubt even wrong to build bigger barns. But, he left God out, and trusted in his “treasure”.

Story about one of the Vanderbilts - How much did he leave? The doctor overheard and said, “Don’t you know, he left it all,” And everyone of us will leave too. Life is not about how much stuff you can get.

(Luke 12: 13-31 continued) {22} And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. {23} The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

While we prefer Health over Money, life is not about Health either.  You WILL lose your money, and you will loose your health!
Both Health and Money are things that everybody will lose.  The only things that last are spiritual things.

{Luke 12:31 concluded} But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

WE SPEND OUR HEALTH TRYING TO GAIN WEALTH, AND THEN HAVE TO SPEND ALL OF OUR WEALTH TRYING TO REGAIN OUR HEALTH.

III. The Future and the Present

WE NEGLEGT THE PRESENT BECAUSE WE ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE. AS A RESULT, WE LIVE NEITHER FOR THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE.

A silly story of a Man, and tying his shoes.  He figured he tied his shoes 3 times a day.  This makes 1095 times a year and over the rest of his life he would have to tie his shoes over 40000 times, and NO ONE could be expected to tie his shoes 40K times.  So he started going barefooted.  He lost his family, job and everything because everybody thought he was a nut case.

POINT TO US

Think about how we get overwhelmed because of things we yet have to do…
Is it any different?
We get so caught up in what we have to do, we can’t live in the present.
We don’t have to tie our shoes 40000 times at once, just one time! We need to live our lives one day at a time.
Jesus addressed this on the sermon on the mount.

(Mat 6:25-34 KJV) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? {26} Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? {27} Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? {28} And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: {29} And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. {30} Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? {31} Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? {32} (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. {33} But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. {34} Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

We need to live in the present one day at a time, without worry about the future.

WE NEGLEGT THE PRESENT BECAUSE WE ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE. AS A RESULT, WE LIVE NEITHER FOR THE PRESENT NOR THE FUTURE.

IV. Wounds and Healing

IT TAKES ONLY SECONDS TO OPEN PROFOUND WOUNDS IN OUR LOVED ONES, YET WE EXPECT THE WOUND TO HEAL JUST AS QUICKLY AS IT WAS CAUSED.

Example of physical wounds – Bowen’s wound.
It takes only a split second to cause a wound, yet it can take years to heal.  There is no physical sign of it.  Yet 2 ½ years later it seems he still has problems as a result.

It is no different from the wounds that are opened with words.

When we say something that causes a “wound”, even when we are forgiven we should know that there may be a tender spot for a long time to come.

• (Prov 12:18 KJV) There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
• (Prov 29:20 KJV) Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
• (Prov 30:14 KJV) There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

We need to learn to hold our tongues. I have heard many people say, “I am just outspoken, I say whatever I feel. People should understand that and not get upset with me.” We need to control our tongues….

(James 3:2-5 KJV) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. {3} Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. {4} Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. {5} Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

There are times when you shouldn’t say what you are thinking. Maybe if you don’t say everything you think, in time you can quit thinking negative things as well. We are strange when it comes to cutting up people with our tongues, and then expecting them not to hold it against us.

This is problem with young people – cutting people up with words.
Then they wonder why the person they cut up holds it against them.
We need to understand that wounds take time to heal.

IT TAKES ONLY SECONDS TO OPEN PROFOUND WOUNDS IN OUR LOVED ONES, YET WE EXPECT THE WOUND TO HEAL JUST AS QUICKLY AS IT WAS CAUSED.

V. Honor and Dishonor

WE WANT OTHERS TO THINK WE ARE HONORABLE PEOPLE, TO ACHIEVE THAT, WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO DISHONORABLE PEOPLE.

Have you said or heard said, “I know I’m not perfect, but I’m better than brother So and So who sits on the other side of the building”.
Or, “At least I’m not a drunk, adulterer, thief, etc…..”

What kind of thinking is that? Is that going to make us honorable, or noble?
Here is what you never hear….
“Maybe I’m not the worst person in the world, but I’m sure not as good as brother Jones!” or “I’m really trying to emulate the character of Sister Smith”, or “I wish I could be the man brother Smith is!”

No, see, we are strange about honor and dishonor, we want other to think we are honorable so we compare ourselves to those who are dishonorable.

What are we thinking, when we say that, it that how we want to be remembered?

Do we want someone standing up our funeral and saying, “Here lies brother Steele, he wasn’t as bad as some of the people in this community. He wasn’t a drunk. He wasn’t an adulterer, there are some people in this town who are worse than him?” Is that what we want.

Tombstone -- Here lies Alan Steele, he was not the worst man in town.

People say that everyday. Don’t ever say that again.

If you want honor, compare yourself to those who are honorable and try to emulate those characteristics that make them honorable.

Consider Jesus…

(1 Pet 2:21-22 KJV) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: {22} Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Let me say this…
While I may be a lot better than I used to be, I have not yet attained to the character of Jesus Christ. I still have a ways to go. So, I need to continue to compare to myself to Jesus, and not to other people.

But, we’re strange when it comes to honor and dishonor…
WE WANT OTHERS TO THINK WE ARE HONORABLE PEOPLE, TO ACHIEVE THAT, WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO DISHONORABLE PEOPLE.

VI. Living and Dying

WE LIVE AS IF WE WILL NEVER DIE, AND THEN DIE AS IF WE HAVE NEVER LIVED.

Don’t you agree that most people live as if they will never die?

Especially young people…
They take lots of chances…
“Speeding in cars… My Dart Sport…..”
I didn’t think about a wheel coming off, crashing or anything else, ‘cause 19 year olds don’t die….
My invulnerable 18 year old cousin, Heather Purdue, did die, in car wreck, at 18 years of age.

But, how many old people are really making preparation?  What happens when people find out they have 6 months to live? We live as if we something else to do!  What changes would you make in your life?  After all, if we have lived 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 years or more, and have something we want to do, we should have accomplished it already.  But, it doesn’t happen that way.  People are usually revitalized and determined to accomplish things.

What if you were facing death and someone had the power to give you 5 more years to live?
What difference?  What you would do with those 5 years that you are not already doing?  Then, you should be doing THAT.  But, we’re strange about living and dying.

You see, whenever we die, we need to have lived in such a way, that we have accomplished what we wanted to do accomplish. So, we should ask ourselves what we really want to accomplish…

(Phil 3:7-11 KJV) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. {8} Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, {9} And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: {10} That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; {11} If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

We need to be found in Christ. Paul was looking beyond this life. He knew was going to die, and we are too.

WE LIVE AS IF WE WILL NEVER DIE, AND THEN DIE AS IF WE HAVE NEVER LIVED.

VII. Sowing and Reaping

WE THINK WE CAN SOW TO THE FLESH IN THIS LIFE AND REAP TO THE SPIRIT IN THE HEREAFTER.

(Gal 6:7-8 KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. {8} For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

People think they can live one way, the fast-talk God on the day of judgement and talk their way into heaven.

(Mat 7:22-23 KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? {23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

IT AIN’T GOING TO HAPPEN.
You will not fast-talk your way into heaven.

We are strange when it comes to our thinking about Sowing and Reaping.

CONCLUSION
People are strange in all of these ways.
WE need to overcome our strangeness obey God submitting our will to him.