July 15, 2012
Proper 10 / Pentecost 7
The Rev. Kim Gilliland
SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 24
Mark 6:14-29
The daughter of Herodias came in and danced for Herod and his guests.
She pleased them so much that Herod said, “Ask for anything, and it’s
yours!”
Mark 6:22 (CEV)
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR
UNANSWERED PRAYERS
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talking to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers
Country music fans know that that is a song by Garth Brooks entitled Unanswered
Prayers. If you didn’t catch it, it’s a song about man who was with his wife when he met
his old high school sweetheart. Back in the day, as is so often the case with high school
romances, he was sure she was the one. And he prayed every night that God would make
it so. But she wasn’t the one. For whatever reason, the high school romance had ended
probably with the heart ache and devastation that is so typical of such things.
I think that we can all remember when that very same thing happened to each of us
and we were sure that the pain would never go away. But it did just as it did for the man
in the song. And then, years later, after meeting his old high school flame and comparing
her to the woman he eventually married, he figured out that God knew what he was doing
even if the man did not. And so, in the end, he thanked God for not answering his high
school prayer and rather sending him the woman whom he eventually married.
There are a couple of sub-texts to this song. The first one is that, if God has called
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you to be a married person, then God has someone set aside just for you. He or she is the
perfect person for you, your helpmate and life partner with whom you are supposed to
spend the rest of your life. And if a relationship doesn’t work out then chances are that it
wasn’t supposed to. As emotionally hard as that may be at the time, it’s also part of God
promise to you.
The other sub-text is that you have to be careful what you ask for. That’s because
sometimes, especially if you don’t wait upon God and listen to him, you may get exactly
what you asked for but it may not be exactly what you expected.
ASK, ASK, ASK
Herod was the King of the region of the Middle East that was called Galilee.
That’s where Jesus grew up. By the way, this is not the King Herod who rules when Jesus
was born. This was his son. He was married to Herodias which came with a moral
problem because Herodias had previously been married to Herod’s brother Philip. That
means that she married her brother-in-law. Herodias and Philip had a daughter. We don’t
know her name but if you follow the logic you will know that she was also King Herod’s
niece as well as his step-daughter.
King Herod threw a birthday party for himself and invited all of the important
people in Galilee. At the party, the daughter of Herodias – who, again, was Herod’s niece
and step-daughter - was asked to dance. She did and her dancing was so fabulous and
King Herod was so enthralled that he wanted to reward her. He asked her if there was
anything she wanted. In fact, he offered her up to half of his kingdom.
The girl wasn’t sure what to ask for so she sought her mother’s advice. Herodias,
as it turns out, didn’t like John the Baptist because he had confronted her regarding her
inappropriate marriage to her brother-in-law. This was her chance to get even. And so she
told her daughter to ask for John’s head to be cut off and given to her on a platter.
Because Herod did not want to be seen as weak in front of all of his important friends, he
agreed. Must have been some dance!
What was going on in this story? What was going on was a lot of asking. Herod
asked his friends to attend his birthday party. Then he asked his niece to dance. Then he
asked what she wanted in return. Then she asked her mother what she should request.
The result was that she ask for John the Baptist’s head. Ask, ask, ask, ask, ask…
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What was the result of all of this asking? Everyone got what they wanted. Right!
Herod got his party. The guests were entertained by a beautiful dance. Herodias’ daughter
got John’s head on a platter and Herodias got even. So, it’s all perfect. Everything
worked out.
Maybe not. While everything appeared good on the surface, not everyone was
happy. John, on one hand, had certainly seen better days although on the other hand he
was receiving the reward of his faithfulness before God. So that worked out okay for him.
Then again, it was too bad no one asked him what he wanted. I’m pretty sure that he
would not have offered his head.
King Herod wasn’t exactly happy. It says in Mark 6:26 that John’s death made him
very sad. It turns out that he actually like John and used to go and listen to him even
while he was in prison. So did King Herod get what he asked for? Yes and no. He got a
good dancer but he wasn’t expecting to have to kill an innocent man in return. Herod
more that anyone else learned that you have to be careful what you ask for.
NOT WHAT WE EXPECT
How does that relate to us? Clearly, there is a serious lesson in the story for
everyone here this morning. King Herod needed to be careful what he asked for and so do
we. Why? Because sometimes we get what we asked for and it isn’t exactly what we
expected. Has that ever happened to you? Sure it has. It’s happened to all of us at one
time or another.
It certainly happened to Mary Hunt. One of the things that most ministers will tell
you is that they spend a lot of time driving. That’s true of me too. But I don’t want to
waste my time when I’m driving so I use that time to grow in faith. One of the things that
I find the most helpful is to listen to Christian radio. The other day, as I was driving home
from Meaford, I was listening to Focus on the Family.
The guest that day was Mary Hunt. She’s one of those Christian finance gurus who
tells us that we should live within our means and stay out of debt. Stuff that we don’t
always want to hear and stuff the world wishes we didn’t hear. I had heard Mary Hunt
before but I had never really heard her story. She grew up in a poor family where they
didn’t have very much. At a very early age, she made a pledge to God that she would not
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be poor when she grew up and she asked God to help her not be poor.
But by 1982, Mary Hunt had amassed over $100,000 in consumer debt.
Remember, that was 1982. $100,000 back then would be more like $300,000 today. The
vast majority of it was consumer debt, stuff she had purchased because she wanted it. She
didn’t need it, she simply thought that it was her God given right to have it. How did
Mary Hunt get into such debt? It started off with bounced cheques. Then she discovered
credit cards. Then she discovered that she could get more credit cards and more credit
cards. And they she discovered the most destructive avenue ever created to keep people
enslaved to debt. It’s called the minimum payment. Lesson #1 for those of us who use
credit cards; always pay off the total balance of your credit cards. If all you can pay is the
minimum, then you are headed for financial trouble. The she and her husband mortgaged
their home in order to start a business which turned into a disaster. Things just piled up
and piled up and piled up.
Do you remember that I told you that Mary Hunt had made a pact with God when
she was very young that she would never be poor? The trouble is that it seems that she
did not do very good job of defining what she meant by that. What she meant was that
she look good. And she did. While the family was sinking in a mound of debt, they
continued to go to church and be involved in the community. They drove nice cars and
wore nice clothes and did nice things. In fact, they looked wealthy. But were they?
Absolutely not. While Mary Hunt looked like a million bucks, the foundation of her
apparent wealth was crumbling around them. Be careful what you ask for.
Mary Hunt and her husband had the good sense to change their lives. In fact, they
will tell you more correctly that it was God who changed their lives once they found the
courage to open their hearts to him. They didn’t declare bankruptcy but paid back every
dime they owed over the next thirteen years. They cut up their credit cards and paid for
everything with cash. Isn’t that an odd thought today.
By the way, you may be interested in knowing that study after study after study
shows that people who pay for things with cash spend significantly less than those who
use credit cards. That’s right. A study by Dunn and Bradstreet found that people who use
cash spend 12%-18% less than those who use credit cards. McDonalds discovered that
when they started accepting credit card payments for McFood that people who paid with
a credit card spent 40% more than those who use cash. Needless to say, McDonalds loves
credit cards.
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All of that aside, Mary Hunt and her family went the cash route. Not only did they
pay off their debts, as they were doing that, they also started tithing 10% and saving 10%.
The outcome was that when it was time to send their two sons to post-secondary
education, the money was there. No borrowing. No debt.
The interesting thing about Mary Hunt is that she was keenly aware of what put
them into such a load of debt. They simply asked for things that they could not afford and
they decided to go out and get them anyway. And as long as they were making those
minimum payments on their credit cards, they thought that everything was just fine.
Mary Hunt and her family are not alone. How many people do you know are just
like them. I don’t doubt that there are people in this church today who either have or are
sinking in debt themselves. It’s not always because you are stuck in a cycle of
consumerism. There are other reasons why people find themselves in debt. But what I do
want to say is that the important thing about consumer debt is that you want to get out
from other it as soon as possible. And if you need help doing that, there are professional
people you can talk to who actually can help.
CONSEQUENCES AND CHARACTER
Be careful what you ask for. King Herod asked Herodias’ daughter what she
wanted and she asked for John’s head on a platter. Mary Hunt asked for all the material
things that she could not have as a child and she got them.
We can glean two things from their stories. The first thing is this: what we ask for
results in consequences and often those consequences are not anything like what we
imagined. Do you think for a moment that Herod would have guessed the consequences
of his decisions would be the death of an innocent man? Do you think for a moment that
Mary Hunt thought that the consequences of her decisions would be an impossible
mound of debt? Absolutely not. In fact, if they had known what would result from their
decisions, they probably never would have asked for what they thought they wanted.
The Bible, however, is abundantly clear. Galatians 6:7 (NRSV) says, “For you reap
whatever you sow.” Basically, what that means is that whatever you do, whatever you
say and whatever decisions you make do not come free. All of them come with
consequences. Sometime you can guess at the consequences. But sometimes you can’t
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because you just don’t have all of the information. And sometimes they really surprise
you in ways that you may not have expected or appreciated. Be careful what you ask for.
Not only is this true in our everyday lives. It’s also true of the scientific world.
Newton’s third law of motion says this: For every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction. What that means is that nothing happens without causing something else to
happen. Decisions and actions are never independent. Decisions have consequences.
Actions have consequences. That is as true in life as it is in the laboratory.
What we ask for results in consequences. That’s the first thing. The second thing is
this: what we ask for indicates our character. What do I mean by that? King Herod’s
desires said something about the kind of person he was. He wanted a party. He wanted
his guests to be entertained. He wanted to reward Herodias’ daughter for dancing so well.
Most significantly he did not want to appear weak in front of his guests. And so when he
was asked for John’s head on a platter, he supplied it even though he knew it was the
wrong thing to do.
What kind of a character would allow that to happen? What kind of a character
would allow an innocent person do die so that he could save face? Not much of a
character is it. What we ask for says a lot about who we are. What we ask for says
something about what goes us inside of us once we get beneath the veneer of what we
like the world to see.
One thing that you have to understand is that for the Christ follower, character is
important. God cares about your character. It is important to him. James 3:13 (CEV) says,
“Are any of you wise and sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and
wise in everything you do.” What that is saying is that what goes on on the outside shows
what goes on in the inside. That two are connected. What we ask for is indicative of our
character.
ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE YOUR HEART
The brings us to the final point of this morning’s message. That point is one of
hope. Be careful what you ask for. It’s true. What that means is that we should seek to
ask for things that are good and godly. But how do we do that? We do it by seeking
God’s will. We do it by seeking that which God wants to give us.
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How do we do that? There’s only one way and that is by asking God to change our
hearts so that our minds and our characters are in agreement with what he wants for our
lives. Mary Hunt will tell you that, on their own, there is no way they would have got out
from under the mound of debt that was smothering them. They needed help. Yes, they
needed financial advice and they needed credit counseling. And they needed to cut up
their credit cards and do all of the practical things that would make it possible to stop
accumulating more and more debt. But they also had to change what they wanted. To do
that, they had to change their character.
There’s only one way to do that and that is by letting God in because only God can
change your heart. Philippians 2:13 (CEV) says, “God is working in you to make you
willing and able to obey him.” God is working in you to make you willing and able to
obey him. You can’t do that on your own. You can’t bring your life in line with what God
wants from you all on your own. Your sinful nature won’t allow it. That’s why God
wants so desperately to help you with that. God wants you to open yourself up and let his
Holy Spirit work in your life so that you can become the person he wants you to be. And
here’s the kicker. When you become the person he wants you to be, then and only then
will you truly ask for the things that he wants you to have. So let him into your heart. Let
him change it and transform you into the person you were created to be.
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
God of All Creation, we offer thanks and praise for your never ended love and
compassion. Despite our most grievous shortcomings, you continue to stand with us. We
can never thank you enough for your faithfulness towards us.
We praise you and give thanks for all you have done for us. In every situation and
circumstance we will acknowledge that you are good and your mercy is forever, new
every morning. Help us today, in all that we do and say, to bring joy to your heart.
We give thanks for the summer, for sunshine and warmth, gentle breezes and cools
swims in clean water. We thank you for vacations and summer holidays, for visits from
family and friends and for traveling mercies on the roads.
We offer our thanks, also, for the wedding yesterday of Jason Nagy and Katie
Neels. Thank you for the joy they find in one another and for the commitment that they
have made. May they continue to grow together in love as they journey together through
life.
We also pray for those who have been sick or in hospital this past week. We
remember, especially, Doug Montgomery. All of us need your healing touch, O God.
There is not one of us who is completely whole. We pray your Healing Spirit upon all of
your children.
Holy God, enable us to trust in your unfailing love. Even in those times when we
begin to feel worry or panic, help us to rest confidently in your word and promises. It is a
great comfort to know that you are with us. Thank you for your unfailing love and
faithfulness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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WORSHIP RESOURCE PAGE
July 15. 2012 / Proper 10 / Pentecost 7
SCRIPTURE
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Mark 6:14-29; Ephesians 1:3-14
CALL TO WORSHIP
ONE: Rejoice in the Lord always and come into God's presence with singing.
ALL: God joins us in worship and honours our praise.
ONE: Let us give thanks to the One who sets our feet on higher ground.
ALL: Let us rejoice in Christ our Saviour.
PRAYER OF APPROACH
Speak to us, O God, in the joy of our celebration. We come to you with open hearts and ready lives. We
know that you will not disappoint us but will meet our every need and satisfy our righteous desires. You
have promised to prosper those who turn to you. Fill us with your Spirit and the knowledge of your
everlasting presence. We honour you. We praise you. We worship you. Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Like the prophets of old, your Word reminds us of our sin. Forgive us when we fail to turn to you in all
things and try to fix our lives in our own narrow way. Forgive us for pleading ignorance when we hurt
others. Forgive us for thinking better our ourselves than we ought and for comparing ourselves
favourably to our brothers and sisters. Remind us that, apart from Jesus Christ, we are all condemned but
that, in him, we can come before your throne with the confidence of your gracious mercy. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
The joy of faith is the assurance of God's love and mercy. When we confess our sins, God is faithful to
forgive us and adopt us as sons and daughters of the Kingdom. We rejoice in our God, who provides
abundant blessings and grace.
DEDICATION OF OFFERING
Out of our wealth and plenty, we offer back to you a portion of our resources, O God. But this is not all
that we give. Enable us to be so faithful that all of what we have will be used for your glory. Every
moment, every morsel, everything that we have is yours. We offer our thanks along with our gifts, in
Jesus’ name. Amen.
COMMISSIONING
As we go from our worship, let us always remember that there is nothing in all of Creation that is greater
than God who made all things and sustains all life. There is a world hungering for the Good News of
Jesus Christ. It is our gift to share. May we be bold in God's message even as we are compassionate
towards others.
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Message Outline
Pastor Kim Gilliland
July 15, 2012
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR
ASK, ASK ASK
Herod asked for many things.
Finally, he asked Herodias’ daughter what she wanted in appreciation for her dancing.
She asked for John the Baptist’s head on a platter.
Ultimately, this saddened Herod because he didn’t want to kill John.
But it did it anyway in order to save face with his guests.
NOW WHAT WE EXPECT
Mary Hunt helps people deal with finances from a Christian standpoint.
As a child she told God that she would never be poor like her parents.
She asked for everything that she wanted.
She got it all but also found herself sinking in enormous debt.
It is not what she expected.
CONSEQUENCES AND CHARACTER
What can we glean from these stories?
1. What we ask for results in consequences.
For you reap whatever you sow.
Galatians 6:7 (NRSV)
Newton’s 3rd law of motion: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
2. What we ask for indicates our character.
Are any of you wise and sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in
everything you do.
James 3:13 (CEV)
ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE YOUR HEART
We need a change of heart to put our desires in line with what God wants for us.
Only God can do that.
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God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him.
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Philippians 2:13 (CEV)