These five points were in the sermon I preached at Howard Anderson’s memorial service yesterday. He was 92 when he went to Heaven.
Amy often called Howard “the most dignified man we know.”
He was ever the Christian gentleman.
Howard served here at RBC in many different leadership roles. I am among the many, many members of this church who repeatedly counted on Howard and were never disappointed.
He was a faithful man.
He ran his race well.
How To Be Faithful — Five Commitments for Christians
1. Say yes to God in His Word and prayer
Psalm 1
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Dig deep roots. Store up that living seed.
No matter what circumstances and seasons of life come and go, you will prosper and your leaf will not wither if you say a sustained yes to this fundamental commitment.
2. Say No to anything and everything you need to say no to.
2Tim 2.19-22
…let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes…
Flee from sin. Say no to all that which is wrong.
But even more than that, flee futility.
Quit wasting time.
Life is a short run through a battlefield.
If you are going to run your race well you had better be able to say no and mean it.
3. Say yes when you get the chance to share.
Share your time with those who need it.
Share the Word of God with those who need counsel and hope.
Share the loving concern of prayer.
Share your money. Learn to live below your means. Plan your finances with the goal of generosity in mind.
4. Say no to your feelings.
This point is a big one. This one is why so many of you fail at the other points.
No one who is truly faithful follows their feelings.
Everyone who is faithful knows how to say no to their feelings.
My friend Howard was a member of the Greatest Generation.
You think they felt like dealing with World War Two?
Did they feel like going over to Normandy while the mines were hidden and the bullets were flying?
That generation knew how to get up and move forward even when they did not feel like it.
This generation, the facebook generation, the iphone generation, is very adept at arranging life in the most comfortable narcissistic fashion possible.
We need to become people who make generous, selfless commitments and sustain them no matter what.
5. Live like hearing yes from God is all that really matters.
If you live for the approval of men you will trend toward unfaithfulness.
If you live for the approval of men you will find 1000 reasons to be unfaithful.
Live for God’s approval and be faithful no matter what.
1 Corinthians 4.1-5
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
The upright man or woman lives faithful to the master.
If no one is looking, he or she is still faithful.
The ultimate emphasis here in this passage is that faithful people do not await man’s verdict but God’s
The ultimate measure of Howard’s life is not what I say about him.
When your day comes and your funeral sermon is spoken the ultimate thing about you is not what some Pastor says.
It is God.
If God the Father finds you believing in, trusting in, hidden in, God the Son then when He looks at you – He will find you faithful.