Proverbs 3:34 “toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favour”
Who would think that making a burger could lead to a job as a pastor………
My first three years of ministry as a Theological student was making coffee for the guys from the local rehab centre. Every Sunday night I would leave the service 30 mins early, slip up the back stairs and make the coffee, set up the area and then host these young men and often their families. It was a bit of a hidden ministry. Even the service pastor at the time did not know this was happening. [each week, during the week, I would drive out to the rehab centre and spend time with the guys, helping with chores, cleaning the kitchens, weeding and painting etc].
I decided it would be good to build a team of volunteers to help with this so I started to look for those people God had in mind to help. Eventually, we had a team of around six people. As a team I wanted us to be more than just an events group on a Sunday so Wendy and I invited them over to the house for a BBQ one Saturday to get to know each other and have fun.
I made my famous burgers, big and juicy, melted Swiss cheese, caramelized pineapple, crispy bacon, fried onions and mushrooms, all on a toasted soft bun.
We had the best time. Unknown to me one of the guys posted a picture of the burgers onto Facebook.
That Sunday at Church the location pastor hunted us down and invited himself, his wife and children over for burgers, based on the photo on Facebook. We had a few hours together the next Sunday getting to know each other. It was such a blessing for us as we would never have thought for a second to even talk with the location pastor never mind invite him and his family over for lunch on a Sunday. That might seem odd, but in a church of thousands, we tended to focus on our connect groups and the relationships there.
Soon after that I saw him one Friday night when we were all picking up our kids from youth and I asked him how I could possibly serve in Pastoral Care. He introduced me to the oversight and I started volunteering for the next few years.
So that is how God used a photo of a burger on Facebook.
KNOWLEDGE
Scorning – it’s an old fashioned word I think. I’m trying to remember the last time I heard it used in a movie, or in a conversation, but I can’t. One of its synonyms is “contempt” and I think that’s probably the word we would use more. In popular marriage therapy the use of contempt by a partner in the marriage is seen as a really significant issue – actually it called one of the “four horsemen” that are really significant concerns if a marriage is to flourish – the others being criticism, defensiveness and stonewalling.
For those who give their hearts over to scorn or contempt towards others, they will find their fill of this as they are handed over by a gracious God, [Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts.…………]. It seems that if the desire of you heart is to be full of contempt for others – to see yourself as more significant, valuable and important all the time, then that’s your most likely destination.
However for the humble person, those who see themselves through right eyes – [Rom 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you], God positions himself to be favourable. [1 Sam 1:26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the LORD and with people] & [Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man].
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
What a beautiful word “gives” is, and in the Hebrew it is pronounced as ” yatan”. It appears 1979 times in the Old Testament. It is translated into English words such as, gives; delivered; set; put; handed; placed; took; attach; make; fasten; and, added. Here in verse thirty-four, we sense the depth of constancy and durability – this is no one-off event, rather an ongoing relationship.
WISDOM: What is my attitude towards myself and others – is there any of my culture that makes me think I am more than I am?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Input allows you to receive information that challenges your thinking and therefore your actions. Refrain for gathering for the sake of gathering, look for application over information.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [for those people who are contemptuous towards God, who are incapable of receiving or understanding discipline, He cannot help. But to those people who are meek, gentle and open to His ways, He brings Grace and kindness with opportunity.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help my heart to stay in a place of openness to you and your ways, to be teachable, correctable and guidable. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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Pastor Allan I have learnt through my journey to work on remaining humble. When I have let myself drift away from having a humble posture the lord usually has a way of bringing me back to the correct posture. If you ever cook those burgers again please let me know.
Great message, and so much of it resonated with me too. I am enjoying finding out more about the man behind the allen key.
One thing that really leapt out at me is the Strengths thought about application over information. I would add to that, application for SELF. I find it easy to find ways of applying knowledge for other people, but so much harder to apply it to myself. So yes, I echo that prayer: Father, help me be teachable.
Allan,
Thank you so much for your version (AUV).
Wisdom:
“….is there any of my culture that makes me think I am more than I am? “
I can honestly say that there is that element of that shows up in a subtle way in my thoughts and actions sometimes especially when I am visiting my hometown .
Also on other hand I am all the more grateful for God’s goodness and mercy in my life.
Strength Thought:
“Look for application over information “
The picture of Burger was posted and that information; how great is that outcome now!
Prayer:
I want to thank you Allan for the way you model us in prayer. I am always grateful to God for you and how you encouraged us to pray with others when we serve and those times you prayed specifically to my own requests. I have learned so much from your Pastoral Leadership!
So blessed!
Thank you!!!
Love that story of the burgers. I remember you telling that story at South West and Joey and I loved it. So good and love how God worked there.
Love the unauthorised version. But to those people who are meek, gentle and open to His ways, He brings Grace and kindness with opportunity.
Can’t imagine having God as my opponent if I were to be scornful or in contempt. That would be deadly. God opposes the proud.
Thank you for your wonderful story of the juicy, yummy burgers photo on Facebook leading you to your role now. Wow, the gracious hand of the Lord surely with you pastor Allan. I really enjoy your story, your writing, your insights and learn a lot from your journey.
Thank you for always remind us being the person who God wants us to be….being humble is a key of being a good disciple of the Lord…being humble is like the Hebrew mentions in one of the verses ….Hebrew 6:7-8 Land that drinks in the rain often failing on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receiving the blessing of God. But the land that produces thorns and thirties is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Amen
Those burgers look good! Really loving going thru Proverbs 3!
Thank God for His grace, kindness and opportunity! Where would we be without them? It never ceases to amaze me that God, in His grace, mercy and love initiated the working out of the plan of salvation when we were little more than disinterested in Him. Thank God for it and bring on a famous Allan burger!
Thank Father for this prayer over my life today. I am reminded that life without you is setting myself up for all sorts of calamity and mess. That burger looks mighty delicious. You know my character Lord and you know humility is a big ask. But thank you for Pastor Allan, that he continues to unpack your words and uses his life experiences to remind me, that humilty is what Jesus had to do on the cross to save someone like me.
Just beautiful! It’s funny how the Lord pieces all the steps together as we keep serving and trusting Him. Thank you Pastor Allan
I love the story of the burgers, you are going to have to make it for us now. They sound delicious.
I love the heart of serving when no one knows but God. It is so important to stay humble and your story is so encouraging to many.
I love your strength thought.
Input allows you to receive information that challenges your thinking and therefore your actions
Hi Ps Allan; thx u for God words also I can’t believe how u story’s trough he proverbs
Give more opportunity to learn about God Word .
Thx u
God bless
Have nice weekend
Also tomorrow Have nice deserve Father Day
Thanks Pastor Allan – how amazing is our God in using even such things as hamburgers & donkeys & the like to guide us!! You are such a great gift & blessing to our church!!
Jesus is my wonderful example on how to live my life! He was so humble gentle but strong & stood up for what He believed in in reaching the lost & marginalized. How true is this verse for humility is very attractive & it speaks volumes while pride brings scorn & creates a pedestal which will bring a downfall sooner or later. I’m so grateful for God’s promise of favour if I stay surrendered to His ways & walk humbly with Him each day. Clearly another example of what you sow is what you will reap!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful story with us.I really enjoy your stories . Thank you Heavenly Father for all his blessings!
Allan thank you . An interesting journey to pastoral care ! So good ! . I love that you had and still have time for people, to develop them and help them grow as individuals and in the church.
I so appreciate your version of the proverb and shedding light on this proverb . “for those people who are contemptuous towards God, who are incapable of receiving or understanding discipline, He cannot help. “ so true .. we have to choose to want correction and to be lead by the Lord. To be humble , open, unguarded,otherwise unable to accept discipline . “ But to those people who are meek, gentle and open to His ways, He brings Grace and kindness with opportunity.]” . An innocent child’s obedience is a beautiful thing as they obey and change direction in their behaviour to be good . As a parent I know they are the times I love my children’s heart to want to please their mum. That soft heart , tender, innocent. Our Father in heaven too pours out his love on us when we come open , willing to accept his correction and with a tender heart we choose to listen to him.
Father I desire a meek , willing spirit toward all you have to say to me. Teach me your ways Lord .
Thank you Pastor Allan, for reminding us to always remain humble and guard against self righteousness.
I pray that I will always be open to correction and be able to recognise my shortcomings and weaknesses.
Thank you pastor Allan
I love today’s prayer, to have an open heart so we remain teachable,correctable and guidable.
God always shows up when we don’t expect him to and his hand is always on the faithful and what a blessing it is to us to have you as our pastor, with soooo much wisdom and knowledge 👏🏽😉👍🏾.