NOBODY NOTICED YOU
NOBODY NOTICED YOU CMBC July 26, 2015
Luke 12:1 - 7
Nicole Johnson is an author and women’s conference speaker. She wrote the book The Invisible Woman. My daughter-in-law sent me a clip of Nicole Johnson speaking at a conference. She says that she wonders if she is invisible. No one notices her. Works all day to clean the house and no one noticed. Tired after at a late party with her husband’s company. Walked up to her husband who was talking with friends - he just kept talking. Never notice her. Walked her son to kindergarten and the teacher asked her son, “Who is with you today?” and the son answered, “No one.” She is sure that she is invisible. Last Sunday we explored the wonderful reality that God has chosen us. Chosen us to live with Him in heaven for all eternity. But here on earth, it may be at times that nobody noticed you. 1.
OUR REASONABLE NEED FOR AFFIRMATION a. One of our highest values i. Survey of employees reveals that affirmation is a higher value than salary. It is more important to be thanked than to get a raise. ii. Affirmation often overlooked – like the pianist for a duet iii. Many fathers make the mistake of saying, “I don’t want to praise my children so that they won’t get proud.” “You did a good job here, but …” Always that but. b. Affirmation gives clarity to who I am i. We respond to what people affirm in us, knowing what we are good at ii. Clarity of my gifting 1. “You have a beautiful voice.” We’re not sure. 2. “You have such a cheerful smile.” 3. ILL. Young men wanting to go into the ministry iii. Clarity of where I fit in 1. When I am affirmed, I know where I fit into my place of work, my place in the family, in the church. 2. Jesus affirmed His disciples over and over again 3. Paul was very clear in his letters about specific affirmation of the churches c. The confusion that comes from being overlooked i. Many times it is not just not being noticed, but not even asked to be involved. We are not sure if it is that we have wronged someone. ii. Often people don’t know you and you never get asked. iii. When we get older often we are not asked any more
2.
THERE ARE DANGERS IN BEING NOTICED a. The trap of arrogance i. Can lead to pride
1
b.
John 12:43 they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 1. The praise of people determines our choices 2. Many leaders in the synagogue believed, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess their faith. ii. Lead to a false sense of value of what is important Missing the mark in what I do i. Can’t take criticism because I am addicted to only being praised ii. Miss the opportunity to improve because I can’t take anything except praise.
3.
A DEEPER TRUTH TO BEING NOTICED a. Serving God matters most Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, [24] since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. i. My task isn’t the final evaluation of whether I did well because it is more about the heart than it is about the skill. ILL. Jim Collins author of Good To Great says that it is more important to have people on your team with the right attitude than the skills that they bring. ii. What I do for the kingdom is most important b. Cathedral builders ILL. Nicole Johnson was given a book on the great cathedrals of Europe with the note, “With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.” Spectacular buildings You can’t name the names of the people who built them. Over and over the book said, “Builder unknown – unknown – unknown”. Carving a bird that would be covered up by the roof, “Why?” And he answered, “Because God see.” Trusted God sees everything. Some cathedrals took over 100 years to build. He would never see it finished. They made huge sacrifices, and no one would notice. Work effort is for the Lord i. Even my presence is for the Lord ii. ILL. Sherry Campbell’s experience in one of these cathedrals. c. The motivation for sacrifice i. Someone said, “We couldn’t build these kind of cathedrals today because no one would make that kind of sacrifice.” ii. When our focus is on the Lord, then it makes the sacrifice worth it
4.
GOD DOES SEE a. He sees even beyond the task i. God blesses the person who carries out the smallest task because it brings glory to His name. Matthew 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
2
ii.
iii.
iv. v.
vi.
b.
It understands God point of view – has the eyes of the Lord. It is not just about the cup of water. The cup of water is a small thing. It is what God does with and through that cup of water that has eternal results. It is that way with a smile, or just being present. A what is significant is that the people who gave the cup of water will respond to God, “I did?” It is just their normal life style, and God uses it to be His love and care. Understand that God sees the smallest task Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies *? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. [7] Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
God values “non-noticed” people i. God says He has chosen the weak ii. 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him. iii. Because it is not the task but the glory of God that may not be see today, but will be revealed in heaven.
Nicole Johnson says: I heard God say, “I see you. You are not invisible to me. No sacrifice is too small for me to notice. I see every cupcake backed, every sequin sewed on, and I smile over everyone. I see every tear of disappointment when things don’t go the way you wanted them to go. But remember, you are building a great cathedral. It will not be finished in your lifetime. And sadly, you will never live there. But if you build it well, I will be the One who lives there.” Nicole goes on to say: Sometime my invisibility felt like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is a cure for the disease of self-centeredness. It is the antidote for my own pride. It’s OK that they don’t see. It’s OK that they don’t know. I don’t want my son bringing a friend from college saying, “You’re not gonna believe all that my mom does.” I just want him to want to come home. I want him to say to his friend, “You’ll love it here.” It’s OK that they don’t see. We don’t work for them. We work for Him. We sacrifice for Him. Let’s pray that our work will stand as a monument to a great God.
3
Luke 12:1 - 7
Nicole Johnson is an author and women’s conference speaker. She wrote the book The Invisible Woman. My daughter-in-law sent me a clip of Nicole Johnson speaking at a conference. She says that she wonders if she is invisible. No one notices her. Works all day to clean the house and no one noticed. Tired after at a late party with her husband’s company. Walked up to her husband who was talking with friends - he just kept talking. Never notice her. Walked her son to kindergarten and the teacher asked her son, “Who is with you today?” and the son answered, “No one.” She is sure that she is invisible. Last Sunday we explored the wonderful reality that God has chosen us. Chosen us to live with Him in heaven for all eternity. But here on earth, it may be at times that nobody noticed you. 1.
OUR REASONABLE NEED FOR AFFIRMATION a. One of our highest values i. Survey of employees reveals that affirmation is a higher value than salary. It is more important to be thanked than to get a raise. ii. Affirmation often overlooked – like the pianist for a duet iii. Many fathers make the mistake of saying, “I don’t want to praise my children so that they won’t get proud.” “You did a good job here, but …” Always that but. b. Affirmation gives clarity to who I am i. We respond to what people affirm in us, knowing what we are good at ii. Clarity of my gifting 1. “You have a beautiful voice.” We’re not sure. 2. “You have such a cheerful smile.” 3. ILL. Young men wanting to go into the ministry iii. Clarity of where I fit in 1. When I am affirmed, I know where I fit into my place of work, my place in the family, in the church. 2. Jesus affirmed His disciples over and over again 3. Paul was very clear in his letters about specific affirmation of the churches c. The confusion that comes from being overlooked i. Many times it is not just not being noticed, but not even asked to be involved. We are not sure if it is that we have wronged someone. ii. Often people don’t know you and you never get asked. iii. When we get older often we are not asked any more
2.
THERE ARE DANGERS IN BEING NOTICED a. The trap of arrogance i. Can lead to pride
1
b.
John 12:43 they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 1. The praise of people determines our choices 2. Many leaders in the synagogue believed, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess their faith. ii. Lead to a false sense of value of what is important Missing the mark in what I do i. Can’t take criticism because I am addicted to only being praised ii. Miss the opportunity to improve because I can’t take anything except praise.
3.
A DEEPER TRUTH TO BEING NOTICED a. Serving God matters most Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, [24] since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. i. My task isn’t the final evaluation of whether I did well because it is more about the heart than it is about the skill. ILL. Jim Collins author of Good To Great says that it is more important to have people on your team with the right attitude than the skills that they bring. ii. What I do for the kingdom is most important b. Cathedral builders ILL. Nicole Johnson was given a book on the great cathedrals of Europe with the note, “With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.” Spectacular buildings You can’t name the names of the people who built them. Over and over the book said, “Builder unknown – unknown – unknown”. Carving a bird that would be covered up by the roof, “Why?” And he answered, “Because God see.” Trusted God sees everything. Some cathedrals took over 100 years to build. He would never see it finished. They made huge sacrifices, and no one would notice. Work effort is for the Lord i. Even my presence is for the Lord ii. ILL. Sherry Campbell’s experience in one of these cathedrals. c. The motivation for sacrifice i. Someone said, “We couldn’t build these kind of cathedrals today because no one would make that kind of sacrifice.” ii. When our focus is on the Lord, then it makes the sacrifice worth it
4.
GOD DOES SEE a. He sees even beyond the task i. God blesses the person who carries out the smallest task because it brings glory to His name. Matthew 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
2
ii.
iii.
iv. v.
vi.
b.
It understands God point of view – has the eyes of the Lord. It is not just about the cup of water. The cup of water is a small thing. It is what God does with and through that cup of water that has eternal results. It is that way with a smile, or just being present. A what is significant is that the people who gave the cup of water will respond to God, “I did?” It is just their normal life style, and God uses it to be His love and care. Understand that God sees the smallest task Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies *? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. [7] Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
God values “non-noticed” people i. God says He has chosen the weak ii. 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him. iii. Because it is not the task but the glory of God that may not be see today, but will be revealed in heaven.
Nicole Johnson says: I heard God say, “I see you. You are not invisible to me. No sacrifice is too small for me to notice. I see every cupcake backed, every sequin sewed on, and I smile over everyone. I see every tear of disappointment when things don’t go the way you wanted them to go. But remember, you are building a great cathedral. It will not be finished in your lifetime. And sadly, you will never live there. But if you build it well, I will be the One who lives there.” Nicole goes on to say: Sometime my invisibility felt like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is a cure for the disease of self-centeredness. It is the antidote for my own pride. It’s OK that they don’t see. It’s OK that they don’t know. I don’t want my son bringing a friend from college saying, “You’re not gonna believe all that my mom does.” I just want him to want to come home. I want him to say to his friend, “You’ll love it here.” It’s OK that they don’t see. We don’t work for them. We work for Him. We sacrifice for Him. Let’s pray that our work will stand as a monument to a great God.
3
