SOME THINGS YOU’LL NEVER REGRET



SOME THINGS YOU’LL NEVER REGRET

TEXT: Mark 6:25-26

INTRODUCTION:

A. Sometimes, life brings many regrets:

1. I doubt that any of us live many years and look back over our lives with absolutely no regrets of any kind – most of us have many things we would change if we could, things we would do differently if given the opportunity.

2. “If I could only go back and…” - Many wish for opportunities to change things!

3. Sometimes that can be done, sometimes it cannot.

B. Many people in the Bible felt regret:

1. Herod for the rash promise he made that led to John the Baptists death – Mark 6:25-26

2. Judas who hanged himself for his dastardly act of betrayal – Matt. 27:4-5

3. Many people who smote upon the breasts when Jesus was crucified – Luke 23:47-48

TS: But I want to speak today about some things we’ll never regret!

I. RESPECTING OLDER FOLKS

A. Showing kindness, concern, and respect to older folks is something you’ll never regret!

a. Lev. 19:32, Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.

b. Job 12:12, With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

c. Prov. 23:22, Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

B. All should be respectful of those of advancing years!

1. ILLUS: Once in a John Wayne movie, ole John kept telling his son something, and his son wouldn’t listen – finally John Wayne knocked the disrespectful young man off his horse, saying, “Son, if you won’t respect your elders, I’ll teach you to respect your betters.”

2. Young people – don’t learn respect the hard way!

II. BEING KIND TO OTHERS

A. Kindness is a Bible command!

1. Prov. 15:18, A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

2. Eph. 4:32, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

3. ILLUS: Someone once said, “You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force.”

4. And always remember: kindness is difficult to give away, for it is usually returned.

B. But being unthankful, unkind, hateful are things you will regret: words spoken in haste, acts committed in anger, attitudes molded by vengeance – these can all lead to regret in the end.

III. BEING A PEACEMAKER

A. There are some who are “professional troublemakers” – at work, in the community, sometimes even in the church.

1. Paul warned the Galatians about “some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” – Gal. 1:7

2. To Timothy, he warned “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes” – 1 Tim. 2:23

3. To Titus he wrote, “But avoid foolish and unlearned questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” – Titus 3:9

4. The Bible says that “he that soweth discord among brethren” is an abomination to the Lord – Prov. 6:19

5. So beware of troublemakers – of those who sow discord and confusion and division among brethren and in congregations: the Bible plainly says to avoid those who cause divisions (Rom. 16:17).

B. But there is blessing in peace-making!

1. Prov. 15:1, A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

2. Matt. 5:9, Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

IV. GUARDING YOUR MOUTH

A. We must be careful with our words, and speak words that built up, not that destroy.

1. Prov. 12:23, A prudent man concealthe knowledge: but the hear of fools proclaimeth foolishness [a wise man is careful, cautious, reserved – he isn’t rash or careless]

2. Prov. 17:9, …he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends [gossip]

3. Prov. 11:9, An hypoctrie with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour…

B. You won’t regret weighing your words carefully, and guarding your tongue: Psalm 39:1

V. TAKING TIME TO SHOW LOVE TO YOUR FAMILY

A. Words of love and acts of kindness must be directed toward those closest to us.

1. Prov. 1:8-9, My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of they mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck

[here is the one who has beautifully adorned himself with the instruction and law of his father and mother – what a tremendous picture!]

2. Eph. 6:1-4 (read)

B. Sometimes those nearest and dearest are those we least show appreciation – we must be careful about that!

C. ILLUS: You know, you can keep adding drops of water to a glass, but there is that last drop of water that makes the glass overflow – toward our families, let’s always be reaching for that last drop of kindness and appreciation, that love might overflow in our homes!

VI. BEING REVERENT TOWARD GOD

A. We must not neglect reverence toward our Creator and Sustainer.

1. Prov. 1:7, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2. Prov. 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

3. Eccl. 12:13, …Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

B. Showing worship, homage, respect, and reverence toward God will never be regretted.

VII. BEING A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN

A. You will never regret becoming a Christian!

1. God’s plan of salvation

2. I have never had anyone tell me they regretted obeying the gospel!

B. You’ll never regret being a faithful Christian!

1. Rev. 2:10

2. I have never had anyone tell me that they have lived a faithful Christian life for 10, 20, 30 ears, and regretted it.

3. I know in death and at the judgment NO ONE will regret having been a faithful Christian.

4. I can imagine tens of thousands on that day being eternally regretful for having not become a child of God, or not remaining faithful.

CONCLUSION:

We all make mistakes along the journey of life, we’ll all make decisions that will turn out to be wrong, wisdom, experience, and judgment can cause us to look back on some thigns in the past and realize we should have done some things a little differently, perhaps.

C. But if we’ll follow the teaching of God’s Word, we can live a life without eternal regret – we can live lives of purpose and meaning – we can live pleasing to our Heavenly Father that we might live forever in heaven.

D. So determine to be guided and governed by God’s Word!

John M. Brown, Flatwoods church of Christ

P. O. Box 871

Flatwoods, KY 41139

*THESE OUTLINES ARE INTENDED FOR PERSONAL USE – THEY ARE NOT TO BE SOLD OR PRINTED IN BOOK FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download