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IN FOR THE LONG HAUL
(Grand Parents Day)
Job 12:12-13; Proverbs 3:1-2)

A father once said, "Son, you gotta set a goal and never quit. Remember George Washington?"
The son said, "Yes."
"Thomas Jefferson?"
"Yes."
"Abraham Lincoln?"
"Yes."
"You know what they all had in common?"
"No! What?"
The father said, "They didn't quit, son! They didn't quit!"

Then he added, "Do you remember Ozador McIngle?"
The kid said, "No. Who was he?"
"See, you don't remember him. 'Cause he quit!"

When the Honeymoon's over; when the new wears off; when the excitement fades, what do you do? When it's not fun anymore; when boredom sets in; when the daily grind gets you down, what do you do?

Well, many people simply quit! They aren't in for the long haul. In today's world, if something isn't working for us, we junk it. Marriages break up; Children are abandoned and possessions are discarded.

If we're behind in school—we drop out! If we don't like our job—we walk! If we have trouble with a neighbor—we move! If we get into debt—we declare bankruptcy! If we get tired of serving in church—we quit!

Too many lives are made up of unfinished projects and broken dreams. We don't solve our problems; we don't try to work things out; we're not in for the long haul. Too many people feel entitled to an easy pleasant existence—they expect to be entertained; they change channels in life as quickly as they do on television. The grass always looks greener somewhere else.

A Vermont farmer-philosopher said, "Every cow, horse, sheep and goat I have known has spent much of its time trying to eat grass on the other side of the fence. They ram their heads through the wires and get stuck. They creep under or jump over the fence at every opportunity.

When I put bales of musty hay outside fence because they normally won't eat it, the cows form a long row, stretch their necks through the fence and eagerly chomp the musty hay. They must reason like this: ‘That hay is out of our reach because he doesn't want us to have it. Therefore, it must be exceptionally good. So even at the risk of ripping our hides on the barbs let's spend the rest of the day trying to steal it.' And that's just what they do."

Are we like that? Does something different always look better? Are we always dissatisfied with our possessions; with our professions; and with our relationships? That's one of the basic problems in our society.

Today we're honoring our Grandparents; our Senior Citizens—those members of "The Greatest Generation," because they were in for the long haul.

They built this country. They stuck! They raised their families! They worked hard! They paid their debts! They didn't bail out! Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, "By perseverance the snail reached the ark"

Let's analyze perseverence:

I. FIRST, HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE OUR POSSESSIONS?

Well, ours is a "throw-away" world. We fill our dump sites and waste our resources. We bulldoze good buildings because it's easier than renovating them. We buy new appliances because it's cheaper than mending the old ones. We follow fads and fashions. We fill our closets with clothes and shoes that go out of style in one season. We update our computers and electronic equipment before we learn how to use the old ones. Nothing ever wears out, it's just replaced. There's no D.G.P. We want the newest and the best; and we want it right now!

People in for the long haul, on the other hand, take care of what they have. They wait for gratification; they make do until they can afford to have better things. They recycle! They never try to keep up with the Joneses.

The Scriptures support those with perseverence. The Psalmist said, "Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked" (Psa. 37:16).

Solomon said, "Whoever trusts in his riches will fail, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf" (Prov. 11:28).

"One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth" (Prov. 13:7).

"Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice" (Prov. 16:8).

Jesus said, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions" (Luke 12:15).

II. NEXT, HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE OUR JOBS OR PROFESSIONS?

We are a disgruntled people. In a recent twelve-month period, a third of American workers transferred to something else. A major denomination reports that the average stay of its pastors is now down to eighteen months.

We have an "entitlement mentality," which pushes us to ever-greater expectations—bigger pay, better fringe benefits and shorter hours.

People in for the long haul, on the other hand, think about what they can give. They consider the importance of their contribution to society; they measure their job by meaning and internal satisfaction as much as by the pay check. They deal with the problems at hand before trying to move on. They think of accomplishment and try to improve their skills.

The Scriptures support those with perseverence. Paul said, "Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat" (2 Thess. 3:12).

Peter said, "Submit yourselves to your masters [or bosses} . . ." (1 Pet. 2:18).

Along this same line, Paul said, "Obey your earthly masters. . . with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ . . . Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men" (Eph. 6:6-7).

"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If any one serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ . . ." (1 Peter 4:11).

Paul also said, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal. 6:9).

III. FINALLY, HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE OUR RELATIONSHIPS?

Divorce is rampant. Over half of our marriages are dissolving. Families break up; children run away from home! Violence is everywhere: employees take guns to their office and kill their co-workers. We have road-rage and school bullies. Crime and spouse abuse cause enormous pain.

People in for the long haul, on the other hand, are patient. They are tolerant and forgiving. They marry for better or for worse, knowing that things won't be perfect. They ask "What can I do to make this partnership better?" They don't expect a rose garden or a free ride. They are willing to work together toward positive goals. They put the needs of their children over their own egos.
The Scriptures support those with perseverence. Jesus said, "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matt. 7:5).

Paul said, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hope, always perseveres" (I Cor. 13:4-5-7);

He also said, "Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else" (I Thess. 5:14).

Solomon said, "A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel" (Prov. 15:18).

Perseverence is essential. Jesus emphasized being committed for the long haul. He said, "He who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13).

General Wellington said, "My men are not braver than other troops—they are just brave five minutes longer"

There's an old legend from the Far East about the Chinese grandfather who, each day of his life, rose early, climbed to the top of a nearby hill that blocked the early morning sunlight, picked up a rock, walked back down the hill, and dropped the rock on the other side of the stream near his home. When they got old enough, his son and then his grandson joined him in this task. "Why do we do this?" the grandson finally asked.

"As long as you continue to do this and teach your children and grandchildren to carry the rock," the grandfather promised, "we're going to move this hill." The boy persisted, "But, Grandfather, you'll never see the hill moved."

The old man nodded and replied: "Yes, but I know that someday it will be moved."

When you think it's too tough to go on, you might want to remember this story: At ten minutes to seven on a cool evening in Mexico City in 1968, John Stephen Akwari of Tanzania painfully hobbled into the Olympic Stadium—the last man to finish the marathon.

The winner already had been crowned, and the victory ceremony was long finished. So the stadium was almost empty as Akwari—alone, his leg bloody and bandaged, struggled to circle the track to the finish line. The respected documentary film-maker Bud Greenspan watched from a distance. Then, intrigued, Bud walked over to Akwari and asked why he had continued the grueling struggle to the finish line after his injury, knowing all was lost.

The young man from Tanzania answered softly: "Because, sir, my country did not send me nine thousand miles to start this race. They sent me nine thousand miles to finish this race."

That's what God put us here to do. We're here to finish the race! In our marriages and jobs and spiritual commitments, we must be in for the long haul.

We have blessings today because these older men and women hung in there. They didn't wreck our economy with debt. They worked with their hands and minds. They gave more than they got, and they maintained committed relationships. Let's show our gratitude by honoring and respecting our Senior Citizens. Let's stay in for the long haul!

*****

(Word Count 1675)

These messages are from an unpublished manuscript © copyrighted by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. Please use them in any way you think appropriate. The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in published works.

Sermons with the "I" prefix are from our "What's the Good Word" Series;
II from our "Pitfalls on the Path of Life"
III are sermons for special days and occasions.

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We are not political! We are not against anyone. And we have no doctrinal agenda. Rather, after many years of pastoring small churches and teaching (especially college students, who represent the next generation), we have chosen to emphasize certain very relevant, neglected aspects of the Gospel—namely: personal discipline (maturity and responsibility); family relationships (marriage and child rearing); general life skills and common sense.

Our social problems today prove that these characteristics are so important. Young people need them and are asking for them.

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Miles E Wesner