Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday April 11, 2008

A story making the rounds has it that a popular preacher in small town ventured into the local Dollar General store and while browsing picked up an item costing 50 cents. He went to the checkout and to his chagrin discovered he did not have a penny to his name or credit cards. Embarrassed, he said to the manager: "Sir, I apologize for this, but perhaps we could work out something like you coming to hear me preach, the trouble is I have no 50 cent sermons." This was said with a charming smile. The manager responded, "Oh, that's okay, I could attend two of your sermons."

As I managed to get my belly laugh under control I noticed a thought creeping into my conscious mind prodding me with the question, "What is a sermon worth?" The correct answer is whatever the market will pay. On the surface at least. On the other hand a sermon or a specialized speech may be worth more than life if it leads a person to life eternal. The famous sermon preached by Jonathan Edwards, "Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God" comes under the heading of priceless. And then on a softer tone, Russell Conwell around the turn of the 19th-20th Century traveled the globe preaching a sermon to raise money for what became Temple University in Philadelphia titled, "Acres of Diamonds." In that day when money was worth more, he raised over 10 million dollars. Keep in mind that during that era Rockefeller said, "In our country if man has only 10 million dollars he can live as though he were rich."

If a man or woman hears a sermon and something in it catches their mind and heart and they become sober or drug free and begin to properly care for themselves, the spouse and the children, they become as did Onesimus, prosperous. You recall that Onesimus was a thieving runaway slave who met Christ through the preaching of Paul, and was on Paul's recommendation, reconciled to Christ and the community. He changed to say the least. So what was the sermon he heard Paul preach worth? A good sermon is priceless in that its full impact may not be measured in this life.

The same can be said for a song with good inspiring lyrics. Before Joyce and I were married we went to the World's Fair in New York City. What a day. I recall that as we were to be married in August that summer we had what seemed to us impossible dreams. At the fair, a lady performed on a rope hanging from way up high and as she did her act an orchestra played "The Quest" the theme from Man of LaMancha commonly referred to as The Impossible Dream, something in the performance caused Joyce and I to truly believe that though our dream seemed impossible, we would with the power of the Lord stick to our dream and we would find the way to nurture it into reality. To be sure we have jousted many a windmill, but we are much farther along in life than anyone else ever thought possible. So, what is a song worth?

One time, now a long time ago, I was facing bitter defeat, there was no way. A friend and mentor, Dr. Tom Wallace put his arm around my shoulder and said, "Larry, I know there appears to be no way, but you and Joyce know God has brought you this far, trust Him with this. I know you two have what it takes and I am for you." Not a sermon, not a song, but words spoken with conviction. What were they worth? Time may not tell, but eternity will ring out the worth of words fitly spoken.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit.

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