Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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If you're not an avid basketball fan, you may have never heard of Stacey King. He actually some years ago was a rookie player with the Chicago Bulls. I think you've probably heard of Michael Jordan, one of the all-time great superstars of professional basketball. One season, Michael Jordan broke a single game scoring record, and Stacey King, the rookie, had a great quote after that game. He said, "I'll always remember this as the night that Michael Jordan and I combined to score 70 points in one game." Actually, Michael Jordan scored 69 points; Stacey King scored one. I know the feeling!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Who Scores the Points?"
Now, our word for today from the Word of God is out of the life of King Uzziah in the Old Testament; actually one of the greatest kings that Judah ever had. In 2 Chronicles 26:4-5, we read about some of the secret of his success. "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success."
We go on to read that he defeated some of the long-time enemies of his nation. He enlarged and improved the city of Jerusalem and built it up to a point that it had never been before. He led his nation into a season of incredible prosperity. And in the middle of all this good news, scripture strikes this ominous note in 2 Chronicles 26:15, "He was greatly helped until he became powerful." Why is that?
Well, after Uzziah became powerful, it says his pride led to his downfall. Success ruined him. Why? I think Uzziah forgot who was scoring the points. See, we're all playing Stacey King to Michael Jordan. Anything fruitful, anything powerful you've ever done in your life, God scores 69 of the points you might say and you score one. Success is not something you achieve; it's something you receive from God. You faithfully do your part, but it's a gift from Him to you. You're the instrument. You're not the musician. The instrument gets no credit. You're the glove; you're not the hand. The glove can't do anything. The hand in the glove does it all.
You know when we forget this, we'll fall down in one of two ways. Number one is, we'll start to steal the glory and we'll walk away from doing something for the Lord saying, "Aren't I something?" Instead of, "Isn't He something?" Well, at that point God withdraws His power like He did from Uzziah and he watched that glory start to die. God says, "I am the Lord. That is My name, and My glory will I not give to another."
The other mistake we'll make is on the opposite end of the spectrum. We won't attempt any risky things for God; we won't do anything for Him because we're looking at our abilities and we're saying, "I can't do that." "I don't think I'm up to it." "I'm just an average fellow." We're not looking at His ability when we say that. He scores the points. You might be missing many assignments He has for you because you're forgetting that He is your competence, He is your confidence. He is the One who gets it done. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 says, "Faithful is the one who calls you. He also will do it."
You can make some memorable plays for Christ if you'll just remember who scores the points.