Finding Purpose Through Life's Challenges and Sacrifice
Summary
In reflecting on the profound lessons of life, I shared a story from James Michener, a prolific 20th-century author and a man of faith. Michener recounted a childhood memory of a farmer who revitalized an old apple tree by hammering rusty nails into its trunk. This act, seemingly harsh, spurred the tree to produce a bountiful harvest. Michener likened this to his own life experiences, where significant challenges, symbolized by "rusty nails," prompted him to bear fruit in his later years, writing 11 books between the ages of 80 and 85.
This narrative draws a parallel to the life of John Milton, a Puritan poet who, despite his blindness and political downfall, produced his greatest works during his most challenging times. Milton's words, inspired by the parable of the talents, emphasize the importance of using one's gifts to serve and honor God, regardless of life's difficulties.
I shared my personal journey, acknowledging the "rusty nails" in my life and the call to continue bearing fruit. Our purpose on Earth is to fulfill our roles, whether as parents, professionals, or community members, and to do so in partnership with God. The true measure of our lives will be the fruit we bear, especially through acts of kindness and service to others.
I recounted the inspiring story of Hank and Jan, a couple from my previous church. Despite Jan's debilitating illness, Hank's unwavering devotion to her became a testament to love and sacrifice. Their story, like the lesson of the nails, illustrates that true impact often arises from enduring hardship with grace and love.
The world's major religions, including Christianity, often find their roots in pain and suffering. The cross, a symbol of Christianity, epitomizes this paradox, reminding us that through suffering, we can find redemption and purpose.
Key Takeaways:
1. Life's challenges, like rusty nails, can spur us to bear fruit. These trials, though painful, often lead to personal growth and greater productivity, much like the apple tree that produced a bountiful harvest after being nailed. [02:12]
2. John Milton's greatest works emerged from his darkest times, illustrating that our most profound contributions can arise from suffering. His story encourages us to use our talents to serve God, even when circumstances seem bleak. [04:08]
3. Our purpose is to bear fruit in our unique roles, whether as parents, professionals, or community members. By partnering with God, we can transcend our limitations and make a meaningful impact on the world. [06:59]
4. The story of Hank and Jan exemplifies love and sacrifice. Despite Jan's illness, Hank's devotion inspired many, showing that true impact often comes from enduring hardship with grace and love. [08:41]
5. The cross, a symbol of Christianity, reminds us that through suffering, we can find redemption and purpose. This paradox is echoed in the world's major religions, highlighting the transformative power of enduring pain. [09:19]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - James Michener's Inspiration
[01:44] - The Lesson of the Rusty Nails
[02:57] - Michener's Personal Challenges
[03:34] - John Milton's Story
[04:24] - The Parable of the Talents
[05:20] - Personal Reflections and Purpose
[06:27] - Bearing Fruit Through Service
[07:16] - Hank and Jan's Inspiring Story
[08:41] - Love and Sacrifice
[08:59] - Pain in World Religions
[09:19] - The Cross and Redemption
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 15:1-5 - "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
2. Matthew 25:14-30 - The Parable of the Talents
3. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of the rusty nails in James Michener's story, and how did they impact the apple tree? [01:44]
2. How did John Milton's personal challenges influence his greatest works, according to the sermon? [04:08]
3. What role did Hank play in Jan's life, and how did their story exemplify love and sacrifice? [08:41]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between suffering and redemption in Christianity? [09:19]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the story of the rusty nails relate to the concept of pruning in John 15:1-5? How might challenges in life serve a similar purpose?
2. How does the Parable of the Talents relate to the idea of using one's gifts to serve God, even in difficult circumstances? [04:24]
3. How does 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 help us understand the idea that God's power is made perfect in our weaknesses, as illustrated by the stories shared in the sermon?
4. What does the story of Hank and Jan teach us about the nature of true love and sacrifice in the face of adversity? [08:41]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a "rusty nail" experience in your life. How did it challenge you, and what fruit did it eventually produce? [02:12]
2. Consider the talents and gifts you have. How can you use them to serve God and others, even when facing personal challenges? [04:24]
3. Think about a time when you felt weak or inadequate. How can you rely on God's strength to turn that weakness into an opportunity for growth and service? [05:56]
4. In what ways can you show love and sacrifice in your relationships, similar to Hank's devotion to Jan? [08:41]
5. How can you find purpose and redemption in your own suffering, as the sermon suggests is possible through the symbol of the cross? [09:19]
6. Identify a specific role you have in your life (e.g., parent, professional, community member). How can you partner with God to bear fruit in that role? [06:59]
7. Reflect on a difficult situation you are currently facing. What steps can you take to approach it with grace and love, drawing inspiration from the stories shared in the sermon? [08:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Trials as Catalysts for Growth
Life's challenges, much like the rusty nails hammered into the apple tree, can often seem harsh and unwelcome. However, these trials can serve as catalysts for personal growth and productivity. The story of the farmer revitalizing the apple tree by driving rusty nails into its trunk illustrates how adversity can lead to a bountiful harvest. Similarly, in our lives, the difficulties we face can push us to develop resilience and strength, ultimately leading to greater achievements and fulfillment. Embracing these challenges with faith and perseverance can transform them into opportunities for growth and fruitfulness. [02:12]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Identify a current challenge in your life. How can you view it as an opportunity for growth and ask God to help you bear fruit through it?
Day 2: Creativity Born from Adversity
John Milton's life exemplifies how profound contributions can arise from suffering. Despite his blindness and political downfall, Milton produced his greatest works during his darkest times. His story encourages us to use our talents to serve God, even when circumstances seem bleak. The parable of the talents reminds us that our gifts are meant to be used for a higher purpose, and adversity can often be the catalyst that brings out our most creative and impactful work. By trusting in God's plan and persevering through hardship, we can find new ways to express our gifts and serve others. [04:08]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: Reflect on a talent or gift you have. How can you use it to serve others, especially during challenging times?
Day 3: Purposeful Living in Partnership with God
Our purpose on Earth is to bear fruit in our unique roles, whether as parents, professionals, or community members. By partnering with God, we can transcend our limitations and make a meaningful impact on the world. This partnership involves recognizing our strengths and weaknesses and allowing God to work through us to fulfill His purpose. When we align our lives with God's will, we can experience a sense of fulfillment and joy that comes from knowing we are contributing to something greater than ourselves. [06:59]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: Consider your current roles and responsibilities. How can you invite God into these areas to help you bear more fruit?
Day 4: Love and Sacrifice in Action
The story of Hank and Jan exemplifies love and sacrifice. Despite Jan's debilitating illness, Hank's unwavering devotion to her became a testament to love and sacrifice. Their story illustrates that true impact often comes from enduring hardship with grace and love. In our own lives, we are called to love others selflessly, even when it requires sacrifice. This kind of love can inspire and uplift those around us, demonstrating the transformative power of grace and compassion in the face of adversity. [08:41]
1 John 3:16-18 (ESV): "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is going through a difficult time. How can you show them love and support in a tangible way today?
Day 5: Redemption Through Suffering
The cross, a symbol of Christianity, reminds us that through suffering, we can find redemption and purpose. This paradox is echoed in the world's major religions, highlighting the transformative power of enduring pain. The cross teaches us that suffering is not the end but a pathway to new life and hope. By embracing our own suffering and trusting in God's redemptive plan, we can find meaning and purpose even in the most challenging circumstances. This perspective allows us to see our trials as opportunities for growth and transformation, leading us closer to God and His ultimate purpose for our lives. [09:19]
1 Peter 5:10 (ESV): "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
Reflection: Reflect on a past experience of suffering. How did it lead to personal growth or a deeper understanding of God's purpose for your life?
Quotes
The farmer living at the end of our lane had an aging apple tree that had once been abundantly productive but had now lost its energy and ability to bear any fruit at all. The farmer, on an early spring day, I still remembered, hammered eight nails, long and rusty, into the trunk of the tree. [00:01:24]
The tired old tree, having been goaded back to life, produced a crop of juicy red apples bigger and better than we had seen before. When I asked how this had happened, the farmer explained, hammering in the rusty nails gave it a shock to remind it that its job is to produce apples. [00:01:54]
In the 1980s, when I was nearly 80 years old, I had some fairly large rusty nails hammered into my trunk: a quintuple bypassed heart surgery, a new left hip, a dental rebuilding, an attack of permanent vertigo, and like a sensible apple tree, I resolved to resume bearing fruit. [00:02:50]
John Milton, of course, was a Puritan poet and writer. He was blind. Interestingly, Elanor Stump writes about John Milton in the book that we're going to be looking at through this series, Wandering in Darkness. Milton's hard desire was to be a political bureaucrat for Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans. [00:03:22]
Milton was left destitute, impoverished, under house arrest, searched for to be imprisoned, and it was in those years that he wrote his great poetry: Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes. She says his greatest flourishing came with his greatest suffering. The lesson of the nails so strange. [00:03:48]
When I consider how my light is spent or half my days in this dark world and wide, and that one talent which is death to hide, lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent to serve there with my maker and present my true account lest he returning chide. [00:04:21]
I have a job. I'm a pastor and a husband and a father and a preacher and a storyteller and a father and a grandfather, and I have had some rusty nails hammered into my trunk in this last season, and they are not the end of my story. I am a steward of those wounds as well. [00:05:20]
You have a job, you have a purpose on this Earth, and I promise you when you get to the end of it, your primary memory, the primary meaning of your life, no matter how great your suffering, and I don't mean to minimize it or try to explain it or rationalize it at all, but what will mean the most to you is the fruit that you bore. [00:05:51]
For it is in the bearing of fruit, in noticing a child that nobody else notices or drawing a tear or giving a gift to another person that can make a difference in their life or fixing the car for a single mom who couldn't afford to get it repaired herself or sponsoring a child or beginning to care for folks in some other part of the world. [00:06:24]
There was a couple there, Hank and Jan, and I'd love to talk about them. Hank was a remarkably gifted guy, very successful business guy, and it was clear that was how he was going to make his mark on the world. But when she was 40, Jan was diagnosed with a very debilitating disease, and it just kept getting worse. [00:07:16]
Hank ended up quitting his job to devote himself to caring for her. That did not look like much of an orchard, but I will tell you people were more inspired by that couple and their love and sacrifice for one another than they would have been inspired by all kinds of grandiose achievements. [00:07:38]
Barbara Brown Taylor writes about this, that the world's religions, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism with the pain of Israel in slavery in Egypt, and of course, Christianity, and Christianity especially at the cross, are born out of pain. How ironic it is that today the most widely recognized symbol in all of human history. [00:08:56]
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