The search for security podcast notes

How important is security to you?

Financial security. That means different things for different people. For some that means having enough money to make it through retirement. Others it means not having too much month left at the end of your money.

Home security. Who in this room has a home security system? Americans spend over 20 billion dollars on home security system. Her name is Jasmine

We actually installed a security system at the cove because we heard that another local church had $50,000 stolen out of their vault. We found out a few months later that it was their pastor who stole their money. My only question was “Where is our vault? Do we have a vault and if so why has no one told me about our vault.”

Airport security. Anyone have positive feelings when I say the words airport security?

Personal security. Have any of you ever been a victim of identity theft? A few months ago I got a call from my credit card company wondering about some tickets I had purchased on ticketmaster. I told them “I didn’t buy tickets on ticketmaster.” Turns out someone had stolen my credit card and bought $3000 of tickets. My credit card company was quick to remove the charges from my account but before they hung up I just had to know what tickets I “bought.” Ready for this. I bought $3000 of tickets to see Britney Spears and One Direction.

Security of your child? We child proof our house, child proof our car, walk them to school from school, to the bathroom, from the bathroom. Parents today are freakishly alert to anything that will harm their kid. When I was born I didn’t have a car seat. You know where my seat was when I was a kid and we were making a long trip in our town and country station wagon with the wood paneling on the side. My spot was between the front seat and the back seat. My sister got the seat, I got the floor.

I promise you, you have spent more time thinking about this type of security than any that I have mentioned. Ready. Insecurity.

What are you insecure about?

What do people think about me?
Do people like me?
Am I good looking enough?
Do people think I’m weird?
Will I get enough followers?
Will people like my post?
Are other people hanging out and they didn’t invite me?
Am I smart enough, athletic enough, creative enough, tall enough, thin enough, funny enough?

So let me ask this again. How important is security to us?

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. 7  They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8  Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear Psalm 112:6-8

The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Isaiah 32:17,18

How do we get to this place in our lives?

Let me give you an idea of what this looks like.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:1-5

So who’s the greatest. Kids are the greatest.

What does trust look like in the lives of your kids?

Sitting backwards in the station wagon.
Whenever we went on a trip I was usually one of two places. If it was a long trip I was sleeping on the floor, but if it was a short trip I was in the seat facing backwards. Have any of you ever sat in the back seat looking backwards. You had a totally different trip then everyone else in the car. You also had absolutely no idea where you were going. But really, that’s how I spent my life as a kid. I had no idea where I was going wherever we went. All I had to do was get in the car an it would magically show up where I wanted to go.

I taught my kids to drive. I did question if they would be good drivers. Two of them made it into the club. Hitting one of my cars against another one of my cars. What I worried most about is whether they would get where they needed to go. They had never driven so they never paid attention to directions.

When you are a kid you can just trust. You don’t have to worry about where you are going. You don’t have to worry about filling up with gas. Heck, if you play it right, when you get home you don’t have to worry about getting into bed. If you fall asleep in the car you’re parents will carry you. Quick question. Who here remembers faking like you were asleep just so your parents had to carry you to bed.

To reach the place of security we have to learn childlike trust

Jesus says trust me. Just like a little kid. If you want to feel secure, trust your life to me.
Don’t spend your life worrying about your work. Work hard, follow me and I’ll take care of the rest.
Don’t spend your life worrying about money. Trust me with your money. Use your money for my work. Be generous. I’ll take care of you.
Don’t spend your life trying to make everyone like you. Everyone will not like you. I love you. I believe in you.

Let me tell you something from 53 years of life. Not everyone will like you. We have this idea that if we do really well and are successful then people will respect us. Some people might. But I can promise you that if you are successful people will take shots at you. They will dislike you just because you are successful. Because your success makes them insecure.

You guys heard of Steph Curry. He’s the best basketball player on the best team. Maybe the best team in history. And he’s a great guy. He met his wife in his church youth group. His kids are awesome. Still there are people out there who are saying that Steph Curry is ruining basketball. I listen to talk radio and hear people bash him all the time.

This is life. You cannot find your security in people. No matter how great you are someone will think you’re weird. Someone will think your too loud or too quiet or too successful or too lazy. All you have to do is be who you are and someone will find something wrong with you.

To reach the place of security we have to learn childlike trust

What does that look like put into practice in everyday life?

I have to get to this place where I know “My dad’s got this.”