Be Content: Sermon for the Funeral of Howard Everett
"Be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).
Jo, Cindy, Steve, Tim, other
family members and friends of Howard, members of Trinity congregation:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ!
Reading his obituary, I
learned a few things about Howard. I guess that’s to be expected. I’ve only been
his pastor for a little over six years, so there were more than 80 of his more active
years to catch up on. Except for a few stories that would slip out once in a while,
I didn’t know the younger, more adventurous man who played football, broke horses,
or rode motorcycles. Or the dashing young biker who swept Jo off her feet. The builder
who could accurately tell you a board was 6 and 7/8 inches wide just by looking
at it. The boss who would walk the rafters and go up in the bucket to shingle
the steeple. The father who made sure his children grew up in the fear and admonition
of the Lord. I just got to know Howard when he was nearing the end of building
churches and then beginning his “retirement.” Who remained so active in the
church and community until declining health prevented him from doing many of
the things that he loved. But even then, I could see that his priorities remained
the same—his Christian faith and his family.
Weekly, Howard sat here
with Jo and whatever family was around. Here he confessed his sins and received
Christ’s absolution. Here, he heard the Lord’s Word of Law and Gospel. Here, he
regularly received Christ’s true body and blood for the forgiveness of his sins
and the strengthening of His faith. Here, Howard received a foretaste of the eternal
marriage feast of the Lamb. In between times, there were the daily devotions from
Portals of Prayer, copies of the sermons to read and listen to, recordings
of the services on Main Street Living. Living in the faith and Word that
had been given to him so many years ago.
Howard Fred Everett was
adopted into the family of God through Holy Baptism on June 3, 1934. In Holy
Baptism, the almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ gave Howard the
new birth of water and the Spirit. Howard received the robe of Christ’s
righteousness that covered all his sin. So shall he stand without fear before
the judgment seat of Christ to receive the inheritance prepared for him from
the foundation of the world.
On May 16, 1948, Howard
publicly acknowledged the gifts given him in his Baptism in the Rite of
Confirmation. He promised to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord’s Supper
faithfully. He promised to live according to the Word of God, and in faith,
word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He promised
to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death,
rather than fall away from it.
The hymn we just sang
was written by Rev. Walter Lieber for Howard’s confirmation class. It asks God’s
blessing on the new confirmands, reminds them to depend on God’s grace in hard
times and to thank the Lord for His blessings. Howard’s confirmation verse is
Hebrews 13:5: “Be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, ‘I
will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’” (KJV).
I don’t know who picked
that verse—whether it was Pastor Lieber or Howard himself—but it would be hard for
me to find a more fitting verse! For Howard, at least as I have come to know
him, was a content man. And given how energetic, adventurous, and ambitious he
was, that makes it even more remarkable. Such personalities can easily fall
into discontent as they look for the next challenge, the newest adventure that
awaits them. They can quickly lose track of all the good things God has already
given them. It’s easy to get caught in wanderlust, instead of being lost in the
wonder of God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Savior. Howard remained content. He
remembered the Lord’s promise to never leave or forsake him.
God’s message to you
this morning deals with such contentment in life. I invite you to listen to the
words of Philippians 4:10-13:
“I rejoiced in the Lord
greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were
indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of
being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I
know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every
circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance
and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
It is a characteristic
of people to seek contentment—to be pleased, satisfied, and happy with our
lives. We spend a great deal of time and money and energy seeking contentment.
Occasionally and for brief periods of time, we might even achieve a bit of contentment.
A couple works hard to raise their children, give them an education, send them
out into the world, and save enough money to retire. But very quickly we
realize that contentment gained through money, security, and the good life do
not prevent sickness or tragedy from entering our little worlds. In such cases,
contentment turns quickly into confusion and restlessness. And so, we ask
ourselves, “Where can I find contentment? Is there such a thing as being
content which applies to this life and beyond?”
St. Paul wrote to his
beloved Christian friends: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be
content” (Philippians 4:11). Here was a man who had been imprisoned for his
faith, felt the 39 lashes of the whip on his back on five occasions, beaten
with a rod three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, threatened by
Jews and Gentiles, endangered by rivers and robbers, and adrift at sea for a
night and a day. In addition to that, he lived with the fact that he was
personally responsible for the imprisonments and probably the deaths of many
people in the Christian Church that he had persecuted before his conversion.
How in the world could he say: “I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be
content”!?
In Howard’s life, there
had been some tremendous disappointments and tragedies—those of family and those
experienced by Howard personally. A little over three years ago he was
diagnosed with lung cancer, and he suffered the effects of a round of
treatments. In the past six months, it seems like it was just one thing after
the other. Howard remained content.
Where in the world can
one find such contentment? Certainly, and especially at times like this, you
recognize it is not in money, pleasure, material possessions, family, people,
or any other thing in this world. For these all soon vanish. It is not to be found
in oneself—for inside here we find a guilty conscience that will not let us
rest, a mind that is not always wise, a body that is getting sick and old, nor
even in the future for none of us know how much of a future we have left in
this world. Let’s face it people, such thoughts do not make us very content!
Where can we find
contentment? It can be found only where St. Paul and Howard found it—in the
person and work of Jesus Christ. God, in His grace, looked upon mankind’s
hopelessness and eternal destruction and intervened. The perfect Son of God was
incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary and lived to die on the
cross that you and I might be content knowing that our sins have been forgiven
for His sake, that His death means life for us, and that all of God’s wrath was
taken by Christ on the cross that we would be totally and completely acceptable
to the Almighty.
The Resurrection of
Christ gives us the guarantee that death is not the end—and this is not the end
of life, but rather the beginning of what real life—the life that God wants for
you—is all about! This is what St. Paul believed and he was (and is) content.
This is what Howard believed and he was (and is) content.
Now this Gospel—this
Good News is something that can make you content as well and it doesn’t matter
what your past has been like, it doesn’t matter what is in store for you
tomorrow, it doesn’t matter about your physical condition—sickness or health,
rich or poor, old or young, man or woman. Christ died and rose for you in order
that you might be an heir of heaven.
St. Paul wrote: “I know
how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance,
I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I
can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12-13). When
you believe and trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you can face any
situation, any tragedy, any loss of a family member, any thing, because you end
up a winner no matter what happens.
Earlier in his letter
Paul wrote: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live
in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I
cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be
with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more
necessary on your account” (Philippians 1:21–24). That is contentment!
We know that Howard
knew how to be content. We also know that now he is perfectly content. For
where he is there is no sorrow, no tears, no hunger, no thirst, no pain, no
suffering, no consequences of sin for he is with the Lord.
And remember, that
though you are separated from Howard now for a short time, you need never be
separated from the Lord. The God who gives contentment and comfort has promised:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Even as you mourn Howard’s death, may
you continue to find comfort and hope in the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ until the day you are reunited with Howard to be in the presence of our
Lord forever. Amen
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture
quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
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