When you have some left over roast beef, its okay for a snack, but what if you chopped it up and added it to a pot of seasoned boiled potatoes?  That would add value to the roast beef, but why not add some chopped onions and a can of chopped tomatoes?  Then, why not add some cooked carrots and some corn, a little beef broth, some salt and pepper, and simmer it for a while?  All those together would add even more value to the left over roast beef.  Then we would have a wonderful vegetable beef stew! 

            In the same way, all of us here have value, but I believe we can add value to one another.  And when Christ is involved in mixing us all together, our flavors will compliment each other!  The serving of the church is much better than cold roast beef!  We are the savory stew!

           Jesus told the story of the sower and the seed and described the value that was added when the Gospel takes root in fertile soil. 

Luke 8:4-5

5 "The sower went out to sow his seed …”
8 "Some seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great."

         The seed sown produced a vine that then produced a harvest!  The sower added value to soil.  Having Christ in our lives is the best value we can have added to our lives!  The difference before we came to Christ and the way we have lived since that time is a 100% improvement!  Jesus didn’t start with a good product and then make it better!  He started with dirt and made a bountiful crop!  He took the littleness of our lives and TRANSFORMED it into RIGHTEOUSNESS that pleases God!  Listen to the Apostle Paul’s description of us …

1 Cor 6:9-11

9 Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

            We were of little value before God added His value to us!  He washed us, sanctified us making us holy in His sight, and justified us by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!  We are not what we used to be!  But I want you to know that we are not all that we will be either.  There is more!

            After Christ has added value to our lives, then what do we do with that value? 

John 15:5

5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 

8 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 

            This passage of Scriptures has the ability to stress me.  As I read the words “produce fruit!” I feel the pressure of running out and doing something great for God!  But when I read it again I remember that fruit trees never get in a panic about producing fruit.  They just calmly dig their roots into the soil, draw out the nutrients which are needed, and they just naturally do what fruit trees do … they produce fruit!

           The natural result of being a Christian is that our lives are planted in Christ Jesus.  The longer we live with Him in our lives.  The more we take in the Word of God and the Spirit of God, the more Christ-like we become.  And being like Christ … we produce fruit!

            The most obvious fruit Jesus produced is described by Paul as the fruit of the Spirit. 

Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

           I don’t need to tell you that we live in a very selfish world.  The big story is always “what’s in it for me.”  To live a life that is contrary to the popular culture is to live a life that returns good for evil.  It’s a life lived with the power of Christ and loving deeds are return for those who mistreat you.  Being fruitful is being joyful when things are bleak.  Being fruitful is when you are at peace in the middle of chaos.  A fruitful person is patient in the middle of difficulties.  You give kind words for harsh ones, blessing instead of curses, and your life reflects the presence of Jesus Christ.

            You can only live a life like this if you are daily being filled with the Holy Spirit.  But this is when you begin to add value to the lives of other people!  Those who mistreat you and make life difficult for you are living miserable lives!  They don’t know how to live life to the fullest!  They need someone who will add value to their lives with a kind word, a loving deed, a joyful attitude, and patience!

            We can begin adding value to people of value right here in our own congregation!  This is the place to learn how to speak kind words to one another!  Why not find someone and give them a word of appreciation?  Tell someone that you can see Jesus in them!  Add value to one another!

          Christ added value to us and we add value to one another with our words and our deeds.  The churches of Macedonia added value to the ministry of Paul and the Church in Jerusalem by giving financially to them.

2 Cor 8

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
7 But as you abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us — see that you abound in this grace also.

            Christ added value to our lives by what He gave to us.  We add value to lives of people around us by giving encouragement to them.  We also add value to others by what we give to them financially.

            I attended the annual business meeting of our local Christian radio station.  In the report of radio ministries which are carried on their radio station, they shared that one California based radio preacher had commended them because our listening area was one of his best financial bases in America.  But when the local radio station gave its report they acknowledged that the expenses of the local radio station had exceeded their income this last year in the amount of $20,000.  The listening audience had added value to the radio preacher and not to the radio station … although it is the station that carries the program!

            I would like to encourage you to add value to local ministries!  Begin by supporting your local church, and then find some local ministries which are doing the work of God and support them, then step beyond and support national and international ministries.  Make a budget which will allow you a place for giving!  We are to abound in faith, encouraging words, and love … and we should add value to others too in our giving.

            Let Christ add value to you, and then you can add value to others!  Jesus said:

Acts 1:8

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

            The greatest value that we can add to someone else’s life is to lead them to the One who can transform their life and add His value to theirs!  The more we abide in Christ and are filled with His Spirit, the more fruit we produce in bringing others to Christ.  The overflow of a Spirit filled life is that they live like Christ and talk like Christ … they add value to others. 

            A church is like the stew I talked about earlier.  A cold left over piece of meat, a boiled potato, a can of tomatoes, eaten individually may not have much attraction, but properly mixed with some other veggies and some good seasonings will make a good hearty stew!  Our church has a lot to give to our community.  But we need the Holy Spirit to blend us in His pot, enrich our lives, season us with salt, and pour us out on a hungry world!

            Touching our world for Christ must be some intentionally.  We need to prepare our mind: what will we say?  We need prepare our heart: let Christ lead me to someone today!  We must prepare our time:  I will be available.

            Pray!  Abiding in Christ, having the fruit of the Spirit, having a spirit of abundance, being filled with the Spirit to overflowing, begins in prayer.  Begins … begins … in prayer.  Being filled with the Holy Spirit ends in ministry. 

             Purpose to add value to someone this week and more value will be added to you!