Edit — Playing the Second Fiddle

Title:

Slug:

Content type: Sermon Poem / Prayer Service / Tribute Incomplete Biography

Body: One of the first conductors born and educated in the United States to receive worldwide acclaim was Leonard Bernstein. He directed the New York Philharmonic, conducted concerts by some of the world's leading orchestras, wrote symphonies, and music for Broadway hits such as West Side Story and Candide. His obituary in The New York Times (October 15, 1990) called him "one of the most... talented and successful musicians in American history." Bernstein once was asked which instrument was the most difficult to play. He said, "The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm--that's a problem." Or as Harry Truman said, "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." Paul says in Philippians 2.3: "Count others more significant than yourselves." (From a sermon by Glenn Durham, Help! I Don't Want to be Humble, 6/29/2010) "The hardest instrument to play is second fiddle.” So goes the old saying. This sermon discusses the tendency of human nature to strive to be number 1. Satan sought to replace God while Jesus sought to perfectly perfect His Father’s will. God has called us to follow Christ and find happiness in a subservient role of serving, assisting and helping. One day there was a young boy practicing his fiddle. He dismally scraped back and forth across the instrument, while his dog set up howling and wailing. Finally, his sister stuck her head in his room and said, “Can’t you play something the dog doesn’t know?” Most vice-presidents dream of becoming president, the back-up quarterback awaits his chance to be number one and most theatrical understudies want to be the star. The phrase, “second fiddle” comes from the practice of having the best player of each instrument sit in the first chair position, while the second best player sits in the second chair position and plays the second fiddle part. A lot of people have a real hard time playing second fiddle to someone else’s first fiddle. SECOND FIDDLES ARE A FACT OF LIFE. In high school, since my sister was older – and smarter – than I was, I was first known as ‘Susan’s brother.’ I played baseball, only I was “second fiddle” to the coach’s son. And so it goes. Most of you have similar experiences you could share. And being second fiddle all the time IT’S EASY TO GET A COMPLEX, to feel less important, to stop trying so hard. After all, to amount to anything we’re supposed to be #1, aren’t we? Let’s face it - how long are the 2nd place finishers, the runners-up remembered? If you’ve ever been there, take heart – the Bible has not forgotten us! Consider the second fiddle of THE DISCIPLES, ANDREW. He was equal in rank to the 11 other disciples. Yet the best known fact about him is that he was Simon Peter’s brother. Even if he’s doing something distinctive or outstanding, the Gospel writers introduce him as Simon Peter’s brother. The Bible dictionaries and commentaries say very little about him. Luke never mentions his name. Brother Peter, who denied knowing Jesus, is even mentioned first in the list of the disciples. Peter, James, and John were invited to the Transfiguration – not Andrew. Peter, James, and John were invited to the inner circle when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane – not Andrew. When Jesus went to raise the ruler Jairus’ daughter from death he took – you guessed it – Peter, James, and John – not Andrew. I wonder if Andrew ever thought, “What’s a guy have to do to get some recognition around here?” I don’t know if Andrew ever thought it, but I know many Christians have. But Andrew understood his life – his story – had its own purpose, an important one. He knew that SECOND FIDDLES ARE A FORCE IN LIFE. What would an orchestra of only first chairs sound like? There would be little harmony. First chairs can’t play all the notes and cover all the music. Someone needs to provide the harmony that makes the composition glorious. In life, as in an orchestra, IT IS SECOND FIDDLES THAT BRING COMPLETENESS. In the history of Christianity we need John Calvin, Martin Luther, Billy Graham, David Jeremiah, Rick Warren and so many other first chairs. But they can’t do it all – they can’t reach all. Someone must minister to those they reach and someone must reach those they cannot reach. In Paul’s terminology, a body can’t be all heads, or all mouths; bodies must have brains, hands, legs, and feet to be complete. Andrew had his own experiences, his own stories; and he understood that his stories needed to be told. So he committed his life to sharing. Let’s follow Andrew after he hooked up with Jesus. John (1:40-42) “Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.” This was Andrew’s first experience with Jesus. Because of the faithfulness of John the Baptist, who predicted the coming of the one greater than himself, Andrew immediately tuned into a new frequency and BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST FOLLOWERS OF JESUS. Can you imagine the excitement of that? Finally, the one whom John the Baptist had predicted, the great Messiah, had arrived – and Andrew had the opportunity to learn from and follow him. It was the greatest moment in Andrew’s life. Wrapped up in the moment, in the excitement, it would be so easy to become self-absorbed. But notice the first thing he did as a follower of Jesus: “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).” The moment Andrew met Jesus he invited his brother. Where would Peter have been without Andrew? Second fiddles usually have contacts that first chairs do not! Andrew was so convinced of the reality and truth of Jesus, and so loved his brother, that he had to let Peter in on the experience. We move next to John 6. I am sure you remember the scene. Jesus had been teaching a crowd of thousands. Verses (5-9): “When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, (note that even though he’s the one who brought Peter to Jesus he’s known as Peter’s brother) spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Andrew ushered the boy into Christ’s presence. Always among the people, Andrew, sought out someone to bring to Jesus. And you know what happened next: with the 5 loaves and two fish Jesus fed the crowds with twelve baskets left over. What would have happened to the crowd without Andrew? Let’s check in on Andrew in John 12:20-23: “Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, is the one who leads the charge to Jesus so the Greeks can meet him – he ushers even the Greeks into the presence of Christ. And when that happened Jesus knew it was time to focus on the cross. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, the second fiddle, was the first missionary and evangelist. ANDREW BECAME AN INVITER WHO USHERED OTHERS INTO THE TRANSFORMING PRESENCE OF JESUS. Always in the background and the shadow, but always there – inviting others. His one desire was to share the glory of Christ by escorting others into His presence. There is no greater service to Christ and the church than to invite others into the presence of Jesus. It’s the first instinct of a new-born life. Most, if not all of us here today are second fiddles. And that’s a good thing! We just need to be sure we understand SECOND FIDDLES HAVE A FOCUS IN LIFE. The late Evangelist Vance Havner once said, ‘Evangelism is to Christianity what veins are to our bodies. You can cut Christianity anywhere and it’ll bleed evangelism. Evangelism is vascular, it’s our business.” If you have met Jesus, you have a reason to invite others, TO USHER OTHERS INTO THE PRESENCE OF JESUS. Think about an usher – the usher invites, leads, and guides people to their proper destination. There was once an old deacon who used to lead a weekly prayer meeting. His favorite phrase was, “O Lord, touch the unsaved with thy finger.” One night, however, he paused after saying it and heard a voice say, “Thou art the finger!” It doesn’t matter if we’re second, third, or fourth fiddle – we have notes to play, songs to sing, stories to tell, people to usher, lives to touch. We must be busy at it. Like Andrew who ran to get Peter, we have FAMILY MEMBERS OR ASSOCIATES OR FRIENDS who need to be ushered into the presence of Jesus. Like Andrew, there are people around us just waiting for the blessing and love of Jesus. Like Andrew, there are PEOPLE around you searching for Jesus, waiting to be invited. Remember, under Christ’s influence lives are transformed. And I remind you that GOD WILL NEVER ASK US TO DO ANYTHING FOR WHICH HE WILL NOT ALSO EQUIP US. He has already given us his power. (Eph. 3:20) “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” We are never alone when we share or invite. (Mt. 28:18-20) “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” So WHY ARE WE SO SHY when it comes to inviting and ushering others into the presence of Jesus? Why is it we are so hesitant to share our stories? Listen to Paul’s motivation for sharing and inviting (1 Thess. 2:8): “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” COULD IT BE THAT WE LACK THE LOVE OF CHRIST? Early this week we learned that our grandson’s grandfather was told that he had only a short time to live. Rhonda and myself took Aiden to see CH,(probably for the last time on this earth). God was speaking to me, telling me, John you may be his last chance to hear what I have to offer. And it was my responsibility to introduce him to my Savior. This man may have been a Christian – but then again, maybe not. We really do hold in our voices the power of life and death, for the gospel we share is “…the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…” And “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Unless someone tells them - unless someone loves them enough to tell them; unless some second fiddle plays his notes the music of grace will not be heard. Thank God, Jesus loved us enough to pay it all. Thank God Jesus played His notes in the love song of life. Thank God we have heard the music of grace. May we hear it again as we share Jesus. Second fiddles – let’s move and boldly play our notes. We may never really know how our roll of playing second fiddle might actually be the support that someone needs…the assurance that someone longs for. If we are to successfully learn to play second fiddle, we must be willing to lose ourselves in the task. We must be willing to accept our responsibilities and fulfill them to the best of our ability. Finally, as we learn to play second fiddle, we must “Trust”…we must trust in God to lead us…to get us through the tough times…to help us keep our eyes on the goal and purpose that we have found for our lives. When we understand God’s plan, we can accept the role of playing second fiddle…or third or last…or maybe even first fiddle. You find that you are able to be responsible to God in the place he has put you and that you can be effective in doing the task appropriate to that opportunity. We’ve all known people who were great ‘second fiddle’ players. Those are the ones who become etched in our memories…those are the ones who lead us…help us…console us with their life’s example. None of us are great or small in the service of our Lord; He is concerned only about our faithfulness to the work He gives us. If you want to be great in God’s Kingdom, you must learn to be a servant. In Mark, chapter 10, verse 44, it says: “and whoever wants to be first, must be slave of all” “Second Fiddle” is important to God. By God’s Grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can play second fiddle and harmonize with the whole orchestra. We can support and proclaim, in our own way, the one who should come first. Then the entire world can know that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who has also come to be a Servant to scrub and clean the world of its dark sins. It takes quite a person to play second fiddle…he must know himself, he must be willing to lose himself in his task and he must trust in Jesus…he must be willing to be a servant…a slave of all… …Just like Jesus! Amen

Sermon date:

Author:

Location:

Status: Published Draft Needs Review Confirmed Duplicate

Topics:

Scripture: