SHINE YOUR LIGHT!
Matthew
5:14-16
8-Year-Old
Pays Off Classmates' School Lunch Debt by Selling Keychains!
Keoni
Ching is like many boys his age. He likes creating things and helping people.
But during a school event, he combined those likes to make a big difference at
his school.
He
was inspired by NFL cornerback Richard Sherman, who recently donated over
$27,000 to help pay off student lunch debts in Santa Clara. Ching wanted to
help erase student lunch debts at this school. So, by selling handmade keychain
bracelets for $5 each, he raised over $4,000–enough to pay for the lunch debts
at his school and six other area schools.
Ching
came up with the idea as part of the school's "Kindness Week," and
said he selected key chains because "I love key chains. They look good on
my backpack." With the help of his parents and grandparents, he sold over
300.
His
mother, April Ching, said, "We have sent key chains to Alaska, Rhode
Island, Minnesota, Arizona, all over the country. There was one lady who said
she wanted $100 worth of keychains so she could hand them out to people. … several
people bought one key chain and gave (Keoni) a hundred bucks. It was absolutely
amazing how much support the community showed for his whole project."[1]
What
an inspiring story of a young boy who used God-given gifts to help pay his
fellow students' lunch debts. A typical eight-year-old can be very selfish and
self-focused, but Ching thought of those who couldn't pay their lunch debts. I
am sure what this boy did was an honorable act in God's eyes. Similarly, God
gives each of us certain gifts and opportunities to use them to bless others in
need. When we help those in need, we are seeking the Shalom of our communities,
towns, and cities. It's also part of the redemptive cycle of helping those
enslaved by the debt of sin through Jesus' free gift of salvation. How are you
using your gifts?
Jesus,
in His teachings on the Sermon on the Mount, commands His followers to excel in
good works because they have experienced God's redemptive work in their lives.
To emphasize this, He uses the metaphor of Light. I titled this message, SHINE
YOUR LIGHT! Matt 5:14-16.
Matthew
5:14-16, "You are the Light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be
hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they
put it on its stand, and it gives Light to everyone in the house. In the same
way, let your Light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and
glorify your Father in heaven."
Here's
another powerful statement from our Lord, directed at His humble, simple
followers. By calling them "You are the Light of the World," Jesus elevated
their status in society and expanded their role as bearers of God's Light
within them. To understand the significance of this task, we must understand the
kind of world we live in and how we can enlighten it.
I.
The Spiritually Darkened State of The World
Michael Youssef quotes from Robert Browning's 1841
poetic works, "God is in his heaven—All's right with the world!" The
truth of the matter is that God is indeed in heaven, has absolute control, and nothing
that happens surprises Him. But the second part of the sentence, All's right
with the world—nothing could be further from the truth.
As we observe the world news, follow
the strange patterns of the climate, endure relentless wars, hunger, and
famine, or feel the recent Canadian smoke that filled our skies, it wouldn't
take much to conclude that nothing seems right in the world, and things are
only getting worse. The world we live in is as spiritually darkened, or
becoming even darker, than when Jesus walked on this earth for the first time.
This was what Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah's coming.
Matthew
4:16, "The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those
living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." The context
was that, after overcoming the devil's temptations, they set out to deliver
people from the grip of the devil, who had darkened the souls of humanity.
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is
the image of God." II Corinthians 4:4. People's hearts that are darkened
can not see and understand the glory of God.
During
our hikes, whenever Wilma and I see the sun's rays reflecting on the water or
shining through the trees, we pause and say to each other, "See, God's
glory!" In fact, God's glory would be a thousand times brighter if only we
could see and endure God's presence. As the scripture says, the heavens declare
the glory of God; if we can pause to see His glory. Jesus didn't come to point
people to a light but to draw them to Him, who is Himself the Light of the
world.
II.
Jesus Is The Light Of the World
During Jesus' time, many false and counterfeit lights
existed, disguised as false deities and prophets who claimed to know and
possess the Light. This was how the Apostle Paul describes them, II Corinthians
11:14-15, "For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers,
masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of Light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants
also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their
actions deserve." This was how John described Jesus.
"The
true Light that gives Light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in
the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not
recognize him." He came to that which was his own, but his own did not
receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believe in his name,
he gave them the right to become children of God." In one way, Jesus
enlightened those who believed in Him." John 1:9-12
Later
on, Jesus made this unique and bold proclamation, "I am the Light of the
world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light
of life." John 8:12. When we follow Him, we are assured of salvation and will
never walk in darkness. Jesus' concern didn't end with saving a few people; He
wanted to save the entire world. How would He do that? By empowering those who
were enlightened, He looked at His followers and said emphatically, "You
are the Light of the world." John 5:14. All those whom Jesus enlightened
must not hide it under a bushel or keep the Light to themselves, but shine their
Light outward.
III. Shine
Your Light
"You
are the Light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it
under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives Light to everyone
in the house. In the same way, let your Light shine
before others, that they may see your good deeds and
glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus
used two metaphors: "a town on a hill and a lamp on a stand," to
explain how his followers are to live in this world. Just as a city on a hill
cannot be hidden, so are the Christians; they are visible, and their lives are
observed for what they do and do not do. Therefore, through our godly behavior,
we can draw people to Christ, or through our ungodly lifestyle, we may turn
others away. How are we living our lives out in the world?
Another
metaphor was the house lamp. You don't realize how essential a house lamp is
until you're in complete darkness. Before electricity, lamps were vital household
tools. At night, people would light a lamp to brighten their homes. Growing up,
my job was to make sure this lantern was lit every day before sunset. I ensured
this small lamp shone each night brightly.
Jesus uses the metaphor
of a lamp to highlight the important role of Christians in illuminating a world
full of spiritual darkness. The primary purpose of Light is to expose and expel
darkness. Similarly, we Christians expel the lies and deception of Satan in the
lives of people by leading them to Jesus, the Truth. How do we spiritually
brighten people's lives?
Not primarily through
proclamations, protests, and debates, but as Jesus demonstrated—by letting our
good works shine among people—so that when they see them, they might glorify
the Father. In church history, we have examples, such as William Carey, George
Müller, Hudson Taylor, and Mother Teresa, among others, who illuminated their
faith through good deeds. Now it is our turn, as people of the Light; let us go
out and let our Light shine brightly.
[1] Alicia
Lee, “An 8-year-old boy paid off the lunch debt for his entire school by
selling key chains,” CNN The Good Stuff (2-4-20) 7-15-2026
