Sermon Illustrations

What Will You Give Up To Win?

Two paddleboats were leaving Memphis at about the same time. They were traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one boat made a comment about the slow pace of the other boat. Words were exchanged, challenges were made. And the race was on.

The competition was fierce. One of the boats began to fall behind because they didn’t have enough fuel. There was plenty of coal for the trip, but not for a race. As the boat continued to drop back a quick-witted sailor took some of the ship’s cargo and tossed it into the ovens. The sailors saw that the supplies burned as good as coal so they fueled their boat with the supplies they had been assigned to transport. They won the race, but burned their cargo.

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