Don't Settle For The Crumbs

DON'T SETTLE FOR THE CRUMBS

Matthew 16:26-28 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Introduction: If we could only see clearly this morning how we as individuals and as a church are settling for the crumbs spiritually when we could have the full steak dinner with a baked potato, bread and desert.

I. CRUMBS ARE:

A. Least Desirable

B. What is left over

C. Nothing compared to what God has for those who are faithful

D. No one goes to a restraint and orders crumbs

II. WHY SETTLE FOR THE CRUMBS THEN?

Proverbs 8:32-36 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

A. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

B. Blessings below come from above! Remember That!

C. Blessing come when we do it God's Way! Not Man's Way!

Isaiah 58:8,9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

III. IT'S THE PREACHERS AND THE CHURCH'S JOB TO TEACH GOD'S WAYS AND GOD'S ORDER FROM GOD'S WORD

A. Put God First

B. Believe God and His Word

C. Accept God's Ways, Not Man's

D. Accept God's Order

IV. GO FOR THE STEAK, GOLD, BEST!

A. Obey God's Word

B. Honor God and He will Honor You

C. Put God First - In that order

D. Stand for God and His Ways

Conclusion: When you agree with God you cannot go wrong.

Illustration: Abraham Lincoln said that "We have forgotten the gracious Hand which has preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own." Have you forgotten?