Failure: The Role Of The Weakest Link?

FAILURE --- THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL

OR THE THEORY OF THE WEAKEST LINK?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I HAVE A METAL CHAIN AND IN A HIDDEN PART OF THE CHAIN I HAVE A LINK MADE OF YARN, WE HAVE A PULLING CONTEST?

What happens? I expose the weakest link?

I take a guitar in tune.

There are 6 strings on the guitar. Each one has an assigned value, with C being 440 vibrations a second.

The strings values are --- 1. E, 2. B, 3. G, 4. D, 5. A, 6. E...

Let us know this is the standard, but now let us take the fourth string and tune in one step higher, so we will make it E, instead of D.

Now make your chords, how pretty will the chords sound?

Just one string’s value changed the whole value system?

TEXT:

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I

found none.

I. WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING THE KING? AS INDIVIDUALS AND COLLECTIVELY.

A. THE KING AND HIS LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE.

Years ago I heard one of the best illustrations to demonstrate the importance of an individual to the collective body and I have used it ten thousand times. This lesson is very important.

There was a King that really loved his people. He had been a fair and faithful King to his little nation. The people really loved the King and were thankful for a God given leader.

B. One day the King thought I would like to honor the people of this nation. So he decided to have the largest feast ever known. The King sent out invitations far and wide, ALL COME TO THE GREAT FEAST AS I THE KING DESIRE TO HONOR MY PEOPLE. I WILL PROVIDE EVERY THING, THE MEAT, THE VEGETABLES, THE BREADS, AND THE DESERTS, I WILL PROVIDE EVERYTHING AND HAVE ALL THINGS READY. ALL I ASK IS FOR THE PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR BEST BOTTLE OF WINE AND WE WILL POUR THE BOTTLE IN THE KING’S ROYAL VAT, AND WE WILL HAVE A TIME OF GATHERING TOGETHER AS I THE KING WILL HONOR MY PEOPLE.

C. The year had been bountiful, the grape harvest was the best ever. The people had a great surplus of wine. One of the King’s citizens thought about which bottle he might bring to the great feast. This little citizen thought about the great Royal Wine vat. He had seen it. The vat held over 5,000 gallons of wine.

D. The little citizen and his wife bought new clothes and shoes and prepared several days for the great feast. Everyone was so happy and full of joy for their King and the honor he would bestow on his people.

E. The little citizen finally decided on his bottle of wine, he had the most beautiful green glass bottle. The citizen polished the bottle and cleaned it, and he decided to pour water in his bottle. No one would notice, no one would know, he would save his wine for himself, and take a bottle of water in it’s place.

F. The little servant got in line and waited to climb the steps to the huge wine vat. He looked around and very carefully poured his bottle of water into the wine vat. No one would ever know, in 5,000 gallons of wine his bottle of water would not matter, so he quietly poured his green bottle of water into the huge vat. The little citizen stepped down and he and his wife were seated near the King.

G. The King and Queen came out and greeted the people. The King stepped to the little citizen and thanked him for the years of loyal service he had given the nation.

The man felt so humbled. He thought about his donation of the bottle of water, but the King will never know, no one will know.

H. The food was served --- the best prime beef, roast pork, lamb, goat, --- the King had spared nothing. The King called on his little citizen to ask God’s blessings on the people, the nation and the King. The little man arose and stepped forward to pray. He knew in his heart that he had not given his best, he had given water in his pretty green bottle. But the little man prayed a very sincere prayer before God and

His King. He felt bad, but no one would ever know he brought water.

I. A servant took the King and Queen’s Golden Chalices and stepped to the vat to draw wine for the King. The tap was opened and out of the vat poured crystal clear water.