How To Turn The "Same Old, Same Old" Into Something Special: Monotony Series

How to turn the “Same Old Same Old” into something special. : Growth through Monotony

Proverbs 31:10-31

Introduction:

Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) first suggested the national observance of an annual day honoring all mothers because she had loved her own mother so

dearly. At a memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, Miss Jarvis gave a carnation (her mother’s favorite flower) to each person who attended.

Within the next few years, the idea of a day to honor mothers gained popularity, and Mother’s Day was observed in a number of large cities in the

U.S. On May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. He established the day as a time for "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country." By then it had become customary to wear white carnations to honor departed mothers and red to honor the living, a custom that continues to this day.

Elaberate on motherhood often becoming a monotony.

How can we turn the same old same old into something special?

I. Maintain your own integrity. (v. 11-12, 17,19)

A. Monotony will lead to a spiritual breakdown.

1. The 50’s wife and “The Milkman,” or “The

Butcher,”

2. Adulterous affairs with these men became a

common joke.

B. However, her husband “has confidence in

her”, “trusts her,” (NAS)

C. Pursue purity

1. For the sake of those you influence.

1 When Robert Ingersoll, the notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students went to hear him lecture. As they walked down the street after the

lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t the?” The other said, “No, I don’t think he did. Ingersoll did not explain my mother’s life, and until he can explain my mother’s life I will stand by my mother’s God.”

James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited, Tyndale, 1972, p. 381

2. For the sake of your relationship with Jesus.

II. Search for quality for your life.

A. Monotony will devalue your life. (v. 13-14, 22)

1. Selects wool and flax.

2. Clothed in fine linen and purple.

B. Isn’t quality expensive?

1. She did spend money. Purple (v.22) Scarlet

(v.21)

2. Did not buy the expensive linen, she made it.

a. Her options were goatskin and sheepskin

clothes.

b. You don’t have to make your own clothes.

c. You don’t always have to settle for the

goatskins of your lives when with a little

extra effort you can have the fine linens.

3. “She is like the merchant ships,”

a. Three Hebrew words are used to

form “merchant.”

b. They all mean to go about or explore.

c. She was looking for the best buys and

highest quality.

C. How can I make my life better?

D. Jesus does call us to humility.

1. Humility doesn’t mean life has to be drab and

boring.

2. Ephesians 2:10

-workmanship = poe-ai-ma = work of art.

III. Find the value in giving of yourself.

A. Monotony will draw you inward. (v. 15, 20)

B. Compare Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee.

If you compare the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee, you will surely see great differences. The Dead Sea is so full of minerals and deposits all life is completely snuffed out. No fish, plants or anything else. However, the Sea of Galilee is thriving with life. What is the difference? There are many channels of water feeding into the Dead Sea, yet there is no channels funneling out. It keeps it all to itself. Yet, the Sea of Galilee is not only recieving water from rivers and creeks, it is also flowing water out to other places. There is life and activity in the Sea of Galilee because as it takes in blessings it also gives away.

C. Following the example of Jesus.

- I Peter 3:18 “For Christ died for sins once

for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to

bring you to God.”

IV. Seek out your own endeavors.

A. Monotony needs to have a break. (v. 16, 24, 18)

1. Have something you spend your time on.

- Hobby, craft, escape.

2. Have something to where you will be able to

hop off of the “hamsters wheel.”

B. Isn’t she doing this to give to the family?

1. Is she working to make ends meet? No.

2. Is she giving the money to the family? Maybe.

3. Husband is well off. (v. 23)

4. The family has quality possessions.

(v.13-14,22)

C. This vineyard is for her.

1. My Mom gave her life to her family. When my Dad passed, she recieved his life insurance and it was the first time she had something that was all her own.