Make A Buck? Or Make A Difference!

MAKING A BUCK? VS MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

WHAT HAVE I REAPED? WHAT HAVE I SOWN TODAY?

WHO HAVE I BLESSED TODAY?

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

This is a two part lesson.

Never forget: Often hurting people will hurt others!

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

I. HAVE I LEARNED THE LESSON ABOUT WATERING?

A. Seems the pig was talking to the cow.

The pig said, "Every one seems to like you cow? And a pig has a bad name.

People say cows have pretty eyes and a kind nature, but all they want to talk

about us pigs is how dirty and how bad we stink?"

The cow said, " Humans love us cows, because we give. We give them milk

that is very good for them, and we also give them cream and butter!"

"So what!" said the pig. "We give ham, bacon, we even give our ears!

And besides all of that humans, like our feet to pickle! I don’t know why humans

love cows more than us pigs?"

The cow softly answered: "MR. PIG, WE GIVE WHILE WE ARE STILL LIVING!"

Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

B. YOU ARE CREATED TO ENCOURAGE AND BLESS AND COMPLIMENT.

Have I brought healing to the sick?

Have I given hope to a hopeless person?

C. Ever think about your METE SYSTEM? Maybe we should call it our VALUE SYSTEM?

How will I allocate, share, distribute, ration, or measure out to others?

D. WILL WE KNOW A GOOD MEASURE?

DO WE UNDERSTAND BEYOND MEASURE?

Matthew 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Mark 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

II. THERE IS MORE THAN WHAT ARE WE REAPING?

THE REAL QUESTION MUST BE --- WHAT AM I SOWING?

WILL I GLADLY SOW MORE SO THERE WILL BE A GREATER REAPING?

A. ACTS CHAPTER 5 HAS A SAD STORY ABOUT GIVING?

There was a precious couple in the church, Ananias was the husband, and Sapphira was the wife.

B. THEIR GIVING WAS VOLUNTARY, there was no requirement extended to them ABOUT THEIR GIVING.

C. They got to thinking about their gift and decided maybe they were giving TOO MUCH.

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou

hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

D. THE LESSON OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA IS NOT JUST ABOUT GIVING BUT THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD GIVING!

E. TWO BASIC MIND SETS OR ATTITUDES OF LIFE ARE EASY TO INDENTIFY:

1. WILL I BE A GIVER?

When I was a boy we raised a huge garden.

After the harvest some seeds were placed in a half gallon jar and the lid was secured. This jar was not for eating or canning, this jar was filled with seed

for next year. This was going to be next years garden.

There is a real lesson here: DON’T EAT THE SEED CORN!

A godly giver knows I need to plant more seeds today than I shall reap!

2. There is a shallow attitude: WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF THIS FOR ME? WILL I BE A TAKER?

Today many people have no fear or no respect for what is best for the whole?

What is the benefit in this for me?

III. GOD IS A GIVER! AND GOD’S SPIRIT WILL CREATE AND LOVER GIVERS! THERE IS A DEEPER AND NEW LEVEL OF GOD’S JOY --- THOSE THAT LOVE TO GIVE.

A. If we come seeking God’s blessings, favor, peace and joy --- we have to develop GOD’S ATTITUDE --- THERE IS MORE than forced giving!

B. More is attained by letting go of those things we love.

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he

said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

1 Cor. 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.