On Guard!

Stand & Read - Proverbs 4:20-27

?My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. [21] Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. [22] For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their whole body. [23] Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life. [24] Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put devious lips far from you. [25] Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. [26] Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. [27] Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.?

?On Guard!?

Prayer?

ILLUSTRATION:

A man was wandering about in a field one day?and as he went about?he was also looking around at the things near him?

He discovered many beautiful things?butterflies??pretty flowers?rolling hills?a breath-taking sky?and a shimmering, shinny thing off in the distance??

Well, he scurried ahead faster and faster hoping and praying that it was something good?something great that he could have?

As he got closer and closer the anticipation grew and grew within him, until he was finally there!

There it was?it was wonderful!!!

He found, somewhat buried but yet visible, jewels and pieces of gold and silver!!! It was amazing!

This is what we have all hoped and prayed for, isn?t it? FREE Money?treasure?to be found for our benefit and all our problems would disappear! And it happened for this guy! You could see the gleam in his eyes!

Well, what could he do?just take the goods and run! Or do the right thing? Surely he wrestled within himself, while rejoicing over his new find, what should I do??

I have got to be honest?but who would know?then, it hit him! He hurriedly buried the treasure completely so that others could not find it and he devised a plan?

I can sell everything that I have and buy this field from Mr. Spudnuckey?then I would own this treasure too! Plus, all that I have is not nearly worth what is here in the ground?that is what I?ll do!

And this is what the man does?he sells ALL that he has?buys that field from Mr. Spudnuckey?and becomes the rightful owner of this great treasure?a treasure worth more than all he had! Now, he is a truly ?Rich Man?! And he lives happily ever after!

The End! J

Well, I don?t know if the story went exactly like that, but it could have happened like that???

-However, this is what the Bible tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like?

Matthew 13:44

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.?

Of all the things in the world that you may acquire?SALVATION is the most valuable thing you can ever have!!!

Salvation is the greatest gift you will ever receive!!!

-In fact?it is so great! And so valuable?that it is worth giving up all that you have for it! Much like this man did in Matt. 13:44 for it.

-You may think that that is crazy?giving up all that you have to receive salvation?who would think that is a good idea???

-But we must remember one other verse?Matthew 16:24-26

?Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. [25] "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. [26] "For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul??

You see my friends?we can have it all!

-We can have the two cars?the perfect wife (but I have her, sorry!)?2.5 kids?the dog?the cat?a summer home?and a huge retirement fund?and yet be poor!

ILLUSTRATION:

They say??If you have a million dollars, you just have a million head-aches!?

And it is true?because you will have to find ways to keep that money!

You will find that you have more friends than you have ever had when you are rich, because they want a piece of the pie!

-You can possess all the items that today?s society tells us is important, and still be without the most important thing?

Still at a loss?still with a void?and still going nowhere!

You see?the Bible tells us that the greatest thing you can ever possess is something that you cannot buy?

ILLUSTRATION:

They say that, ?The best things in life are free.?