COMMON SENSE "AIN'T TOO COMMON?"
By Wade Martin Hughes,Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
COMMON SENSE? HAVE YOU EVER NOTICE TODAY COMMON SENSE
"AIN'T TOO COMMON?"
Common sense: the ability to think and behave in a reasonable way and to make good
decisions. Sound, prudent judgment based on simple perception of the facts or situations.
Level headed: You know how in Kentucky we know if a person is level headed?
They have ambeer (tobacco spit) coming out of both sides of their mouth.
You may buy a diploma and a great education ---
BUT ALL WISDOM BEGINS AND ENDS WITH GOD...
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy
is understanding.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
One of the best ways to counter a foolish argument is to stay silent.
Sometimes wisdom and courage is to LISTEN CLOSELY.
KNOWLEDGE CAN BE MEMORIZED, WISDOM REQUIRES THINKING THROUGH...
THE CONSEQUENCES.
HOW MANY REMEMBER WHEN CRACKER JACKS OR CEREAL
HAD A PRIZE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PACKAGE?
WE WERE SO EXCITE TO GET A NEW BOX OF CEREAL FOR THERE WAS A PRIZE
IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX.
Mom would make us wait until we got to the bottom to get the prize.
We did not want to wait, we would sneak into the kitchen and dig to the bottom of the
package to get out the PRIZE. Mom would get mad at us and smack our hands. We were
not allowed to dig through the food to get the prize.
WE WOULD HAVE TO EAT THE CEREAL AND WHOEVER GOT TO THE BOTTOM
FIRST WOULD CHERISH THE PRIZE.
TODAY'S WISDOM?
I PONDER: WHY DIDN'T WE TURN THE BOX UPSIDE DOWN AND OPEN IT?
FEW EVER COME TO THE BOTTOM LINE... THE CONCLUSION?
REAL COMMON SENCE COMES BY DIGGING AND SIFTING THROUGH ALL THE
STUPIDITY.
Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather
to be chosen than silver!
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I GUESS WE WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND? DON'T MISS IT. SADDLE UP?
A read where a young man had been laying around doing nothing. When an old man came up
to him with a STRONG and very fast horse all saddled up and ready to go. The horse was equipped
with some very large bags to carry their loads.
The old man gave orders to the young man. Ride as fast and as hard as you can and you
will find a huge flowing river. When you get to the river dismount and pick up the rocks and place
them in the provided bags.You have to be back here before day light.
So the young man rode the horse and just as the old man had told him, he came to the
river. In the darkness, he jumped down off the horse and grabbed two hands full of the rocks
and placed them in one of the bags.
Then he jumped back on the horse and rode back. The sun was coming up and it was
a beautiful day. The old man was waiting on the porch as the young man rode up. The old
man said: DID YOU DO AS I COMMANNDED YOU?
The young man said: YES, SIR! I FOUND THE RIVER, I PICKED UP TWO HANDS FULL
OF THE SMALL ROCKS AND PLACED THEM IN THE VERY LARGE SADDLE BAGS. I have
returned and was here before the sun was up.
In the brightness of the sun the young man was told, bring what you picked up out
of the river. The young man emptied one of the large saddle bags and out fell two hands full
of diamonds, pearls, rubies, jasper and very expensive, rare jewels. The young man could not
tell what he was picking up in the darkness of the night. He thought he was picking up common
rocks? SO WHY WASTE HIS TIME AND EFFORT ON JUNK?
The old man looked up at the young many. Tears were flowing like a river. The young man
had wasted his time, talent and ability --- The potential was so great. The young man settled for
very little when HE COULD HAVE HAVE HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF RARE JEWELS.
You are the young man. WE HAVE RARE TREASURES ALL AROUND US. WE PUT SO
LITTLE EFFORT INTO DAILY LIFE. WE TEND TO BE SATISIFIED WITH TWO HANDS FULL.
WHEN WE KNOW GOD'S PLAN HAS SO MUCH MORE IN STORE.
LIFE IS TOO VALUABLE, WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IS NOT EASILY FOUND.
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take
thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall
be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that
layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
PEOPLE NEED TO COME TO THE COMMON SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING. WILL WE TRY
TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE EVEN WHEN WE KNOW WE ARE RIGHT?
Very rarely will man find beautiful cut diamonds, gold and silver laying on top of the ground.
Precious and rare wisdom and beauty are not found easily. WE MUST DIG DEEP...
Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
THERE ARE MORE THAN CRUMBS IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE...
COULD WE LIVE THINKING SPIRITUAL POVERTY IS MY LOT?
FIND THE HIDDEN TREASURE?
My opinion is that we need to be content, yet we should never be satisfied with our lot
in life. Surely, we realize God has more! If God has more, do I desire more?
Matthew 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
masters' table.
The MASTER HAS A TABLE SPREAD WHERE THE SAINTS OF GOD ARE FED...
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Why are gold mines deep in the earth?
I am told it takes at least 5 cents to make a penny?
Part of the value of gold, silver and precious stones might be it is very difficult to
find and process.
THE LOTTERY MENTALITY --- I DESERVE BETTER--- GIVE IT TO ME NOW!
HOW MANY ARE WAITING FOR THEIR SHIP TO COME INTO VIEW?
WHY DOES NOT GOD MAKE LIFE EASIER?
I am in my 35th year of full time ministry. My ecclesiastical success sheets are empty.
But I have learned the importance of digging a well.
Many years ago I had a very real dream. A lady I pastored had a terrible temper problem.
Her family was a mess. Her husband stayed drunk most of the time, her children caused
the community nightmares. She was on the WAR-PATH 90% of the time.
In my dream I saw her and her family having shortages of water? (Water represents life's
essentials.) So I did what any good pastor would do. I grabbed a shovel and went to work
digging a well. I just knew if I would dig, God would help me find cool water.
I would dig and dig. I was so sweaty. I was so tired. I would dig a while and then I would
lay on the ground and rest a few minutes and then I would grab my shovel and dig some more.
I was exhausted from digging.
I would look over at the family sitting under a shade tree playing games and then they would
get into a big fight. I looked over and they were eating a big meal and drinking ice cold cokes
and they never even saw me digging down in the well.
After several days of digging my physical and spiritual health was coming into play. I was
so tired I had trouble holding the shovel. One day after watching them play and me digging as
hard as I could. I felt a great urgency this family needed a deep well. So I would dug until I
fainted.
When I came to JESUS WAS STANDING in front of me. I SHOWED JESUS THE
BEAUTIFUL HOLE I HAD DUG. I was so proud of my efforts. What a wonderful pastor I am?
JESUS LOOKED ME RIGHT IN MY EYE, AND HE GRABBED THE SHOVEL AWAY FROM ME.
I thought: JESUS IS GOING TO SPELL ME, HE WAS GOING TO DIG?
No, Jesus did not did one shovel of dirt? He laid the shovel down? We sat down together.
As I was resting, Jesus and I watched the family. They would fight a while, play a while,
then take a nap. We watched this cycle several times. Then I started to reach for the shovel,
when Jesus said: NO!
I explained to Jesus, I am their pastor, they need a well, the droughts are coming.
Jesus told me he knew. But he explained to me, IT IS THEIR JOB TO DIG THEIR OWN WELL.
Jesus went on to explain, if they dug their well, I could come along side of them and
encourage them and I could even take the shovel while they rested. But Jesus let me know,
THE WELL WAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
I said: JESUS, I KNOW THEY WILL NEVER DIG THEIR OWN WELL...
JESUS TOLD ME THAT IS UP TO THEM... IF YOU DIG THE WELL THE WATER WILL NOT
BE SWEET TO THEM AND THEY WOULD NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH THE WATER.
JESUS SAID: DIG YOUR WELL DEEP...
THE DEEPER THE WELL THE COOLER THE WATER?
PURE WATER IS OFTEN FOUND IN DEEP WELLS?
WATER THAT SUSTAINS THROUGH DRY DROUGHTS WILL SELDOM BE FOUND
IN WATER WEATHER SPRINGS... OR ARTESIAN WELLS?
Why would God not make finding His Purpose and Plan so visible that you would not even
have to bend over and pick it up --- PRAISE GOD, JUST DROP THE PIE INTO MY HANDS?
THERE WAS A HARD PIECE OF ROCK BURIED UNDER TONS OF MUD.
This rock had never see the light of day. It had know great pressure and great heat.
But for many years the rock just lay in moist wet mud. After so many years of being
buried in the mud. The rock felt like I am a dumb rock. All this pressure and heat
has sealed my doom as a dumb rock. So the rock just acted like the dumb rock
he thought he was. Day after day passed. The cold, wet mud defined who dumb rock
thought he was. He accepted life is dumb and he was ugly.
One day dumb rock felt a big explosion and shook his whole world.
What is going on? Rock thought.
Then life returned to cold, wet mud. Maybe he felt some of the weight was off him.
One day dumb rock felt a vibration and realized it was a man walking around him.
Then that man hit dumb rock right in the head. Rock said I am just a dumb rock and
I will always be a dumb rock. The man jerked the pick handle and out fell dumb rock.
For the first time in his life dumb rock felt the warmth of the sun shine on him.
Things were different --- yet he was the same dumb rock.
The man picked him up out of the mud and wiped the cold wet mud off him.
The man held him in his warm hand and just looked at him so strangely.
Dumb rock said what is going on?
The man put dumb rock in his pocket and kept digging.
The man carried dumb rock in his pocket several days? What is this?
One day dumb rock felt the man get him out of his pocket and laid him on the counter.
The other man picked him up and rubbed him gently. The man was so excited?
The man purchased dumb rock for a large sum of money and the miner left him.
Dumb rock was placed in a very soft bag and locked in a brief case.
A few days later the tender hands of the expert pulled dumb rock out of the bag and
placed him in great light, dumb rock felt a internal sparkle for the first time.
Then dumb rock was placed against a grinder and the spinning wheel started knocking
dirt and excess off him. Dumb rock now understood, he was not just a dumb rock.
The Master had got a hold of him and the purpose of dumb rock was exposed.
he was not a dumb rock buried in the wet mud. He was a rare diamond.
The Master made a bed for dumb rock. His new bed was some of the finest gold
known to man. That was not the end. Shining, sparkling in bright case was being
admired by many. One day a man came by and said YES, THIS IS IT...
The Preacher said: DO YOU PROMISE, THE MAN SAID YES, AND SLID DUMB
ROCK UP OVER A BEAUTIFUL LADY'S FINGER ---
DUMB ROCK NOW UNDERSTOOD REAL LOVE --- GOD'S PLAN AND PURPOSE
WAS EXPOSED...
Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
CONCLUSION: There is no excuse to stay stupid and confused. We can seek more.
God has a plan. Arise, and make the opportunity to dig deeper and become a better person.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
