HIDDEN TREASURES… (People)
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Text: Matthew 13:45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The question is not how much is that doggie in the window? THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH IS THAT CHILD WORTH? THAT PARENT? CAN WE SEE HOPE IN TOMORROW? Invest in people!
GOD ESTABLISHED THAT THE FIRST INSITUTION WAS THE FAMILY.
Before the church God established the institution of the family, one man and one woman. God had a plan. Adam and Eve never weighed the CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR CHOICES.
Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
EVE OPENED “THE PANDORA’S BOX” with her choices. Eve may have had some REGRETS, but seems she never had any REPENTANCE. She and then Adam’s made choices that established the PATHWAY OF TEARS. She was the MOTHER OF ALL. But the box of pain, hurt, death, bitterness, hatred, sin, sweat, curse could never be closed.
Eve opened the doors that can never be closed on this earth. But God had a plan that we can make a choice to repent and change.
THE HANDS THAT ROCK THE CRADLE RULE THE WORLD.
The role of motherhood is instilled in little girls and their baby dolls. A friend of mine had a BABY ALIVE. The baby doll drank and wet it’s diaper. When you fed the doll baby food it would dirty its diaper. The little girl would gag and gag as she changed the diaper.
Until recent history the roll of MOTHER was a great social honor and brought much joy and happiness to women. Society saw MOTHERHOOD as a great blessing and aided in a woman’s self-worth. Today many see pregnancies as a curse and punishment. So since 1973, Roe vs. Wade we see a reversal on the value of a baby’s life?
DO MOTHERS AND FATHERS SEE CHILDREN IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY?
CAN WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERNCES IN PEOPLE ALL HAS TO DO WITH DAILY CHOICES? CAN A FAMILY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Can we understand the differences in attitudes and the cost associated with choices? I love artist with paint brushes making the masterpieces that far outlive the artist. I love word artist that can speak and touch the hearts of individuals. I love musicians that discipline their talents and inspire many.
What I can’t understand are critics. The people that are faultfinders and study what is wrong. Their analysis tell us what is wrong and they evaluate and express their opinions that are almost always unfavorable. They offer criticism when they cannot do the work themselves.
What guidelines do you follow in life? We need mom’s and dad’s to quit being so critical. Parents are not called to be HEAD- SHRINKERS screaming and yelling and putting down the children.
One of the greatest task of MOTHERS’ ARE BEING TEACHERS, SUPPORTERS, HELPERS, EDIFIERS AND ENCOURAGERS. We are to BUILD UP and stretch the minds. This recent “forced home schooling” for the moms and dads has been an EYE-OPENER for many.
LET US LOOK TO HISTORY AND SEE THE ROLE OF MOTHERS. EVEN WITH MOTHERS OF DRIED UP WOMBS…
History tells us a PATRIARCHAL STRUCTURE that relied totally on Mothers. Recall in most cases once the Mother gives birth we hear little of her again.
1. Eve, 2.Sarah the mother that waited 20 years,
3. Rebekah the Believer, 4. Rachel the mother that had to share,
5. JOCHEBED the basket maker, 6. (MANOAH --- WIFE NOT NAMED, Samson’s mother)
7. NAMOMI-RUTH bitterness. 8. HANNAH the mother that gave,
9. ELIZABETH- John the Baptist, 10. MARY- MOTHER OF JESUS
Mother of the girl that danced for the head of the preacher? Jezebel?
HAVE YOU READ THE ELISHA HARRIS REPORT? HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION. CAN WE SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING?
His research told of a woman named Margaret that lived in New York. His report said Margaret was the mother of criminals, paupers and harlots.
TWO FAMILIES…. WITH GREAT TIME AND EFFORT TWO FAMILIES HAVE STUDIED. TWO FAMILIES FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD, SAME PLACE.
MAX JUKES LIVED IN NEW YORK.
Max did not believe that church was important. He did not see the need for Sunday School, Christian education or spiritual training. Max married a lady with the same spiritual background. From this husband and wife‘s marriage there was 1,026 descendants. 300 died in their youth. 100 descendants were CONVICTED CRIMINALS, in the jail systems and penitentiary. Each of the 100 pulled on the average of 13 years a piece. 190 of the women were public prostitutes AND RAN BROTHELS. 100 were alcoholics or on drugs. 2 WERE LISTED AS FEEBLE MINDED. The Jukes family cost the state of New York $1,200,000. They made little to no contributions to the New York area.
JOHNATHAN EDWARDS ALSO LIVED IN NEW YORK IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD AS JUKES.
Johnathan was a devoted Christian man. Johnathan was a faithful and strong member of his local church. His family attended Sunday School and church services and rarely missed a service. Edwards married a strong Christian lady that loved Jesus and her local church. The study reveals the history of the 729 descendants.
Out of 729 --- 300 became preachers, 65 college professors, 13 university presidents, 60 were writers and authored books, 3 became US Congressmen, 1 became the Vice President of the USA. The records reveal that one grandson married a lady of questionable religious practices. The Edwards family has not cost the state of New York a single dollar. They were all contributing citizens.
Linda and I had no children. We sort of adopted a neighbor boy.
I spent much time with this young boy. A friend of mine helped me buy a guitar. I gave him lessons. He had great potential. We took the boy to church with us. He loved church. At church time he was waiting in his drive way excited to go to Sunday School and church. We would hike together and toss ball. Several years the lad went to church. He turned 13 and suddenly quit. He said: I want to stay at home with mom and dad. Finally he stopped going with us. He started hanging with a rough crowd of older boys. I saw him hiding from me and he was smoking. I heard he was smoking some other stuff.
We moved several hours away. Most of the reports I had was bad news. Late one night the phone rang. His mom was on the phone, the teen had been arrested and was in jail. I drove several hours and returned to the county jail. The young man had stolen some expensive equipment and pawned it. He told me where it was. I went and got the stuff. The pawn shop man told me I could not pay for it. I asked for change for a dollar. He gave it to me and I said I am going out here to the pay phone and call the state troopers, you bought this from a minor. The pawn shop keeper let me buy the equipment back. I returned it to the proper owner. I went to the jail and did paper work and checked the boy out of jail. I took him home.
His mom and dad were sitting at the table. They were red faced from crying so much. They thanked me and we sat at the table. I was crying hard. I remembered how the small boy loved church and how he would beg his mom and dad to come to church with us. They refused. They did not think Sunday School and church was important. Never once did they go to church even for the Christmas play. After the jail experience THE MOM BEGGED HIM TO GO TO CHURCH, WE WILL ALL GO TOGETHER AND BE IN CHURCH TOGETHER. The teen stood up and cursed his mom and dad. He said: Years ago I begged you to go to church with me and you said it was not important. He cursed them again and left with his rough friends. They never saw him for several days.
The last time I heard from my little church friend he was back in the county jail awaiting the transfer to the BIG HOUSE. Years later I heard he was out on probation working as a cook in a fast food restaurant. His great potential was forever scarred. What might have been? Sunday School and Church was not important?
WE HAVE MANY HIDDEN TREASURES WHICH WE CAN INVEST: BUY THE PEARLS…
STUDY AND LEARN.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW… YOU WILL REAP MORE THAN YOU SOW…
Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
BE POSITIVE. WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE?
MAKE GODLY, BIBLICAL CHOICES.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
BE MODERATE AND WELL BALANCED. EXCESSIVES IS THE DEVIL’S TOOL.
Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
NEVER EXPERIEMENT WITH DRUGS, ALCOHOL, OR MIND ALTERING PRODUCTS.
ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH.
Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
PRACTICE ACCOUNTABILTY AND SELF-EVALUATION.
AVOID DEBT, LIVE ON WHAT YOU MAKE… TITHE TO GOD AND SAVE 10 PERCENT.
Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
GUARD THE WORDS YOU SPEAK.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
NEVER BE UNEQUALLY YOKED WITH PEOPLE THAT WILL DESTROY YOUR TESTIMONY.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
CONCLUSION: THE WHIPPED DOG SYNDROME… My first year teaching school I had a very smart good looking boy. He had blond hair and blue eyes. He was a straight A student. He would never look anyone in the eyes. He was always sad and his head was hanging down. He had what I called whipped dog syndrome. I learned he had a sister in a lower grade and I watched her. She too had the whipped dog syndrome. I talked to her teacher. She too was so smart and respectful. I scheduled a home visit. I looked at their dog he hung his head and would not look up. I could not understand? I went in the house and mom and dad had beer cans laying all around. The dad screamed at the mom. The mom screamed at the kids and then I UNDERSTOOD. I invested all the encouragement and edification I could with him. He was a good kid with little hope.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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