PLAY VS WORK? TOOLS VS. TOYS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Do you know what is called the oldest toy in the world? The stick may just be the oldest toy. Sticks can be an endless source of pretend and make believe. A stick can be a horse, a gun, a magic wand, a sword or anything you can imagine.
I was at a state wide ministers meeting. One of the main leaders was very involved with his computer. He was so busy typing with the keys and observing what was going on… On the second day I maneuvered around so to see what was keeping this leader so busy. I saw over his shoulder he was playing games and solitary. I thought this is really spiritual?
I was preaching in a distant city. I noticed many of the young people were sitting in one area. I was amazed at how together they were. So as I was preaching I slowly walked toward them. They had several extension cords plugged into
a wall socket. They had wires ran from one device to another. So all the teens were playing and competing with each other. There was no worship accomplished.
GAME: To play for recreation, to play for fun or competition for amusement or pastime. A CONTEST, to accept a physical or mental challenge, to play or sport, to be competitive, to play according to rules, skills, strength or luck.
TOY: something to play with, an object to play with, dolls, animals, trucks, cars, action figures, computers. Toys can be educational or for amusement.
PLAY: (FUN) to enjoy for recreation, not serious.
WORK: (EFFORT) To transfer energy, to earn livelihood, task. THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFORT DONE TO ACHIEVE A PURPOSE.
TOOL: an implement to help accomplish work. Hammer, wrench, saws, shovel ETC.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SUGGESTS WAS THE FIRST GAME PLAYED ON EARTH? HIDE AND SEEK.
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Adam and Eve played games with the devil. The enemy isolated, divided and conquered Eve and then Adam.
HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED THE ROLE OF REBELLION? THERE WAS A WONDERFUL VICTORY AT JERICHO. THEN THE BATTLE TURNS TO AI. 36 SOLDIERS DIE? WHY? REMEMBER THE SAD STORY OF ACHAN? ACHAN PLAYED A STUPID GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK. ACHAN NEVER SPENT ANY OF THE GOLD… OR WORE ANY OF THE CLOTHES.
Joshua 7:11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Joshua 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
ACHAN PLAYED WITH ETERNITY BY MOCKING AND DISOBEYING MOSES’ COMMAND…
Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
IN ISREAL TODAY YOU CAN FIND A PILE OF ROCKS HEAPED UP OVER ACHAN AND HIS FAMILY’S GRAVE… THE VALLEY OF ACHOR… THE VALLEY OF ACHOR WITNESS DON’T PLAY HIDE AND SEEK WITH SIN.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE SPIRITUAL GAME OF MONOPOLY… GIVE ME, IT IS MINE… THE EXCLUSIVE POSSESSION AND CONTROL OF MATERIALISM. THERE IS A BATTLE OF”I, ME AND MINE…” IN MONOPOLY.
Luke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 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.
He who has the most toys when he dies is still dead as a door nail. So we gain the whole world? NO WHAT.
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? N 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
The rich man’s hopes of more was all lost in one night.
Luke 12: 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.
HAVE WE EVER HEARD OF THE GAME OF RUSSIAN ROULETTE, ONE CHAMBER HAS A LOADED BULLET, 5 EMPTY CHAMBERS? THEN ONE PLACES THE GUN TO THE TEMPLE AND PULLS THE TRIGGER?
In 1982 there was released a work of art in a museum, called the MINUTE CHAIR. This modern art display has a beautiful chair that is affixed to a SHOTGUN. When you sit in the chair you are looking down the barrel of the shotgun.
Each person that sits in the chair has to sit there for one minute. The loaded shotgun is set to fire at an undetermined time in the next 100 years. The amazing thing is people line up to sit one minute in the chair and stare down the barrel of a loaded shotgun. Would you gamble and sit in the chair?
PEOPLE GAMBLE WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUGS?
Samson gambled with women? He picked up the gates of the city and carried them to the top of the hill. Samson was so strong? Samson was so weak. SAMSON’S GAME? HE REFUSED TO ACCEPT THAT GOD WAS GONE WHEN HE CHOSE TO PLAY WITH HIS SIN…
Judges 16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
THERE IS AN AGE OLD GAME CALLED “LET’S MAKE A DEAL?” COME ON LET ME TRADE SOME USELESS JUNK FOR A NEW CAR OR AN EXPENSIVE TRIP? HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED THEM TRADE SOMETHING OF GREAT VALUE AND END UP WITH NOTHING?
SIMEON YOU CAN MAKE A DEAL WITH GOD’S GIFTS… MY DEAL IS MONEY FOR GOD’S GIFTS? SIMEON WAS SO CLOSE TO RECEIVING HIS MIRACLE.
Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
WOULD PEOPLE GAMBLE WITH THE SON OF GOD? DID THE SOLDIERS HAVE DICE OR SOME MEANS TO GAMBLE FOR THE ROBE OF JESUS?
Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
To win at the world’s games one must play by the world’s rules.
CONCLUSION: COULD WE BE ASKING GOD FOR TOYS AND NOT TOOLS? Could we love pleasure and fun and easy stuff more than sweat, blisters and work? Life is not a game we play. Beside that do you think you could beat God? Jesus was not playing games when he left streets of gold for dusty roads. Many love to play games…
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
God help me do the works of your will, not the games of this world. Jesus never played the games of this world… Jesus came to seek and save…
Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Hs servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
When I was little my dad pastored in Bethel, Ohio. We always raise a big garden. I was in the 6th grade. We were planting our garden. Dad received an emergency call. He left immediately and told me to finish planting the corn. He had 3 rows ready. I planted just as he instructed me. I was to plant until the corn seeds were gone. I made another row and planted them. Then another row. Seems the more I planted the more seeds were in the bag. I made a 3rd row and planted them. There was still more seeds. So I dug a shallow hole and placed the brown paper bag of seeds in the hole. That evening dad came home. He asked me did I plant all the corn seeds. I assured dad every corn seed was in the ground. About 2 weeks later dad came in very angry. I said what’s wrong dad? He said come out here. There was 10 million green corn blades in a round circle. Every blade of corn testified against me. Dad said if this family starves to death this winter it will be your fault? Stand here and think about that. I prayed and ask God to help my family have food for the winter. Seems I liked to play not work?
