MENIAL CHORES CAN BE STUMBLING BLOCKS OR STEPPING STONES…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Two part)
*Stumbling block: an obstacle to progress, a problem that is in the way of advancement, a circumstance that causes difficulty or hesitation.
*Stepping stone: to help make progress, a way to advance, a raised stone placed on which to step in muddy, wet areas.
QUESTION: CAN A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A STEPPING STONE BE THE SAME STONE?
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE IN A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A STEPPING STONE? Can the same rock be a stumbling block and a stepping stone? Perhaps the real battle is THE ATTITUDE IN WHICH WE APPROACH THE STONE?
A new young man was elected pastor in a large city. The new pastor rode a city bus to and from the church. Every day the pastor invited the bus driver to come to church and worship with them. The bus driver was skeptical and refused the invitations. Several weeks the pastor invited the young man please come to church. One day the pastor boarded the bus and gave the driver a dollar. The bus driver gave the pastor too much change… The pastor sat in his normal seat and counted the change. The pastor rode to the destination. As he got off the bus, he turned and said: SIR, YOU GAVE ME TOO MUCH CHANGE. The driver looked the pastor in the eye and said: I WILL BE AT CHURCH SUNDAY, AND EVERY SUNDAY AFTER THAT. The pastor said: WHY? WHY NOW AFTER REFUSING MY INVITATIONS BEFORE? The driver said: SIR, PASTOR, I DELIBERATELY GAVE YOU TOO MUCH CHANGE AS A TEST TO SEE IF YOU WERE AN HONEST MAN. YOU PASSED THE TEST. I WILL BE AT CHURCH SUNDAY!
THE QUESTION IS NOT JUST DO YOU TRUST GOD? … THERE IS ANOTHER QUESTION: CAN GOD TRUST YOU?
The president of a bank was very interested in helping this young man advance in his career. They often ate lunch together in a huge cafeteria. Several days the banker saw the young man steal several packages of mayonnaise or ketchup. The packages only cost a nickel each. The young man would slip the condiments in his pocket to keep from paying for them. The older man would watch him stealing. After a week of watching the trainee steal the little packets
the president called the young man into his office. The president of the bank dismissed the young man. The young man was very angry. The president said: I SAW YOU STEAL CONDIMENTS FIVE DAYS IN A ROW… The young man said: SIR, THE CONDIMENTS WAS LESS THAN A DOLLAR. You are going to fire me for less than a dollar? The banker said that would be almost $100.00 a year… IF YOU CAN’T BE TRUSTED IN THE LITTLE, YOU CAN’T BE TRUSTED WITH MUCH. IF YOU ARE DISHONEST AND HIDE LITTLE THINGS… YOU WILL BE DISHONEST IN LARGE THINGS… YOU HAVE TO BE TRUSTED…
THE TEST OF LITTLE THINGS WILL REVEAL YOUR HEART… WILL THIS BE A STUMBLING BLOCK OR A STEPPING STONE… IT IS UP TO YOU MY FRIEND…
Luke 16: 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN? THERE WAS A VERY LARGE CHURCH, A MEGA CHURCH WITH A PROFESSIONAL STAFF.
The HEAD PASTOR hired this wonderfully talented young Bible School graduate to prove himself. The young man graduated the first in his class and came with a high recommendation of the president of the Bible school. The young man demanded a big salary. After discussion the board agreed on the terms.
The pastor required all the staff to be at the church on Sunday morning. The church was building a million dollar sanctuary and was meeting in the huge all-purpose building. So on Sunday morning all the staff gathered and prayed and then sat up the chairs… The pastor and the whole crew worked sitting up the chairs. The good looking smart new hire went and sat on the podium and just sat there. After a while the pastor noticed the young man just sitting there watching everyone else work.
The old pastor asked the young preacher: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? The new hire looked at the pastor and said: SITTING UP CHAIRS IS NOT IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION… I REFUSE TO SIT UP CHAIRS THAT IS BELOW MY TALENT LEVEL.
The pastor said do you see me and all the staff sitting up chairs? The pastor looked at the young man with a tear in his eye and said: SIR, YOU ARE FIRED and TERMINATED BEFORE YOUR FIRST SERVICE. IF YOU CAN’T HELP US SIT UP CHAIRS
YOU HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE AND YOU DO NOT HAVE A SERVANT’S HEART. Our staff here volunteers to do whatever is needed. I AM SO SORRY, BUT WE ASK YOU TO LEAVE THE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY. The pastor returned to sitting up chairs. He was crying with a broken heart. The pastor was heard to say: WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE IN A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A STEPPING STONE?
Can the same rock be a stumbling block and a stepping stone? Perhaps the real battle is THE ATTITUDE IN WHICH WE APPROACH THE STONE?
SAMUEL, IT IS TIME TO CLOSE THIS CHAPTER BECAUSE SAUL HAS REJECTED THE VOICE OF GOD… ONE DAY GOD SENT THE PROPHET SAMUEL TO GO TO BETHLEHEM… SAMUEL MOVED IN GREAT CAUTION … SAMUEL USED THE EXCUSE OF DOING SACRIFICE… Samuel went to Bethleham… WILL THIS BE A STEPPING STONE OR A STUMBLING BLOCK?
1 Samuel 16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
SURELY THIS IS GOD… YOUR VISUAL FIELD CAN BE A STUMBLING BLOCK, A DEATH TRAP…
1 Samuel 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
ELIAB? ABINADAB? SHAMMAH? Seven brothers?
1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
THE STUMBLING BLOCK, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? ARE YOU NOT SURE THERE IS ONE MORE SON… YES, THERE IS DAVID… HE IS DOING MENIAL WORK OUT IN THE FIELD, WE DID NOT INVITE HIM--- HE IS DOING SHEPHERD MENIAL WORK --- SHEEP BOY STUFF…
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
SAMUEL COMES FOR A VISIT TO JESSE’S HOUSE… JESSE HAD HIS 7 SONS OF PROMISE THERE TO MEET WITH THE PROPHET SAMUEL… DAVID THE 8TH SON WAS TENDING THE FLOCK…
LISTEN TO THE NEGATIVE? 40 DAYS TWICE A DAY … EVERY MORNING AND EVERY EVENING…
DAVID IS FAITHFUL TO TEND JESSE’S FLOCK… DAVID HAD TO GET SOME YOUNG BOY TO TAKE HIS PLACE WITH THE SHEEP… DAVID WE ASSIGN YOU THE SMALL TASK OF TAKING GIFTS TO THE LEADERS AND TO HIS BROTHERS… DAVID HAD TO PACK UP THE FOOD … WHEAT, BREAD, CHEESE, ETC.
1 Samuel 17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. 22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH? MANY SAY THE WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING… AS A WHOLE IN MINISTRY I FIND THIS IS NOT TRUE… THE TOUGH DEVELOP A RUN AWAY SPIRIT… PANIC ATTACKS… FOR 40 DAYS, TWICE A DAY THE GIANT SPOKE NEGATIVE WORDS: YOU CAN’T DO THIS… STUMBLING BLOCK OR STEPPING STONE.
1 SAMUEL 17: 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
THE KING SAUL IS MOTIVATED BY FEAR AND DOUBT…. GOD OPENS THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY … WHAT IS A STUMBLING BLOCK TO OTHERS CRYING IN THEIR TENT, BECOMES A STEPPING STONE, GOD OPENS A DOOR…
1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
DAVID YOU ARE JUST HERE TO WATCH? HEY, YOU SPOILED BRAT… ELIAB THE GOOD LOOKING BROTHER GET’S ANGRY AT DAVID… HE THROWS UP THAT DAVID WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TENDING TO THE “FEW” SHEEP…
1 Samuel 17: 28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
WE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE HERE TO DO… YOU ARE HERE THAT YOU MIGHT SEE THE BATTLE? WHAT BATTLE? THE BATTLE OF FEAR… ELIAB HAS A BAD ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS LITTLE BROTHER… HE ACCUSED DAVID OF HAVING A NAUGHTY HEART…
DAVID WAS FAITHFUL AS A SHEPHERD BOY… DAVID LEARNED THE FEAR/ FLIGHT THEORY…FACING THE BEAR, FACING THE LION QUALIFIED DAVID FOR THE BATTLE AHEAD… IN MY MENIAL CHORES… GOD HAS PREPARED ME FOR TODAY… A STEPPING STONE..
LIONS? SAMSON AND DANIEL
It can be done! REMEMBER February 4, 2019 there was a runner on the trail in Colorado that killed a lion with his bare hands… so what---DAVID DID IT TOO!
1 Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the
bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
CONCLUSION: Once I complained about the men’s bathroom smelling. I complained! The Holy Spirit told me: YOU CLEAN THE BATHROOM! I ASKED FOR A SECOND OPINION? YOU CLEAN IT… The Lord visited with me as I cleaned. Your faithfulness to small menial chores might be a door of opportunity. STUMBLING BLOCK vs STEPPING STONE?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Find my work on YOUTUBE?
