Sacrifice Is Not Sacrifice Where There Is Love...

SEE SACRIFICE IS NOT A SACRIFICE WHERE ONE IS COMMITTED IN LOVE...

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

CAN WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF A GOOD QUESTION?

Psalm 116:12 (KJV) What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

Psalm 116:12 (NLT) What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?

Psalm 116:12 (MSG) What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?

BLOW THE TRUMPET GIVERS... SEE ME?

The New York Times recorded a story in 1997.

Central Park was remodeling the Children's Zoo, THEY NEEDED $6 MILLION.

ONE COUPLE PLEDGE 3 MILLION DOLLARS, 1/2 OF THE NEEDED MONEY.

Later the officials received bad news... THE COUPLE RESCINDED THEIR GIFT.

The couple found out their names would be on a PLAQUE 2 1/2 INCHES TALL IN

THE CENTER PIER OF THE ENTRANCE GATE.

The couple insisted that the couple that donated $500,000 36 years earlier name

be removed and their names displayed in a large display.

The commission refused, the couple rescinded their gift?

BAD ATTITUDE WILL SHOW UP IN STRANGE PLACES...

JEALOUSY AND THE LACK OF LOVE WILL SHOW IN OUR GIVING...

God accepted ABEL'S OFFERING...

CAIN GAVE "OF THE FRUIT" --- HE COULD HAVE BROUGHT THE FIRST FRUIT...

Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground

an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat

thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his

offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

GIVING REVEALS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART.

Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said,

I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

THE LACK OF GIVING ALWAYS TRIES TO HIDE THE FACTS AND SELF JUSTIFICATION.

HAVE TO GIVING... OR GRUDGE GIVING ---

THE PAYING OF RENT SHOWS WHO THE HAS THE REAL OWNERSHIP...

TO GIVE, DO OR ALLOW SOMETHING IN A RELUCTANT OR UNWILLING WAY...

To dislike or feel angry...

To be unwilling to give or admit...

A strong feeling of anger toward someone that last a long time.

Resentment, ill will.

1 Peter 4:9 (KJV) Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

To say, to do, to give in an unwilling or doubtful way.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not

grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER...

DO WE EVER THING ABOUT THE COST OF A GIFT?

One year right before Christmas I was teaching the sixth grade, I taught a little boy named Joe.

Joe came from a very sad home where their lifestyle was deplorable. His family was made

up of alcoholics. Often, his Mom and Dad were passed out in a floor with a pile of vomit.

Joe was in my self-contained classroom and would often cause trouble, I was broken for Joe.

One day JOE KISSED A GIRL, SOME BOYS GAVE HIM A QUARTER AND WAS SENT TO

THE OFFICE.

Joe had to answer to the principal and Joe got 3 licks. ( Old school?)

Later, I asked Joe: WHY? WHY DID YOU DO THAT JOE? YOU KNEW YOU WOULD

GET IN TROUBLE?

Joe said: It is a secret, I can't tell you.

I noticed several days Joe was working diligently. he borrowed the stapler, the glue and

my markers and he worked where I could not see him. I accepted his behavior.

The last day before Christmas Joe came to my desk and he was crying. He told me

he loved me and pulled a crudely wrapped gift out of his coat. He gave it to me.

I UNDERSTOOD THE SACRIFICE OF GIVING.

A girl in the class Dad owned a fabric store. She had little sample pieces of leather and

naugahyde. She sold Joe three pieces of the naugahyde for a quarter. He could not afford

the leather. Joe did not have the money, so HE KISSED THE GIRL FOR A QUARTER.

AND BOUGHT THE NAUGAHYDE TO MAKE ME A LITTLE POUCH.

HE SAID:

MR. HUGHES, TIMES ARE HARD AND A MAN HAS TO DO WHAT A MAN HAS TO

DO?

I TREASURED JOE'S GIFT... IT WAS MORE THAN THE QUARTER? IT WAS MORE THAN

THE LABOR OF HIS HANDS, IT COST JOE A WHIPPING. THAT WAS AN EXPENSIVE

GIFT JOE GAVE HIS TEACHER.

YOU CAN GIVE WITHOUT LOVE ---

BUT YOU CAN NEVER LOVE WITHOUT GIVING...