The Three Little Pigs

The Three Little Pigs

"Once upon a time there were three little pigs whose mother said to them, "It is time for you to go out into the big world to build your homes and to seek your fortunes."

This morning I want to share a familiar story with a powerful message.

How many of you have heard the story of "The Three Little Pigs"?

You may remember that the mother of the three little pigs sent her children out into the big world with a specific purpose in mind: A MISSION

John 17:15-18 "In the world, but not of it--" " My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. [17] Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. [18] As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. "

The same holds true for all the saints of God.

He does not take us out of the world.

But, instead he sanctifies us and sends us on our way to fulfill a specific purpose. That purpose: TO BUILD OUR LIFE

"When you give your life to Jesus and are born again you are like a builder building your house on a solid foundation."

Matthew 7:24-25 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Some of you are involved in build construction.

You know how important it is build sound structures able to endure storms.

Proposition--The decision before all of us as builders of our life is whether we will build quickly without quality and wind up with a house that can easily be blown away OR Are you going to build steadfastly, line upon line, precept upon precept, building a house that cannot be blown away, made of materials that will endure?

How are you building your life?

Have you stopped to consider whether you are building your life so that it can endure the storms life brings our way?

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Let’s get back to the three little pigs.

They had a mission, so they packed up their bags and said goodbye to their mother.

Then each little pig took a different path out into the world.

The first little pig did not like hard work, so he quickly built his house out of straw, . He built it on the soft sand. He finished that same day.

That night was lying in his hammock satisfied with himself for finishing so quickly, looking forward to a lazy life of leisure.

The first little pig is like a Christian who is not concerned about putting effort into building his spiritual life.

Romans 12:11 "Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord."

1. THE FIRST LITTLE PIG DOES NOT LIKE TO WORK.

But it takes work to build your spiritual life with the Lord. It takes ZEAL--FERVOR--EFFORT

In other words, it takes the right kind of attitude. The first pig’s attitude was, "Well, whatever it takes to get by…"

A fellow complained to his pastor one time saying, "Whenever I come to church we always sing the same hymns. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Silent Night".

This might seem like a legitimate complaint, but

That man attended church only on Christmas.

He figured that was just enough to get by.

What it really was, was just enough to relieve him of his guilt for another year.

Many people feel that way about attending church. They attend just enough times to keep them from feeling guilty, instead of attending regularly help build their spiritual life.

If you are not putting 100% into your relationship with the Lord… If you are not working at building your life and faith… Then you will reap what you sow. If you are just doing enough to get by that is all you will do--GET BY.

Most of us here today are accustomed to hard work though. We have learned that it takes zeal, determination, and work to build our spiritual life with the Lord.

Back to the first little pig. The next morning he strolled down the road, playing the flute (rooty-toot-toot), to see how his brothers were doing.

This brings us to a second bad quality found in the first little pig.

2. HE LIKES TO BLOW HIS OWN HORN.

The first little pig is the kind of Christian who spends a little time working to build his own faith--and tends to spend a lot of time talking himself up and running others down.