Shaped By A Savior ~ Winning Others In Context Sermon Audio Here
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 / 1 Cor. 7:29-31
The Fable of the Farmer Who Woke Up
Once upon a Time there was a Farmer who thought he had a Dairy, because he kept a Herd of Cows and also raised Corn, Wheat, Oats, and Alfalfa. In the Summer he hired Farm Hands whose Appetites were 100 per cent Plus. When the Bell rang, they came rushing into the Mess Hall and devoured Everything except the Crockery. In a Test to see who could eat the Most, it was a Draw among several. All of the Rest were entitled to Honorable Mention.
One day the Farmer went out into the Field to watch his Harvest Hands at Work. He noticed that Some worked like Beavers, while Others went through the motions of Work, but accomplished very little. They seemed to him to have no Fixed Relation between Perspiration and Desired Results. The one who had taken several First Prizes in the Eating Contest was Particularly Conspicuous among those who worked as Little as possible. Then he stopped to remember that he was paying these Men for the Work they did and not for their Capacity as Eaters.
That Night several Harvest Hands were fired.
Then the Farmer reflected that his Cows had Good Appetites all the year round. He recalled that his Monthly Cream Check depended not upon the Quantity of Milk he delivered, but upon the amount of butter fat in the milk. Until now he had ignored the Suggestion of his County Agent to join the Cow Testing Association.
The lesson of the hungry, but lazy Farm Hand had struck home. Not only did he make a Mad Scramble to join the Cow Testing Association, but he purchased a Testing Outfit and Got Busy.
It was not Long before he discovered which of his Cows were profitable from the Butter Fat standpoint and which were only Boarder Cows. In a Short Time his non-producing Cows were eliminated and his Herd, consisting of good Butter Fat producers only, made him a success as a Dairy Farmer. Now he receives Regular Money through his Cream Checks, has improved his Farm and Buildings, and rides about in a Regular Car.
~ from the Jersey Bulletin, Volume 2, Volume 41, 1922
We Can’t Partner With God If We Don’t
Respond to Mercy
Jonah 3:1-5 ~ Jonah obeys, so does Nineveh
- v1/2 “second time” second chance
- v3/4 obedience is immediate
- v5/10 repentance & compassion
Realize the Moment
1 Cor. 7:29-31 ~ Time is short
- v29 short time; retrospect
- v30 not live by temporary emotion
- v31 but live by eternal perspective
Farm boy overturns wagon; neighbor invites boy to dinner, boy responds, “Pa won’t like it”. Neighbor insists, boy gives in, with “Pa won’t like it”. After dinner, boy says, “Pa’s gonna be real upset”; neighbor says, don’t be foolish – by the way, where is Pa?
“Under the wagon!”
How many of our friends and neighbors are under the wagon while we go about our lives? Let’s lift them up in Christ.
A Transformed Life 