WE'VE GOT A SECRET (4 OF 4)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-19
This content is part of a series.
We've Got A Secret (4 of 4)
Series: Financial Traps
Jeff Strite
Philippians 4:4-4:19
(During the Song Service, we sang "Blessed Assurance," "Tell Me The Story," and "Near the Cross" = and I prefaced their singing by noting that they were all written by Fanny Crosby)
OPEN: In Budapest, a Jewish man went to his rabbi and complained, "Life is unbearable for my family and I. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?"
The rabbi thought about it for a moment and answered, "Take your goat into the room with you."
The man was incredulous, but the rabbi insisted: "Do as I say and come back in a week."
A week later the man came back looking even more distraught than before. "We cannot stand it," he told the rabbi. "The goat is filthy."
The rabbi then told him, "Go home and let the goat out. Come back in a week."
A week later, the man returned all excited and he exclaimed, "Life is beautiful. We enjoy every minute of our lives now. There's no goat - just the nine of us."
APPLY: When people consider how to be content in this life, there are times they think like that. They think: It could be worse. Like the poem I once read:
From the day of your birth
'Til you ride in a hearse
There is nothing that's happened
That couldn't be worse.
Now there's some value in considering that no matter what you face - it could get worse. And, if that helps you to learn to appreciate what you have, that's great. Appreciation for what you have is one of the keys to experiencing the peace of God.
Paul writes in Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
SO - there is great value in focusing on your blessings. But I was a little surprised thi ...
Series: Financial Traps
Jeff Strite
Philippians 4:4-4:19
(During the Song Service, we sang "Blessed Assurance," "Tell Me The Story," and "Near the Cross" = and I prefaced their singing by noting that they were all written by Fanny Crosby)
OPEN: In Budapest, a Jewish man went to his rabbi and complained, "Life is unbearable for my family and I. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?"
The rabbi thought about it for a moment and answered, "Take your goat into the room with you."
The man was incredulous, but the rabbi insisted: "Do as I say and come back in a week."
A week later the man came back looking even more distraught than before. "We cannot stand it," he told the rabbi. "The goat is filthy."
The rabbi then told him, "Go home and let the goat out. Come back in a week."
A week later, the man returned all excited and he exclaimed, "Life is beautiful. We enjoy every minute of our lives now. There's no goat - just the nine of us."
APPLY: When people consider how to be content in this life, there are times they think like that. They think: It could be worse. Like the poem I once read:
From the day of your birth
'Til you ride in a hearse
There is nothing that's happened
That couldn't be worse.
Now there's some value in considering that no matter what you face - it could get worse. And, if that helps you to learn to appreciate what you have, that's great. Appreciation for what you have is one of the keys to experiencing the peace of God.
Paul writes in Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
SO - there is great value in focusing on your blessings. But I was a little surprised thi ...
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