JURONG OUTREACH - June 06

THE RICH KING'S FOUR WIVES
4 JUNE 06

Once upon a time there was a rich king who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the third wife very much and was always showing her off to neighbouring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another man.

He also loved his second wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate, and patient with him. Whenever the king faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The king’s first wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the king fell ill and knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, “I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.”

“No way!” replied the fourth wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad king then asked the third wife, “I have loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”
 

"No!” she replied. “Life is too good! When you die, I’ll remarry!”

His heart turned cold. He then asked the second wife, “I have

always turned to you for help, and you’ve always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help this time!” replied the second wife. “At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.” Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning. The king was devastated.

Then a voice called out: “I’ll go with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.”

The king looked up and saw his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, he said, “I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!”

In truth, we all have the four wives in our lives:

Our fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our third wife is our possessions, status, and wealth. When we die, these will go to others.

Our second wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, they can’t go with us past the grave.

Our first wife is our soul. We often neglect it in pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasures of the world. However, our soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. Cultivate, strengthen, and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout eternity.

—adapted from eSermons.com

Mt 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Giving 101%

Here’s an interesting little mathematical formula.

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26,

Then

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%,
and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%,
but
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%,

AND look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%.

Therefore, one can conclude with “mathematical certainty” that: while Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and

Attitude will get you there, it is the Love of God that will put you over the top!

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. ” —2 Corinthians 13:14

PROVOKE NOT YOUR CHILDREN TO WRATH
11 JUNE 06

In two closely related New Testament verses, fathers are given these instructions: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4); “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). While much is said about parents properly training children (Ephesians 6:4b), much less is taught about the need for dads to refrain from provoking children to anger (Ephesians 6:4a). Without any claim to have all the answers, please consider the following practical observations.

Provoke not your children to wrath does NOT mean the following:

Never do anything that makes your child(ren) angry. From time to time, children will get angry at parents when they step in and “put their foot down.” A three-year-old that picks up a sharp knife may pitch a fit when his mom takes it away, but children don’t need to play with knives. If we never do anything to cause a child to be upset, then we will turn a spoiled (and dangerous) brat loose on the world.

Never correct your children. Jesus said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Revelation 3:19). Properly administered discipline is not the “provoking” of children that the Lord forbids.

Never tell children that something is off limits or wrong. The Lord says that those who take part in the “works of the flesh” will not enter into the kingdom (Galatians 5:19-21). When we restrict our children from such things, they may

become hot under the collar, but do not be deceived, such

restriction of children’s activities is not the “provoking” that God forbids.

Never to force your children to do something that they do not want to do. Many children detest chores such as

cleaning up their room and may get bent out of shape when ordered to do so, but forcing a child to clean up his room is not the “provoking” spoken of in our texts.

Never tell your children “No, you cannot do that,” even when the matter is not sinful. Children may throw a tantrum when a demand for a toy from Walmart or a pair of shoes from the mall is not met, but it is not because they have been unduly provoked. God has given someone the task of making decisions in the home. Children are to obey parents, not vice versa (Ephesians 6:1).

Parents DO provoke their children to wrath when they do the following:

Show partiality/favouritism. Favouring one child over

another or giving special treatment to one over the other can cause anger toward both the parents and the pampered child. Remember what happened in Jacob’s family when Jacob

favored Joseph over his other sons (Genesis 37).

Ask children for their opinion, but then consistently

disregard it. Parents need to be honest. If they have no

intention of seriously considering what the child has to say, they should not ask for suggestions in the first place.

Compare their children with each other, or with children in other families. This often takes the form of a question: “Why can’t you be more like _______?” This is almost a guaranteed way to get children angry, and understandably so. Children want to be treated like individuals. We need to exhort them to do the right things and give their best effort in all activities based on Bible principles and reaching their own potential, not on comparison with others.

Belittle them in front of peers or adults. This is a very

insensitive act, regardless of whether done to a five-year-old or an adult.

Using insulting names. We sometimes say hurtful things in anger that we don’t really mean and later regret. Insulting our children, even in jest, is unwise.

Make all their decisions for them. When children are small, parents naturally make most of their decisions. A time comes, though, when parents have to back off and let children, with their own distinct personalities and interests, make some

decisions. Some dads provoke teenage children by trying to dictate to them where they will go to college, what occupation to pursue, or what colour clothes to wear.

Take no interest in their interests. Children feel hurt when parents don’t get excited about their hobbies, sports, and school activities. They feel neglected when they don’t make an effort to attend their activities.

There are likely a great number of other ways that parents

unduly provoke children. Perhaps these practical illustrations will help more of us avoid unnecessary pitfalls in our efforts to be righteous parents who lead our children in the path to heaven.

A PARENT WITHOUT VISION
18 JUNE 06

Sometimes parents discipline their children. This may be done by sending them to their rooms. The children may not be allowed certain foods for awhile. They may not be allowed to go places for awhile. They may get spanked.

The children may not think the discipline is right. They may think that they should be allowed to do what they want or go where they want. They may think their parents are too tough on them.

But their parents are doing what God wants them to do. In
Proverbs 29:15-17, parents are told to correct and discipline
their children. They are told that sometimes this may include
spanking their children. Such correction is said to give wisdom
to the child.

(Proverbs 29:15-17)The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Then in verse eighteen, we read, "Where there is no vision the people perish...." It is interesting that this verse is right after the verses telling parents to correct their children.  

Parents who refuse to correct and discipline their children simply have no vision. They do not see the future of ruin for their children. Without proper discipline a child never learns proper self-government. When this happens, wickedness is multiplied according to verse sixteen.

 Children, be thankful if your godly parents are obeying God. Be thankful that your parents have proper vision.

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The Best Sermon

Many years ago a farmer had an unusually fine crop of grain. Just a few days before it was ready to harvest, a terrible hail and wind storm destroyed it. The farmer and his little son went out on the porch after the storm. The little boy looked at what was formerly the beautiful field of wheat, and with tears in his eyes looked up at his dad, expecting to hear words of despair. All at once his father started to sing softly, “Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.” Years after, the little boy, grown to manhood, said, “That was the greatest sermon I ever heard.” The farmer lost a grain crop, but gained a faithful son.

“Ye are the light of the world. ... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and

glorify your Father which is in heaven”

—(Matthew 5:14-16)

Right—But Wrong

J. Paul Getty was at one time the richest man in the world. But J. Paul Getty, Jr., rarely saw his father. In fact, he saw him only on rare occasions. When he was in high school, Getty Jr. wrote a special letter to his father. He had wanted to say some very important things to his dad. The letter came back to him from his father with all of the grammatical and spelling errors marked in red pencil. But there was no personal response from his father. Not one word. Getty Jr. summed up that experience by saying, “I never got over that.” A father sets an atmosphere for his children even when he isn’t present.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” —Ephesians 6:4

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Words to the Wise

"Children have never been very good at listening to their

elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."

                                                                        —James Baldwin

"Remember, your basic assignment as a parent is to work yourself out of a job."

                                                                        —Paul Lewis

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth”

                                                                        —3 John:4

FALLING OUT OF LOVE
25 JUNE 06

A forty-year-old man, suffering through the classic “mid-life crisis,” sat down to talk to a preacher about his problems. He explained how his marriage of 20 years was no longer satisfying or fulfilling. Finally, he reached the “bottom line”:
“I just don’t love her anymore,” he said. “What can I do?”

After a brief moment of reflection, the preacher said decisively,
“As I see it, you have only ONE option.....” 

The man perked up with anticipation. Was the preacher going to suggest a divorce? Would he be free to pursue the thrilling lifestyle of the younger generation that he had come to admire? Would this be his chance to regain his fleeting youth? What was the preacher’s advice? 

“It seems to me,” said the preacher, “that the only thing left for you to do is REPENT and start loving her again!”

 According to the Scriptures, to love one’s spouse is a COMMAND from God. For example, Ephesians 5:25 states: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”  

A forty-year-old man, suffering through the classic “mid-life crisis,” sat down to talk to a preacher about his problems. He explained how his marriage of 20 years was no longer satisfying or fulfilling. Finally, he reached the “bottom line”:
“I just don’t love her anymore,” he said. “What can I do?”

After a brief moment of reflection, the preacher said decisively,
“As I see it, you have only ONE option.....” 

The man perked up with anticipation. Was the preacher going to suggest a divorce? Would he be free to pursue the thrilling lifestyle of the younger generation that he had come to admire? Would this be his chance to regain his fleeting youth? What was the preacher’s advice? 

“It seems to me,” said the preacher, “that the only thing left for you to do is REPENT and start loving her again!”

 According to the Scriptures, to love one’s spouse is a COMMAND from God. For example, Ephesians 5:25 states: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”  

(1 John 4:9-10) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. so that we can have forgiveness and eternal life with Him. 

These blessings can be ours if we will respond to the love of God on His terms:

places our trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31),

repenting of our sins (Acts 17:30-31),

confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10),

and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

Then He desires that we continue to demonstrate our love for Him by continuing to follow His will. As long as we do that, He has promised to continue to cleanse us of our sins

(1 John 1:7).But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

God has not “fallen out of love” with us; He NEVER will. He loves us with an "everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

However, He longs for us to respond to His love with the SAME kind of love – a commitment with a beginning and no end. 

How will YOU respond to His love?