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Proverbs 18:9 - One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys

A three (3) toed sloth is one of the ugliest creatures in the world.

• It spends most of its time hanging from a tree
• It’s as slow as molasses in winter (ultimate example of laziness)

The sluggard is the spiritual three (3) toed sloth. The Bible has nothing good to say about the sloth.

Laziness comes in little spurts.

• Little amounts of unproductiveness
• Spurts of lost time adds up to a lot of lost time (time that can never be regained)

Proverbs 26:14 - As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed

A sluggard has a difficult time getting out of bed, and loves the snooze button. It caters (snooze button) to those that can’t begin the day on time.

Proverbs 26:15 - The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth

Here is another picturesque description of the sluggard. His is so lazy that he needs someone to spoon him his meal. This description should warn us of how disgusting laziness is to God.

Proverbs 26:16 - The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly

One of the saddest things about a sluggard is that most of the time he doesn’t even realize how lazy he really is.

• He looks at his unproductive day and actually believes he had no control over his lack of productivity.
• He blames it on other things (parent’s, kids, spouse, work, weather, health, etc.)

• 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 - Paul felt more grace so he worked even harder
• Ephesians 2:8-10 - God has given us good works to do in response to His grace

• Hebrews 10:26-31 - When we deliberately keep on sinning and insult the amazing gift of grace
• Jonah 2:1-8 - Our lack of repentance can keep God’s grace from our lives

• Philippians 4:6 - Start your prayer times every day with your thankful list
• 1 Timothy 4:4 - Be grateful for everything God has provided you with – even the basics

• Romans 1:21 - Not thanking God can lead to involvement in other sinful areas
• Luke 17:11-19 - Not thanking God for the blessings you receive is selfish

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Be thankful in all circumstances, whether great or challenging
• Ephesians 5:19-20 - Always be thankful-for all things (make a list of 200 thing to be grateful)

• 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 - Crave the Bible; it will show you what you need in your walk with God
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - The Bible will equip you and give you all you need to grow (Psalms 119)

• Ephesians 4:11-16 - God has put them in your life to help you grow; church, midweek, etc
• Hebrews 13:7 - Watch you leaders and follow their example; ask lots of questions

• 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 - All of us lack something in our faith; get together and help each other
• Romans 15:14 - Other disciples may know the Bible better and can help you through your challenges

• Proverbs 28:13 - You will always prosper and find mercy from God and other people
• Hebrews 3:13 - Talk with others daily to receive the encouragement needed
• James 5:16 - Healing will come to your heart when you confess to others

• Deuteronomy 11:16 - Satan will always be trying to entice you to return to your life of sin
• Psalms 101:2 - Be careful every day and in every situation
• 1 Corinthians 10:6-12 - Don’t be over-confident; even the greatest have fallen
• Ephesians 5:15-17 - Don’t be careless with your life; take the time to think about all you do
• Hebrews 2:1 - Lack of Being careful will cause you to drift from God

1. What does God promise to those who seek him with all their hearts?
2. Are you seeking him or something else?

1. What should make you content?
2. What will a desire for money and things do to your life?
3. How does someone "wander" from the faith?
4. What other desires could make us wander?

1. Why was this man so determined to see Jesus?
2. List at least 3 reasons the man could have given to not try to see Jesus.
3. What impressed Jesus about this man?
4. How can you be more like him?

1. What did Jairus and the bleeding woman have in common?
2. Why did Jesus help both of them?
3. Why is it important for us to depend completely on Jesus when we need help?
4. What are some ways you have not been depending on God enough?
5. Have you turned to other sources for help?

1. What was different in this place? Why?
2. Is Jesus amazed at your faith or your lack of faith? Why?

• Romans 1: 21 - being ungrateful can be at the root to many sins in your life
• Luke 7: 36-50 - those who are more grateful show a greater capacity to love.
• Luke 17: 11-19 - the thankful are commended before God.
• Psalms 50: 5-23 - note that the sacrifice that means the most to God is one of 'Thanks!'

• Person without compassion = heartless
• We urge them to "have a heart"
• Our deepest hearts are "heartaches"
• Unsettled lovers are "brokenhearted"
• Courageous soldiers are "brave hearted"
• Truly evil are "black-hearted"
• To be on an intimate level, we need at "heart-to-heart"
• When we are unburdened, we are "lighthearted"
• During apathy, "our heart is not in it"
• We are to love God with all of our heart - Mark 12:30

Without the heart, life is not worth living - it is the wellspring of life

To lose heart is to lose everything
Our lives are filled with busyness, making living merely a way to survive

We need to return to a child-like heart where not everything can be explained

Love our wives is actually more demanding than the task placed upon wives to “submit” to their husbands.

The example God gives husbands to follow is simply the most courageous and sacrificial act ever done in all human history.
When Jesus died for His bride, she was dirty and sinful. She was acting like His enemy.
We are called to sacrifice our lives every day for her.
To say “no” to what we want so we can say “yes” to what she needs. That is Christlike love and leadership.

Marriage, however, is a God-ordained covenant that invites you to love an imperfect, sinful person with the love of Christ.
Because that’s how He loves you. His love finds every reason to start but finds no reason to stop.
Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God - Romans 8:38-39

Most marriage problems are usually the result of a wife’s wounded reaction to poor leadership and lack of love from her husband.
The key to loving like Jesus is to understand that we cannot do it on our own.
God loves us not because we are lovable but because He is so loving.
We disconnect from our mate’s imperfections and plug into God’s unchanging nature.
What would happen in the next year if God’s unconditional love became the foundation of your marriage?

The following “heart hindrances” that will push your chidren away.

1. Your absence - they become sheep without a shepherd.
   • You are saying "You’re not important enough for me"
2. Your anger
   • React in anger, you can thoughtlessly say or do things in the heat of the moment that deeply wound your son or daughter’s spirit long-term
   • Love is slow to anger - 1 Corinthians 13:5
   • Humble yourself and quickly apologize
3. Unjust discipline
   • Must explain rules and consequences clearly using God’s Word and authority rather than their opinion - Ephesians 6:1-3
   • Ask yourself, “How can I train them without losing their heart?”
4. Harsh criticism
   • Don’t be sarcastic or belittling
   • Kids who have no freedom to fail will tend to rebel
5. Lack of compassion
   • Mercy warms hearts; carelessness distances them.
   • We must provide a listening ear, wise counsel, prayerful support, and a willing hand
   • Help them think of you as an oasis

Summary

Abraham's servant went to Nahor to find a wife for Isaac.

Observations

Genesis 24:1 - The Lord blessed him every way
God blessed Abraham, as he promised [Genesis 12:2], more than he could have asked or imagined [Ephesians 3:20] because of his belief that He would be faithful in his promises. In the investment world, it is about making a return on managed risk. Sometimes in Wall Street you can yield a good return with analysis. Other times, no matter what, you can lose large amounts of captial.  But with God, you can bank on his promises through faithfulness. There is no guessing and changing out mind, we just need to be faithful.

Genesis 24:4 - Go instead to my homeland
His son was nearing 40 years old and Abraham was old himself. He was looked to pass the torch on the next generation. Abraham again was faced with the challege of age-related life changes [Genesis 21:2]. The easy way to find Isaac a spouse would be to just look around the local area. The rational here might be "well, they do not follow God now but we can convert them later". This idea rarely works out and can cause much harm spiritually. Abraham chose again to be faithfully and to take the path less traveled. That path for his servant was 450 miles away to Nahor.

Genesis 24:8 - But under no circumstances are you to take my son there
Abraham nor his son were going to leave Cannon. There must have been some faithful prayer involved to find a way out of this situation [1 Corinthians 10:13]. How was Abraham going to find a wife for his son in a different land without standing in the way of God's promise? For both of them to go would have been an express of their lack of faith in God's promise. Also, if Isaac went a alone, he may have not returned. If Abrham went a alone, Isaac may have found a wife among the Canaanites while he was gone. The solution was a highly improbable plan (without God) for Abraham was to send his servant to find his wife. This way would be at a high cost to old man Abraham because of amount of work extra work he would need to do to cover while the servant was gone.

Application

I am convicted by the way Abraham chose to approach challenging situations. He did not chose the easy way or the first way that sounded right. He chose to be faithful and had a conviction to allow God's promises to fulfilled in his life. I did not mediate and pray through the challenges set before very often. Many times I just say or do the first things that comes to my mind. Those are often thoughts of the easy way or only way to go about things. I need to think about the bigger picture when making  decisions.

Prayer

Praying for heart of disernment and faithfulness in life's challenging situations.

He reprimand them strenly to make them strong in the faith - Titus 1:12-13

God often calls men of character and commitment to handle more difficult assignments

Among this group was a young man name Titus

Paul send him to Crete, known for its:

• Lack of discipline
• Untruthfulness
• Excessive gluttony
• Cruelty

Only a man of strong character who came solve problems, confront, and love God and His word can qualify for such a charge

How would you respond in Crete? How can you be God's man in a tough situation?

Must we bring you water from this rock? - Numbers 20:10

Sometimes we say "I did the best I could" but instead, we should say "I should have called you sooner"

An independent spirit often keeps us from doing our best

Moses became a humble, obedient servant yet in a moment he lost everything that he had worked so hard to gain

• The Israelites were thirsty and grumpy
• They complained about the lack of water
• Moses angerily rebuked them and struck the rock twice

His prideful self-reliance cost him the opportunity to lead them to the promised land.

What would it mean for you to rely on God?

You must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you - Jeremiah 1:7-8

Lord called Jeremiah to prophesy against the rebellious nation of Isreal - God chose him to be God's mouthpiece

He lacked confidence because Jeremiah hadn't grasped the truth that God never calls us to do something without first equipping that person first

God wants us to see our own weakness and his need for God's empowerment

Jeremiah was the right person for the call because he was God called and God enabled

The Lord has you where he wants you - in a place of humility and dependence on Him for the power you need to succeed.

Shall I not drink from the cup of suffereing the Father has given me? - John 18:10-11

When you fight spiritual battles, you have a variety of resources available

Your choice will always determine if you win or lose

Peter did the best he could; he went wrong by putting confidence in his own strength and abilty to get things done

Peter's problem was not a lack of willingness to follow Jesus but a problem of choice of weapons

Only when we receieved the holy spirit did he become a fearless and powerful preacher of the gospel

What weapons do you use to fight your spiritual battles?

You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you - 1 Samuel 13:13

Full blessings from God depends on our obedience

Saul, Israel's first king, fell flat on his face

Samuel had given Saul clear instructions - Go ahead to Gilgal and wait me me - 1 Samuel 13:8

He foolishly decieded to play the role of a priest and perform sacrifices in a way that clearly violated God's law

Saul squandered his chance at greatness because he lacked the courage and wisdom to obey

Live according to his Word and you put yourself in a prefect position to receive all he had for you and your family

Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple - John 2:15

Jesus became angry times when he saw authorities have a lack of love and true faith in his heavenly father

He espcially got angry this time with the money changers who were greedy in their dealing with those pilgrims trying to purshase sacrificial animals

Jesus always directed his anger at things that stood in the way of God's purposes for mankind

Do you express your anger over the same kind of issues that angered Jesus?

When you become angry, ask yourself:

• Is it for the right reason?
• Is it for the right people?
• Is it at the right moment?

Don't be afraid! Go ahead and do what you've said - 1 Kings 17:13

When you speak and demonstrate your faith openly, it is bound to infect others

It seemed Elijah was the only man with faith in Israel but he didn't let that stop him speaking God's Word who desparately needed to hear it

Drought had led to famine, God sent a woman with little money to feed

Elijah didn't allow the lack of wealth affect his faith and persuaded the woman to share what little she had

She never again lacked food for herself or her son

Faith isn't real unless you put it to work, don't worry about running out - God will give you what you need

Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother - Mark 3:35

Jesus gave a new definition of family when he taught that his real family was made up of believers

He knew that his earthly relatives lacked the spiritual eyes to see the truth

Jesus came to do his Father's will and anyone who got in his way, even with the best intentions, would take a backseat to his new family

Your earthly family is God's gift to you to treasure and love

Then Jesus wept... "See how much he loved him!" - John 11:35-36

Jesus was never afraid to show his emotions

He knew how the saga of Lazarus' death would end that day and the people would winess a spectacular miracle - yet he cried as he approached his firend's tomb

Reason for tears?

• Felt other pain
• Death had invaded his friend's lives
• Disappointment from their lack of faith

Jesus was perfect in love, holiness, and his ability to express emotion

I will go, but if you go with me - Judges 4:8

Military leader named Barak lead Israel into victory over the Canaanites but was reluctance to lead couragously was costly

God promised victory but Barak told Deborah he would go only if she promised to go with him

Barak demonstrated a measure of respect and honor for Deborah but also a lack of courage and faith on his part

Deborah agreed but told Barak he would receive no honor for God would use a woman in his victory - Judges 4:9

How do you respond when God calls you to do something great?

Let a curse fall on ayone who eats before evening - 1 Samuel 14:24

King Saul had many gifts and talents but he often lacked common sense

As his soliders prepared for battle, Saul gave them the orders to not eat anything during the daylight

King Saul reasoned that daylight was for fighting

He made the order simplete to save time but God provide no such direction

King Saul's rashness and impatience led to poor decisions and outright disobedience

The Israelites defeated the Philistines but it was not decisive thanks to Saul's foolish burden on the soliders

These are the sins of David... Amnin whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel - 1 Chronicles 3:1

Many gifted people fail to achieve all they could because they lack self-discipline like Amnon, King David's first son

Amnon sealed his fate when he looked lustfully at his beautiful half-sister Tamar

The Law of God specifically forbade such behavior

Amnon forced himself on Tamar which led to Amnon's murder by his outraged brother Absalom

All this happened within the family of Israel's greatest king

His life was cut shore before he could do anything of note for God or his people

Jonathon's father had shown flashes of faith but his overall lack of spiritual focus led to his ouster as king and a strained relationship with his son

He took a different approach with his relationship with the Lord:

• Left his father and 600 men at the encampment at Gibeah to launch an overwhelmingly successful attack on the Philistines
• His dependence on God won the confidence of the armor bearer - 1 Samuel 14:7
• Left a legacy of faith and commitment to the Lord

You may not have spiriutal roots as a Christian but you can begin a legacy of faith and obedience

Then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised - Judges 6:37

Some move out courageously and say, "Lets get started!" while others need to test the waters before taking their steps of faith

Gideon was a man of God who needed to be sure; was not a from a lack of faith

He apparently wasn't sure of he heard God correctly he asked God twice for a sign of confirmation

Gideon wanted to know without a doubt that he understood God's calling

God wasn't angry when Gideon asked him to confirm his commands and he won't be angry with you either

You and I are as one. My troops are your troops and my horses are your horses - 1 Kings 22:4

There is a danger of entering into alliances with evil men who have no intent to keep the peace

Jehoshaphat marred his legacy into an ill-advised and miltary alliance with Ahab - the godless king of Israel - 2 Kings 22:43-44

This led to a stinging defeat for Jehoshaphat and Israel and strong rebuke from the prophet Jehu - 2 Chronicles 19:13

God spared him because he had otherwise served him faithfully

His error was the comprise and lack of wisdom in dealing with Ahab

Jesus tested Philip - Where can we buy bread to feed all these people? - John 6:5

Jesus had a little test for the apostle Philip

With thousands of hungry gathered and nothing to feed them

Would Philip look through the lens of faith or his own lack of resources?

Jesus fully intented to perform a miracle that day but Philip failed the test

He focsued on the lack of visible provision instead of on the Provider who stod before him

God specializes in doing what you could not do on your own - a test God wants you to pass