There are times when we get in God’s way when He is trying to tend to the business of His kingdom here on earth. "A man was struggling with a large box at the back edge of his truck. A passing neighbor saw his plight and came over to help him. He put his shoulder to the box. After a few tiring moments the neighbor exclaimed, "What’s in that box anyway? I don’t think we will ever get it on the truck." "Get on!" the exasperated man shouted, "I’m trying to get it off!" … Well-meaning Christians can be God’s worst enemies. When we judge and condemn others, when we set up our own standards of what it means to be saved, when we claim absolute knowledge of God’s will and of his Scriptures, we take over God’s role and attempt to run his business" (Hoefler, p. 47). That is the very reason that we sometimes fail to see that we are trying to put the box on the truck when God wants the box off the truck.

View Illustration | Add to Favorites | Add to Calendar | Print Illustration | Share with a friend

Category: Humor

(0 ratings)

Contributed By:
Sermon Central Staff

Topic: Communication: General

Scripture:

1 Kings 18:27-18:29

Suggest a Scripture Reference

Keywords: none
(Suggest a Keyword)

Rate this Resource

HOW TO GET ATTENTION

This is the story of George Phillips of Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things.

He immediately phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and George said, "No", and explained the situation. Then they explained that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available.

George said, "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them all."

Then he hung up. Within a few minutes, three squad cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed. One of the policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

To which George replied, "I thought YOU said there was nobody available!"

** I would NOT recommend trying this to get the attention of the police at any time; but it was a good way to get our attention here today. T'was just a thought...

(From a sermon by Steven Buhr, The Secret of Contentment, 1/22/2010)