Proverbs
30: 15 The leech has two daughters— Give and Give!
There are three things that are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough!”:
16 The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”
People use these statements interchangeably, but they are very, very different. Different in DEFINITION. And different in DEFINING.
There are three things that are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough!”:
16 The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”
Proverbs
30: 15, 16. “Give me.” “Help me.”
People use these statements interchangeably, but they are very, very different. Different in DEFINITION. And different in DEFINING.
“Help
me” can mean “HELP me.” Work with
me. Teach me what I didn’t know before I
put myself in this situation. Show me
what I had not seen so that I don’t end up like this again. Contribute whatever or however you choose to,
but hold me ultimately responsible.
Please, HELP me be more responsible.
But,
the phrase “Help me” can also be defined as “gimme.” Gimme what I want. Handle it so I don’t have to. Release me from responsibility for my actions
and circumstances. Gimme, and then be
ready to gimme some more.
What
matters isn’t the words, but the DEFINITION/ the meaning behind the words. Titles and terminology can be a disguise but
the real DEFINITION behind what comes out of our mouths will soon show.
Differences in DEFINITION are important, but what’s more important are the differences in DEFINING.
In
Matthew 7: 15-20, Jesus said that a tree, a prophet, or a person is DEFINED by
the fruit he/she bears. It is our fruit/actions/output
that DEFINES us.
So,
if what comes out of you is always “Gimme.
Gimme,” then according to the definition in Proverbs 30: 15, you
are A LEECH.
You’re
not a victim. You’re not a little down
on your luck. You may say “all I need is
a little help,” but if your idea of help is somebody else handing you money
while you do nothing more or different------ God says that you’re A LEECH.
Rev.,
that’s harsh.
Bro.,
that’s Bible.
Leeches
suck the life out of their host, pausing their consumption only long enough to
reproduce. Other than that a leech will
drink until it dies, or the host does.
The
grave never says, “Enough death.”
The
barren womb is never filled.
The
parched earth does not believe that it will ever get enough rain.
The
fire never reaches more fuel and stops because it has consumed enough.
So
it is with the leech, whether animal or human.
He doesn’t know when to quit taking. She
doesn’t know how to stop begging.
Consider yourself:
1. When
they tell you that you’re asking for their last, do you ask anyway?
2. Will
you really change the way you live to get the help you need, or do you keep saying “I’m doing
good, I just can’t pay my bills (again)”?
3. Do you
believe that sacrifice now will reward you later, or do you feel like you have
to ball while you can because “I ain’t never gone have nothing anyway”?
If
the description fits, there is a reason why your life sucks.
You’re
a leech.
But
wait.
You
don’t have to stay that way. You can be
unleeched.
God
can remove the consuming character from fire, like He did for Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abengo (Daniel 3).
God
can send rain on land that has known only drought for years, like He did
through Elijah(1 Kings 18: 41-45).
God
can speak life into the barren womb, just like He did for Sarah (Genesis 21:
1-7).
God
can command the grave to give up its prey, as He did when He called Lazarus
forth (John 11).
The
Lord can make that which is never satisfied declare “Enough.” God can unleech you.
Stop
making excuses. Stop waiting for someone
else to give you something else. Stop
living a life that sucks.
Submit
to God. Give yourself to Jesus. Walk according to the Living Word. Be transformed.
Be
UNLEECHED.
---Anderson
T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer and
consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall
Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more
about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.
If you enjoy our work, please help support our work
in the community. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
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