A WORD TO THE WISE. PROVERBS 31: 27. "Sacrificing Nothing"

Proverbs 31: 27     She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31: 27.  Do you remember the children’s story, “The Little Red Hen”?

There was this little red hen who came upon some grains of wheat.  She asked all of the farm animals to help her plant the wheat.  Each one said, “No.  Not I.” So she planted the wheat all by herself.

The little red hen asked for help weeding the green stalks when they came up.  She asked for help plucking the wheat, threshing the wheat.  She asked for help taking the wheat the mill.  She asked for help baking the ground wheat flour.  Each time the other farm creatures replied, “No.  Not I.”  So, she did all of the work herself.

Finally, the little red hen emerged from her kitchen with a warm, freshly baked loaf of bread.  (The picture books always showed a loaf that was bigger than the hen carrying it.)   She asked if there was anyone to help her eat the bread, and every animal on the farm stood up and shouted, “I will.” 

“No, you won’t,” replied the little red hen.  “I will eat it myself, just me and my little chicks.”  And that is exactly what they did.

The animals on the farm wanted to eat without working.  They wanted the enjoy the bread of idleness.

Sometimes people fail because they won’t sacrifice some thing:  some destructive relationship, some self-destructive habit, some token of security that keeps them from advancing . 

But other times---- most of the time--- people fail to succeed because they won’t sacrifice their nothings.  They won’t give up the time they spend doing nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend reading nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend learning nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend not practicing, not calling, not emailing, not pursuing opportunities, not exercising their gifts.

It’s possible to miss your chance because you were doing the wrong thing, but it’s more common to miss your chance because you were doing NO THING.

And there are some people, including some women, who actually expect to have everything they’ve dreamed of while holding on to their nothings.  They expect to eat the bread of idleness.

Bro, you don’t need a woman like that.   You need a woman who will plant, and weed, and pluck, and grind away while all of her friends are waiting for Prince Baller to ride through and drop a loaf of bread on their nightstands.

The little red hen you’re looking for may or may not work outside the home.  But she does work.  She sacrifices idle time to make sure that the children are taken care of.  She sacrifices do-nothing time to learn how to take better care of the house.  She gives up the many nothings she could do, and she does everything possible to make her family more and more successful.  

But them other chicks……..?  

If you run across one of those women who wants to do nothing outside the home, and do nothing from home, and do nothing in the home, but she expects you to give her everything she wants------ then you answer, “No.  Not I.”

---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, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. 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

PROVERBS 31: 27. "Sacrificing Nothing"

Proverbs 31: 27     She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31: 27.  Do you remember the children’s story, “The Little Red Hen”?

There was this little red hen who came upon some grains of wheat.  She asked all of the farm animals to help her plant the wheat.  Each one said, “No.  Not I.” So she planted the wheat all by herself.

The little red hen asked for help weeding the green stalks when they came up.  She asked for help plucking the wheat, threshing the wheat.  She asked for help taking the wheat the mill.  She asked for help baking the ground wheat flour.  Each time the other farm creatures replied, “No.  Not I.”  So, she did all of the work herself.

Finally, the little red hen emerged from her kitchen with a warm, freshly baked loaf of bread.  (The picture books always showed a loaf that was bigger than the hen carrying it.)   She asked if there was anyone to help her eat the bread, and every animal on the farm stood up and shouted, “I will.” 

“No, you won’t,” replied the little red hen.  “I will eat it myself, just me and my little chicks.”  And that is exactly what they did.

The animals on the farm wanted to eat without working.  They wanted the enjoy the bread of idleness.

Sometimes people fail because they won’t sacrifice some thing:  some destructive relationship, some self-destructive habit, some token of security that keeps them from advancing . 

But other times---- most of the time--- people fail to succeed because they won’t sacrifice their nothings.  They won’t give up the time they spend doing nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend reading nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend learning nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend not practicing, not calling, not emailing, not pursuing opportunities, not exercising their gifts.

It’s possible to miss your chance because you were doing the wrong thing, but it’s more common to miss your chance because you were doing NO THING.

And there are some people, including some women, who actually expect to have everything they’ve dreamed of while holding on to their nothings.  They expect to eat the bread of idleness.

Bro, you don’t need a woman like that.   You need a woman who will plant, and weed, and pluck, and grind away while all of her friends are waiting for Prince Baller to ride through and drop a loaf of bread on their nightstands.

The little red hen you’re looking for may or may not work outside the home.  But she does work.  She sacrifices idle time to make sure that the children are taken care of.  She sacrifices do-nothing time to learn how to take better care of the house.  She gives up the many nothings she could do, and she does everything possible to make her family more and more successful.  

But them other chicks……..?  

If you run across one of those women who wants to do nothing outside the home, and do nothing from home, and do nothing in the home, but she expects you to give her everything she wants------ then you answer, “No.  Not I.”

---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, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. 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

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 29: 26 "DO I KNOW YOU?"

Proverbs 29: 26     Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.

They say, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know?”  

Buford Graves said, “There’s always one person who can tell you, ‘Yes,’ when everyone else has said, ‘No’ and can tell you, ‘No’” when everyone else has said, ‘Yes.’ Meet that person, and when you have a problem, that’s the person you talk to.”

Pay attention now.  The key thing in Pops’s advice is meeting that key person BEFORE you have a problem.  

My father gave me this advice on my first day as a freshman at Alabama State University.  Then he dropped off my bags in front of C.J. Dunnn Arena, gave me some money, and drove back to Mississippi. I didn’t have  schedule or a dorm room.  And this was before cell phones. 

Alone, on a college campus, I followed Pops’s advice.  I walked from office to office meeting every administrative vice president, director, and dean even remotely related to my majors.  

“No, sir. No, ma’am. I don’t need anything. I’m Anderson Graves, Thurgood Marshall scholar from Mississippi, and I just wanted to introduce myself to you.”

And do you know what every one of those ph.d.’s and power-brokers said to me before I left his/her office?  They said, “If you have any problems, you come directly to me.”

Now, some of my friends had hook-ups in the front of these offices.  They knew the work-study student who worked in filing, or the secretary who worked reception, or the clerk at one of the desks.  I was respectful and polite to all those people, but when I needed something, I walked past their desks.  I entered the big door in the back and talked to the one person who could say yes when everyone else had said no and no when everyone else had said yes.

They shared advice,  explained how the system really worked,  solved problems for me, and offered me new opportunities, but not because I knew who they were. Anybody with a campus directory or a school yearbook knew who they were.  I could get resolution while others were bound up in red tape because I had established a relationship with the bosses.  I had access to the bosses because THEY KNEW ME. 

It’s not just what you know.  It’s not just whom you know.  There’s also, critically a matter of WHO KNOWS YOU?

Does the Boss know you?

You need guidance and blessing that only God can provide.  Do you already have a personal one-to-one covenant relationship with Jesus?  Does He already know you?

Or, do you keep trying to get in good with God because of what you need at the moment.

You may begin to say, “Come on, Lord.  It’s us.  Don’t you remember us?   We went to your house on Sundays sometimes.  We had dinner in your fellowship halls.  We did the communion thing.  You had a preacher in and out of our neighborhood.” (Luke 13: 25, 26) 

But God will say, “Hey, Jack!  I said I don’t know you like that.  This blessing isn’t for people who are outside of My will and My favor.  So all of ya’ll can kick rocks!” (Luke 13: 27)
You may know of Jesus, but if He doesn’t know you, then ultimately it ain’t gonna work out well. 

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. (Luke 13: 28)

It’s not just what you know, or whom you know.  The crucial question is DOES HE KNOW YOU? 

You may find yourself at the door/ gate of opportunity having little to open the door.

If you have and are living according to a real personal relationship in Jesus Christ, then He knows you.

He’ll see you at the door and say, “Hey.  I know you.  You’re one of Mine.  I know your work.  I’ve seen what you’re trying to do for My kingdom, in line with my will.  Come on around here, son.   Forget all these fools crowding here trying to get into a closed opportunity.  Come down to an entrance just for you.” 

See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelations 3: 8)

Pops was right.  What you know matters.  Whom you know matters. But the most important thing is WHO KNOWS YOU.

---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.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

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

Proverbs 29: 26 "DO I KNOW YOU

Proverbs 29: 26     Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.

They say, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know?”  

Buford Graves said, “There’s always one person who can tell you, ‘Yes,’ when everyone else has said, ‘No’ and can tell you, ‘No’” when everyone else has said, ‘Yes.’ Meet that person, and when you have a problem, that’s the person you talk to.”

Pay attention now.  The key thing in Pops’s advice is meeting that key person BEFORE you have a problem.  

My father gave me this advice on my first day as a freshman at Alabama State University.  Then he dropped off my bags in front of C.J. Dunnn Arena, gave me some money, and drove back to Mississippi. I didn’t have  schedule or a dorm room.  And this was before cell phones. 

Alone, on a college campus, I followed Pops’s advice.  I walked from office to office meeting every administrative vice president, director, and dean even remotely related to my majors.  

“No, sir. No, ma’am. I don’t need anything. I’m Anderson Graves, Thurgood Marshall scholar from Mississippi, and I just wanted to introduce myself to you.”

And do you know what every one of those ph.d.’s and power-brokers said to me before I left his/her office?  They said, “If you have any problems, you come directly to me.”

Now, some of my friends had hook-ups in the front of these offices.  They knew the work-study student who worked in filing, or the secretary who worked reception, or the clerk at one of the desks.  I was respectful and polite to all those people, but when I needed something, I walked past their desks.  I entered the big door in the back and talked to the one person who could say yes when everyone else had said no and no when everyone else had said yes.

They shared advice,  explained how the system really worked,  solved problems for me, and offered me new opportunities, but not because I knew who they were. Anybody with a campus directory or a school yearbook knew who they were.  I could get resolution while others were bound up in red tape because I had established a relationship with the bosses.  I had access to the bosses because THEY KNEW ME. 

It’s not just what you know.  It’s not just whom you know.  There’s also, critically a matter of WHO KNOWS YOU?

Does the Boss know you?

You need guidance and blessing that only God can provide.  Do you already have a personal one-to-one covenant relationship with Jesus?  Does He already know you?

Or, do you keep trying to get in good with God because of what you need at the moment.

You may begin to say, “Come on, Lord.  It’s us.  Don’t you remember us?   We went to your house on Sundays sometimes.  We had dinner in your fellowship halls.  We did the communion thing.  You had a preacher in and out of our neighborhood.” (Luke 13: 25, 26) 

But God will say, “Hey, Jack!  I said I don’t know you like that.  This blessing isn’t for people who are outside of My will and My favor.  So all of ya’ll can kick rocks!” (Luke 13: 27)
You may know of Jesus, but if He doesn’t know you, then ultimately it ain’t gonna work out well. 

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. (Luke 13: 28)

It’s not just what you know, or whom you know.  The crucial question is DOES HE KNOW YOU? 

You may find yourself at the door/ gate of opportunity having little to open the door.

If you have and are living according to a real personal relationship in Jesus Christ, then He knows you.

He’ll see you at the door and say, “Hey.  I know you.  You’re one of Mine.  I know your work.  I’ve seen what you’re trying to do for My kingdom, in line with my will.  Come on around here, son.   Forget all these fools crowding here trying to get into a closed opportunity.  Come down to an entrance just for you.” 

See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelations 3: 8)

Pops was right.  What you know matters.  Whom you know matters. But the most important thing is WHO KNOWS YOU.

---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.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

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