https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Wanting-Something-for-Nothing.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: II Samuel 24:10-25<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. Have you noticed how many people want something, but are unwilling to put sufficient\neffort into obtaining what they want?\n A. I keep hearing about the latest lotto figures. Hundreds of millions of dollars are\navailable, for the meager cost of a few bucks.\n 1. Millions of people spend hard earned cash for a chance to win money for\nwhich they did not work.\n 2. Gambling is wrong because no goods or services are bought, only a chance\nto gain more than what you put into the system.\n
B. Wealth is not wrong in itself, but God teaches us to work for our wealth.<\/p>\n
1. Genesis 3:19 – Man is condemned to work for his food.<\/p>\n
2. Ephesians 4:28 – Working with your hands<\/p>\n 3. II Thessalonians 3:10 – If you are unwilling to work, you don’t deserve to\neat.\n
4. Proverbs 12:11 – Steady, low-pay work is more valuable than quick money<\/p>\nII. Yet there are other ways people look to get something for nothing. I have dealt with\nseveral young men who are quite happy to move in with a woman, but they are unwilling\nto get married.\n A. Let me give you an example of a young man I met in New York. He started living\nwith an older woman, but he didn’t want to get married. I met him after she left\nhim for another man with more money. He was devastated.\n 1. He wanted a “wife and kids.” Someone for whom he could provide.\nSomeone waiting for him when he got home.\n 2. In other words, he wanted the companionship and love without the lifetime\ncommitment of marriage.\n
3. Of course, without a commitment the relationship did not last.<\/p>\n
B. Marriage is for companionship – Genesis 2:18<\/p>\n
1. But it comes with a price.<\/p>\n 2. You give up your independence for the rest of your life. – Genesis 2:24,\nRomans 7:2\n 3. To have a companion implies you have to be companionable, even when\nyou roll out of bed early in the morning.\n a. A friend loves at all times, not just when it is convenient – Proverbs\n17:17\n
C. Marriage is for sexual relationship – Proverbs 5:15-19<\/p>\n
1. But it means having no one else – Proverbs 6:27-32<\/p>\n 2. It means being available to fulfill your partner’s need even when you don’t\nfeel like it – I Corinthians 7:2-4\n D. Marriage doesn’t come free even though the benefits of marriage are far greater\nthan its costs\n
III. Still others want religion without committing themselves<\/p>\n A. They almost become Christians, but they never take the final step, as if they are\nleaving themselves an escape route. Much like King Agrippa – Acts 26:24-29\n
B. Others become Christians, but they do not commit themselves<\/p>\n
1. The disciples left everything to follow Jesus – Matthew 4:18-22<\/p>\n
2. It is ourselves that we offer God – Romans 12:1<\/p>\n
3. We must put God first in our lives – Matthew 22:37-40<\/p>\n
C. We cannot “give it a try” when serving Christ<\/p>\n 1. When we place conditions, qualifications, and reservations on our\ncommitment, there is no commitment.\n
2. People who give it a try, bail out when things get hard.<\/p>\n
3. Early Christians did not give it a try, they were committed.<\/p>\n a. In Rome, a policy was implemented where a token was given out\nto show you had made a sacrifice to the Emperor. Without that\ntoken, you could not shop in the market place. You could be\narbitrarily stopped and arrested.\n
b. Matthew 10:38-39 – Take up your cross<\/p>\n c. From Foxe’s Book of Martyrs: “The causes why the Roman\nemperors did so persecute the Christians were chiefly these – fear\nand hatred. First, fear, for that the emperors and senate, of blind\nignorance, not knowing the manner of Christ’s kingdom, feared\nand misdoubted lest the same would subvert their empery; and\ntherefore sought they all means possible, how, by death and all\nkinds of torments, utterly to extinguish the name and memory of\nthe Christians. Secondly, hatred, partly for that this world, of its\nown natural condition, had ever hated and maliced the people of\nGod, from the first beginning of the world. Partly again, for that the\nChristians being of a contrary nature and religion, serving only the \ntrue living God, despised their false gods, spake against their\nidolatrous worshipings, and many times stopped the power of\nSatan working in their idols: and therefore Satan, the prince of this\nworld, stirred up the Roman princes and blind idolaters to bear the\nmore hatred and spite against them. Whatsoever mishappened to\nthe city or provinces of Rome, either famine, pestilence,\nearthquake, wars, wonders, unseasonableness of weather, or what\nother evils soever, it was imputed to the Christians.”\n
d. Does it cost you this much to be a Christian today?<\/p>\n
D. There is a cost to being a Christian<\/p>\n
1. We cannot long for the old ways – Luke 9:57-62<\/p>\n
a. The Israelites tried to have it both ways – II Kings 17:33<\/p>\n
b. We cannot serve two masters – Luke 16:13<\/p>\n
2. We cannot be distracted by worldly things, like Martha – Luke 10:40-42<\/p>\n a. In your grandmother or great-grandmother’s day, she used to get up\non Sunday morning, cook a big breakfast for her large family, milk\nthe cows, churn, clean house, kill and dress the chickens for dinner,\ndress the children, then drive with the family in a buggy or wagon\nfive miles to worship services and was likely to get there early.\n b. Today – when breakfast comes in cereal box, the milk, butter, and\nchickens come from the grocery store, and the distance to the\nmeeting house is covered in minutes in an automobile – it is almost\nimpossible for some folks to make it in time for Bible study.\n
c. What is the difference but a commitment to God?<\/p>\n d. David said he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God\nthan to live a life of ease among the wicked – Psalm 84:10-12\n
3. We cannot become apathetic. <\/p>\n
a. A double-minded man is unstable – James 1:8<\/p>\n
b. Don’t become entangled in the world again – Matthew 13:20-22<\/p>\n
c. Be steadfast and unmovable – I Corinthians 15:58<\/p>\nIV. What price would you be willing to pay for the salvation of your soul? For an eternal life\nin heaven?\n
A. We don’t get something for nothing.<\/p>\n
B. But the cost is so little compared to the glory we can receive.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Samuel 24:10-25 I. Have you noticed how many people want something, but are unwilling to put sufficient effort into obtaining what they want? A. I keep hearing about the latest lotto figures. Hundreds of millions of dollars are available, for the meager cost of a few bucks. 1. Millions of people…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[1177,498,386],"class_list":["post-60155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-commitment","tag-effort","tag-laziness"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40723,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-to-avoid-doing-something-because-i-dont-want-to-be-embarrassed\/","url_meta":{"origin":60155,"position":0},"title":"Is it wrong to avoid doing something because I don’t want to be embarrassed?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I have a question. Is not wanting to be embarrassed a sin? Or is fearing what people would think of you a sin? I really think I had some form of OCD years back that I am now trying to fully rid out of my life. I had\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":38088,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-deal-with-friends-wanting-me-to-join-various-prayer-groups\/","url_meta":{"origin":60155,"position":1},"title":"How do I deal with friends wanting me to join various prayer groups?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I sure can use your help. I have friends who keep wanting me to join this or that prayer group. They send attachments to many websites that call for prayer on various subjects. I tell them I pray for many of these subjects, but I do it on my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28107,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-meaning-of-life-why-are-you-here\/","url_meta":{"origin":60155,"position":2},"title":"The Meaning of Life: Why Are You Here?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 6:6-21 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What is it that you are looking for out of life? What are you expecting? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So many people never find contentment with their lives because they are expecting things that life cannot deliver. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They decide they can\u2019t be happy with life\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":49107,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-are-they-unable-to-see\/","url_meta":{"origin":60155,"position":3},"title":"Why Are They Unable to See?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 19 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019m sure it has happened to you. You\u2019re talking to someone and the point is clear and obvious to you, but the other person can\u2019t see it. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You can see it in the apostles when Jesus stated he was going to die\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":49408,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/hastening-the-day-of-the-lord\/","url_meta":{"origin":60155,"position":4},"title":"Hastening the Day of the Lord (Hamilton)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 3:3-15 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When there is an event coming up that you really look forward to, it seems that time just drags. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Christmas when you were little, graduating from High School, going off to college, your wedding day, etc. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But then in other ways\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61784,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-you-weary-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":60155,"position":5},"title":"Are You Weary of God?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 17, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Micah 6:1-3 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Being a Christian is a commitment for life. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Matthew 7:13-14 - Few make it. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Few made it from Israel - Romans 9:27 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People will want in, but don\u2019t put in the effort until too late - Luke 13:23-30 II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It isn\u2019t that God\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60155\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}