The Test Of Greatness
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Today is Family Sunday & this morning we will learn that:
What we do with what we have determines what we get
Let me tell you a story about Isaac and his test of greatness.
First:
Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah
When he was a little boy God gave his father, Abraham, a great test to prove Abraham’s loyalty and commitment. (Genesis 22:1)
When Isaac was 40 years old he got married (Genesis 25:20)
He and his wife, Rebecca, had twin sons named Esau & Jacob
Isaac lived to be 180 years old and had many, many grandchildren (Genesis 35:28)
One day when Isaac was near 80 years old, he was living in the land of Canaan, the land God had promised to give him & his children after him, there was a famine in the land.
It looked as if Isaac only had one choice if he wanted to provide food for his family.
He would have to leave the promised land and move down into Egypt.
Sometimes the promised land is not what was promised yet!
His father was faced with the same choice before Isaac was ever born (Genesis 12:10)
Isaac decided to do something different
To sow his seeds in the land of famine
Why?
Because he believed it was what God wanted him to do.
Did Isaac make the right choice?
Let’s Read Genesis 26:1-5 & 12-13
1 ¶ And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
12 ¶ Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
God gives some people
Great power
Others
Great wealth
Great opportunity
Great talent
Great wisdom
Great beauty
Great knowledge
Great forgiveness
Great tasks
Great families
Great second chances
Among other things, Isaac was given a great opportunity.
At times we find ourselves in the middle of something God is doing and He chooses us to help Him get it done.
What we do with what we have determines what we get
Isaac gained great wealth & power as a result
The test of life is what we do with what God has given us
When we pass the test … we are demonstrating that:
We have given our greatest for God’s glory
We fail the test of life when we choose to use our greatest God given gifts selfishly and wastefully
What can we do if we fail the test of greatness
Ask God For Forgiveness;
God always gives everyone two great gifts:
Great Forgiveness
Great Second Chances
God will forgive you and give you a second or third or fourth chance to demonstrate your loyalty and commitment to Him and His purpose for your life.
What we do with what we have determines what we get!
Isaac, like his father Abraham, used his greatest gift for God’s glory.
Let’s all pray that we will use our greatest gifts for God’s purposes and not just for our own benefit.
