A wealthy man had a friend who was a builder. The builder was down on his luck and hadn’t done much work lately. The wealthy man felt sorry for him and decided he would help him out. He offered him a set of plans and a check for $300,000. The philanthropic gentleman said, “I want you to build me a new home. I’m turning the entire project over to you. You make all the decisions. If you do a good job, I promise to pay you well.”

The builder was very excited. He could finally start earning some good money. But he started thinking, “If I cut a few corners here and there maybe I could pocket some of that $300,000.” So he went out and bought the cheapest concrete he could find. He had the cement mixer water it down so it would stretch further. He saved four or five thousand dollars right there.

Then contractor went out and found the least expensive lumber he could fine. Some of the wood was bent and warped. He didn’t care since it would be hidden behind the walls. He did the same thing with the plumbing, the electrical work, cutting corners and saving money. When the job was completed, he had saved nearly $40,000, which he discreetly buried in his own bank account.

He called his wealthy friend to take a look at the finished house. The purchaser was quite impressed. On the surface, the home appeared to be beautiful. The prosperous gentleman never guessed the builder had cut corners, compromising the integrity of the whole house.

The builder was ecstatic as he recognized how pleased the owner was. He could not wait to see how much he was going to be paid.

As the wealthy man walked to the front door, he turned slowly with a grin on his face and said to the builder, “You know, I don’t really need this home. I already have a beautiful home.” Then he handed the builder the keys, and said, “Here, my friend. This is for you. You’ve just built yourself a brand new home.”

You and I are always building our own homes. Whether it is on the job or in your church, you are building a reputation or character of integrity. When you cut corners by being dishonest on your job or failing to give your best, you are hurting yourself. If you never have time to build God’s house with our time and talents, you are hurting yourself.

Your poor foundational decisions will affect your future. You may look good on the outside, but inside you know the walls are starting to crumble.

Are you watering down your foundation because of a lack of integrity? What kind of materials are you placing in your life? Be you using the best materials to build your marriage and your service to the Lord or are you skimping?

From Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen.

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

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If each note of music were to say,
“One note does not make a symphony”
There would be no symphony

If each word were to say,
“One word does not make a book”
There would be no book

If each brick were to say,
“One brick does not make a wall”
There would be no wall

If each drop of water were to say,
“One drop does not make an ocean”
There would be no ocean

If each seed were to say,
“One seed does not make a field of corn”
There would be no harvest

If each one of us were to say,
“One act of love cannot save mankind”
There would never be justice and peace on earth

Begin now, why are you waiting?

– Michael Quoist

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

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A story is told about a man who was on a luxury liner and suddenly he falls overboard. He can’t swim and in desperation he begins calling for help. Now it just so happens that there were several would be rescuers on deck who witnessed the incident.

The first man was a MORALIST. When he saw the man fall overboard he immediately reached into his briefcase and pulled out a book on how to swim. He now tossed it to him and he yelled: Now brother, you
read that and just follow the instructions and you will be alright.

The man next to him happened to be a IDEALIST. When he saw the man fall overboard he immediately jumped into the water and began swimming all around the drowning man saying: Now just watch me swim. Do as I do and you will be alright.

The person next to him happened to be a member of the INSTITUTIONAL
CHURCH. He looked upon the drowning man’s plight with deep concern. He yelled out: Now, just hold on friend. Help is on the way. We are going to establish a committee and dialogue your problem. And then, if we have come up with the proper financing, we will resolve your dilemma.

The next man on deck happened to be a representative of the school of
POSITIVE THINKING. He yelled out to the drowning man: “Friend, this
situation is not nearly as bad as you think. Think dry!”

The next man on board happened to be a REVIVALIST. By this time the drowning man was going down for the third time and desperately began waving his arm. Seeing that, the revivalist yelled out: Yes brother, I see that hand, is there another? Is there another?

And finally, the last man on deck, was a REALIST. He immediately plunged into the water, at the risk of his own life, and pulled the victim to safety.

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

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