Cheating is too Costly
Matt. 7:24-27, Cor. 1 3:10-15
Cheating brings you failure in the hour of real testing. Cheating will paralyze the heart throb of your conscience.
I: Cheating gives temporary relief.
1. Cheating says get it the easy way.
2. Cheating makes us want something we have not earned.
3. Cheat wants to dance without paying the fiddler, a good time at your expense, and a growing church without growing members.
4. Cheating wants the fruit of faithfulness without being faith-full.
II: Cheating is the crown of hypocrisy.
1. It wants to be respected by good people while living like the devils children.
2. Cheating carries the constant fear of exposure. (John, I’m here).
3. Cheating causes us to lose respect for ourselves and project our failure to others.
4. Cheating gives a false sense of security.
III: Cheating will make a fool of you in the hour of testing.
1. When the rain began to fall and the wind howls about your door, fear will rage thru your heart like a wild beast.
2. As the sandy foundation begins to crumble, and the house of cheat groans and comes apart, you will be sorry.
3. Cheating will laugh while your head is bowed in shame and defeat.
IV: It is wisdom not to cheat.
1. Wisdom says dig deep.
2. Wisdom is mindful of the hours of drudgery but it looks to the future.
3. Wisdom refuses to take cheap material.
4. Wisdom won’t be rushed into taking a short cut.
5. Wisdom does not fear the day of testing and exposure.
6. When the storm breaks and tears at the foundation, wisdom waits out the storm in confidence.
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon, but let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can
no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. Every man’s work shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.” Cor. 3:10-15