[align=center]I received this in an e-mail and would like to share it with you..[/align][align=center][/align][align=center]Loving Others Through Parables
By Eric Elder
[/align][/align][align=left]The sun and the wind decided to have a contest one day to see which
of them was the strongest. When they saw a man walking down the
street wearing a warm winter coat, they agreed that whoever could get
the man"s coat off would truly be the strongest.[/align][/align][align=left]The wind thought this would be a piece of cake, so he began to blow
with all his might. But the harder he blew, the tighter the man held
onto his coat. Eventually, the wind gave up, and the sun took a
turn. The sun came out from behind a cloud and began to shine
brighter and brighter. As the man got hotter and hotter, he finally
took off the coat of his own accord. The wind had to concede that
the sun was indeed stronger.[/align][/align][align=left]When trying to get your family and friends to put their faith more
fully in God, which approach do you think would work best? To blow
harder and harder like the wind, or to shine brighter and brighter
like the sun?[/align][/align][align=left]I had to use this illustration one day to help a friend. Although he
meant well, his actions towards others often had the effect of
repelling them from what he wanted them to do, rather than drawing
them to do it of their own accord. I could have just told him
directly what was happening, but I felt by using a parable, he might
be able to see better what was really happening.[/align][/align][align=left]Jesus knew the power of parables, too. He told them often, like the
seven parables He told in Matthew chapter 13: the parables of the
sower, the weeds, the mustard seed, the yeast, the hidden treasure,
the pearl, and the net. In fact, Matthew says: "Jesus spoke all
these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to
them without using a parable" (Matthew 13:34).[/align][/align][align=left]Why did Jesus use so many parables? When the disciples asked Jesus
this question, He replied, in part: "Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand." People can often
see a point better when it is illustrated as an external reality
first, then they can apply it internally to their own lives. When
confronted directly, people"s defensiveness can sometimes cloud their
thinking to words that could otherwise be truly helpful.[/align][/align][align=left]The prophet Nathan used this approach when speaking to King David, a
man who was blessed with many things, but who had committed adultery
by taking another man"s wife. Nathan said:[/align][/align][align=left]"There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.
The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the
poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He
raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his
food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a
daughter to him.[/align][/align][align=left]"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from
taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the
traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that
belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to
him."[/align][/align][align=left]David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As
surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He
must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing
and had no pity."[/align][/align][align=left]Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:1b-7a)[/align][/align][align=left]David immediately saw his own wicked actions in the story and broke
down in true repentance.[/align][/align][align=left]The next time you have to approach someone with something that might
be hard to share directly, try using a parable, an illustration or a
story. Rather than blowing harder and harder like the wind, try
shining brighter and brighter like the sun![/align][/align][align=left]-----------------[/align][/align][align=left]Prayer: "Father, give me wisdom to know how to approach those I
love, so that they may hear Your truth in a way that moves them to
action. In Jesus" name, Amen."[/align]
__________________
wayne
"There's room at the cross for you."
Amen Motor, I heard that parable in church, our associate pastor used it in his sermon. And the Parable for David is also on a veggie tales movie, it's called King George and the Rubber Duckie. I bought it for my kids since they don't understand yet what adultery is yet.
Loving Others Thru Parables
