Hand Tools vs. Power Tools

Jesus…said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

Props: a few hand tools with their corresponding power tools (e.g., screw driver and drill)

            Take a minute and just look around the room.  Now tell me some of the things (not people) you see.  (Allow for response).  We can look around and see walls and a floor, chairs, lights… (Continue to name things in the room).  Almost all of the objects we can see have something in common—they were made using tools.  Tools have been around for thousands of years.  (Hold up some of the hand tools).  People since Adam have been using them to make things.  But only just a few decades ago something wonderful happened—the invention of POWER TOOLS.  (Display and run a power tool.  Whichever tools you are using, give examples of the inefficiency of the hand tool versus the efficiency of the power tool).

            It’s easy to get excited about the power of these tools, just like it’s easy to get excited about the power you have.  I could go on and on about how easy my work is now that I have this tool, just like some people brag about their power.  I could put together a whole house of furniture while someone with a hand tool only has one piece put together.  But there’s something very important I need to keep in mind: while you can do a lot more with power tools, you can also easily destroy things with them and you can very easily hurt yourself or other people with power tools if you’re not careful. 

            The more powerful something is, the easier it is to build things and the easier it is to destroy things.  Power can help or hurt.  The more powerful something is, the more careful you must be when working with it. 

            God has given you power, but He gave it to you with the purpose of helping others.  You must be careful how you use your power.  And the more power you have, the more careful you must be that you use it to build others up and not tear them down. 

            Remember, God gives us power for the purpose of helping others.  Use the power you have to help, not hurt.