INTRODUCTION:

1. Cheating seems to be a common practice today.
2. Military Academy – School – homework, tests
3. High Tech – Cell phone, text messages, wireless internet, beepers, PDA
4. College – papers off the internet
5. Professional – lie on resume
6. When I was 10 – Uncle Howard gave a small package with my name on it.
   1. When I got the chance – I carefully opened the box
   2. It was a small pocket knife – My first knife
   3. Then I thought – I need to be surprised when I open it
   4. I practiced being glad, surprised, amazed

 People Who Are Dealing With The Cheating Issue

1. Randall & John—The History Test – Football player about to lose eligibility – Asks John to help him cheat – What should John do?
2. Ronald The Cleaner-The Honesty Test – Cleans at night, reports hours, skipped work to watch World Series – What does he report?
3. Saul, The Amelekites, Obedience Test – 1 Samuel 15:13-23
4. Price To Pay To Cheat – Cheating is a trade-off
5. You Can’t Always Have It Both Ways

Can Cheating Be Thought Of In Good Terms?

1. Trading Off One Thing For Something Else
2. To Lose Weight – We Cheat Our Hunger For A Greater Cause
3. The Price To Pay To Practice 14 Hours A Day Basketball, Piano – When you practice 14 hours – you cheat some other activities

Is Cheating Necessary To Save The Family

1. The Family Is A Gift—Hard Work For A Good One
2. Many Voices Call For Us To Cheat The Family
3. Hey, We Want To Be Good…fathers, spouse, worker, member, friend
4. We Cheat Families To Gain The Approval Of Others
5. What yells loudest gets the attention
   “Squeaky wheel gets the grease”
6. Choosing to be intentional about family
   Make an appointment with your wife

 The case of Mary, Martha, and Jesus – All were cheaters!

1. Jesus stops by – Can’t serve peanut butter and jelly, chicken soup
2. What would Jesus accept?
3. Luke 10:7-8 – Eat what is put before you
4. Mary decides to cheat her sister – not help with the meal
5. Martha decides to cheat herself – not listen to Jesus
6. Martha seeks Jesus to side with her

 Jesus Cheats His Anger To Show Mercy

1. Luke 10:41-42 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,
   42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
2. Jesus prefers relationship to anger
3. Seeks to lift up Mary from humiliation
4. Martha what you chose is good but not the best
5. What Mary found was a relationship
6. 2000 years from later – the event is over
   1. Nobody wants to know what Jesus ate
   2. Many want to know what He said