119 Sermon Illustrations on Aesop S Fables

A FARMER’S daughter was carrying her Pail of milk from the field to the farmhouse, when she fell a-musing. “The money for which this milk will be sold, will buy at least three hundred eggs. The eggs, allowing for all mishaps, will produce two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will become ready for the market when poultry will fetch the highest price, so that by the end of the year I shall have money enough from my share to buy a new gown. In this dress I will go to the Christmas parties, where all the young fellows will propose to me, but I will toss my head and refuse them every one.” At this moment she tossed her head in unison with her thoughts, when down fell the milk pail to the ground, and all her imaginary schemes perished in a moment.

Vanity and worldliness will never get you anywhere. Indeed, it is better to be content with what you have than to aspire to have more than you need.

A WAYFARING MAN, traveling in the desert, met a woman standing alone

and terribly dejected. He inquired of her, "Who art thou?" "My name

is Truth," she replied. "And for what cause," he asked, "have you

left the city to dwell alone here in the wilderness?" She made answer,

"Because in former times, falsehood was with few, but is now with all

men."

It is indeed sad that in this generation many follow Falsehood instead

of the Truth.

THE OXEN once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade destructive to their race. They assembled on a certain day to carry out their purpose, and sharpened their horns for the contest. But one of them who was exceedingly old (for many a field had he plowed) thus spoke: "These Butchers, it is true, slaughter us, but they do so with skillful hands, and with no unnecessary pain. If we get rid of them, we shall fall into the hands of unskillful operators, and thus suffer a double death: for you may be assured, that though all the Butchers should perish, yet men will always search to eat beef."

Do not be in a hurry to change your circumstance. If the Almighty One has sent you a trial, better to endure it than to exchange it for a greater evil.

A CROW having stolen a bit of meat, perched in a tree and held it in

her beak. A Fox, seeing this, longed to possess the meat himself, and

by a wily stratagem succeeded. "How handsome is the Crow," he

exclaimed, in the beauty of her shape and in the fairness of her

complexion! Oh, if her voice were only equal to her beauty, she would

deservedly be considered the Queen of Birds!" This he said

deceitfully; but the Crow, anxious to refute the reflection cast upon

her voice, set up a loud caw and dropped the flesh. The Fox quickly

picked it up, and thus addressed the Crow: "My good Crow, your voice

is right enough, but your wit is wanting."

Flattery and peer pressure will get you no where. Indeed, it is

better to be praised and admired by God than by man.

A VERY HUNGRY FOX, seeing some bread and meat left by shepherds in

the hollow of an oak, crept into the hole and made a hearty meal.

When he finished, he was so full that he was not able to get out, and

began to groan and lament his fate. Another Fox passing by heard his

cries, and coming up, inquired the cause of his complaining. On

learning what had happened, he said to him, "Ah, you will have to

remain there, my friend, until you become such as you were when you

crept in, and then you will easily get out."

Too often, Christians get caught up in the passions of their flesh

that in the end they will have to pay for their sins. Therefore, no

matter how alluring things may appear to us, we must simply walk away

and avoid temptation.

TWO MEN were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on

their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed

himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked,

fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came up and felt him with

his snout, and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and feigned the

appearance of death as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for

it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone, the

other Traveler descended from the tree, and jocularly inquired of his

friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. "He gave me

this advice," his companion replied. "Never travel with a friend who

deserts you at the approach of danger."

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends, but there is one Friend who

will never betray you or abandon you: Jesus Christ!

AN ASS feeding in a meadow saw a Wolf approaching to seize him, and

immediately pretended to be lame. The Wolf, coming up, inquired the

cause of his lameness. The Ass replied that passing through a hedge

he had trod with his foot upon a sharp thorn. He requested that the

Wolf pull it out, lest when he ate him it should injure his throat.

The Wolf consented and lifted up the foot, and was giving his whole

mind to the discovery of the thorn, when the Ass, with his heels,

kicked his teeth into his mouth and galloped away. The Wolf, being

thus fearfully mauled, said, "I am rightly served, for why did I

attempt the art of healing, when my father only taught me the trade of

a butcher?'

If Christians are not careful whom they associate with, it could come

back to haunt them and destroy them.

AN ANT went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and being

carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of drowning.

A Dove sitting on a tree overhanging the water plucked a leaf and let

it fall into the stream close to her. The Ant climbed onto it and

floated in safety to the bank. Shortly afterwards a birdcatcher came

and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the Dove, which

sat in the branches. The Ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the

foot. In pain the birdcatcher threw down the twigs, and the noise

made the Dove take wing.

When you help others, you will most likely be helped too. However,

Christ said it best when He said, "Do unto others as you would like

them do unto you."

A COTTAGER and his wife had a Hen that laid a golden egg every day.

They supposed that the Hen must contain a great lump of gold in its

inside, and in order to get the gold they killed it. Having done so,

they found to their surprise that the Hen differed in no respect from

their other hens. The foolish pair, thus hoping to become rich all at

once, deprived themselves of the gain of which they were assured day

by day.

"The love of money is the root of all evil." I Tim. 6:10;

\reference{Heb. 13:5}{Hebrews 13:5}.

A MOLE, a creature blind from birth, once said to his Mother: "I am sure than I can see, Mother!" In the desire to prove to him his mistake, his Mother placed before him a few grains of frankincense, and asked, "What is it?' The young Mole said, "It is a pebble." His Mother exclaimed: "My son, I am afraid that you are not only blind, but that you have lost your sense of smell.

Too many recent converts may attempt to make it on their own once they are saved. However, little do they know how blind and dependent they still are on God.

A BULL was bitten by a Mouse and, angered by the wound, tried to

capture him. But the Mouse reached his hole in safety. Though the

Bull dug into the walls with his horns, he tired before he could rout

out the Mouse, and crouching down, went to sleep outside the hole.

The Mouse peeped out, crept furtively up his flank, and again biting

him, retreated to his hole. The Bull rising up, and not knowing what

to do, was sadly perplexed. At which the Mouse said, "The great do

not always prevail. There are times when the small and lowly are the

strongest and are able to prevail!"

Blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the Kingdom of God. Yes,

in the end, the humble and low shall be exalted while the mighty and

the proud shall be brought down.

A FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught a number

of crows, which came to pick up his seed. With them he trapped a

bluejay that had fractured his leg in the net and was earnestly

beseeching the Farmer to spare his life. "Please save me, Master," he

said, "and let me go free this once. My broken limb should excite

your pity. Besides, I am no crow, I am a bluejay, a bird of excellent

character; and see how I love and slave for my father and mother.

Look too, at my feathers-- they are not the least like those of a

crow." The Farmer laughed aloud and said, "It may be all as you say,

I only know this: I have taken you with these robbers, the crows, and

you must die in their company."

If Christians continue to give in to peer pressure, the day will come

when the Master when cast them together with other sinners into the

lake of fire.

A shepherd had sought to bring back a stray sheep to his flock. He

whistled and sounded his horn in vain but the sheep paid no attention

to the summons. At last the shepherd got so angry that he threw down

his horn and ultimately broke it. When the shepherd realized that he

had broken his horn, he immediately begged the Goat not to tell his

master. The Goat replied, "Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak

though I be silent."

Though we may attempt to cover or hide our sins, the day will come

when our Master in Heaven will expose everything!

THE GEESE and the Cranes were feeding in the same meadow, when a

birdcatcher came to ensnare them in his nets. The Cranes, being light

of wing, fled away at his approach; while the Geese, being slower of

flight and heavier in their bodies, were captured.

When people become consumed by the passions of the flesh, their souls

become so weighed down that they will not be able to escape the coming

Judgment.

A LION roaming by the seashore saw a Dolphin lift up its head out of

the waves, and suggested that they contract an alliance, saying that

of all the animals they ought to be the best friends, since the one

was the king of beasts on the earth, and the other was the sovereign

ruler of all the inhabitants of the ocean. The Dolphin gladly

consented to this request. Not long afterwards the Lion had a combat

with a wild bull, and called on the Dolphin to help him. The Dolphin,

though quite willing to give him assistance, was unable to do so, as

he could not by any means reach the land. The Lion abused him as a

traitor. The Dolphin replied, "Nay, my friend, blame not me, but

Nature, which, while giving me the sovereignty of the sea, has quite

denied me the power of living upon the land."

We cannot change our human nature (Original Sin) no matter how hard we

try. Only the grace of Jesus Christ can set us free from sin!

A CAT fell in love with a handsome young man, and entreated Venus to

change her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to her request

and transformed her into a beautiful damsel, so that the youth saw her

and loved her, and took her home as his bride. While the two were

reclining in their chamber, Venus wishing to discover if the Cat in

her change of shape had also altered her habits of life, let down a

mouse in the middle of the room. The Cat, quite forgetting her

present condition, started up from the couch and pursued the mouse,

wishing to eat it. Venus was much disappointed and again caused her

to return to her former shape.

No matter how hard we try, we cannot change the fact that we have been

born in Original Sin. Thus, the unconverted will always lower

themselves to their sinful nature -- no matter how powerful or rich

they may be!

A LION, unable from old age and infirmities to provide himself with

food by force, resolved to do so by artifice. He returned to his den,

and lying down there, pretended to be sick, taking care that his

sickness should be publicly known. The beasts expressed their sorrow,

and came one by one to his den, where the Lion devoured them. After

many of the beasts had thus disappeared, the Fox discovered the trick

and presenting himself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave,

at a respectful distance, and asked him how he was. "I am getting

better," replied the Lion, "but why do you stand without? Pray enter

within to talk with me." "No, thank you," said the Fox. "I notice

that there are many prints of feet entering your cave, but I see no

trace of any returning."

He is wise who is warned by the misfortunes of others. Indeed, if we

repeat the mistakes or the sins of others, we will ultimately perish!

A MILLER and his son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of women collected round a well, talking and laughing. “Look there,” cried one of them, “did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along the road on foot when they might ride?’ The old man hearing this, quickly made his son mount the Ass, and continued to walk along merrily by his side. Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate. “There,” said one of them, “it proves what I was a-saying. What respect is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding while his old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and let the old man rest his weary limbs.” Upon this the old man made his son dismount, and got up himself. In this manner they had not proceeded far when they met a company of women and children: “Why, you lazy old fellow,” cried several tongues at once, “how can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little lad there can hardly keep pace by the side of you?’ The good-natured Miller immediately took up his son behind him. They had now almost reached the town.

“Pray, honest friend,” said a citizen, “is that Ass your own?’ “Yes,” replied the old man. “O, one would not have thought so,” said the other, “by the way you load him. Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than he you.” “Anything to please you,” said the old man; “we can but try.” So, alighting with his son, they tied the legs of the Ass together and with the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on their shoulders over a bridge near the entrance to the town. This entertaining sight brought the people in crowds to laugh at it, till the Ass, not liking the noise nor the strange handling that he was subject to, broke the cords that bound him and, tumbling off the pole, fell into the river. Upon this, the old man, vexed and ashamed, made the best of his way home again, convinced that by endeavoring to please everybody he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass in the bargain.

Christians should never give in to peer pressure or demand because they can never entirely satisfy them. Instead, Christians should concentrate on pleasing their Savior.

A MAN and a Lion traveled together through the forest. They soon

began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in

strength and prowess. As they were disputing, they passed a statue

carved in stone, which represented "a Lion strangled by a Man." The

traveler pointed to it and said: "See there! How strong we are, and

how we prevail over even the king of beasts." The Lion replied: "This

statue was made by one of you men. If we Lions knew how to erect

statues, you would see the Man placed under the paw of the Lion."

If we only look hard enough, everything in life can be seen from a

different perspective. Therefore, when things appear dark and gloomy,

look unto the Savior from Heaven who might give you a different

perspective on the situation.

ROAMING BY the mountainside at sundown, a Wolf saw his own shadow

become greatly extended and magnified, and he said to himself, "Why

should I, being of such an immense size and extending nearly an acre

in length, be afraid of the Lion? Ought I not to be acknowledged as

King of all the collected beasts?' While he was indulging in these

proud thoughts, a Lion fell upon him and killed him. He exclaimed

with a too late repentance, "Wretched me! this overestimation of

myself is the cause of my destruction."

Christians should never take pride in their own gifts and talents

since they all come from God.

A WOLF who had a bone stuck in his throat hired a Crane, for a large

sum, to put her head into his mouth and draw out the bone. When the

Crane had extracted the bone and demanded the promised payment, the

Wolf, grinning and grinding his teeth, exclaimed: "Why, you have

surely already had a sufficient recompense, in having been permitted

to draw out your head in safety from the mouth and jaws of a wolf."

In serving the wicked or Satan, expect no reward, and be thankful if

you escape damnation for your pains.

ONCE UPON A TIME a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in order to secure food more easily. Encased in the skin of a sheep, he pastured with the flock deceiving the shepherd by his costume. In the evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the fold; the gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly secure. When the shepherd returned the next day to the fold, he discovered to his horror that many sheep had been slaughtered and eaten overnight.

We must beware of the deadly wolf who dresses in sheep clothing. Indeed, we must stay away from Satan who will always appear to be our friend. Yet, if we invite him into our lives, don’t be surprised if he should seek to destroy us. See reference Matthew 7:15-20

A CERTAIN HOUSE was overrun with Mice. A Cat, discovering this, made

her way into it and began to catch and eat them one by one. Fearing

for their lives, the Mice kept themselves close in their holes. The

Cat was no longer able to get at them and perceived that she must

tempt them forth by some device. For this purpose she jumped upon a

peg, and suspending herself from it, pretended to be dead. One of the

Mice, peeping stealthily out, saw her and said, "Ah, Mister Cat, even

though you should turn into a big cheese, we will not come near you."

In the same manner, Satan will stop at nothing to tempt Christians.

However, Christians should take the same attitude and caution as the

mice: we must not come near Satan nor his temptations.

WHEN MAN first saw the Camel, he was so frightened at his vast size

that he ran away. After a time, perceiving the meekness and

gentleness of the beast's temper, he summoned courage enough to

approach him. Soon afterwards, observing that he was an animal

altogether deficient in spirit, he assumed such boldness as to put a

bridle in his mouth, and to let a child drive him.

At first, Satan may seem powerful and mighty, but even the prayer of a

little child may fend him off.

A LION, greatly desiring to capture a Bull, and yet afraid to attack

him on account of his great size, resorted to a trick to ensure his

destruction. He approached the Bull and said, "I have slain a fine

sheep, my friend; and if you will come home and partake of him with

me, I shall be delighted to have your company." The Lion said this in

the hope that, as the Bull was in the act of reclining to eat, he

might attack him to advantage, and make his meal on him. The Bull, on

approaching the Lion's den, saw the huge spits and giant caldrons, and

no sign whatever of the sheep, and, without saying a word, quietly

took his departure. The Lion inquired why he went off so abruptly

without a word of salutation to his host, who had not given him any

cause for offense. "I have reasons enough," said the Bull. "I see no

indication whatever of your having slaughtered a sheep, while I do see

very plainly every preparation for your dining on a bull."

Satan operates much in the same way. He'll invite us to partake of

the pleasures of the world when, in fact, his sole goal is to destroy

our souls.