Results

We live in a results oriented society. The teacher has to keep on making lesson plans. And before those lesson plans are finished, more lesson plans must be made. The factory worker has to produce so many parts per day. He can’t point to how many thousands of parts he has made through the years. He has to make more today. The nurse always has more patients to care for. The farmer can’t rest on last year’s yield. His crops must be bountiful this year. We spend so much time doing and seeking results. Each job has its own responsibilities. 

I learned quickly that each week there is another sermon to preach, another Bible class to teach, another article to write. We spend so much time producing, in whatever we do; that sometimes we fail to soak in like we should. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10 NLT). Have you made the time to be still lately? Have you taken the time to read from God’s word and to pray? God knows that you produce so much. You need to take the time to soak things in to be fruitful. We are men and women, not machines. Although, I will say even machines get tired and need a break too. My red van doesn’t run constantly, but it is up to 300 thousand miles! 

The Israelites kept the Sabbath, a built in day off for worship and rest. This was also incorporated into their land. The land was fallow every seven years, a Sabbath year. This was long before research showed the effectiveness of crop rotation. Even the land needed a rest. Every 50 years, there was a year of jubilee. The land rested for 2 years, year 49 (7 x 7) and year 50. Are you making the time to be a soaker? Read the bible daily. Pray daily. Take time to rest. A sopping wet sponge can’t soak up anymore. Sometimes, we are all wet from producing so much. We haven’t taken the time to be rung out. One of the best ways I have found to be refreshed is by worship. Unfortunately, mankind can try to change this into some results oriented commodity. In reality worship is meant to be focusing on God and being renewed. Soak up all you can from God. You will be better at whatever you do.

Jimmy Hodges