My goats are sweet, spoiled, beloved and – overweight. They have easy access to hay and fresh pasture grasses. The problem isn’t what they are eating. The problem is that they are not moving. In places outside of the United States, goats are guided along by a shepherd from one feeding area to the next. They take a few bites then a few steps. They are always moving.
Not my girls. I have actually seen them nibbling hay from the feeder while laying on the ground underneath it. They don’t need to walk from one valley to another or from one water source to another. They have everything they need in their living space. They hardly need to move.
I learned, very recently, that I do not need to keep their hay feeders full, as I have been in the habit of doing. In fact, to encourage my plump pals to drop a few pounds, the feeders can remain empty so they have no choice but to walk into the pasture and graze for their food.
The book of Proverbs is full of verses (a few: 13:4, 18:9, 19:15, 21:25) about laziness and the consequences of our laziness, but I think we are already aware of that scenario- AND I’m not suggesting that you and I are lazy! I think the more challenging issue for most of us today is our complacency. My goats stopped grazing because they lacked motivation to search for food. They were blissfully unaware of the consequences of their lifestyle of overabundance. Recognizing that we live in a culture of luxury and excess is an important step in opening our spiritual eyes, seeing what God sees, and developing our spiritual maturity.
Psalm 23 verse 1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need.” Generally we have much, much, more than what we need. We are so accustomed to this lifestyle, that we don’t notice that we have wandered far from a sense of yearning. Our sense of urgency is lost in the comfort of excess.
A sense of urgency moves us to action. We make plans. We set goals. Our enthusiasm is a brilliant fire that ignites passion and excitement in those around us. We live “make every effort” lives and choose wisely. We are eager to reach our potential and desperately reach out to others to join us! Our entire perspective changes when we live with a sense of urgency, motivation, a sold-out commitment to God and the people He loves.
This is the attitude I find in the gospels and in Paul’s letters: “Stay awake…be ready (!)…” (Matt. 24:42-44), “…the time is short…this world is passing away.” (1 Cor. 7:29-31), “the hour has come…salvation is near” (Rom 13:11), “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet…we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15:52)
Two thousand years is a long time to wait. What if we decided to live like the wait was over? What would you do differently today?
“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:1-2
