Turtles on Fence Posts

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Corinthians 4:7

There is a story I once heard about ‘Roots’ author Alex Haley. It seems he had a picture in his study of a box turtle sitting on a fence post. When folks would inevitably ask him about the photograph, he would merely reply, “I have it because it reminds me that I didn’t get where I am without help.”

I don’t know if the story is true or not, but I do know that it’s an accurate assessment of my present condition. I do not live where I live, or have the things I have because of anything I have done—everything I am, and everything I possess, is the direct result of God’s intervention.

A person might make an argument that they are responsible for the work, toil, and effort, but I would surely say, “God has allowed it.”

So why me

Or, why you? Why has the Lord blessed us so abundantly and left others around the world seemingly in dire want? When we ponder that question in the light of God’ word and His mandates, the answer is crystal clear…

We are blessed to be a blessing to others

Oh, there might be other reasons why the Lord has so blessed us, but frankly, the idea that we are in a position to give what we have freely received makes the most sense. So let us not waste valuable time in contemplating why the Lord allows bad things to happen, but instead determine how we who are blessed can bring God’s goodness to bad situations.

We are Christ’s body

And doesn’t make sense that we should be listening ~and~ obeying the Head? These world problems exist on the scale they do today largely because the body is not obedient. Imagine your sorry state if your hands, from this day forward, refused to do what your brain commanded.

You are blessed for a reason…

COMPASSION dave