Your Daily Devotional for December 29, 2007

 

December 29,  2007

 

 

Carried Any Donkeys Lately?

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

 

Galatians 1:10

 

 

An old fable that has been passed down for generations tells about an elderly man who was traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind. The townspeople said the old man was a fool for not riding, so to please them he climbed up on the animal's back. When they came to the next village, the people said the old man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the animal's back and continued on his way. In the third village, people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk, and the suggestion was made that they both ride. So the man climbed on and they set off again. In the fourth village, the townspeople were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey because he was made to carry two people. The frustrated man was last seen carrying the donkey down the road. 

 

We may laugh, but this story makes a good point: We can't please everybody, and if we try, we end up carrying a heavy burden. When we try to do everything other people want us to do, we can easily become frustrated and confused. That is why we need to remember that the one we must please above all others is Christ.

 

Proverbs 16:7 says, "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." When you see a sign that reads, "Interstate 99 North," you know what direction and what way you are traveling. Our lives should have a permanent sign for all to see that says, "Pleasing God." When others look at the way we live, they should know what direction we are going—we are living solely to please God.

 

Pleasing God first is much easier said than done. Pleasing God may consist of less overtime and more soulwinning. It may consist of less "self" time and more family time. Sometimes pleasing God means stepping out of your comfort zone. It may mean rearranging your priorities.

 

When you are trying to please your boss, your spouse, your children, your relatives, your pastor, your teacher, and your friends, sometimes it gets extremely overwhelming. Beckoning to the wishes of those around you does more than put you out of sorts; it derails you from your main purpose—to please God first.

 

Examine your schedule and your priorities. Is pleasing God at the top of your list? Or, have you been carrying too many donkeys lately?

 

Daily Bible Reading

Zechariah 9-12 • Revelation 20

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