Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday January 2, 2006

Well, here we go into the New Year, the Year of Our Lord, 2006. What will this year hold? Will I accomplish little or much for the glory of Christ? Will this be just another year lived for myself?

Noted writer William Barclay told a story of his dog, Rusty. Rusty was one of Barclay's few redeeming qualities, but a redeeming one nonetheless.

"Rusty, a Bull Terrier, (I told you he had a few redeeming qualities) would walk along with Mr. Barclay through a meadow and along a stream, usually early in the morning, while the light ground fog was still clinging to its form which often lent an eerie feel to the walks. While Mr. Barclay walked and Rusty gallivanted around the place, Rusty would often go lunging into the stream. While pawing around in the water Rusty would plunge his head to the bottom and pick up a small stone with his mouth, and carry the stone to the bank and then go for another one. If Barclay allowed, this would continue for hours, Bull Terriers lean to obsession. When telling of Rusty's wild enjoyment in gathering small stones from the stream bed, Mr. Barclay would ask;

"What is the point?"

As far as he could tell there was no point. Rusty's work was of no value at all. He then pointed out that Rusty was like too many Christians, very busy, but to no point, they were simply going through one monotonous day after another being very busy, but working to no clear, observable purpose.

Barclay stated, "They operate on the dog level."

The above story is from the Christian Courier.com in an article about William Barclay.

I am asking the Lord Jesus to help me this year to focus my efforts toward His purpose in my life. I have spent enough of life gathering small stones from the stream of God's mercy in a very busy manner, yet all to no avail.

It is amazing how we learn something of value as we travel along the path and then realize one day, “Hey, how did I get away from this practice, this truth?” For instance, I learned many years the value of asking myself:

"In what way will this expenditure of time, talent or treasure move me closer to my stated objective, my purpose. Is this goal in harmony with my overall objective?"

You will be surprised at how much of life and the stuff of life we waste when we fail to ask the above question and answer it honestly and then have the courage to label many efforts as 'Busy gathering small stones for no sensible purpose.'

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2005 Use with credit.

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