The Lion and the Gazelle

“Every morning in Africa, when the sun rises over the Serengeti, a Gazelle begins to run.  Why?  Because she knows that if she is not faster than the fastest lion, she will be caught, devoured, and surely die.  And every morning in Africa, when the sun rises over the Serengeti, the lioness also begins to run.  Why?  Because she knows that if she is not faster than the slowest gazelle, she will go hungry, starve, and surely die.  The moral of the story is this; It doesn’t matter if you see yourself as the lion.  It doesn’t even matter if you see yourself as the gazelle, but when the sun comes up, you had better start running.”
~Author Unknown
I can remember my father telling me this story as a child.  I have held it dear to my heart all these years because it helps me resist the trappings of laziness.  Laziness is defined as to be averse or disinclined to work, activity, or exertion; to be indolent.  Work is defined as exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; to labor; to toil.  As Believers we must have a predisposition to work and an averse to laziness, not only for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, but also for our earthly employers as well.
 ^23″Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving”. ~Colossians 3:23,34 NIV
We do this not to act as “people pleasers” but, because it is what the Lord commanded of us.  The Bible is filled with scriptures warning its readers against laziness and I would like to share a few of them with you.

• The Lion 
   ¹ “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” ~Proverbs 28:1 NIV

The Bible frequently speaks on patience.  However, it would be disastrous to confuse patience with a spirit of laziness.  Sometimes we say we are putting things off to plan or to prepare when we are actually just putting things off.  No one has ever won a race they have never started.  As Christian Believers we must be people of patience who calmly wait on direction from the Lord (even the lioness on the plains of the Serengeti waits for the most opportune time to pounce on her prey). But, we must also be people of action who, by Gods divine direction, move when called upon.  Lets look to the Bible for more insight on the subject.
^11″Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”    ~Romans 12:11-12 NIV
^6″In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” ~2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 NIV
As a man or woman of action, you will not be without your criticizers.  In fact, it should be expected.  They will call you a dreamer, unrealistic, or even insane.  But, if you are truly in God’s will, then it is better to heed His direction than the direction of man.  Popular author Bryant H. McGill once commented on this very same subject.
“Fanatic is often the name given to people of action by people who are lazy.” ~Bryant H. McGill

• The Gazelle 

⁴ “Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. ⁵Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. ⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!”  ~Proverbs 6:4-6 NIV
It’s no secret that the Bible is pretty hard on the person it calls “the sluggard”.  Who exactly is King Solomon speaking of?  He’s basically describing a lazy person and has a few harsh but factual words for them.  Lets take a look at a few scriptures.
¹⁹ “The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.” ~Proverbs 15:19 NIV
⁴ “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” ~Proverbs 13:4 NIV
²⁵ “The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. ²⁶ All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.” ~Proverbs 21:25-26 NIV
Lets face it, Friends.  Gazelles are designed to run.  They have springy legs and lite, streamlined, bodies.  In fact, some have been reported to maintain speeds up to 50 miles per hour.  But, if they chose to lay idle instead of using their God given talents, resources, and abilities, they would be quickly devoured.  As Christian Believers, we are supposed to be men and women of great faith.  However, if we only believe and choose not to apply our faith, then we allow ourselves to be easy prey for Satan like the motionless gazelle.  The Book of James put it this way.
^14″What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” ~James 2:14-17 NIV
The Parable of the Talents in the Book of Matthew also brings this idea to light.
¹⁴“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. ¹⁷So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
 ¹⁹“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
 ²¹“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
 ²²“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
 ²³“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
 ²⁴“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
 ²⁶“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
 ²⁸” ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. ²⁹For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ³⁰And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.‘ ~Matthew 25:14-30 NIV
Bryant H. McGill had a comment to make about this subject as well.
“Change will never happen when people lack the ability and courage to see themselves for who they are.” ~Bryant H. McGill
 As followers of Christ, we should eagerly listen for God’s direction and then act upon His calling.  We should also be careful stewards of our God given abilities actively applying them when and where necessary.  We should learn from the examples of the lion and the gazelle and cast off the spirit of laziness for there is no place for it in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer!
~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

 

Memory Verse 1:  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11 NIV

Memory Verse 2:  “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17 NIV

Memory Word 1: “Laziness”:  averse or disinclined to work, activity, or exertion; to be indolent

Memory Word 2:  “Work” :  exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; to labor; to toil

Inspiring Music: “Run” by J’son and “Work” by Tedashii