There’s an old story about a group of animals that
started a school with courses in swimming, running,
climbing, and flying. The squirrel wanted to swim like
a duck and almost drowned trying to learn. The duck
wanted to sprint like a rabbit, so he enrolled in
running. He kept tripping over his big webbed feet and
falling flat on his face.
The rabbit wanted to soar like an eagle, so he enrolled
in flying. He broke his leg when he jumped off the cliff
and fell on the rocks below. The eagle wanted to climb
trees like a squirrel, but kept falling backwards
because its wings couldn’t grab the tree. All the
animals got depressed because they couldn’t acquire
the coveted skills they each wanted. (Adapted
from The Animal School by George Reavis,1940.
Public Domain)
You’ll also probably get depressed if you’re
comparing yourself with those having exceptional
talent. God called me to teach the Bible, but I’d also
like to sing. I’d love to perform at concerts where
people pay hundreds of dollars just to hear me sing.
But that won’t happen because I have a terrible
singing voice and nothing will ever change that.
If you compare yourself with others, you’ll either
become proud or discouraged, and neither attitude
comes from God. You’ll be proud if you think you’re
better, and discouraged if you think you’re inferior.
You might even blame God for your lack of skills: “The
thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you
make me like this?’” (Rom. 9:20).
Face the facts. You’ll probably never win a gold medal
at the Olympics. If you’re a duck, you’ll never outrun a
rabbit. If you’re a squirrel, don’t try swimming the
English Channel. But if you’re a duck, you can swim
really well, so swim for the glory of God.
Don’t complain about abilities you don’t have. Instead,
use whatever abilities the Lord gave you to be
pleasing to Him and “serve the Lord with gladness”
(Ps. 100:2).
Comments