July 20 2017 – Click here to listen
When I bought sprawling 5000-acre Honey Lake Plantation I had my workers construct and install hundreds of bird houses for bluebirds and other species all over the property. Since then many people have asked me why I spent so much time and money on this project. They pointed out the fact that I cannot possibly get around to all those bird houses and watch the occupants raise families. The obvious question in their minds was if I would never enjoy seeing them why go to the trouble? Why not build a few in my yard and call it a day?
I also planted numerous very slow growing trees that I will never live long enough to see mature. I planted some Live Oak trees on either side of a road that will take 50 years to mature, but when they do, a beautiful canopy will arch across the road where their moss-covered limbs will touch and it will no doubt create a beautiful drive. Certain times of the year Whitetail deer will gather underneath them and dine on the acorns that the majestic oaks will produce. Birds and raccoons will sit atop the grand trees and will be able to see for miles.
I also planted a bevy of Long Leaf pine trees, most majestic of the pine trees but also the slowest growing. In 50 years they will tower all over the property and a single log will nearly build a small house.
My friends asked, “What’s up with the tree planting? At your age, you’ll never make one dime and/or see them grow to maturity or harvest a single tree – Why you’ll be pushing up daisies in 50 years Bob.
What’s the point?”
Hmmm . . . If we cannot derive personal and tangible benefit from something, should we refrain from doing it?
I want to leave things better than I found them. There will be people and wildlife that will benefit from my efforts in the years to come and I can envision their enjoyment, but more importantly the Lord made us stewards of His property. That does not mean to me that we should strip it of everything of personal value or not make improvements because we will not directly benefit. It means we need to manage it for God the way God would want it managed.
My most important mission left in this short life is to help others find a relationship with Christ. Hardly a week ever goes by without someone writing and telling me they read my book Miracle on Luckie Street, Crazy Like Foxes, or a random entry from Words for the Day, and it ended up changing their lives for the better forever.
Most likely I will never even meet them, at least this side of heaven. So why go to the trouble? I give so many books away I will never make a profit on books sales, Words for the Day is free and I won’t make anything there. The Jesus Alliance takes difficult 18-hour workdays with zero salary – no personal gain there. Many anti-God nuts who don’t like any of my efforts berate and even threaten me. No fun there.
So, why do it?
Because it’s the right thing to do and I don’t want to sin against it.
James 4:17
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.