I’m a member of a Bible study group. One of our guidelines is to read a designated passage every day and to answer questions about it. When the group formed, we were excited about the study and determined to do our ‘homework.’ However, it wasn’t long before some of us were too busy to get to our Scripture reading every day. We would come to group with our questions only partially finished. Life had gotten in the way and finding the time each day was just too difficult. Maybe, the study of God’s word was not important enough to cause us to go out of our way to study it.
A chipmunk demonstrated to me what determination means.
I put out a bird feeder this summer. The birds came. I enjoyed watching them cluster around the perches and even sit on neighboring forsythia bushes while awaiting their turn at the feeder. One day, all of the birds were sitting back away from the feeder. I looked closer to see a fat, furry chipmunk, happily hogging the birds’ food. Wondering how he could have reached that high perch, I tapped on the window and watched him jump to a close forsythia branch. The branch was thin but he held on and scurried down through the bush. The feeder was too close to the bush. I moved it farther away. A day or so later, he was back. I moved the feeder again. At the time of this writing, it seems to be out of his reach.
I have another feeder attached to a lower hanger at the edge of the deck. One day the chipmunk was feeding there. I moved it away from a neighboring plant. A day or two later, he was back on the perch. I opened the patio door to see him jump off and run for the shelter of the deck. As I closed the door, I watched him make an abrupt U-turn and head back to the feeder where he easily jumped straight up - about eighteen inches - landing securely on the perch.
I have a new respect for chipmunks. It isn’t that this chipmunk needs the bird seed. There are many sources of food in my yard, but he wants the good stuff. Once he had a taste of it, he was determined to do whatever it took to get it.
His determination proved stronger than mine.
Why isn’t our desire for God’s word as strong as this chipmunk’s desire for seed? God’s word is the good stuff – the source of life. Who is moving the bird feeder away from me? Why aren’t I willing to go out on a limb or to leap as high as physically possible to get it?
As stated in Deuteronomy, “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 8:3b (ESV)
John 6:27 tells us to work for the food that endures for eternal life.
God’s word must be a priority. When life gets hectic, I will remember the chipmunk and put forth a little more effort to get the good stuff.
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