Planning Ahead

The following story was told by K. Hughes in a book about Christian Ministry:

Some years ago a young man approached the foreman of a logging crew and asked for a job. "That depends," replied the foreman. "Let's see you fell this tree." The young man stepped forward and skillfully felled a great tree. Impressed, the foreman exclaimed, "Start Monday!" Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday rolled by, and Thursday afternoon the foreman approached the young man and said, "You can pick up your paycheck on the way out today."

Startled, he replied, "I thought you paid on Friday."

"Normally we do," answered the foreman, "but we're letting you go today because you've fallen behind. Our daily felling charts show that you've dropped from first place on Monday to last on Wednesday."

"But I'm a hard worker," the young man objected. "I arrive first, leave last, and even have worked through my coffee breaks!"

The foreman, sensing the boy's integrity, thought for a minute and then asked, "Have you been sharpening your ax?" The young man replied, "I've been working too hard to take the time."

Sometimes we are so busy going about our day that we fail to maximize our potential. Our life needs sharpening, focus, and we need to have a plan. Try the following steps every day for a week and see if they change your life:

Before you leave home for work...

1. Read a short passage from God's Word.

2. Pray

3. Take a small notepad and plan your entire day and do your very best to stick to the plan.

If we do not plan ahead our lives will never amount to much. Noah built the ark before any rain had fallen. Our only hope for salvation includes preparation, faith, and the grace of God.

"Develop your business first before building your house." ~ Proverbs 24:27

"Responsibility is the price of greatness" ~ Winston Churchill