Nothing Good Happens When the Wagon Gets Too Full
There is a fairly common situation that can be expressed in a lot of ways. It could be that you have heard (or said) that, in many instances, ten percent of the people do ninety percent of the work or maybe twenty percent of the people do eighty percent of the work.
Sometimes instead of using the ratios mentioned above, you may hear the following expression:
“We have too many people in the wagon and too few people pulling the wagon.”
Using that analogy, let me suggest that there is absolutely nothing good that will happen if or when a wagon gets too full. There are any number of bad things that can (and often do) happen if and when this situation develops, though. I’m sure that there are more than I can think of, but among those negative things are:
- What began as a labor of love by those pulling the wagon can, and often does over time, turn into an unwanted burden.
- Resentment can rear its ugly head among the “wagon pullers.”
- Some (maybe many) of those who have spent years pulling the wagon can/will –
- Decide that they’ve done it long enough and quit
- Become unable because of age, health, etc. to continue
- Pass away
- Those in the wagon can (and often do) –
- Spend a great deal of time and effort criticizing the direction in which the wagon is going, the speed at which they are traveling, etc. They never think about using that time and effort in helping to pull the wagon.
- Encourage more “wagon-riders” to join them. After all, there are lots of benefits without any effort
I am sure that there are many, many more negative things that can happen when the wagon gets too full. Maybe you can add to that list.
I would like to share one more possibility.
The wagon could become so overloaded that it totally breaks down.
If a wagon loaded with hay breaks down, that could prove to be quite an inconvenience. More time and effort would be needed than originally planned in order to get the hay to where it needed to go.
What if we’re not talking about a load of hay, though? What if we are not even talking about people who are members of a social or civic organization?
What if we are talking about eternal souls who worship together under the same roof on Sunday? What if that group of souls could be described in terms of having too many in the wagon and too few pulling the wagon? I am not sure that it is possible for a person to think that they are under no obligation to serve in any way and still claim loyalty to the One who described Himself and His mission in these terms:
…the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28, ESV)
Could it be that some who wear the name “Christian” have not figured out that we are not saved to sit, but, instead are saved to serve?
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10, KJV)
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn