HOW TO EAT AN ELEPHANT

HOW TO EAT AN ELEPHANT!

James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

           Most of us are familiar with the well worn question: “How do you eat an elephant?” We also have learned the answer: “You eat it bite at a time!” Most problems present themselves as huge and overwhelming. We feel we have been asked to eat an elephant. However, upon further investigation, we see that the task is not impossible if we simply focus on eating this elephant “bite at a time” instead of swallowing it whole.

           Erwin W. Lutzer said:  Jesus was not distracted with trivia. He was never in a hurry, for he knew his Father would not give a task without the time to do it. Christ was not driven by crises, feeling he must heal everyone in Israel. He could say, "It is finished,” even when many people were still bound by demons and twisted by disease. What mattered ultimately was not the number of people healed or fed, but whether the Father's will was being done. His clearly defined goals simplified his decisions.

           Most of our panic is produced because we fail to see our resources in God. We know that we are weak and we fail to consider that He is strong. We know that we are bankrupt and we fail to consider that He is rich. Our purposes seem unclear but He is ever in control.

           Elisha had become very unpopular and the king sent an army which surrounded him in the night. In the morning his servant was thrown into a panic because he could not see God’s resources all around him. Elisha prayed that God would reveal himself clearly. Panic faded and confidence was renewed!

2 Kings 6:15-17

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord , I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord  opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Dear Lord, open my eyes today that I might see my resources in you. Take away the panic from my spirit and restore my confidence. AMEN