Are We The Only One Pulling?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
The story is told of an out-of-towner who drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Fortunately, a local farmer came to help with his strong horse named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, “Pull, Nellie, pull!” Buddy didn’t respond. Once more the farmer hollered, “Pull Buster, pull!” Buddy didn’t respond. Once more the farmer commanded, “Pull, Coco, pull!” Nothing. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, “Pull, Buddy, pull!” And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.
The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, “Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t even try!”
An Example Like Buddy
We’re a lot like Buddy. We don’t like to do something if we think we’re the only one pulling. Need an example? Ever said, “Why should I put my time and effort into the work of the church? No one else seems to care!” Or, “Why should I put forth the extra effort to do a good work at work? No one else does, and it wouldn’t be appreciated anyway!” Or, “Why should I be nice to him? He’s certainly not going to make any effort to be nice to me!”
See what I mean? Like Elijah in the cave (1 Kings 19:9), we say to God, “I, even I only, am left” (1 Kings 19:10). Nobody else is faithful. Nobody else is trying. but God told Elijah He had 7,000 in Israel on His side (1 Kings 19:18).
Conclusion:
Like Buddy and Elijah, we may be blind. Blind to what others are doing around us. But, even if we are the only one doing what is right, we need to continue! We need to “keep on keeping on!” There is work yet to be done (John 4:34-35; cf. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).