PICKING UP STICKS

“Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire…” — Acts 28:3

Paul has just spent two weeks in a tempestuous storm at sea and was shipwrecked on the island of Melita (present day Malta). It was late October and it was still raining and cold.

What does Paul do? Does he sit shivering on the beach bemoaning the unpleasant situation? Hardly! He is thankful to be alive. He gets up and makes himself useful in picking up sticks to put on the fire so the survivors can get warm. He makes the best of the poor circumstances and brings some comfort out of  it!

Can you visualize Paul soaking wet and picking up sticks? Here are a few “sticks” I see him gathering…

1. The stick of INITIATIVE. No one had to tell Paul to gather wood for the fire. He saw something that needed to be done and he did what he could! Thank God for people who see a need and seek to do something about it!
2. The stick of HUMILITY. It was not below the dignity of Paul to bend down and gather sticks. He didn’t go around telling everyone that he was an Apostle and command them to find wood for the fire. He set the example.
3. The stick of SERVICE. Paul was a great leader because he was a servant (Mt. 20:26-27; 1 Cor. 9:19). Instead of waiting for others to serve him, he demonstrated having a “servant’s heart.”
4. The stick of SELFLESSNESS. I don’t see Paul crowding in for a closer spot near the fire to get warm (remember there were at least 275 other people there). He put others ahead of his own needs.

Do you see some “sticks” that you need to gather in the Lord’s work? Don’t complain about the rain and cold. Look around and pick up some “sticks” to make your situation better than it is!