Don't Snap! Snap out of it instead!

Don’t Snap!

I thought we would take a few minutes to learn from one of those small things that we probably don't pay too much attention to—the rubber band.  I looked it up and the rubber band was patented in England way back in 1845 so it has been with us for a very long time.

The rubber band is a tiny little thing but I think as women we can learn some lessons from it.

Stretch your Faith!

One of the first characteristics we see in a rubber band is that it is stretchy because it is made out of rubber.  It's the best quality about it because if it didn't stretch it wouldn't be so useful to us.

I think as Christian women, one of the first things we need to learn is to stretch our faith.  Stretching our faith helps us grow.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”.  Hebrews 11:6

We see in this verse in Hebrews that it is impossible to please God without faith.  We've got to do a little stretching where our faith is concerned.  It's like when we stretch our muscles before exercise.  It helps us become more efficient.  The three things stretching muscles helps is our muscle control, flexibility, and our range of motion.

Stretching our faith makes us become more efficient Christians.  Wow!  What a range of motion we can have where faith is concerned.  What marvelous things we can accomplish through just a little faith.   I'm reminded of that verse about the mustard seed.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Be Flexible!

There is something to be said about not budging on the Word of God and biblical principles, but in other areas we have to learn to be flexible.  Women that are never flexible can fast become a hindrance to the very things they are trying to accomplish.  You don't want to become the brick wall that is unmovable.

Are you open to new ideas?  Can you embrace change when it is needed?  Can you adapt to the variety of personalities within your group?  Can you see the reality of a situation compared to what you would like it to be?

I think one of the things I've learned about being flexible is that I have to remember that passage in Philippians 2 where it talks about how we are to look on others.  I just have to make myself go back sometimes and read the entire chapter to put things into perspective.

Verse 3 says,

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves

When I start putting other people's needs above my own, I am more apt to be more flexible.  I start looking at things with other points of view than just my own.

 

Hold it Together!

Rubber bands are great little tools for holding things together such as index cards and other things.  The postal service has been using rubber bands on stacks of mail for years.

How good are you at holding things together as a woman?  Are you able to keep calm and keep your others calm when unforeseen or upsetting things arise?

Do you wrap your arms around your friends and the people around you by praying constantly for them?  

You were not dropped into a wherever you are today without help.  You have the Lord to rely on.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:1

Don't Stretch till you Break!

We've seen that rubber bands are great little useful items but what happens when we stretch them beyond what they are made for?  Snap! They break.

One of the biggest issues I have found in working at this church over the years is that many have a tendency to overcommit themselves.

Overcommitting can cause you to stretch yourself too far and too thin.  Just like a rubber band that has went past the stretching point, you will end up snapping and maybe breaking altogether.

When we put too much on our plate we are in danger of some breakdowns coming.  They might be physical, emotional, or spiritual.  Sometimes it could be all three.  Don't put yourself into that position.

Recently we held an all staff meeting here for our church.  All 4 campus staff gathered together and we had a guest speaker to encourage us as we face the challenges of ministry.  I’ve been pretty busy lately and the encouragement was great.  I actually walked away asking myself if I am trying to do too much by myself?  Do I allow others to use their talents and gifts? Am I spending enough time with my husband and family?  

The speaker had told us that GOD doesn’t actually need us.  He finds pleasure in seeing us serve and he enjoys watching us grow, but he doesn’t need ME to do his work.  So rather than stretching until I break, I need to take a BREAK and allow others to serve.

Conclusion:

It is always a good idea to slow down from time to time and really evaluate what we are doing.  I'm hoping that the insignificant rubber band can help us do that.

I hope it will remind us to stretch our faith, to be flexible, and not to stretch beyond what we should.

We all have the potential to break down but if we are going to snap, we had better snap out of it!  

Here are four things that help me when I feel like I'm a crusty old rubber band that won't stretch anymore and has lost its flexibility.  Or maybe I feel like that rubber band that has to be discarded because it is broken and isn't quite so useful anymore.

1.  First I have to remember that I am serving Christ.

2.  I have to remember that it is not all about me and that GOD doesn’t need me to do His work.

3.  I have to remember that my strength comes from HIM.

4.  I have to remember not to get hung up on small or big things, that people always come before paper and.... rubberbands. J