The Key of ACTION
Years back in secondary school; I often participated in the track and field events; and my preferences were long jump and 3000 meters. As at that time, being a teenager, it was just for the fun of it.
However, I learned over the years, that no one finds inspiration to run a 3000 meters race until he or she knows that there’s going to be a prize for the winner. The reason is clear. The 3000m is a long race. It will tire you without doubt and only the promise of an award would keep you on the track hoping for the best.
Life, like the 3000m, is quite an adventure. And guess what, there is a prize at the end of it. However, only those that will dare to stay on the track for that long, and perhaps to the end, will obtain the prize.
Paul the apostle speaking by inspiration said; “know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one recieveth the prize, so run, that ye may obtain…”1
Paul readily notes here that at the end of every race, there is a prize to obtain. And that’s for sure. Note also that life is a race and you were not designed by God to be a spectator in this race. You were not made to stay out there and cheer up those in the race. God's intention for you is that you’ll be a participant in the race. The implication of that is; you have a chance of obtaining the prize. Don’t settle for less; you’re not meant to be left out. There is no partiality with God as long as you play your part.
But Paul states clearly that “…so run, that ye may obtain”. In other words, you cannot obtain anything without taking action. You just must run.
We talked about planning in the previous chapter as paramount to your success. However, plans not pursued are of no good. How do I mean? I mean taking action! Stand up and put your plans to work.
You sit down to plan, but you must stand up now and act. Planning without action would make a dreamer frustrated. Many have dreams, a few have gone ahead to create plans for accomplishing those dreams, and a few yet have gone the extra mile of taking action.
You can’t afford to sit there and wish for things to happen simply because you have big goals. It is your action that differentiates you from the beggar on the street. You may be a graduate wearing nice coats, but if you don’t act on your dreams and plans, you‘re no different from a beggar. Don’t die a camouflage.
Habakkuk 2:2 has become a memory verse among Christians today. It’s a shame however that like it is called, “memory verse,” it remains stuck only in their memories. Very few people actually act accordingly.
“…write a vision, make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it”. Many have had visions and nice goals (through deep thinking). Many others have made plain upon tablets their goals (that is; well drawn-out plans). However, only few are actually running with their vision. Only few are taking action. That’s why only few are obtaining the prize.
You will only have your laziness to blame if you don’t succeed. Stop folding your arms and saying “there is no capital to start up the business I want to do”. There are several ways to raise capital. You only need to sit down and think, then stand up and act. If you show me a diligent man, I will show you a man who must succeed no matter what?
Don’t fold your hands and say “nobody is willing to give me the support I need”. If you stand up, you will attract people’s support. People no longer support mere intentions. They want to see how serious you are by your actions. Laziness repels people. Wise and calculated action makes a man attractive to potential helpers. Your problem is not money or people. Your problem is your own laziness.
The writer of Hebrews said…. Let us run with patience, the race that is set before us.”2 It would be shameful to leave this world when your time is up without making unforgettable impact. Only your great accomplishment however can put you on the list of those that made impact; and only giant strides (defined by deliberate and audacious actions) can help you to those accomplishments.
This is a wakeup call. Too many are asleep. You are not moving forward and the reason is because you are still asleep. Remember the four lepers at the gates of Samaria. I talked about them in chapter 1. There was the risk of dying if they go into the city, but they knew they would still die of hunger if they remained where they were. Then they said to themselves and I paraphrase; if we don’t go for the fear of dying, we will still die here, so why don’t we go anyway? We will go, they said. We will take actions. We will not sit here and fold our arms. We can’t just die here! So they entered into the city, and they did not die. Rather, they returned with plenty.
Friend, laziness kills. It does, really. Get over your self-pity and your predicament. Start taking action on your plans now.
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
1. 1 Corinthians 9:24
2. Hebrews 12:1