“Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others…” (Hebrews 13:16, MSG).
I once read about an old well located outside the front door of a farmhouse. The water was pure and cool to the taste. Regardless of how hot the summer or limited the rainfall, the well was a reliable source of refreshment.
However, when the farmhouse was refurbished with indoor plumbing, the old well was capped off. Years later, the homeowner unsealed the well and lowered a bucket hoping to taste the delightful water, once again. To his surprise, the farmer discovered the well was dry.
The farmer asked a neighbor how such a thing could happen. The neighbor explained that as long as water is being drawn from the well, additional water will filter in from nearby rivulets. Yet when the water ceased flowing, the rivulets would clog up and close. The irony is that the well dried up, not because it was being used too much, but because it wasn’t used often enough.
Such is the power of entropy. Neglect and inattention can ruin a once thriving source of life. A continual pattern of disregard can lead us to throw our most cherished blessings away.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to not take for granted the gifts God has given us. All of us want the perfect marriage. The stellar career. A perfect circle of friends. A sterling reputation. Yet if our plans fail to yield successful results, our sense of disappointment can lead us to abandon any measure toward attaining our goals.
Regardless of the struggle, however, God asks that we continue priming life from the wells to which we have been assigned. Our bodies. Our families. Our friendships. Our relationship with God. These are the wells we have been given. These are the fountains through which God grants us abundant life. These are the means by which God extends to us His grace.
Be careful then not to neglect the gifts God has given to you. And whatever you do, never take for granted the One from whom all blessings flow.