The Pig Or The Chicken

Back in about 1983, while in service, a preacher was preaching and he made a statement that has stayed with me all these years. He said, "You are either the pig or the chicken." He then went on to explain what he meant. "It's like with breakfast, the ham and eggs. You are either the chicken, who gives a portion of itself and goes on its merry way, or you are like the pig, who must lay down his life to give his portion."

As I said earlier, that has stayed with me all these years. It has had a profound effect in my life also. You could probably say it was life changing. Much of my mindset was from the chicken side. I just wanted to go, leave a portion of myself in some capacity, and then go on my merry little way. But this thought, it began to stir in me something that I had not really thought about too much. Commitment!

See, in the breakfast senario, the chicken is involved but the pig is committed! It cost the pig his life! But the chicken just gave a portion and went on. Many times our lives are like that very situation. We want to just give a portion, but we don't want it to cost us! We are willing to give just about anything that God wants from us, except what costs us! We say we want to be HIS disciples, but we don't want HIS discipline! We want HIS blessings, but we don't want HIS correction! My question is, how can we have one without the other? I really don't think it is possible.

What about those of us who are married? Do we want our spouses to just be involved in our marriage, or do we want them committed to it? Do we want them to do just enough to get things by, or do we want them laying down their lives to make sure it works. And remember with this, we can't expect more from them than we are willing to give ourselves!

In regards to the Kingdom of our God - Do we just want to be involved? Or do we want to be committed! Do we want people to teach our children who are not committed? Do we want people to lead us into HIS presence in worship who are just involved? Do we want the men and women of God to stand and declare to us The Truth, and they themselves not be committed to the same Word they are declaring to us? Never expect more from others than you are willing to expect, and give, from yourself!

So, in your personal life with Christ, are you involved, or are you committed? Are you getting all the blessings you can, or trying to be all the blessings you can be? Are you giving a portion of your life or are you laying your life down for HIM?

Are you the Pig or the Chicken?