Sermon Central
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Life Lessons From A Squirrel Series
Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Nov 5, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: Life lessons from a Squirrel. These are little devotions that you can use during the Fall/Autumn time of year that help us see how God's creations can help us live an abundant life.
Life Lessons from a Squirrel
"And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds - livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.' And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."
INTRO:
Autumn allows us to take some time out and enjoy all that nature has to offer us. It also allows us to learn some very valuable lessons from creation. One of those animals of course is the common little squirrel. Below are five life lessons we can learn from the everyday common little squirrel.
1. Squirrels teach us to be good stewards of our earth.
Squirrels are amazing tree huggers!
We all know how well squirrels are able to travel up and down through a tree. But did you also know that they help clean up and continue the life cycle of a forest? Squirrels eat a great many things that help out the environment of a forest. For example, squirrels eat bark, plants, insects, caterpillars, nuts, leaves, roots and seeds. Along with all of that, they help replant the forest as they dig holes to hide their seeds/nuts. Many times they are not able to relocate those seeds and nuts and from their planting a new tree emerges. Millions of trees owe their existence to the hiding techniques of their squirrel friends.
Genesis 1:28 - "And God blessed them. And God to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (ESV)
Psalms 8:6 - "You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet." (ESV)
Exodus 23:10-11 - "For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. you shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard." (ESV)
(See also Psalms 104 and Romans 8:18-23)
God placed us here on planet earth for us to be good stewards of all its resources. We are not to exploit the earth. Psalms 104 reminds us that God watches over and sustains our planet. Romans 8:18-23 reminds us that when we sin environmentally the earth groans under our sins. So, when we exploit our planet it is not only a sin against creation but against the creator Himself. Like the squirrel we need to do all we can to live off the resources of our planet but at the same time add back to its richness and fullness.
2. Squirrels teach us to learn how to adapt and adjust
Squirrels are found almost all over the world and in all kinds of climate. You can find squirrels in city parks, forests, rural communities, tropical rain forest and even in some African desert areas. The only place that they seem to not thrive has been the country of Australia. Every other place squirrels of all kinds have been able to adapt and thrive.
1 Corinthians 9:19-231 Corinthians 9:19-23 (ESV)
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV)
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
One of the greatest aspects of Christianity is its ability to be at home in all the nations on our earth. Christianity is able to thrive both in the West and in the East. It is able to thrive in areas where the demographics are white or black or brown or a mixture of all three.
