THE BREAD BASKET

The president of a very successful company was once asked what it took to get to the top. "The same thing it took to get started," he replied, "a sense of urgency about getting things done!"

Have you noticed that the people who make things happen in this world share this same sense of urgecy?The "movers and shakers" are driven by a sense of urgency about today! Before Charles Schwab became well known in his own right as a steel magnate, he worked for the great industrialist, Andrew Carnegie. One day Carnegie taught Schwab a valuable lesson -- a lesson Charles never forgot. "All records broken yesterday," Schwab wired to his chief. To which Carnegie telegraphed, "But what have you done today?"

That is a thought-provoking question for us as well. No matter how intelligent or capable you may be, if you don't have a sense of urgency, NOW is the time to start developing it. The world is full of procrastinators, latecomers, and people who honestly intend to do things tomorrow, or as soon as they can get around to it. Their accomplishments, however, seldom match those of less-talented people who are blessed with a sense of the importance of today.

The unwritten letter? Write it today! The visit you've been intending to make? Make it today! The resolution to begin arriving for Sunday School and Church on time? Begin it today! The person with whom you've been meaning to share your faith? Share it today! The time you've promised to spend with your children? Spend it with them today! The broken relationship you've been wanting to restore? Work at it today! The decision to become a Christian? Make it today!

To the disciples (after the encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well), Jesus said, "Don't YOU say, 'Four months more and then comes the harvest.' But I tell you to open your eyes and look at the fields -- they are gleaming white, all ready (NOW) for the harvest!" (John 4:35/Phillips) According to James 4:17, not doing today what can and should be done is just as sinful as the catalog of transgressions mentioned at other places in the scriptures. Therefore, may each of us be impelled with a sense of urgency about TODAYI