Motivation

            One dark night outside a small town, a fire started inside the local chemical plant.  Before long it exploded into flames and an alarm went out to fire departments for miles around.  After fighting the fire for over an hour, the chemical company president approached the fire chief and said, “All of our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant.  They must be saved!  I will give $50,000 to the engine company that brings them out safely!” As soon as the chief heard this he ordered the firemen to strengthen their attack on the blaze.  After two more hours of attacking the fire the president of the company offered $100,000 to the engine company that could bring out the company’s secret files.
            From the distance a lone siren was heard and another fire truck came into sight.  It was the local volunteer fire company composed entirely of men over sixty-five years of age.  To everyone’s amazement the little fire engine raced through the chemical plant gates and drove straight into the middle of the inferno.  In the distance the other firemen watched as the old timers hopped off their rig and began battling the fire with an effort that no one had ever seen before.  After an hour of intense fighting, the volunteer company extinguished the fire and saved the secret formulas. 
            Joyously the chemical company president announced that he would double the reward to $200,000 and walked over to thank each of the volunteers for their bravery.  After thanking each of the old timers individually, he asked the group what they intended to do with the reward money.  The fire-truck driver looked him right in the eye and said, “The first thing we’re going to do is fix the brakes on that truck!” 
            It’s amazing how much we can do when we are motivated.  When our life is in danger we can run through thorn bushes naked and feel not a thing.  And when a lot of money in on the line we can leap over tall buildings with a single bound.  I read where a certain hunting dog was being ridiculed by the other dogs because a rabbit he was chasing got away.  The dog barked, “You must remember guys that the rabbit was running for his life while I was only running for sport.”  Now maybe I’m wrong, but it seems to me that a lot of people, these days, lack the motivation to succeed. 
            The story was told about a frog that fell into a large pothole and couldn’t get out.  Even his friends couldn’t get him to muster enough strength to jump out of the deep pothole. So they gave him up to his fate. But the next day they saw him bounding around the yard.  He had made it out and his friends asked him how he did it and added, “We thought you couldn’t get out!” The frog replied, “I couldn’t, but a big truck was coming along and I had to.” Motivation has power to do what no one else can.  Many, who have made it to the top, were motivated.  Yes, in this new year, strive to be motivated to do what is right and edifying.  If need be, motivate yourself.  This article was pulled from the archives and originally written on December 24, 2013 by Pastor J.C. Myers, III.  For more information you can visit us online at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com.