[Gary Petty] Stephen Covey, in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, gives a parable about a group of people who are working clearing a jungle. And everybody's really hard at work. Everybody's been trained and they're chopping down the jungle, and they have managers telling everyone what to do. They have people writing books on policy on how to cut down the jungle. They have people sharpening the machetes. It's running like clockwork. It's a huge corporation. And then one day, someone climbs high up in the highest tree, looks around and yells done, "Hey, we're in the wrong jungle!"
You know, are you spending your life, your time, your energy in a lot of activity and thinking you're producing a lot just through activity? Well, maybe you're actually in the wrong jungle. Activity doesn't always equal productivity. King Solomon said this: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil" (Proverbs 3:5-7).
You know, next time you think all your problems are going to be solved simply by moving to another city, or changing careers, or doing some giant life change – and those things sometimes are needed – before you do that, before you do that and just go off into another bunch of activities, you need to go to God. Seek Him in your life. Seek His purpose. Seek His plan. And in doing so, you may find out that you won't expend a lot of energy in the wrong jungle.
