Good evening brethren,

We are continuing the series about “spiritual pioneers” this evening …Below are some
bullet points listing the concepts we have already considered:

    • The Pioneering Spirit and the Promise of a Better Future

    • Leaving It All Behind … for a New Life

→ 1. The frontier began when you found yourself separated from the “old world”.

→ 2. Americans began to exhibit some very distinctive characteristics, after initially trying
to transplant European culture.

And now we will consider additional character traits that enabled most of those who
settled America to survive and succeed. Consider these …

• The Pioneer’s Work Ethic

The only way to endure hardships was to be willing to work, and to work very
hard. Indeed, one of the hallmarks of the pioneer, one of the most distinguishing traits, was
their work ethic. Those on the frontier, as a matter a survival, became very much
accustomed to hard work for many hours in the day.

Ecc. 9:10 – Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or
device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave, where you are going.

If you did not work hard as a pioneer, you’d soon be in the grave. And because you had “left
it all behind”, you were fully committed, there was no turning back, once you started your
journey. It was a permanent change, a life-long commitment.
 

Luke 9:62 – …Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back is
fit for the kingdom of God.

• The Pioneer’s Adaptability

Another important trait that the pioneer needed to have was that of adaptability. As
circumstances changed, as new challenges appeared on the horizon, when the unexpected
happened, the successful pioneer learned how to meet the new challenges by using his or
her accumulated knowledge and expertise.
By utilizing their experience from the past, the pioneers were able to adapt to new or
unforeseen developments and circumstances encountered on the way to the new world, or
on the way to the frontier.

Phil. 4:11-12 – Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am,
to be content; I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all
things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

The pioneer always made the best of the prevailing circumstances.

How willing and able are we to adapt? …adapt to changes in our job, or our financial status,
or our relationships, or with changes in our church responsibilities, or where we live, or
changes in our age and health, or whatever? Can we take the wheel off the wagon and
replace the broken spoke, and put it back on the wagon and get rolling again?

Next Friday night we will describe a few more character traits of the pioneer.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,
Fred