For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. – Romans 1:16 NKJV.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Matthew 6:33 NKJV.

In a Peanuts cartoon, Linus throws a stick for Snoopy (Who is a dog.) to chase and retrieve. Of course, being a dog, it is an overwhelming temptation to chase after the stick, and retrieve it. However, Snoopy pauses for a moment, and decides not to chase the stick, and says, “I want people to have more to say about me after I'm gone than ‘He was a nice guy, he chased sticks.’” I did a Google search for this, and found more than four million results for what Snoopy says. Four million or more people have put their own spin on what Snoopy said, and so I want to add one more.

I think we can all agree that there are some things in life that are more important than others. For those of us who are Christians, we know that there are some things eternally more important than other worldly things. What is it that could be put into the category of chasing sticks? Here, are some possibilities:

Accumulating as much money and material possessions as possible, but never helping anyone, or doing anything meaningful for anyone else with the money or material things that have been accumulated. 

Gaining as much power over others as you can, because you enjoy having the power, but could care less about solving any of the problems others might have with your power and authority.

Becoming famous, well-known to everyone, because you want everyone to know how special you are, and better you are than others.

Those are the big three in the category of chasing sticks, but perhaps we all chase sticks in smaller ways. When we use all of our time and money, regardless of the amount, only for the benefit of ourselves and our families, maybe we are chasing sticks. When there are those who are lost, dying, and going out into eternity without a Savior; and we never do anything to reach them, maybe we are chasing sticks. When we always have time for our favorite activity, whether it is sports, or watching TV; but never time for God, maybe we are chasing sticks.

If you know Jesus as your Savior, you have within you, resurrection power; within you is power, beyond your human comprehension. To exercise that power, does not always take extraordinary deeds; often, it only takes doing what we know we ought to do.

Instead of chasing sticks, we ought to be in church. Instead of chasing sticks, we ought to read God's Word. Instead of chasing sticks, we ought to spend more time in prayer. Instead of chasing sticks, we ought to tell someone that God loves them. 

God loved us so much, that Jesus came down from the glories of Heaven to walk upon this earth; tempted at all points yet without sin, to be the perfect sacrifice. He suffered and died on the cross for your sins and mine, that we would have a Savior, if we will only believe in Him. Let us stop chasing sticks, and instead let loose the power of God that resides within us. Let the Holy Spirit have control of your life, and that will make an eternal difference in your life, and in the lives of all those that you encounter.