Cast Your Bucket Down Where You Are

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Booker T Washington's famous "cast down your bucket where you are" illustration reminds us that we don't need to look elsewhere for opportunity - God has placed us exactly where we need to be. Ask God today to show you how you can do good and make a difference right where He has positioned you. Read or comment here:

And so then, one last message from Booker T Washington's book Up from Slavery. He gave a famous address in Atlanta, which went viral, I suppose you could say, in those times. And he used this illustration, which I want to read:

"A ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a friendly vessel. From the master of the unfortunate vessel was seen a signal: 'Water, water; we die of thirst.' The answer from the friendly vessel at once came back: 'Cast down your bucket where you are.' A second time the signal 'Water, water; send us water' ran up from the distressed vessel, and was answered: 'Cast down your bucket where you are.' The captain of the distressed vessel at last cast down his bucket, and it came up full of fresh, sparkling water from the mouth of the Amazon River."

And then he uses this phrase, "cast down your bucket where you are," to talk to both the black and white people of his time. To his black brothers and sisters he said, “cast down your bucket where you are - connect with friends of all races, get educated, and do all you can to thrive in this life.”

Then he says to the whites of his time, “cast down your bucket where you are. Be kind and be compassionate, and give every man a fair chance.”

Doing Good Right Where God Has Placed You

And that phrase has been sticking with me since I heard it: cast down your bucket where you are. Wherever God has placed you, do as much good as you can right there. Wherever God has called you, cast down your bucket there, gather up as much water as you can, and do as much good as you can there. It's no use dreaming of a place where the grass is greener.

I like what Paul says here in 1 Corinthians 7:17: "Each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned them."

Faithfulness in Ordinary Places

What has God assigned for you today? Will you cast your bucket down there and do the best that you can where you are?

I pray you will. God will be faithful, He will help you. And if you'll do everything you can for Him, I know you will see the reward.