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Tamerlane's Ant

'Ready Answer' by Mike Ford

Resourcefulness, as exemplified by the ant in Tamerlane's story, reflects a vital aspect of initiative. The ant, faced with a kernel of corn far larger than herself, persistently attempted to carry it over a wall, falling back sixty-nine times before succeeding on the seventieth try. This display of determination and creative problem-solving inspired Tamerlane to regroup his forces and overcome his enemies. Similarly, the diligent plans of the resourceful lead to abundance, as Solomon notes, emphasizing the importance of working intelligently with a clear purpose. In contrast, the story of Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody illustrates a lack of resourcefulness, where a crucial task was neglected due to the absence of initiative, resulting in blame and inaction. Ants further demonstrate resourcefulness in their colony life, efficiently managing complex tasks like food storage and nest maintenance without a leader, each member contributing to the collective good with ingenuity and purpose. Their example urges us to cultivate resourcefulness in our own endeavors, ensuring that we approach our tasks with inventiveness and a commitment to success.

Personal Finance

Commentary by Mike Ford

Resourcefulness, as one of the seven laws of success, involves making the most of what you have. It means living within a budget and avoiding unnecessary expenses like car payments. By being resourceful, you can avoid financial stress and the pitfalls of debt, which can lead to severe consequences.

The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Paralytic (Part One)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

The resourcefulness of the four friends in the healing of the paralytic in Capernaum stands as a striking example of determined faith. When they arrived late, carrying their paralyzed friend on his bed, they found the door blocked by energetic crowds. Undeterred, they carried their helpless friend upstairs to the roof and lowered his bed in front of Jesus as He spoke. Their ingenious solution to the obstacle of the crowd demonstrated their unwavering commitment to place their friend before the only One who could heal. Christ, pleased with their works, responded to their resourcefulness and perseverance on behalf of their suffering friend, honoring their faith as the catalyst for the miracle.

The Seven Laws of Success

Herbert W. Armstrong Booklet

Resourcefulness is a vital law of success, essential for navigating the inevitable hazards and obstacles that arise in life. When unexpected complications or setbacks block your path, you must be equipped with the ability to solve problems and overcome barriers to continue toward your goal. Like a river encountering a massive rock yet finding a way to swirl around, splash over, or even carve a path through it, you must not stop or give up when faced with challenges. Resourcefulness demands a clear mind, calm nerves, rapid thinking, and sound reasoning in emergencies. It requires the habit of remaining unexcited while leaping into action with high tension, reaching the right decision, and acting decisively. Without this ability to think quickly and logically under pressure, success remains out of reach, as unforeseen circumstances can halt progress if not addressed with ingenuity and determination.

The Second Resurrection and Union With Christ

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Admiral Geary's resourcefulness shines through as he navigates the challenges of leading a weary fleet into unknown and hostile territories. Despite the political machinations of the Alliance government attempting to undermine him by shorting his fleet on essential ships and supplies, he outwits them, ensuring he departs with a full complement of vessels. Facing worn-out ships prone to critical failures, he holds his crew together under the constant threat of breakdown during their long journey into alien space. His ingenuity is further tested as he encounters the secretive Enigmas, whose deceptive tactics and self-destructive secrecy pose unique threats; yet, by observing their behaviors, he begins to predict their actions and formulates strategies to counter them. Against the herd-like Bear-cows, he leverages their instinctive charging behavior to his advantage, turning their predictable patterns into a tactical edge. With the orderly Spider-wolfs, he adapts to their pattern-based thinking, responding in ways that build trust and foster an alliance. Through each encounter, Geary's ability to understand and adapt to vastly different mindsets and behaviors enables him to protect his fleet and achieve his mission, demonstrating a profound capacity for strategic innovation and adaptability in the face of alien challenges.

Stewardship

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Resourcefulness is a vital quality in the role of a steward, as it reflects the ability to manage and enhance what has been entrusted with creativity and zeal. The example of the unjust steward illustrates a lesson in ingenuity, though his methods were flawed. Jesus Christ highlights that the people of the world often show more eagerness and resourcefulness in pursuing riches than His followers do in pursuing His ways. He challenges His disciples to be as shrewd and creative, but in a righteous manner, to produce good outcomes. A faithful steward must put full effort into their responsibilities, not approaching them halfway. When faced with difficulties, a steward should think deeply, plan for contingencies, and work out solutions to challenging problems, aiming to please the Master by producing much with little. Another example of resourcefulness is seen in the steward under the chief of the eunuchs in the story of Daniel. This steward demonstrated flexibility by agreeing to test an alternative method proposed by Daniel, allowing vegetables instead of the king's delicacies for a trial period. He was not afraid to try something new within the bounds of his responsibility, ensuring it aligned with the goal of producing fit servants. When the new method proved successful, he continued with it, showing adaptability without compromising the end result. This illustrates that a steward should not be stuck in ineffective ways but should be open to sensible alternatives that help achieve the desired outcome. Stewards are encouraged to use their wealth and influence wisely, with eternity in mind. Every action should reflect a heavenly purpose, aiming to make a lasting impression on others that could aid their journey toward the Kingdom of God. What a steward does with the entrusted resources now will determine their reward in the future. Faithfulness in small matters will lead to greater responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of diligent and resourceful management in the present to secure a lasting impact.