Overcoming the Enemies of Contentment

Suppose you were hired for a job and told the company had established 10 rules that had to be abided by without exceptions. Would you accept the job?

 

As long as the rules were reasonable, most of us would. Unless the rules were something like being required to work 100 hours a week, not being allowed to take any breaks or eat lunch, or doing something illegal. Virtually every job comes with certain rules. Some require wearing of uniforms or a specific dress code. Employers rightfully expect employees to arrive for work on time, and often give them detailed job descriptions. Without rules there would be chaos.

 

For many years it was not uncommon to find the Ten Commandments displayed at workplaces. We can still see them in some of the federal buildings in Washington, D.C., as well as government buildings in some states. But as someone has quipped, having the Ten Commandments in plain sight can create a hostile working environment for some folks.

 

Actually, the commandments are fairly straight-forward, as presented in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. The first four deal with one’s relationship with God: Have no other gods but the Lord; don’t worship idols; don’t take God’s name in vain; keep the Sabbath as a day of rest.

 

The other six concern relationships with one another: Give honor and respect for one’s parents; don’t commit murder; don’t commit adultery; don’t steal things that aren’t yours; always tell the truth; and don’t covet other people’s stuff. Nothing in that list seems unreasonable, does it? But try as we might, we break one or more of those commands every day in thought, word and/or deed.

 

Each commandment is worthy of exposition to explore why God saw fit to include it in the “Top 10” list. But perhaps the one we hear about the least is the last, which says:

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Deuteronomy 5:21).

 

It’s not much of a mystery why the Lord inserted this one among the Ten Commandments. It’s hard to establish a healthy, trusting relationship with others when you are intensely coveting – or desiring – the things they possess. But the practice of “comparing ourselves with the Joneses” is something most of us have engaged in probably more than once.

 

Maybe a neighbor always seems to be driving a new car loaded with all the accessories. Their home might be the envy of everyone on the street. Photos they regularly post on social media about their latest exotic trip might cause us to wonder why we don’t get to travel as they do. Or they might have the seemingly picture-perfect marriage, their kids are the most mannerly, and they attend the very best schools. What’s wrong with coveting things like that?

 

There are many reasons, but perhaps foremost is that coveting is the enemy of a trait that should be evident in our lives if we are followers of Jesus Christ: Contentment. Writing to his young protégé, Timothy, the apostle Paul declared, “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:6-7).

 

What kind of witness for Christ can we be if we’re obviously jealous or envious of other people’s lives and what they have?

 

Of course, we live in a society that bombards us with messages discouraging contentment, saying what we have isn’t enough, that no matter how much we have we need more. This flies against biblical teachings that God is the one who provides us with what we need. As Paul wrote in another letter, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

 

To covet what someone else has that we don’t is like complaining to the Lord that He hasn’t been good enough or kind enough to us, that if He really loved us He’d give us more.

 

Jesus warned against such thinking. He said, “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear…. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well” (Luke 12:22,30-31).

 

What about people who aren’t committed to following Christ? They might clearly be living contrary to God’s design, and yet they’re prospering, seemingly happy as they could be. What’s up with that? 

 

King David of Israel, who experienced more than his share of opposition and adversity during his lifetime, apparently wondered about this as well. His conclusion: “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away” (Psalm 37:1).

Surrounded by enemies of contentment, we’d be wise to take to heart Paul’s advice to Timothy: “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:8). 

Enduring the Weight of Having to Wait

Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Take ‘wait’ and ‘weight,’ for example. In one sense, however, it’s appropriate that they sound the same because having to wait when we’re in a hurry, or anxious, or impatient can feel like a great weight upon our shoulders. 

There are many places and times when we must endure the weight of waiting: grocery store checkout lines; slow traffic lights – or driving behind slow drivers; needing to mail an important package at the post office. Or realizing why we’re called ‘patients’ at a doctor's office, having to exercise patience – another homophone, by the way.

 

I still recall the waiting I had to endure on Christmas Eve as a boy. My sleepless night seemed unending. I wondered if the clock was running in reverse. I couldn’t wait until morning – but I had no choice.

 

One of the problems with waiting is it makes us feel we’re not in control. Which, in many cases, is true. But we live in a “can-do” culture, and waiting seems more like “I can’t do.” We’re all about taking action, doing what needs to be done. Frank Sinatra used to sing, “I Did It My Way.” Motivational speakers declare, “If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it.” They never say, “Wait for it….”

 

Our nation was founded and developed by explorers, innovators and entrepreneurs who claimed they had, “pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps.” (Have you ever tried that? It’s not easy to do!) Self-realization and self-reliance are the mantra for many successful people. Waiting, on the other hand, isn’t a prerequisite. It’s not even encouraged.

 

However, when it comes to this daily journey we call the Christian life, waiting’s very much a part of the process. In fact, there are times when it feels as if God has placed us in His “waiting room,” our number is 95, and He’s only on number 6.

 

Through the years, Psalm 37 has been one of my favorite Bible passages. It’s been especially meaningful when praying and seeking the Lord’s guidance about making a major career change. I’d read the psalm and find comfort, reassurance, and a timely reminder – that He’s in charge and I’m not.

 

I was all about the first part of the psalm, which fits the “can-do” spirit we know so well. The third verse admonishes us to “Trust in the Lord and do good.” I’d read that and think, ‘Yeah, I can do that!’ Then verse 4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord.” I’d think, ‘I can do that, too!’ That’s followed up by one more directive in verse 5: “Commit yourself to the Lord.” Without hesitation I’d think, ‘Yep, I can do that, too! Now, can we move on with Your answer, Lord?’

 

Trust. Do good. Delight. Commit. All strong action verbs. No problem, right? If that’s what God wants me to do, let’s go!

 

But then I’d come to Psalm 37:7, which seems like jamming on the brakes while speeding down the highway. It instructs us to, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” What?! I’m good with all the stuff I’m told to be doing, but why do I have to wait?

 

This admonition isn’t a mistake or misprint. In fact, it’s repeated twice in the same psalm, just in case we missed it the first time. Verse 9 assures us, “But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.” Then, verse 34 says: “Wait for the Lord and keep His way.”

 

To be clear, this doesn’t mean we’re to sit like a lump on the couch, passively waiting for something to happen. But it does mean recognizing that when we’ve done everything we know to do, we’ve run out of ideas and options, then it’s time to be patient, wait, and as we’re told in another of the psalms, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

 

Waiting is rarely easy, but it gives us the opportunity to trust in what the Lord is doing and, many times, to marvel at the incredible ways He works. When we “let go and let God,” as they say, we can experience Him doing, “exceeding abundantly more than anything we could ask or imagine,” as Ephesians 3:20 asserts. 

 

Once we’ve done our part, we can wait and release the weight to the Lord. Then we can see Him doing His part – often much more than we could have asked or even hoped for. He’s done this in my life more times than I could count – and with the benefit of hindsight, I’d not have it any other way.

Living Up to (Or Down to) Your Name

What’s in someone’s name? Does it really matter? Actually, selecting a name for a child can be a big deal, maybe even more than we realize. Because it’s something the boy or girl must live with the rest of their life. When’s the last time you met a little girl named Jezebel, or a little boy named Judas?

 

Years ago, especially during the hippie era, some parents would select whimsical names for their kids, like Moonbeam, Summer Rain, Dandelion, or Apple. (That last one never ap-peeled to me.) In a documentary series about some pro football players I saw recently, one of them named his newborn son Maverick. Maybe because the athlete’s a bit of a maverick himself.

 

Remember the Johnny Cash song, “A Boy Named Sue”? It’s about a dad who named his son Sue before abandoning the family, reasoning, “this world is rough, and if a man’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough.” A boy with that name would definitely have to be tough to withstand the ridicule he’d face growing up.

 

In the Bible, names often carry great significance. In fact, God sometimes bestowed new names to match changed circumstances. Abram became Abraham, reflecting the Lord’s promise he would be “the father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5). His wife, Sarai, became Sarah, signifying she would be “the mother of nations” (Genesis 17:15-16). 

 

Jacob became Israel, “because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome” (Genesis 32:28). Jesus Christ told his headstrong disciple Simon he would have a new name, Peter, adding, “on this rock I will build My church…” (Matthew 16:18).

 

One of the most beautiful names in the Scriptures is Immanuel. It’s cited first in Isaiah 7:14 and then in Matthew 1:23, referring to the Messiah. It means, “God with us.” God taking on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

But one of the more curious names in the Bible is that of an obscure fellow named Jabez, which in Hebrew means, “sorrowful,” “painful” or “he causes pain.” He’s only mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, which states:

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

 

His mom might as well have been calling him “pain in the neck.” We don’t have any specifics, whether his was a particularly difficult birth, or perhaps he might have been a handful from his first moments of life outside the womb. In any event, this was a guy saddled with a name that everyone knew meant, “he causes pain.” Can you imagine growing up like that?

 

Think of a parent constantly haranguing a child, saying things like, “You’re stupid!” or, “You’ll never amount to anything!” The old – and very inaccurate – saying declared, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” In reality, harsh names and negative words often hang with us long after physical injuries have healed.

 

No wonder Jabez cried out to God, pleading for His blessing. He apparently didn’t get that from his mom. The good news is simple: the Lord granted his request, although the passage doesn’t explain in what ways that happened. We do know he was “more honorable than his brothers.”

 

What about for us? You might have a name you’ve cherished, perhaps one that’s been passed down through your family. Or maybe you’ve been named after a favorite relative. Or you may have a name you never liked, to the extent you’ve gone by your middle name instead – or by your initials or a nickname.

 

For followers of Christ, whether we enjoy our present name or not, we’re promised one day we’ll receive a brand-new name. In Isaiah 62:2, speaking specifically of Jerusalem, God says through the prophet, “you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate.” We see this demonstrated through the renaming of biblical patriarchs like Abraham, Israel and Peter.

 

In the last book of the Bible, we’re told that one day we all will experience something similar: “To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).

Hopefully you don’t have a name like Jabez, which always reminded people that he had been a pain in the neck in one way or another. But whether we like our name or loathe it, we can look forward one day to receiving a name from the Lord that He’s specially selected just for us alone. In the meantime, we know He regards us as, “…My people, who are called by My name…” (2 Chronicles 7:14). 

The Pointless, Fruitless Pursuit of Happiness

Most of us are familiar with the phrase early in the Declaration of Independence that says people are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….” This belief has undergirded the United States for two-and-a-half centuries, but it’s the last part – the “pursuit of Happiness” – that seems to be a sticking point for many folks. 

It’s important to note the Declaration doesn’t suggest happiness is guaranteed. Only the “pursuit” of it is assured. Which seems to be a problem for some people who feel they are entitled to happiness, and if they don’t get it – or can’t find it – they’re mad.

 

One of the problems is trying to define what happiness actually is, since what it means can vary from one individual to another. For a toddler, happiness is a new toy, a sweet treat, or being held by mom or dad. But as we get older, our idea of happiness can take the form of stuff, status, success, or many other things.

 

This is fine when we receive or achieve them, but what about when we don’t? Even then, the happiness we feel is fleeting. An old Latin phrase is tempus fugit – time flies. Well, happiness “fugit,” too. We have no better example of this than King Solomon of ancient Israel, who resolved to pursue happiness in all of its myriad forms.

 

We find him recounting this in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, much of which seems to have been written in a cynical tone. Chapter 2 is specific in citing many of the pleasures the king strived to attain, only to reach the conclusion that, “everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).

 

What things captured his attention? Solomon enumerates them: Pleasure, laughter, lavish feasts and abundant wine, great building projects, stockpiles of silver and gold, various forms of entertainment, a harem of 700 wives and 300 concubines, fame and renown. 

 

He said, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor…. So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:10,17).

 

Here was a man who literally had it all, everything his mind and heart could imagine. Solomon even had royalty from other nations come to bask in his presence and to benefit from his unparalleled wisdom. If anyone could find happiness, surely it would have been him. And yet, despite everything, he said all of it was meaningless. Other translations use the word “vanity.” A supreme waste of time, energy and resources.

 

We live in a very materialistic society, and for many among us the solution to all problems is money and stuff. Yet anthropologists have undertaken studies that showed the happiest people in the world aren’t necessarily the ones who wallow in material wealth. 

 

While finishing his painful analysis of the futility of pursuing happiness through things, accomplishments and experiences – repeatedly declaring, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 12:8) Solomon arrived at a stunning conclusion. 

 

He said, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth…. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:1,13). Instead of becoming fixated on the elusive, temporary things of this word that bring happiness that lasts about as long as a bite of cotton candy in one’s mouth, Solomon had arrived at the realization that a focus on eternal matters is what truly fulfills and endures.

 

On a stormy day, have you ever gone outside and tried to grab hold of the wind with your hand? Can’t be done, right? It’s much the same with happiness. One moment we’re happy about something we’ve acquired or achieved, the next we’re fretting over what we don’t have or can’t reach.

 

Writing to his young protégé, Timothy, the apostle Paul made a similar observation. He told him, “…godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:6-7). Or as King David declared, “Blessed is the man [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).

 

There’s nothing wrong with having things and enjoying achievements. But if we’re expecting them to provide us with lasting happiness and fulfillment, we’re fooling ourselves. No wonder so many people, even in our prosperous land, are miserable. Like love, they’re looking for happiness - in all the wrong places.

 

As Solomon learned, “[the Lord] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This life is a mere blip on the radar screen of eternity – we’d be wise to pursue those things that have eternal consequence.

Getting Better at Doing Something – Even If It’s Not Good to Do

Practice and repetition. These are keys to improving in whatever endeavor we choose to pursue. Whether it’s playing a musical instrument, flying an airplane, teaching in a classroom, learning to speak a foreign language, excelling in a sport, performing surgery, public speaking, or myriad other things, we become better at whatever we’re doing through practice and repetition.

 

For me it’s included writing, typing, taking photographs, and mentoring other men. I mention typing because when I took a personal typing class during my junior year of high school, I could never have imagined that proficiency at the keyboard would become an important aspect of my long career as a journalist, author and editor.

 

I’d like to say it has also been playing the drums, which I enjoy doing (but not particularly well). Looking back, I wish I’d invested more practice and repetition to develop my drumming skills. Alas, the best I’ll ever get at this stage of my life is playing in the privacy of my own home – and with the tolerant blessing of my wife.

 

There can also be a downside to practice and repetition. The more we do certain things, the better we get at doing them – even if they are counterproductive, even destructive things. For instance, some folks have spent much of their lives with negative self-talk, and they’ve become very good at it. ‘I’m a loser. I’ll never amount to anything. What’s the use of trying? I’ll never be able to succeed.’

 

The Bible admonishes us, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3). This not only warns us against going on a lengthy ego trip but also encourages us to view ourselves and our abilities realistically. No one has ever achieved victory by harboring a defeatist attitude. 

 

Similarly, these days we see lots of people – on social media, in the news, in public places, even in our own homes – who through much practice and repetition have become experts at being angry, bitter and vindictive. These antagonistic feelings might be directed toward a parent or sibling, ex-spouse, former friend, even politicians, other public figures or sports teams. Sometimes these negative emotions become life-controlling. But not in an instant; they were developed and nurtured over time.

 

The Bible, in its timeless, practical way, speaks to this: “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15). If you’ve done any gardening, you’ve observed some weeds form very deep roots and are hard to get rid of. In the same way, a “root of bitterness” nurtured over time can sink deeply into our psyches and make us miserable – and everyone around us.

 

Habits fall into the same category. Through practice and repetition, we can excel at things like exercise, eating properly, getting enough sleep, helping others, spiritual disciplines, and many other pursuits. But we can also become “good at” harmful habits such as excessive drinking, gambling, undisciplined spending, displaying fits of anger, indulging in online pornography, overeating, and lots of other stuff.

 

It’s a simple fact: The more we do of anything, the better we get at doing it. Even if it’s bad.

 

So, how should we respond? We’ve all had behaviors and habits we knew were wrong, that filled us with regret whenever we did them. Part of the solution is striving to do those things less and replacing them with things that are good. 

 

This is why the apostle Paul urged believers in ancient Philippi, along with followers of Christ through the centuries since, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice…” (Philippians 4:8-9).

 

One remedy for someone who has become very good at dwelling on the negative is to put just as much effort – even more – into focusing on positive, uplifting, productive things. 

 

Scripture is abundantly clear that we’re saved by faith, through God’s grace and mercy, and not by anything that we do. However, to experience a healthy, thriving life with the Lord often requires that we learn to reorient our thinking. Paul addressed this in another of his letters, instructing us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). 

 

I like the way the J.B. Phillips translation of this verse states it: “Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within….”

We’d like to think that once we’ve received Christ into our lives it’s easy to flesh out what we believe. But it’s not. It’s an everyday, even moment-by-moment challenge. About this, Paul the apostle offered this counsel: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…” (Philippians 2:12-13). Diligently strive to work out what God has worked into you.

Understanding the Times, Knowing What to Do

Occasionally I glance at sites on social media dedicated to folks like me, Baby Boomers. We were born between the years of 1946 and 1964, living in a world very different from what we know today. In some respects, about as different as ice cream and brussels sprouts.

 

We had funny-looking phones with circular dials. We’d have to wait for the dial to move back into place before selecting the next number. Many of us can remember ‘party lines,’ when one or more neighbors shared the same line. But it was no party if you had an urgent call and Mrs. Farquhar was in the middle of sharing the latest gossip. 

 

It’s hard for younger generations to imagine, but do you recall having only three TV channels? ABC, CBS and NBC were all there were. And those weren’t even round-the-clock. At midnight the stations would air the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Then all we had were test-patterns until the following morning. Great for insomnia, but not much for late-night entertainment.

 

When a child received a toy doll, she didn’t ask, “What does it do?” Because for the most part, back then dolls didn’t do anything. They just laid there. Kids had to use their imagination to figure out what the dolls would be doing if they could. When taking pictures, cameras had film in them. And most of the time it was black and white. When someone asked, “Did you get any good pictures?” we had to wait days for the film to be developed and photos to be printed before we knew the answer to that question.

 

Fast-forward to today and there’s so much we couldn’t have envisioned back then: Cell phones and text messaging. TV 24/7 with hundreds of channels; some of them even worth watching. Computers and the Internet that put the world’s information and knowledge literally at our fingertips. Email. Overnight package delivery. Electrically powered cars. Digital cameras that display the images instantly; if they’re not good, we can simply press “Delete” and they’re gone. As the hippies of my college days would have said, “Far out!”

 

And now we have AI – Artificial Intelligence. While many are debating its pros and cons, I sometimes wonder whatever happened to real intelligence. It appears to be in diminishing supply. 

 

Technology has brought many wonderful advancements. But it also seems that with all its positives, we’ve also gotten many negatives. I won’t attempt to single out the real and potential problems. You can think of some yourself. But we can’t just ignore them – they won’t go away on their own.

 

One response – particularly among those who profess to be followers of Christ and adherents of the Bible and its teachings – would be a blanket taboo. “We’re not going to do social media at all.” “Forbid our children to have cell phones until they’re at least 35.” “The Internet is the devil’s playground.” “Let’s just do away with computers altogether and retreat to the Stone Age!”

 

Somebody might be nodding, “Yeah, that’s right!” But most of us realize such extreme measures aren’t practical. In our digital world, it’s virtually impossible. So, what are we to do, other than accept the inevitable?

 

This brings to mind what the Bible refers to as “the men of Issachar” in 1 Chronicles 12:32. Who were they? We don’t know much about them, besides the fact that they were descendants from one of the 12 sons of Jacob, who was later given the name Israel by God.

 

The men of Issachar appear in a listing of large groups of armed men who pledged their support to David after the death of King Saul. Most of these are described as “armed for battle” or “warriors ready for battle. But then we come to the “men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do….”

 

There’s not a lot of elaboration, but apparently these were people known for being wise and discerning, who would have a good sense for what was required for achieving the transition from Saul’s tumultuous reign to David, the former shepherd boy.

 

Those were very difficult days for the people of Israel. Because of willful disobedience, Saul had been rejected by God as king; through the prophet Samuel, God had anointed David to be Saul's successor. The transition, it turned out, was never smooth.

 

We live in hard times today, perhaps all the more difficult because of advancements cited above and others. Where are the ‘men of Issachar’ who could tell us what we should do? We can’t exactly depend on AI to inform us as to what should be done, since that’s one of the areas of concern.

 

For believers, our ultimate source is the Lord and the Word of God. As James 1:5 instructs, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

 

And Proverbs 1:7 asserts that if we’re to acquire the necessary wisdom for navigating the turbulent waters of the 21^st century, it must start with God: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

 

We’re in an age when information is more plentiful and readily available than ever, but no matter where we look – be it in politics, entertainment, education, the media, even the sciences – wisdom is relatively scarce. Perhaps it’s because we’ve forgotten another observation from Proverbs, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

 

The timelessness of the Scriptures is clear in these words from the apostle Paul: “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began” (1 Corinthians 2:6-7).

To become 21^st century men and women of Issachar, we need wisdom. And there’s not greater resource for that than the Bible, which is truly “trans-century.” 

First Step in a Long, Life-Changing Journey

A student receives a letter of acceptance from the college of choice. Hooray! The easy part is done; the hard work now begins. The job applicant receives a phone call from human resources saying, “You’re hired!” All right! Now all that’s necessary is to prove capable of doing the job – and to keep doing it. The prospective groom goes to one knee and proposes to his beloved. She says, “Yes!” Then the difficult part starts – first the wedding, followed by the reality of building a marriage.

 

It’s like this spiritually as well. Over the weekend our church held a spiritual retreat for nearly 800 young people during which they sang lots of songs, heard powerful biblically based messages, met in small groups and played games. To close the weekend, a number of them went forward to be baptized. Praise the Lord! There were choruses of joyful shouts after each baptism, sharing in the excitement of the milestone moments.

 

But for each of those adolescents and teens, that was just the beginning, the first step of a long, life-changing journey with Jesus Christ. That’s the hard part – studying, learning and applying the Scriptures, being obedient to what they teach, and discovering the Christian life is an impossibility apart from God’s Spirit and His indwelling power.

 

Years ago, I attended a church where every service ended with a lengthy altar call. I used to quip that we sang “Just as I Am” so long that by the end we were singing, “Just as I Was.” Inevitably, someone – often a number of people – would walk forward to commit their lives to Christ, or recommit themselves to Him, whichever was the case. But over time I’d notice that some of the same people would go forward again, and again, and again. 

 

I heard someone describe this as “rededicating until their re-dedicator wore out.” This isn’t to belittle the sincerity of those returning for a “do over,” since apparently it didn’t take the last time. It’s just recognizing that the lifelong journey with Jesus isn’t easy. It’s not a straight path, and sometimes it’s the proverbial two steps forward and three steps back. We may “reckon ourselves dead to sin” (Romans 6:11), but alas, sin isn’t dead to us. We’ll continue to wrestle with it until the day we take our last earthly breath.

 

A Chinese proverb states, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This is true of the Christian walk – or trek, if you will. That single step might be getting baptized, walking a church aisle, raising a hand or signing a card to indicate having prayed to receive Christ, His forgiveness for our sins, and the promise of new life that lasts forever. But after that step countless others must follow.

 

How do we do that successfully? Many books have been written about this, but one thing is certain: It’s not a journey that’s intended to be undertaken alone. One of my favorite passages about this is Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, which says:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

 

Another Old Testament verse declares, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). From the beginning, God’s intention for the life of faith has been for it to be a partnership, whether a husband and wife in marriage, people sharing abilities and experience at work, members of an athletic team joining together for the common goal of victory, or most important, addressing the challenge of becoming “ambassadors of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). 

 

When Jesus sent His disciples out for their first missionary assignments, He didn’t send them out alone. “Calling the Twelve to Him, He began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits” (Mark 6:7).

 

When we read the story and writings of the apostle Paul, we find he wasn’t some super-Christian singing, “I Did It My Way.” He always was in the company of others, starting with Barnabas, who sought him out (then still known as Saul) after his dramatic Damascus Road experience with Jesus. After Barnabas, Paul traveled with a succession of others – Silas, Priscilla and Aquila, Sosthenes, Timothy, Tychicus, and even John Mark, the once-wayward cousin of Barnabas.

 

We in the Church of Jesus Christ do a disservice to new believers – and even lukewarm ones – when we fail to come alongside and help them in understanding how to follow the Lord. Hebrews 10:24-25 describes this so well: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

That “Day” – the promised return of Christ – is nearing. At the very least, we’re one day closer to it than we were yesterday. We should all desire to follow Paul’s admonition to, “stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord….” (1 Corinthians 15:58). The best way to succeed in this is to be certain no one has to undertake the journey alone.