Sometimes Good Might Not Be As Good As It Feels

“If it feels good, do it!” How many times have you heard this? It’s often repeated in our culture, and we might have said it ourselves or heard it from friends. As one popular song years ago declared, “How can it be wrong when it feels so right?”

The problem is, acting solely based upon how things feel can easily get us into trouble. Feelings can cloud our judgment or distort our thinking. Many years ago, I amassed a sizable credit card debt, largely the result of impulsive spending decisions that made me feel good. Then the bills started coming in. It took years to recover from the damage of being guided by my feelings.

 

I was on the interstate recently, driving the speed limit at a reasonable distance from other vehicles. Suddenly, a sportscar zoomed past me, moving at least 30 miles faster than I was going. The driver might have been feeling good, exhilarated by traveling at such a high rate of speed. But this was not the German autobahn, and the highway was filled with cars. If the driver’s delight in speed had resulted in a terrible accident, or even a costly citation, his or her feelings would have changed dramatically.

 

Leadership consultant Tim Kight has observed on social media: “Not everything that feels good is good for you. Not everything that is good for you feels good.” Lots of wisdom in a handful of words.

 

If a person struggles with alcohol, having “just one drink” might feel good, but it will probably lead to many more, along with undesired results. The sexual revolution of the 1960s became a major catalyst of the “if it feels good, do it” philosophy, but the negative consequences of casual one-night stands and “hooking up” have been immeasurable.

 

The second part of Kight’s statement is one we often overlook: Not everything that is good for you feels good. There’s perhaps no better example than discipline, whether it’s in learning a skill, military training, improving one’s health, or raising a child. 

 

If a person decides to get fit physically, a first step might be to adopt a training regimen and plan regular trips to the gym. I’m not a top athlete by any means, but following my open-heart surgery in 2006, I began a cardiac rehab program and have tried to maintain a consistent workout program ever since. My motto is, “I hate to exercise – but I love to have exercised.” Exercise always looks better in past tense.

 

Have you ever said something like, “I wish I could play the piano,” or “I’d love to learn how to paint in watercolor”? A reason many people can’t do things like that is because they don’t feel like going through the tedium of spending many hours practicing or learning the craft.

 

Discipline seems to have become a neglected aspect of parenting. Rather than giving their children guidelines for behavior and then enforcing those when necessary, a mom or dad might decide instead to let little Buddy or Suzy make their own choices, even though they might not be old enough to determine what’s best for themselves. 

 

In the Bible, however, we find that discipline is not optional – it’s a mandatory, essential part of growth and training. And the Scriptures clearly acknowledge the reality that discipline often doesn’t feel good, even if it’s good for us.

 

The book of Proverbs alone contains more than 30 verses related to the importance of discipline and correction. Here are some examples:

“He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray” (Proverbs 10:17).

“He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding” (Proverbs 15:32).

“He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him” (Proverbs 13:24). 

“Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul” (Proverbs 29:17).

 

Discipline, the Scriptures teach, is an integral part of God’s spiritual training program for us. It’s also a demonstration of His love. Hebrews 12:9-11 makes the connection between human and divine discipline and correction:

“Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:9-11).

 

Many times, life’s trials and tribulations serve as a form of discipline, experiences God uses to mold us into the people He intends for us to become. Unfortunately, going through adversity rarely feels good.

 

Peter the apostle noted this when he wrote, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine…” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

 

So, the next time you find yourself thinking, “If it feels good, do it,” think again. And if something you’re going through doesn’t feel good, take heart – maybe there’s a good reason for it. 

How Can We Thank Him? Let Us Count the Ways

Do you remember the classic poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning that starts, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…”? She proceeds to cite many and varied ways in which she indeed loves the object of her devotion. On this Thanksgiving Day, perhaps it would be useful to pause a few moments from the day’s festivities to think about God and ask, “How do I thank Thee?”

 

You certainly can compile a list of your own and I’d encourage you to do so. But maybe it would help to offer some “candidates” for our thanks to get us started:

• Every morning when we awaken, we have received the gift of another day, with many opportunities and possibilities. That’s no small blessing.
• If we have a roof over our head, some clothes in the closet and food on the table, we can be thankful for God’s provision.
• Looking into the garage or the driveway in front of our house, do we see a vehicle ready to take us wherever we need to go? Reliable transportation is another blessing we shouldn’t take for granted.
• Looking around us, we might see beloved family members and friends, treasured relationships we have been given and enabled to nurture and deepen over time.
• Whenever we turn on the TV to watch a holiday parade or football game, go to our computer to catch up on email or go to a favorite website, or receive a friendly text, we can give thanks for advancements in technology that our grandparents could never have imagined.
• If we were able to attend a Thanksgiving service or plan to attend a worship service this weekend, we can be thankful for the freedom to worship as we choose, a freedom not available to many people around the globe.

 

This list could go on and on. In his second letter to the ancient church in Corinth, the apostle Paul writes about thanksgiving from a perspective many of us would not have considered – being able to give materially to benefit others. 

 

After citing a key principle of sowing and reaping, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously,” and observing that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7), the apostle moves on to the subject of how we can inspire the giving of thanks:

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God. For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-12).

 

Have you ever thought about giving thanks for the ability to give from our personal treasure and resources, as well as of our time and talents? As a friend told me years ago, “the greatest poverty is the inability to give.” Although there are always things we can want, many of us already have more than we need. What a blessing and a privilege to be rich enough to give from our abundance to assist those in meeting their needs.

 

Sometimes we’re reluctant to give with generosity, thinking we must keep in mind our own needs. At such times it might be wise to remember how extravagantly God has given to us, most notably the reminder we find in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” 

It is no wonder that as Paul completed his exhortation to the Corinthians about bountiful, even hilarious giving, he concluded with this declaration: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). As the old hymn says of Jesus Christ, “He gave His life, what more could He give?” This Thanksgiving, let’s consider how many ways we can thank Him for what He has done for us.

Never Too Early to Start Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving Day is coming, ready or not! Recently deceased turkeys are waiting in refrigerators across the land, while some live turkeys are wiping their brows, hoping they might have gotten a reprieve for another year. Pumpkin pies are baking; cans of yams being snatched off grocery store shelves before supplies run out; Christmas parade floats nearing completion; and football fans already making their own game plans for coordinating festive dinners with their favorite gridiron clashes. 

 

Some people are even thinking seriously about what they will be thankful for this year.

 

Although the annual holiday doesn’t officially arrive until later this week, that doesn’t mean we can’t feel or express gratitude before we gather with friends and family around a table, salivating over the eagerly anticipated feast. It’s always a good time to think about – and practice – the act of being thankful.

In fact, we’re urged to maintain a continual attitude of thankfulness. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we find one of Bible’s direct, yet profound verses: “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I like how another translation turns the phrase: “in everything give thanks.”

 

Now some of us might argue, in one respect or another, that it’s hard to be thankful for everything. Perhaps you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one over the past year or experienced serious financial setbacks. Maybe your own health has been a struggle. It could be challenges encountered on the job, or family issues that seem beyond resolution. Are we supposed to be thankful for those things, too?

 

We can find no better example than Job in the Bible’s Old Testament. A wealthy and prominent citizen, he suffered an incredible series of personal tragedies, including the loss of property and livestock, deaths of his children, and severe health maladies. His wife, understandably chagrined by the chain of events, didn’t think her husband should feel thankful. Obviously lacking the spiritual gifts of mercy or encouragement, she didn’t mince words: “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

 

Job’s response, despite grave adversity that seemed unending and beyond explanation, was amazingly simple and humble: “…Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:9-10). Good question!

 

Hopefully, as you read this many positive blessings come to your mind. Despite the continuing flood of negative news, perhaps the past year has been one of your very best. If so, that’s wonderful. However, even in times of hardship, thankfulness is not only possible – it’s also essential. 

 

For one thing, we have the promise of Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” When facing difficulties, we might not always understand the “why” of what’s happened, but we can trust in the Lord’s goodness, love and sovereignty. He wants what’s best for us, even if it doesn’t seem that way at the time. 

 

As we read in Jeremiah 29:11, God declares, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” And as a Babbie Mason song reminds us, “When you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand…trust His heart.”

 

Even though thanksgiving should be an ongoing habit year-round, I appreciate having an annual reminder built into our calendar. Besides the United States, thanksgiving holidays are observed in countries such as Brazil, Canada, Grenada, St. Lucia, Liberia and the Philippines; similar festival holidays are held in Germany, Japan and other nations.

 

Colossians 3:15-17 gives us a good description of what it might look like to cultivate and express our thankfulness, not only to God directly but also with one another:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

This year, I hope we can all join in thanksgiving, not only around the dinner table as we pray, but also with uplifting words and songs, expressing gratitude to our Creator and Sustainer, our Savior and Lord, for who He is and all that He does in our lives, even in ways we do not understand. 

A Simple Prescription for Effective Prayer

One of the essential, yet mysterious parts of a growing relationship with God is something called prayer. We find it in many forms: long, eloquent public orations by very religious-sounding individuals; very formalized liturgy repeated every Sunday in some congregations; very simple, humble expressions of men, women and children. All hoping to connect with the divine.

Prayer is something we all know we should do, but many of us would agree, “It’s so hard!” Where’s the best place to pray? The proper posture for praying? What are the right words to use? It seems so mysterious, especially seeking to commune with Someone we can’t see or touch.

 

Workshops, even entire conferences, are devoted to the subject of prayer. Countless books have been written on the topic. And yet many of us continue to ask, “What is the right way to pray?”

 

I’ll never claim to be an expert on prayer. It’s something I know I should do more, probably with greater fervency. But when I find myself stumbling around, trying to get past a prayerful roadblock, I often resort to a simple formula for prayer that I learned years ago:

A – adoration

C – confession

T – thanksgiving

S – supplication

 

There are many other approaches that can be used, but this one seems to put things into their proper perspective. By starting with adoration – or praise – we place our focus on God, rather than whatever we think we need or desire for Him to provide. 

 

Confession effectively cleans the slate as we take to the Lord our sins – acts of disobedience or rebellion that create “static” and interfere with or disrupt our communication with the God of all creation.

 

Thanksgiving is grateful recognition of who God is, as well as acknowledgement of what He has already done and what we trust He will do in response to our prayerful requests.

 

Then the “supplication” portion comes, even though we’re tempted to start our prayers with that. Years ago, a man I worked with observed that sometimes as we pray, we act as if God were a spiritual “short-order cook,” serving up whatever we select from the “menu.” Preceding our requests by adoration, confession and thanksgiving puts us into a more worshipful frame of mind. We can find ourselves more aligned with the Lord and His will. Sometimes this might even change what we ask for – or how we ask.

 

We can find this simple model or something like it many places in the Bible, but one special example is found in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. This cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia had learned about the ruined state of his hometown before exile, Jerusalem in Israel. The distressing news caused him to sit down and weep.

 

Feeling compelled to personally engage in the repair of the once-proud city’s walls and gates, Nehemiah knew he would need the king’s permission. However, before approaching Artaxerxes with the uncertainty of how he would respond, the royal servant first turned to God in prayer. Recorded in Nehemiah 1:5-11, he began by addressing “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands.”

 

Next Nehemiah prayed, “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you….” He then recounted God’s promise to restore His people and “bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name….”

 

Only then did Nehemiah get to the matter at hand, his wish to lead the extensive rebuilding of the Lord’s holy city: “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man [Artaxerxes].” 

 

When asked why he looked so sad, Nehemiah received the opportunity to express to the king what had happened to the city, but silently preceded his explanation with another brief prayer to God for His wise direction. Artaxerxes did authorize his cupbearer to undertake the ambitious project, even assisting with needed resources and protection.

 

This is just one biblical illustration, but it shows that prayer is simply honest, sincere communication with God. In one sentence, Philippians 4:6 offers a summation of this process: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Couple this with the concise admonition of 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing,”and we have a prescription for prayer that enables us to cut through unnecessary religious red tape.

 

Prayer is a privilege the Lord extends to His children as our Abba Father. Jesus Christ, by His once-for-all atoning sacrifice, has made it possible for us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). This is something we can “ACTS” upon with abounding joy. 

Finding Peace in an Angry, Hostile World

Do you remember the “olden days” when televised beauty pageants like Miss America and Miss Universe were a big deal, eagerly anticipated from one year to the next? Lovely young contestants would smile into the camera and declare that if they won the title, they would be to promote vegetables in a blender? You know – whirled peas?

Okay, what they actually said was “world peace.” But that idyllic global condition remains as elusive today as it was back then. Anger, hostility and animosity seem as pervasive as ever. The only things “united” about the USA these days are contiguous geographic borders. We’re divided politically, ideologically, philosophically, and just about every other possible way. We can’t even have civil conversations about the weather anymore.

Around the globe, dreams of peace are just that – dreams. Meanwhile we have nightmares about the economy, major health issues, social strife, what’s going on with nature, and the threat of war is ever-present. Where in the world can we find this ideal called world peace?

 

It might sound pessimistic, but the chances of our seeing true, lasting global peace are about as likely as a grasshopper flying to the moon. Human conflict is as old as recorded history. In Genesis 4:1-16, we read the tragic tale of Cain and Abel, first sons of Adam and Eve. In an act of jealousy and anger, the elder Cain killed his younger brother Abel, then lied to God in a foolish attempt to conceal his heinous crime. War and violent conflict, whether between individuals or nations, has continued ever since.

 

Does that mean peace is impossible, that it’s a hopeless pursuit? In one respect, the answer is probably yes. Sorry to disappoint the Pollyannas among us, but our world is riddled by something the Bible calls sin. As a result, there will always be a desire by many to control, coerce and conquer. I’ve cited the passage before, but Romans 3:10-18 sums it up well: 

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

 

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pursue peace, to employ every possible means to achieve reconciliation among peoples. But the key phrase above, I believe, is “no fear of God before their eyes.” Because He is the only real peacemaker and when we fail to look to Him, peace remains far beyond our grasp.

 

However, we are offered – even promised – peace, even if it’s not on a global scale. I love the promise from Isaiah 26:3, “You [the Lord] will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.” Through our relationship with God, we can experience inner peace when everything around us, both near and far, is plunging into chaos.

 

Speaking to His closest followers, Jesus offered this assurance as He anticipated His death on the cross to atone for the sins of mankind: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

 

Writing to encourage followers of Christ in ancient Rome, the apostle Paul reminded them of where they needed to direct their thoughts, despite opposition and many trials to test their faith. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

 

Over the past two years we’ve been bombarded with reasons to fear, foremost being the COVID-19 pandemic, creating unprecedented levels of anxiety. “What will happen if I get the virus? Will I die?” many have wondered, panic resonating in their voices. How can we experience enduring peace when it seems as if the specter of death is chasing after us?

 

Jesus offered assurances for circumstances like this. Knowing His disciples would confront the pain of His absence after being with Him night and day for three years, He told them, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

 

Whether in good times or bad, in excellent health or nearing the moment of death, God’s peace is available to each one of us. All we need to do is ask. Then we can claim the blessing He gave thousands of years ago to His chosen people of Israel: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you his peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).

When Is a Name Not Necessarily an Accurate Name?

Maybe you recall the phrase, “A rose is a rose is a rose.” It was originated by writer Gertrude Stein as part of her 1913 poem, “Sacred Emily.” Many understand the phrase to mean, “things are what they are.” Ms. Stein explained she basically meant that the simple use of a name already invokes the imagery and emotions associated with it.

I mention this because of how use of the term “Christian” has changed through the years. When I first came to an understanding of what it meant to truly commit your life to Christ, more than four decades ago, I was proud to tell others that I was a Christian. In the years since then, however, I’d have to say this term has been hijacked, given a variety of different meanings – some of them used in negative, even derogatory ways.

 

So, depending on who’s speaking or writing, applying the “a rose is a rose is a rose” principle to the word “Christian” might not work very well. 

 

Rather than delving into uses and misuses of Christian, I’d like to point to a shift I’ve observed among those who profess to trust Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Some would now describe themselves as “followers of Jesus Christ,” while others choose to define themselves as “disciples of Christ.” If someone were to ask me, “Are you a Christian?” I probably would respond, “Yes, I am.” But, depending on the person and circumstances, I might also ask what they mean by the term. Because their meaning might not align with what I mean in expressing it.

 

Somewhat surprisingly, the Scriptures use the term Christian only three times in the original Greek writings, although some Bible paraphrases have added it to other passages. In 1 Peter 4:16, the apostle wrote, “…if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” This is the one instance in the New Testament – again, in the original texts – of a believer using the term.

 

The other two instances of the earliest manuscripts using the word actually apply to non-believing persons. Acts 11:26 says, “…The disciples were called Christians in Antioch.” In essence, outsiders were calling them “Christ ones” – people uniquely related to Jesus Christ. 

 

Then in Acts 26:28, after the apostle Paul had explained to King Agrippa how his life had been transformed by Christ, the Roman official declared, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Again, the word is not used by a believer but rather, by a skeptic wanting to categorize what the apostle was proclaiming.

 

Bottom line, the Scriptures indicate that what matters most to the Lord is not which term we choose to use, but who we are – what is truly in our hearts? Paul summarized in Acts 17:28 what it means to be a genuine follower of Jesus: “For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” As the apostle stated it, it’s our radical identity, not just on special days or at certain hours, but every minute of every day.

 

Recently I was reminded of what’s often called “St. Patrick’s Lorica,” a prayer of protection in the Old Irish language. The namesake of the boisterous annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, in real life he was a devout British missionary and bishop in fifth-century Ireland. His lorica, which literally means “breastplate,” includes these words: 

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”

 

Kind of reminds me of the office worker who was asked the “Are you a Christian?” question. She responded, “I’d put it this way: I’m a follower of Jesus, cleverly disguised as an administrative assistant.” Would that be true for you? Whether you’re a business executive, elected official, homemaker and mother of three, plumber, professional athlete, retail manager, IT person, or student, could you earnestly say, “I’m a follower of Christ, cleverly disguised as…”?

 

If you can, then it doesn’t matter whether you call yourself a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, or an “ambassador for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). What matters is whether people can see “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Thinking About Others in a ‘Selfie’ World

We’ve all heard the saying, “There’s no ‘i’ in team.” For sticklers on spelling, that’s true in the most literal sense. But the best teams also seem to be able to minimize the focus on “me” and “I”; players understand that they’re part of something much greater and work to support each other, subordinating their own personal goals.

 

Achieving this might be more difficult than ever in our “selfie” world, with so many people preening and taking photos of themselves from every possible angle with their smartphones. I get it. I’ve done it myself. People like to use photos to chronicle where they are and what they’ve been doing, but this non-stop focus on self can’t be all good.

Recently a friend recalled an observation from a speaker who cited two words we often encounter that do include the letter “i.” In fact, it’s right in the middle of both: Anxiety and pride. I can think of another one: sin. And it’s definitely related to the two others.

 

There’s lots of “I” in the ways we use these words. Like practically everyone else, I’ve experienced anxiety – maybe more than my share – over the past couple of years. I admit that when feeling anxious (yet another word with an “I” right in the middle!) my focus is usually on how I’m feeling, how stresses and uncertainties of living in a pandemic-riddled world are affecting me.

 

Similarly, more often than not, pride puffs up a person. We concentrate on things such as, “What do people think of me?”, “See what I have?” or, “Look at what I have accomplished. Anybody noticing?” Having a measure of self-satisfaction in what we’ve done isn’t wrong, but in excess it can lead to patting ourselves on the back so hard we risk breaking our arms.

 

Throughout human history, long before “selfies” became a thing, inordinate focus on oneself created all manner of problems. The mythical tale of Narcissus provides a classic example. It’s about an impossibly handsome young man who fell in love with his own image when he saw it reflected in a pool of water. We could say this tragic fellow’s thinking was all wet. But to this day we call people narcissists who become obsessed with themselves. Perhaps a few names immediately come to mind?

 

The Scriptures don’t address selfie mania specifically, but they do offer many warnings about the pitfalls of getting controlled by our own interests and desires. When Jesus instructed His followers to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31), He wasn’t giving friendly advice; He was dead serious. He personified that principle by willingly dying on a cross to become the atoning sacrifice for our sins: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

 

Another time the Lord said, “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). When His disciples saw Him nailed to the cross, this statement must have echoed loudly in their minds.

 

Thankfully, living and acting contrary to selfie culture doesn’t usually require literally dying for others. We can demonstrate orientation toward others in many ways. Philippians 2:3-4 admonishes, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” That seems to cover just about everything we might do.

 

Years ago, we heard the mantra, “You have to look out for No. 1! If you don’t, who will?” And there’s a measure of truth to that. But biblical admonitions seem to be saying that as we look out for others, even putting their needs and interests above our own, we’re ultimately helping ourselves as well.

 

Many of us remember Jesus’ admonition, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). This is a wonderful virtue on its own, but it also communicates that when we help others, in effect we’re helping ourselves as well.

 

We find this truth affirmed in Proverbs 11:24-25, “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” This doesn’t guarantee a dollar for dollar return on our generosity, but there’s great joy in knowing God is using us to help others.

So, the next time you feel the urge to take a selfie to make a record of where you’ve been, maybe on vacation or attending a major event, or capture a moment with a special person, go right ahead. But we can also keep in mind that an even better “picture” would be of us stepping forward in ways that put the needs and interests of others ahead of our own. 

Putting People on Pedestals That Don’t Belong There

People on pedestals have a
disturbing habit of falling.

Hero worship. It’s a national pastime. Fan magazines are filled with supposed “heroes.” We even like them super-sized – these days you can’t go to a movie theater that doesn’t offer some new “superhero” film. We idolize people – real or fictional – placing them on pedestals so they can more easily bask in our adoration. The problem is, they don’t belong there. 

That’s because all of us – even the rich, famous and powerful – are broken, flawed and fallible, anything but perfect. And we have the disconcerting tendency of proving it. When heroes fall, they leave scores of disillusioned admirers in their wake.

 

It’s not hard to find stories on TV, magazines or the Internet about how an A-list celebrity has gotten caught up in some kind of scandal. You can probably think of several examples right now. The media seem to revel in reports of Christian leaders who fall, as if to say, “See, he/she isn’t the godly person they claim to be!” Even if the disgraced persons never actually made that claim.

 

It does hurt to hear about these failures. These folks – whether pastors, entertainers, authors or conference speakers – are supposed to be setting the example for the rest of us, right?

 

We also provide pedestals for people whose names aren’t in the “Who’s Who” of society. It might be a parent, sibling, uncle or aunt, a mentor, Sunday school teacher, co-worker or boss. We give them places of honor in our minds, holding them to the loftiest standards. If and when they fall, their crash seems of seismic proportions.

 

A number of folks have toppled from my own imagined pedestals. That was largely my fault, however, since they never asked to be put up there. Hearkening back to my student journalism days at Ohio State, I covered the football team and had the opportunity to interact face-to-face with the legendary Woody Hayes. Sadly, for many people his name evokes the image of an aging coach, in frustration, throwing a punch at a Clemson football player who sealed the Buckeyes’ defeat in a bowl game. Understandably, that was his last day as a football coach. Talk about dropping from a pedestal!

 

Years ago, soon after accepting a job to work in vocational ministry as a magazine editor, I talked with a pastor friend about his experiences in parachurch ministry. Harry offered some valuable advice. He said not to expect to find any perfect people, walking around in flowing robes and hands always folded in piety. “They’ll be normal human beings, filled with flaws just as we are.” How true those words proved to be. 

 

In the Bible, God minces no words about this reality. Romans 3:23, for example, tells us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Earlier in the chapter the writer, the apostle Paul, declares, “There is no one righteous, not even one…” (Romans 3:10). 

 

Years after his dramatic conversion from persecutor of Christians to fervent ambassador for Jesus Christ, Paul still confessed, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me” (7:15-21). Wow! If this was the case for one of Jesus’ foremost apostles, what hope do we have?

 

But that’s the point – apart from the power of Jesus Christ through His indwelling Spirit, we’ll never measure up. As devotional writer Oswald Chambers said, “All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary for the purpose He has given them.”

 

If we’re honest, we won’t want anyone placing us on a pedestal. Even though we may put up a good front, we all struggle inwardly, alternately succeeding and failing to live as we know God wants us to live. The adage, “Do as I say, not as I do,” is a terrible philosophy. It’s better not to point to ourselves at all, but always to Jesus.

 

The apostle might have been addressing this pedestal problem when he rebuked believers in the ancient city of Corinth: “…One of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’ Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:11-13).

 

Even today, we find it tempting to become disciples of one compelling preacher or another, accepting their particular theological slant as holy writ. There again, that’s placing them on pedestals extremely unstable at best.

 

Instead, we’d be wise to do as Paul humbly declared, “For I resolved to nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified…. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:2-5). We need only one pedestal, one that’s reserved for the Lord alone. 

Don’t Believe Everyone Who Says, ‘You Can Do it!’

Just as grapes are dependent on the vine, we can't
succeed apart from the true Vine.

As a journalist, I’ve always been intrigued by communications, both in theory and in practice. Today, with social media, the Internet and the plethora of TV programming, not only on networks and cable but also on many other platforms, traditional radio has become an afterthought for most people. 

However, I still enjoy listening to radio, especially while driving during the day. I particularly enjoy hearing some of the nation’s best preachers and Bible teachers. One of them is Alistair Begg, an engaging Scotsman who pastors a congregation in Cleveland, Ohio. 

 

Recently he was talking about his initial exposure to the American game of football, very different from the football he was familiar with in his native Scotland. We call it “soccer.” Trying to figure out the strange American sport was difficult enough for Begg, but what really caught his attention were cheerleaders.

 

As the game progressed, the cheerleaders’ team was getting clobbered. Unfazed, the girls continued to shout, “You can do it!” even though – as Begg recalled – “no…they couldn’t.” No amount of enthusiastic cheering could help the team’s overmatched offense and defense.

 

Bringing the illustration home, he observed that as we travel through life, we confront formidable challenges. We might we try fortifying ourselves with self-talk. “I can do this!” Or friends offer words of encouragement, “You can do it!” Sometimes, however, like the beleaguered football team Begg observed, we can’t. What do we do then?

 

We can grit our teeth and try even harder. Or we can quit, concluding that it’s hopeless. But there’s a third, and usually better, alternative.

 

Many times, when we conclude, “I can’t,” we’re just moments away from realizing, “but the Lord can!” Especially when we’re engaged in matters making a difference for eternity. This is why the apostle Paul wrote, “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). 

 

He was referring to the many times when he confronted great difficulties or had serious needs. Paul had seen God accomplish the seeming impossible – delivering him from shipwrecks, freeing him from prison, sustaining him through beatings and riots, and other trials. Even if friends were telling him, “You can do it!” Paul knew that without the Lord’s intervention, he couldn’t.

 

In similar fashion, Jesus used a common grapevine to illustrate our need to rely totally on God. Just as the branches must draw their sustenance from the vine, He said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Our best efforts and intentions – apart from Christ – amount to nothing.

 

I have experienced this many times, even when I didn’t realize how the Lord was intervening on my behalf. One time is forever etched in my memory: After accepting a job to work with CBMC, a Christian ministry, my family and I were moving from Houston, Texas to Chattanooga. My pastor suggested that I speak briefly to our congregation, asking them to pray for our transition – but my initial response was, “No, I can’t. I’m not a public speaker.” The prospect of standing before hundreds of people during a worship service terrified me.

 

However, God impressed upon me this was something He wanted me to do, and reluctantly I agreed to do it. “I can’t do this myself, Lord,” I prayed. “You’re going to have to empower me to do it.” And He did. 

 

God gave me a sense of peace and confidence. My nerves calmed and I saw the faces of many folks who had been a part of my spiritual growth over the past three years. As I spoke, I experienced the truth of Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

Years later, working for a sister ministry, my boss asked me to travel to Brazil to offer encouragement and support for people serving the Lord in the marketplace there. Again, I thought, “I can’t do that. That’s not my area of expertise, I don’t know anyone there, and I can’t even speak Portuguese.” Again it was like God was saying, “I know you can’t – but I can, working through you.”

 

The trip to Brazil far exceeded my greatest expectations, none of my trepidations came to pass, and I even returned there a couple of years later. To this day I remain in contact with some of the friends I made during those visits. 

 

Drawing from his own experiences, the apostle Paul wrote that the Lord gave him the assurance, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” and he could therefore conclude, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

So, the next time you’re confronted by a daunting, even overwhelming challenge and people cheer you on saying, “You can do it!”, don’t feel badly if you know you can’t. Because if the Lord wants it to be done, He can do it through you.