A Fool’s Day to Fuel the Fool in All of Us

What an amazing thing – having a whole day designated for celebrating fools and foolishness! April Fool’s Day, April 1, marks the start of a new month, and brings with it motivation to pull little pranks on each other, all in the name of “April fool!”

 

Some experts historically – or hysterically – trace the origins of April Fool’s Day, also known as All Fools Day, as far back at 1582 in France, upon switching from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. But others say the “holiday” actually began in 1700, when the tradition of playing practical jokes on one another was birthed in jolly old England.

Regardless of when it formally began, one day a year for a little lighthearted foolery seems fine. In reality, however, foolishness and being a fool are no laughing matter. Judging by what some folks say and do, it seems that for them, “fool’s day” is a year-round preoccupation. 

 

We even have sayings especially devoted to addle-brained people. Essayist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau said, “Any fool can make a rule. And any fool will mind it.” Mark Twain said, “I was young and foolish; now I’m old and foolisher.” Benjamin Franklin observed, “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain – and most fools do.” More than two centuries have passed since then, but things seem not to have changed much.

 

We’ve all heard the adage of indefinite origin, “A fool and his money are soon parted.” Humorist Will Rogers offered a somewhat different view: “A fool and his money are soon elected.” That observation, too, seems to have weathered well the passage of time. In fact, thousands of years ago the writer of Proverbs said, “Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom” (Proverbs 17:16). 

 

The Scriptures have much to say about the perils of fools and foolishness. In the book of Proverbs alone, we find dozens of warnings and admonitions about lacking wisdom and choosing folly instead. For instance, Proverbs 10:14-15 is straight-forward in contrasting the speech of the wise and the foolish:

“Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment. Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.”

 

Proverbs 15:7 makes a similar observation: “The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.” If you’re in need of wise counsel and sound advice, consider the source!

 

Remember the adage, “Look before you leap”? Proverbs 14:8 offers a similar caution: “The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.” We find the same sentiment in Proverbs 15:21, which declares, “Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.”

 

We’ve probably all encountered people during our lives who would fit the descriptions above. In recognizing the pitfalls of falling under the influence of foolish friends, the image evoked by the following verse is particularly powerful: “Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly” (Proverbs 17:12). Gulp!

 

Dozens of other passages advise us to steer clear of those who seem to revel in their own folly. However, perhaps what matters most is how we can avoid falling into the same trap. Because in our fallen world, foolishness isn’t hard to find. 

 

I’ve cited the following verses before, but they’re worth pondering again. Proverbs 1:7 declares, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Maybe one reason we live in such foolish, nonsensical times is that we’ve drifted away from the fear of the Lord.

 

Another commonly cited verse teaches, “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” (James 1:5). Similarly, Proverbs 2:6 promises, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

So, as another April 1 arrives with its celebration of fools and folly, go ahead – enjoy pulling a harmless prank or two, or allow yourself to play victim to someone else’s trickery. But let the day also serve as a reminder of the dangerous snares of perpetual foolishness. As Proverbs 28:26 warns, “He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.” 

Not One of Us Is as Smart as All of Us

For the most part, we live in an individualistic, some say even narcissistic, world. It’s the age of the “selfie,” SnapChat and TikTok: “It’s all about me!” on steroids. Not to disparage folks who frequent such apps, but it’s a shame more of us haven’t bought into the “we’re better together” philosophy.

 

Years ago, a friend at work would often comment, “Not one of us is as smart as all of us.” If we ponder that for a moment, we understand the truth of such a simple statement. We all bring something different to the party, so to speak, and to maximize our success, we need one another.

Over my 17 years as a magazine editor, I had many highlights, including the people I interviewed for articles – folks both well-known and unknown, but all outstanding, inspirational examples of what it means to live and work for Jesus Christ. Traveling to interesting places and writing articles based on those interviews were great fun. But some of my most memorable moments came during planning meetings for the magazine. 

 

Being responsible for the magazine’s content, I would arrive for each session with concepts about how the articles should be presented. But our graphic designer, my assistant editor, and other staff people would come with their own points of view. We’d bounce ideas back and forth, sometimes laughing, sometimes arguing, but always in the spirit of creative friction with a shared goal of producing the best possible edition of the magazine.

 

Without fail, once we reviewed the final, printed copies of the publication, we’d conclude that the whole – the end result – was greater than the sum of the parts. We became living proof of my friend’s “not one of us is as smart as all of us” adage.

 

Thinking about teams, competitors on an athletic field or sports arena typically come to mind, but teams are important for virtually any area of endeavor, whether it’s in business, the home, a classroom, repair shop, construction site, retail store, emergency responders, or even politics. Just as long as the mission embraced is shared and has higher priority than personal agendas.

 

Two of my favorite “teamwork” passages from the Scriptures come to mind, the first being, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). Over the course of my working career, I’ve experienced many times when people helped me become better at what I was doing – and I’d like to think I somehow assisted some in their work, too. 

 

This is true in marriages as well. The adage says “opposites attract,” but even when a husband and wife have similar interests and temperaments, they can still learn to complement themselves in areas where they are different.

 

During the climactic stage of His creation, God determined, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18). The term “helper” might be better translated “completer,” or as one Bible’s footnote suggests, “The woman was made by God to complement him, to make up for the man’s deficiency.” Over more than 4½ decades of marriage, this has the experience my wife and I have had – partnering together and complementing one another, “iron sharpening iron.”

Another passage in the Scriptures that underscores the importance of teaming together 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.”

 

If you take a long strand of thread, you can probably break it with relative ease. If you add a second strand, you still might be able to snap them in two. But if you take three or more strands of thread and twist them together, it will be difficult if not impossible to break them. That, in a sense, is how a good team works together, supporting one another and complementing each other’s strengths. 

 

This is one reason God uses the human body as a metaphor for His earthly “body,” the Church. Being in a variety of congregations and denominations, we might have differences in worship styles, traditions and doctrinal emphasis. But as the apostle Paul admonished, calling for unity among believers:

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink…. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it…” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31).

Each one of us has individual goals and objectives in life, but for the most part we’ll find that if we work together, pooling our resources and capitalizing on our respective talents and strengths, the likelihood of achieving those goals and objectives will be much greater. Because not one of us is as smart as all of us. 

What the World Needs Now Is … Wisdom

Many of us remember the popular song of a few decades ago, “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” Sung by Jackie DeShannon, Dionne Warwick and others, its simplistic, sentimental and even schmaltzy message assures us that if we just somehow conjure up feelings of love toward our fellow man, woman and child, the world will be a much better place.

 

I’m all in favor of this concept – at least in theory. But in reality, this idealistic notion falls short. It’s like saying, if you try hard enough, you can jump clear to the moon. 

 

Yes, Jesus Christ insisted on it. He instructed His followers, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). It’s pretty clear Jesus said what He meant and meant what He said.

 

And He didn’t confine this command to loving those who are like us. In His “sermon on the mount,” Jesus astounded His hearers in declaring, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44). How are you doing with that?

 

That’s exactly what Jesus said we’re to do – especially if we’re His disciples. But how? There are lots of theologians who have a better handle on that than me. But I’d like to suggest that besides love, what our world really needs now, perhaps even more, is wisdom.

 

Daily news broadcasts are rife with reports about pandemics, racial strife and injustice, economic turmoil, violence, threats of war, extreme weather and other natural calamities. I’m beginning to wonder if we’re seeing the onset of PTMD – Post-Traumatic Media Disorder – with the relentless bombardment of bad news. All we hear about are problems, problems, and more problems.

 

What we’d all prefer to hear about, I suspect, are solutions to those problems. We see plenty of hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth on the part of news commentators, politicians, and anyone else who can get themselves in front of a camera. However, with all the questions out there, there don’t seem to be many answers. Hence the need for wisdom.

 

Big problems inherently are complex, lacking easy answers. If the solutions were easy, they wouldn’t be problems for long. So-called “experts” can draw upon knowledge and information, but more often than not, it seems they’re looking for resolution in all the wrong places. What they desperately need is wisdom, and it can't be found on the shelves at Wal-Mart or ordered on Amazon.

 

So where can we find this wisdom that’s so conspicuously absent among many of the power brokers and influence peddlers in our world? I’d suggest there’s no better place to start than the Scriptures. In fact, its book of Proverbs opens with this declaration: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). Then it says, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

 

Aptly referred to one of the Bible’s “wisdom books,” Proverbs is filled with principles and precepts for everyday living – including decision-making and problem-solving. How important is wisdom? Why can’t knowledge and information suffice? This brief passage explains why:

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:13-15).

 

Through the centuries we’ve had many individuals who have offered us words of wisdom, drawn from experience and keen observation. We have philosophers like Socrates and Plato; spiritual and social leaders like Confucius, Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.; great men and women of history like Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller and Mother Teresa; even humorists like Will Rogers. But I believe the best source of timeless truth and unfailing wisdom is God and His Word.

 

I’ve mentioned this before, but often in life the road we’re traveling seems hopelessly obscured. We can’t begin to see which way we should go. Because of this, Proverbs 3:5-6 has always given me great assurance: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

 

Another passage makes this observation: “Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod for the back of him who lacks judgment. Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin” (Proverbs 10:14-15).

 

But how do we acquire this godly wisdom for negotiating the minefield we call everyday living? According to the apostle James, it’s no secret: “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” (James 1:6). The irony is, many of us never think to ask – or we’re too proud or self-assured to do so.

What formidable challenges are you facing today? What difficult decisions are you needing to make? How are we to cope with and respond to the ever-changing demands of life in the 21^st century? If you recognize your need for wisdom, discernment and understanding, the Lord says all we have to do is ask and He’ll be happy to provide what we need. 

Fixing Flaws to the Masterpiece as Only the Creator Can

Imagine being a renowned artist who has just finished a painting for a major art exhibit. After examining it with pride, he believes it might be his best work yet. About the time the artist is putting his signature to the painting, one of his grandchildren, four-year-old Eva, arrives with her mom and dad. Excited about their visit, the painter leaves the artwork to greet them. 

While they’re engaged in conversation, Eva slips away, enters the artist’s studio, and decides to try her own creative skills. Following the example observed while watching granddad at work, she goes to the paint palette, its oils still fresh, picks up a brush and happily starts dabbing paint on the lower corners within her reach.

 

Her grandfather, noticing she has disappeared from sight, tracks her down and instantly sees the damage Susan innocently has inflicted on his masterpiece. Because he loves his granddaughter, the master artist stifles an urge to cry out in dismay. He guides Eva away from the painting as calmly as possible, places the palette far out of reach, and immediately starts contemplating how to fix his now-flawed creation.

 

If the painter resolves to repair the artwork, do you think he would he ask little Susan to do it? Of course not. He would do it himself, since as its creator, he’s the only one capable of restoring it to its former beauty.

 

Even as I describe this imagined scene, I can’t help cringing, thinking about how I might react if I were in his shoes. The paramount work of a lifetime, painstakingly created and completed, seriously marred by careless hands. Do you just take a “mulligan” or a start-over?

 

In the most profound sense, this is exactly the story we find unfolding throughout the Bible, starting with its opening words, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), followed by its description of the creation account. That first chapter closes with these words: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good…” (verse 31). By “very good,” I don’t think He was saying, “Not too shabby” or “it’s okay.” It was the greatest “Ta-Dah!” of all time.

 

But we know the story didn’t end there. The first humans, whom the Bible identifies as Adam and Eve, wrecked the Lord’s perfect, idyllic work. Committing what is commonly referred to as the original sin, they defied His command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A singular but devastating act of disobedience and rebellion, with tragic ripples that we experience to this day.

 

One term for those ripples is our “sin nature.” Adam and Eve didn’t keep their wayward ways to themselves. Throughout history, men, women and children have been carrying on their sinful “DNA.” As Romans 3:10 declares, “There is no one righteous, not even one…,” and Romans 3:23 adds, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” From the moment we’re born, we arrive with something inside that seems intent on continuing to taint the Lord’s masterpiece.

 

Toward the end of the 7^th chapter of the book, the apostle Paul – having confessed his own struggles with right and wrong – bemoans, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death” (Romans 7:24). Great question, one most of us have asked ourselves, probably more than once.

 

Hymn writer and former slave owner John Newton himself faced this dilemma, wrestling with his dismal past, but arrived at this joyous conclusion as he wrote, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

 

This wasn’t rationalization on Newton’s part. He had discovered and embraced this truth from reading the Scriptures after being dramatically transformed by Jesus Christ. He read passages like Romans 7:25-8:2, in which Paul celebrated, after having asked who would rescue him:

“Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”

Adam and Eve, and every human ever born since, set about ruining God’s perfect creation, but He instituted a better plan, one that will ultimately dispense with the devastation completely. The Bible teaches this in many places, but one of the great passages explaining what the Lord has done – and continues to do – is 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.

 

It begins by revisiting God’s creative powers: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ…” Then we find the incredible declaration that we, even in our current imperfect state, have the privilege of being participants in this redemptive process:

“…And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made [Jesus Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

 

As an old preacher said, “If that doesn’t light your fire, your wood’s wet!”

 

Maybe the imagined master painter we met above didn’t enlist little Eva to help him in restoring his masterpiece; but amazingly by His grace – as Newton recognized – God has chosen not only to reconcile us to Himself through His Son, Jesus, but also wants us to serve as His agents in seeing others restored in relationship to Him as well. Praise the Lord!

It’s About Application – Truth in Action

When was the most recent powerful sermon you heard? What was it about the message that made such an impression on you?

 

I could cite numerous sermons and presentations that struck me in a powerful way, but I’d have to say they all contained three common elements. The great English preacher of the 19^th century, Charles H. Spurgeon is credited with explaining how he prepared his messages, although I suspect many other pastors have used the same approach.

 

Spurgeon said that in preparing to speak on a specific Bible passage, he would ask three questions: What does it say? What does it mean? And finally, What difference does it make? Or as I’m often tempted to ask near the conclusion of a sermon, “So what?”

 

Perhaps to a fault, I tend to err on the side of personal application, whether in reading and studying the Bible, or writing an article or blog post like this. As Spurgeon said, it’s not enough to read the words and try to discern their meaning. It’s the third step, determining what difference the teachings of a passage should make in our lives, that lights the fire under us.

 

One time I talked with a pastor about his approach to giving Sunday morning messages. He was excellent in explaining to the congregation what a Bible passage said and what it meant, at times even referring to the original Hebrew or Greek terms for clarification. Where his messages fell short, in my opinion, was in the area of application.

 

After a lengthy discussion, the pastor told me that in his view, the matter of application should be left to the Holy Spirit. In other words, it’s up to God’s Spirit to teach us how to apply biblical truth. To an extent I could agree; how one section of Scripture applies to my life might be quite different from how the passage relates to someone else’s life. But to extend the pastor’s logic, why not trust the Holy Spirit to enable us to understand what a passage says and means, as well?

 

Application – the old “where the rubber meets the road” concept – is what distinguishes a growing, fruitful follower of Jesus from one who has merely absorbed considerable biblical information and knowledge. As the apostle James exhorted first-century believers, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). To do what it says involves applying it to our own lives and circumstances.

 

The late Henry R. Brandt, a pioneer in modern-day biblical counseling, also was an accomplished author and popular conference speaker. I heard Dr. Brandt say that whenever he spoke, he had only one point to make – but by using a variety of illustrations, he strived to convey that point in as many ways as he could, so everyone listening had an opportunity to grasp what he was talking about.

 

Most folks aren’t going to write Christian books, speak at Bible conferences or preach from Sunday pulpits. But as we spend time individually in the Word of God, Spurgeon’s counsel could serve as an effective guide for our study. If, when we read the Scriptures we conclude, “I didn’t get anything out of it,” maybe it’s because we’re reading only for information and not illumination.

 

Consider a passage, any passage. It could be a psalm, a chapter from Proverbs, maybe one of the vivid narratives from Genesis or Exodus, an episode from Jesus’ life in one of the gospels, or a section in one of the New Testament letters. As you read it, ask yourself: What does it say? And don’t settle for the first answer that comes to your mind. Next ask, what does it mean? Again, take the time to ponder and even meditate on this for a bit. 

 

Finally, ask yourself, what difference does it make – for you? As someone has wisely observed, “God doesn’t give us information to know something. He gives us knowledge so we can do something.” And that means applying biblical truth to our lives through obedience and practice.

 

This is one reason the apostle admonished, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘God, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14-17).

As followers of Jesus, if we’re to live abundant and fruitful lives that glorify Him and fulfill His purposes for our lives, we dare not neglect application of the Scriptures – biblical truth in action. 

Words: Inspiring or Inciting, Wonderful or Woeful?

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me!” When I was a kid, this old saying would be repeated over and over. One problem: it wasn’t true.

 

My boyhood had its share of cuts and scrapes. Even though I didn’t have a belligerent personality, I got into a scuffle or two. But I can't recall any of those injuries in detail. I can, however, remember harsh or unkind words that were directed to me and my fragile self-image as a youth. If I tried hard enough, some of those insults could still echo in my mind.

 

Perhaps this is one reason the Bible is replete with verses and passages that deal with the power of words, citing their capacity of uplifting and inspiring, as well as damage it can incite when misused.

 

In fact, the New Testament book of James clearly warns of the potential dangers of the tongue when not wisely restrained or controlled: “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell…no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:6-8).

Of course, we don’t need to be speaking directly to someone, or even on the phone, to inflict damage with our words. We have resources like social media, text messaging and emails to insult, demean, bully, antagonize and disparage. In fact, hiding behind the curtains of cyberspace, cowardly individuals have given an entirely different meaning to “bully pulpit.”

 

Used with grace, words – spoken or written – have the power to inspire; they can be wonderful tools of encouragement. But misused, words can deflate, even destroy. This is why we read such admonitions in the book of Proverbs as:

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked” (Proverbs 10:11).

“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3).

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

 

When uncontrolled, one’s tongue inevitably strays into dangerous territory, so we find this admonition to speak with extreme caution: “When there are many words, transgression is not avoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19, NAS). The NIV translates it this way: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” 

 

President Abraham Lincoln is reputed to have said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” We find a similar declaration that was made many centuries earlier in Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”

 

All this is not to diminish the value of words, whether spoken or written. Proverbs 15:28 offers this contrast: “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things” (Proverbs 15:28). And we find this observation in Proverbs 17:27, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.” 

 

These days it’s so easy to dash off an email thoughtlessly, failing to consider its impact on the recipient. Or to key in a derogatory comment on Facebook or Twitter. Perhaps, like a bit in the mouth of a horse, we need sound communication principles to keep our thoughts reined in. We find some in the 4^th chapter of the New Testament book of Ephesians.

 

As we prepare to speak or write something sensitive to another person, it would be helpful to pause and make certain that we are “…speaking the truth in love,” as Ephesians 4:15 phrases it.

 

A bit further into the chapter we find what we could term the “command for effective communicators: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

Selfless, sacrificial love should be our primary motivation behind everything we do, according to the Word of God, including interpersonal communications. Passages like those above could serve as safeguards for everything we say and write. Being a writer who regularly uses an abundance of words in a variety of settings, I need the counsel of these verses as much as anyone. 

Life – It’s Really Just the Tip of the Drumstick

The other day at my drum lesson, I had a bit of an epiphany (not to be confused with tympani). My teacher, who like me had met AARP membership criteria long ago, and I got into a conversation about the brevity of life and how the majority of our earthly existence is already behind us.  

As we were chatting, I glanced at the tip of one of my drumsticks. The tip is less than one-half inch, while the entire stick is more than 16 inches long. A drummer uses the entire drumstick, of course, but the tip is where the action is. This prompted me to think about the span of one’s life here on earth, compared to eternity. 

 

The average American lives well beyond the age of 70, although we all know of people who passed away much younger. And there are many people living well into their 80’s, 90’s, and some past 100. That seems like a long time, but as a little girl once said, “Eternity – well, that’s like forever!” Yep, a very, very long time.

 

Which begs the question, if our time on earth is equivalent to the tip of a drumstick, while the entire drumstick (and beyond) represents eternity, why are we so focused on just the tip?

 

Skeptics might contend that this life is all there is, there’s nothing after we die. If that’s the case, we might do well to consider the somewhat pessimistic perspective of the author of Ecclesiastes, who wrote, “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 8:15). Eat, drink and be merry, ‘cause tomorrow you may die! 

 

However, the same book’s writer also observed, “[God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). In response to the plaintive question of the old song, “Is that all there is?”, the Bible teaches emphatically, “No, that’s not all there is.”

 

The Scriptures don’t sugarcoat the reality of life. As it says in James 4:14, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away.” The New International translates the word as “mist.” Vapor or mist, neither is anything you can hang onto for long.

 

But rather than telling us to resign ourselves to a relatively short-lived existence, the Bible is filled with passages and promises that essentially tell us, “Quit concentrating on the tip of the drumstick and learn to value the entire stick.”

 

In what’s perhaps the best-known verse of Scripture, John 3:16, we’re told, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This isn’t referring to the fabled fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon searched for, but life that continues long after we take our last breath on planet Earth. 

 

The apostle John expanded on this when he wrote, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:12-13).

 

Speaking to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and Jewish leader, Jesus Christ referred to this when He said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36).

 

On another occasion, Jesus assured His followers, “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Another translation terms it “abundant life.” Either way, He was not referencing hefty wallets and investment portfolios, shiny cars and grandiose houses, but life for all of eternity with our Heavenly Father.

 

Writing a final charge to his protégé, Timothy, the apostle Paul clearly understood there’s more to life than what he’d experienced on “terra firma.” With his sights set on what awaited him, Paul declared: 

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, for which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

 

Even though in Romans 6:13 he wrote about our offering ourselves as “instruments of righteousness,” I don’t think he had drums or even drumsticks in mind. But he might have appreciated that metaphor for pondering this life and the life to come.

 

How about us? Is our concentration fixed totally on this particular moment, tomorrow or next month, or have we given thought to what is, as Paul phrased it, “in store” for us in eternity, beyond the “drum tip” of everyday life?

Escaping the Confines of One’s Comfort Zone

“He’s (or she’s) in the zone.” Have you heard that before? Maybe you’ve even said it about yourself, that you’re totally focused on a particular project or task. “In the zone,” I’ve found, often is a good place to be. But there are many other kinds of zones – time zones, residential and commercial zones, no-fly zones, relationship zones. Even something we call “comfort zones.”

 

Most of us like our comfort zones. They’re familiar, predictable, safe. We can establish secure, clearly defined boundaries, manage expectations, and generally reap expected results. The risks of failure and disappointments can be kept at a minimum. So, what’s not to like about comfort zones?

 

For one thing, they can become tedious, even boring. They might cause us to settle for things easily within our reach. The routine of making the same widgets day after day might seem risk-free, but life and work should amount to more than making widgets. 

 

Another drawback of comfort zones is they might prevent us from experiencing – and enjoying – the unknown and untried. We might have no idea what we’re missing unless we attempt to discover what it could be. You can’t learn to swim unless you’re willing to jump into the pool.

 

But perhaps the greatest criticism of a life confined to a comfort zone is succinctly expressed by speaker, author and leadership coach, Tim Kight: “Nothing great ever happened in the comfort zone.” 

 

What if people like Thomas Edison and others had remained comfortable with gas lights, or even torches? Those provided illumination, but not the convenience, efficiency or safety of incandescent lights and lighting innovations that have followed. Brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright refused to be discouraged by naysayers who insisted, “Man will never fly”? If not for them, we might still be trying to cross country in trains – or even wagon trains.

 

We commonly think of peanuts as snacks removed from a shell, can or jar, or peanut butter (smooth or crunchy, your choice). But in the early 1900s, George Washington Carver, born into slavery, wanted nothing to do with any kind of comfort zone. Instead, he applied his genius to developing hundreds of products using peanuts, as well as sweet potatoes and soybeans. He also was a stalwart advocate of crop rotation and agricultural education. 

 

Being averse to comfort zones isn’t limited to those who answered the adage, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Explorer Christopher Columbus gave vivid picture of the pitfalls that can result from remaining nestled in one’s comfort zone. He famously said, “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

 

Long before that, however, people were learning the pros and cons of comfort-zone life. The Bible gives dozens of examples. There was Abram (later called Abraham), called by God to leave the friendly confines of Haran. The Lord instructed him, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing…all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-2).

 

That must have sounded like a wonderful promise, but God hadn’t told Abram where He was sending him, how long it would take to get there, or how this “great nation” would come about. Abram trusted the Lord, left the Haran comfort zone, and hit the road with his wife, Sarai, nephew Lot, their servants and possessions. Joseph, Daniel, Jesus’ disciples, even the apostle Paul responded in similar ways.

 

Among the strangest examples were the Israelites, freed after four centuries of bondage in Egypt. We might think people escaping inconceivably oppressive slavery would never look back, for even a second, but for them that wasn’t the case.

 

Wandering around the desert weeks after waving good-bye to captivity, the Israelites began to grumble to their leader, Moses: “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death” (Exodus 16:3). Even after God miraculously provided them with manna, quail, and water from a rock, they continued to favor hindsight over foresight, becoming shortsighted.

 

What does it take to step boldly out of one’s comfort zone to face the challenges of an uncertain but promising future? In a word, courage. 

Following the death of Moses, God selected Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Recognizing the daunting task of guiding a rebellious people, the Lord gave Joshua these instructions:

”Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go…. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:6-9).

What great things might God have in store for you, if only you’re willing to step outside your own comfort zone? Like Joshua, be strong and courageous! 

Roots of Bitterness Never Bear Good Fruit

Years ago, I got sideways with someone close to me after the funeral of a beloved family member. Without going into details, this person had said and done some things leading up to the funeral which I and others in our family felt had been inappropriate. Still in that stage of life in which I was prone to give people a piece of my mind I could hardly afford to lose, I told the offending individual exactly how I felt.

This effectively ended my relationship with that person for a number of years. And frankly, it didn’t bother me much during that time. I was in the right, I reasoned, and the other person had been in the wrong. Deal with it!

 

In my defense, this was before I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, so the notion of applying biblical principles to this rift never occurred to me. Would I act differently were the same situation to arise today, regardless of who was right and who was wrong? I would like to think so, especially in light of what I understand from the Scriptures.

One passage that immediately comes to mind pertaining to such situations is James 1:19-20, which says, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires.” 

 

As I recall, I hadn’t stopped to ask why the person had acted in such a bothersome way. I just blurted out what I was thinking, and my anger was evident. Contrary to the counsel from the book of James, I had been slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to become angry. Not the ideal strategy for winning friends and influencing people.

 

Looking back, I regret the embittered feelings that my post-funeral behavior precipitated. A perfectly good, caring relationship was severed, taking a long time to be restored. If I had made the effort, the healing probably could have started much sooner.

 

Why be so concerned about relationships? Because at its heart, practically everything we read in the Bible is about relationships, starting with God’s supreme creation, humankind. Much of the narrative in the Scriptures is about how we seem so intent on disrupting our relationship with the Lord, and His equally great determination to reconcile us to Himself. 

 

He longs for the love and worship of His children, and desires for many others to become part of His eternal family. As Hebrews 12:14-15 admonishes, “Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

 

But wait a minute! Aren’t strained relationships a natural part of everyday living, the inevitable result of conflict and friction between people who see and believe things differently? Perhaps. But in His teachings, Jesus Christ didn’t mince words about how the roots of bitterness never bear good fruit.

 

In His best-known sermon, Jesus spent a lot of time discussing relational matters such as anger, adultery, divorce, making promises, seeking revenge, and our dealings with adversaries and enemies. He equated anger and broken relationships with…murder:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment…. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:21-24).

 

On many occasions, Jesus said one strong indicator of our commitment to Him is our love for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. For instance, talking to His closest disciples, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

 

Sadly, entering a church sanctuary on a Sunday morning or other appointed times doesn’t necessarily dispel anger and bitterness toward others. We’d probably amazed if the grudges folks carry toward others were visible. Harboring bitter feelings toward others not only breaks relationships, but also reflects poorly upon the Lord we profess to love and serve.

 

Imagine what could happen if, prior to putting that check in the offering plate or standing to join in a song of praise or opening our Bibles to follow the sermon, we took steps to resolve differences with that person holding something against us?

 

“Hey, but he/she was the one that started it!” Maybe so, but these passages don’t include exceptions that let us off the hook if we didn’t initiate the dispute. Instead, we’re told, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). We can’t root out bitterness from someone else’s heart, but we don’t have to keep watering it in our own hearts.