A Humbling Look at What (and Who) Really Matter

As a society, we’re enthralled with the rich and famous, the accomplished and powerful. Yet are those people the ones that are truly important, whose lives matter to us over the long run?

 

The 'Peanuts' gang
(Wikipedia image)

Many of us remember Charles Schulz, creator of the iconic “Peanuts” comic strip in 1950. Schulz died in 2000, but the humor and wisdom of Charlie Brown & Co. are enjoyed to this day through syndicated reruns. A famed individual himself, the cartoonist put things into perspective when he said, “The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most rewards. They simply are the ones who care the most.”

For proof, Schulz suggested doing something like the following: Name the five wealthiest people in the world. The last five Heisman Trophy winners. The last five winners of the Miss America pageant. Name 10 people who have won the Nobel Prize or the Pulitzer Prize. The last half-dozen Academy Award winners in the best actor/best actress categories. The last decade’s Cy Young winners in baseball.

 

Were you successful in naming these acclaimed individuals? Even half of them, or just a handful? We might have recognized them at the moment they were being honored, but awards are soon forgotten. Their names are replaced by the ones who succeed them, as their own will the next year. As for the wealthy, when was the last time you saw a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer?

 

King Solomon, who had more than his share of fame, wealth, and power, observed perhaps cynically, “There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow” (Ecclesiastes 1:11). 

 

Reflecting on his many accomplishments, Solomon added this personal appraisal: “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).

 

Getting back to Charles Schulz and his “reality check” on who and what are genuinely important, he also suggested compiling a different set of lists: List a few teachers who contributed to your journey through school and/or college. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. 

 

I’m guessing names of people in the second group came to your mind with little hesitation, right? Teachers who made a difference in our lives; friends who readily responded when needed; individuals who pointed us to important truths. These are the truly important people, the ones who have mattered to us. As Schulz said, “the ones who care the most.”

 

My wife and I have been watching “American Idol.” It’s interesting to watch talented young people displaying their vocal chops in hopes of fame and fortune. And yet, over its 22 seasons, how many winners can you name? Who were the first five to be named “Idol”? Who were the last five? What about the runners-up – how many of those can you name without Googling them?

 

There’s nothing wrong with setting lofty goals and striving for excellence. But it’s wrong to confuse fame and acclaim with importance. Aside from entertaining you, what has your favorite singer really done for you? Your favorite athlete – how has he or she made your life better?

 

But think of that person who faithfully pointed you to Jesus Christ. Or the individual who was instrumental in your spiritual growth. Or that friend whose shoulder you cried on during a particularly difficult time in your life. Or that someone who saw something special in you that you didn’t see in yourself. Those are the folks who are really important – at least for you.

 

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves for all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” We all need people like that in our lives, mutually beneficial relationships in which we can “spur one another on toward love and good deeds,” as Hebrews 10:24 describes it.

We should all seek out – and seek to become – people who are not remembered for fleeting accolades and fading headlines, but for godly lives and their enduring impact in the lives of others. As Solomon also wrote, maybe when he was in a better frame of mind, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). 

We Can Be Certain About Life’s Uncertainty

Be honest: Has life turned out pretty much the way you expected? No major changes in direction, just about everything going according to plan? If that’s the case for you, congratulations. You’re in a very small minority – perhaps the only one. 

 

Life has a way of taking unexpected detours, especially when the path ahead seems certain and without obstacles. As someone has said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re making other plans.” This observation’s been attributed to a number of different people, but I suspect it originated with someone like Aristotle or Socrates. 

Then there’s the wit and “wisdom” of Yogi Berra, the iconic New York Yankees’ catcher who once quipped, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Poet Robert Frost stated it a bit differently, perhaps more profoundly when he wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

 

Looking back over the course of my own life to this point, I’ve encountered quite a few forks in the road. And I’d like to think I’ve taken at least a few roads less traveled, although admittedly not always of my own choosing. 

 

There’s no way I could have predicted the course my life and career would take: Where I would start going to college, where I’d end up, and that journalism would be my final major. Spending a decade as editor of community newspapers. Overseeing publications for several parachurch ministries and non-profits. Interviewing dozens of “Who’s Who” folks while myself qualifying only for “Who’s He?” Writing not just a book or one magazine article, but many.

 

Most unexpected has been the spiritual journey I’ve been on, especially over the past 40-plus years. For whatever reason, I always believed in God. Maybe it’s because, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,” as Ephesians 1:4 states. However, in my early years I knew nothing of that. Aside from Sunday church attendance, I lived as a practical atheist, busily doing my own thing, trying to do life on my own terms. Except during times of crisis, when in my “foxhole faith” I’d remember to call on God. Once the crisis passed, it was back to captaining my own ship. 

 

Then in my early 30s I encountered a pastor – a former journalist – who excelled at presenting biblical truth in ways that were both practical and relevant for my life. Through His teaching the Scriptures came alive. For the first time I realized the Bible was not as I would have termed it then, “a manual for preachers,” but God’s guidebook for living. Who knew it would become the spiritual GPS for my life?

 

The complexities and convolutions of life can be confounding. We’d all like to believe we’re in control, but time and experience reveal that’s an illusion. Another poet, Robert Burns, summed it up well: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” What then are we to do? Gnash our teeth in frustration? Sit in a corner and pout? Shake our fists in anger because luck, fate – or God – won’t allow things to work as we think they should?

 

There was a time when I’d do one or more of those things. Thankfully, one of the key lessons along my spiritual trek has been that Father knows best – our heavenly Father that is, not the affable TV character portrayed by actor Robert Young in the 1950s. As Proverbs 20:24 phrases it, “A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?” 

 

Just when we think we’ve got things figured out, God changes them around because He’s got a better idea. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plan and set goals. It doesn’t mean if God gives us a vision for something we shouldn’t pursue it. But we need to understand, as the Lord declares in Isaiah 55:9, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

When following Jesus Christ, we must learn to be flexible, adaptable. We need to write our goals and plans not in pen, but in pencil (with good erasers). Unlike the “long and winding road” that left the Beatles standing and waiting years ago, in God’s time His road takes us directly to where He wants us to go. “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” (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

Never Underestimate How Much We Need Each Other

When I was a boy, one of my favorite hobbies was assembling model cars, airplanes and ships. Opening each box, I’d see an assortment of parts – some small, some large – all waiting to be placed in their designated spots. 

 

It’s similar in putting a puzzle together. Whether it consists of 24 pieces, 100, 500, 1,000 or more, there’s a specific spot for each piece. Border pieces don’t fit in the middle, and vice versa. To successfully assemble a puzzle, you must find the right place for every piece and put every piece in its place. And if just one piece is missing, the project is incomplete.

 

Have you noticed this is true for the human body as well? We each are a mass of bones, skin, hair, tendons, organs, nerves, blood, and other “pieces.” Some parts are expendable – we cut our hair, trim nails, lose teeth and grow new ones. But other parts of the body are essential. We literally can’t live without them.

 

Take the human brain, for example. We can’t do without a brain – although it seems that some people are doing their best to try. No one can live without a heart, even those who seem heartless. The same can be said for our lungs, liver, kidneys, and other internal organs. One definition of good health is to have all of our human parts in the right places and doing their jobs properly.

 

This is one reason the Bible uses the human body as a metaphor for the Church. In 1 Corinthians 12 the apostle Paul writes, “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…. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many…. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12-20).

 

Shift this analogy to the Church. There’s a tendency to focus on the senior pastor, the pastoral staff, maybe the worship leader and a few others. But just as each part of the human body is essential, so is every member of the congregation. We all have different spiritual gifts; we also have different interests, abilities, learned skills, experience and resources that we can contribute.

 

As Paul observes earlier in the same chapter, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

 

There’s another side to this we should consider. Just as each of us is needed and we can contribute what we have and who we are to the benefit of the whole body of Christ, we also need each other. The human heart performs unique, critical functions within the body, but apart from the lungs, the brain, or other organs, it can’t function. 

 

Similarly, someone might be extremely gifted and talented spiritually, but apart from the fellowship of believers who possess other abilities, that person won’t accomplish much – if anything – for the kingdom of God. Where would the Rev. Billy Graham have been in his global ministry if it were not for folks who did the advance planning and preparations, lined up venues, promoted his crusades, invited guests, counseled those who responded and did necessary follow-up, among other things?

 

But this goes far beyond big, headline-grabbing events. I often think of Hebrews 10:24-25 in which we’re told, “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….” Trying to be a “lone ranger Christian” can be a lonely journey as best, a path to spiritual disaster at worst. We all need encouragement, accountability and support.

 

This is especially true as we attempt to deal with big decisions and the inevitable challenges of everyday living. Sometimes pride tempts us not to ask for help or counsel. Other times we don’t want anyone to advise us not to do what we’ve already decided upon. But shunning the wisdom of others is flirting with danger.

 

I like the way Proverbs 18:1 puts it: “He who separates himself seeks his own desire; he quarrels against all sound wisdom.” Another proverb states it a bit differently but offers the same conclusion: “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15).

We should no more attempt to live for Christ without partnering with other believers than we would try to leave our homes without our heads. It doesn’t work. Each of us is an important part of the body of Christ. We’re needed. But we’re only one part. We need others as well. 

What Are Your ‘Grapes’ Moments in History?

Have you ever stomped grapes? I haven’t but have always thought it would be an interesting experience. I’m old enough to remember the hilarious skit from the TV sitcom “I Love Lucy” when Lucy decides to trample grapes to prepare for a role in an Italian movie. It was a “grape” moment in comedic history.

When we think of grape stomping (if we think of it at all), we have images of folks barefooted, grape juice oozing between their toes. But have you wondered what it would be like to be one of the grapes? If they could talk, I’m certain we’d hear gripes from the grapes. Who likes to be crushed?

 

We might not be grapes, but like it or not, life serves up some crushing moments for each of us. When we’re young, it might be mom or dad refusing to buy that bar of candy at the grocery store. Or getting a bad grade on a test. Or enduring a breakup with our first girlfriend or boyfriend.

 

As we get older, our crushing moments become more consequential: Being fired or laid off from a job. A car breaking down and requiring major, costly repairs. A cancer diagnosis. A divorce. Having a child get into serious difficulty that can’t be easily remedied. Suffering the loss of a loved one.

 

How we handle these and other situations of similar or greater gravity sets a tone for our lives as we move forward. As someone has said, we can either become bitter – or become better. We can collapse in a heap and moan, “Why me, Lord?!” Or adopt a different perspective, thinking, “Why not me, Lord?” recognizing there’s really no reason we should be exempt from life’s adversities.

 

There’s a third and probably best approach for dealing with life’s overwhelming, crushing experiences: Recognizing they have been allowed by God and will be used within His sovereign plan. One of the most used – and sometimes overused – verses in the Bible is 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.” Granted, this passage can be misused as a handy, one-size-fits-all platitude in attempting to comfort others in pain. That doesn’t mean it’s not true.

 

The Lord can use our crushing circumstances in His process for transforming us, molding us into the people He desires for us to become. In one of his recent daily readings, my favorite devotional writer Oswald Chambers observed, “The burden that God places on us squeezes the grapes in our lives and produces the wine, but most of us see only the wine and not the burden…. If your life is producing only a whine, instead of the wine, then ruthlessly kick it out. It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God’s strength.”

 

That last statement is the key. The apostle Paul, after recapping some of his own sufferings – which included whippings and beatings, shipwrecks, betrayals, hunger and thirst, deprivation, and his unspecified “thorn in the flesh” – made this statement: 

“…there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 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 12:7-10).

 

Perhaps like helpless grapes, we don’t find delight in the crushing. As Chambers said, instead of producing wine, we choose instead to whine. At such times we should remember the example of our Savior, of whom Isaiah 53:4-5 says, “Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…. He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities.”

 

A diamond, we’re told, is a lump of coal that was hardened and refined under intense, prolonged pressure. Perhaps when God allows us to go through the winepress of life, He sees us as diamonds in the rough, desperately in need of smoothing and polishing. Our crushing circumstances can be used to bring that about. 

Living Under the Influence – the Right Way

Who’s influencing you? One of the phenomena of the Internet and social media is the emergence of people often described by the term, “influencers.” They come at us from many different directions, sometimes for good, sometimes for bad.

We have the “famous” people: Politicians; TV and movie stars; entertainers and musicians; giants of business and industry; news reporters and commentators; billionaires; authors; religious leaders. It seems these days everyone has an opinion about everything, whether they know anything about it or not – and they’re all too eager to share it with others.

 

Then there are the folks who are “famous for being famous”: Faces we can see and voices we can hear on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (are “tweets” now X-rated comments?), and others.

 

There are podcasters who speak with conviction on everything under the sun, from marriage and raising kids to what’s wrong with society to how to master a musical instrument. It’s so easy to be influenced these days. The question is, do we recognize who is influencing us – and how? 

 

Despite being a journalist for all of my adult years, I’ve found that allowing myself to be exposed to the news too much is toxic. If there’s any doubt about whether the world is going to hell in the proverbial handbasket, just a few minutes’ worth of the day’s news will dispel those questions. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be aware of what’s going on around us and across the globe, but too much of “the sky is falling!” can be – and is – hazardous to our mental and emotional well-being.

 

How can we sift through the noise and learn to concentrate on the good and positive influences, while avoiding the scourge of bad influences? For those of us who are followers of Christ, one of the best ways is to spend time alone with God each day, reading and studying His Word, praying, and seeking to gain His perspective on what’s happening in these chaotic days in the middle of the 21^st century’s third decade. 

For example, in Philippians 4:8 we’re admonished, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute – if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise – dwell on these things.”

 

The people we see on social media, the music we listen to, the books and articles we read, the commentaries we hear: Are they enhancing our lives, building us up and equipping us for impactful, fruitful lives? Or are they tearing us down, eroding the hope and confidence we have in God’s sovereign plan for us and His creation?

 

This is another reason to determine to meet regularly with other believers, in traditional church settings and in other ways as well. Hebrews 10:24-25 says it so well: “And let us consider how we ay 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 [of Christ] approaching.”

 

There’s another side to this influence coin: What kind of influence are we having on others? Do people perceive us as good news so we have opportunities to communicate the really Good News of Christ, through our lives and when possible, our words? It’s not easy, but the Scriptures command that as we’re going through everyday life, we’re to “be witnesses” (Acts 1:8) and  “Christ’s ambassadors” (1 Corinthians 5:20). 

 

Chris Simpson, President of CBMC International, expresses it this way: “Creating human influence is cheap and easy – tell them what they want to hear. Godly influence is costly – it will challenge and rebuke, as it encourages and empowers.”

 

We can’t fix the world. That’s way above our pay grade. Ultimately, only God can do that. But if we strive to do as the apostle Paul declared in Acts 17:28, “in Him we live and move and have our being,” we can minimize negative outside influences and increase our own influence for Christ – to His glory.

Be Careful About What You Think You’re Entitled To

When you hear the word “entitlement,” what comes to mind? Like a lot of words in the English language, it carries a variety of meanings. It can amount to an “if A, then B” or “if this happens, then that will happen” cause-and-effect type of statement. For instance, for hourly wage workers, if they work five hours, they should get paid for five hours work. Or, if you practice a skill consistently, then you can expect improvement.

We hear about “government entitlements.” These include Social Security and Medicare benefits for which many recipients had money deducted from their paychecks during their working careers. They’re “entitled” to receive benefits they’ve essentially paid for in advance. Other government entitlements, however, are distributed to people who’ve contributed little or nothing ahead of time.

 

Then there’s the sentiment that people “deserve” certain things, for no reason other than they are living and breathing. I’m of the opinion that people don’t “deserve” a luxury car, expensive house, or a pricey college education, unless they’re willing to repay the debts incurred by acquiring them. Thinking differently, it seems, has led many in our society to an entitlement mentality.

 

Leadership consultant Tim Kight describes it this way: “Entitlement comes from wanting more than you are willing to work for. It’s the result of a ‘want ethic’ rather than a work ethic.” 

 

I remember a job at a grocery store I had while a senior in college. Since I’d worked in a different supermarket in another state while I was in high school, I assumed because of my experience I was “entitled” to the job regardless of how much effort I expended. Uh-uh. A few weeks into it, my manager put me on notice that if I didn’t pick the pace and work harder, the only thing I’d be entitled to was walking out the door and not coming back.

 

Heeding the warning, I did start working more diligently. This “entitled” me to remain on the store payroll as a grocery clerk. But also realizing my future wasn’t in the grocery business, I formulated a plan that could entitle me to devote my career to endeavors more suited to my interests and abilities.

 

This is one reason I’m a strong advocate of personal initiative, hard work, determination, and approaching challenges with a positive attitude. Just as some people define “luck” as putting in the work and preparation necessary to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves, I believe people are entitled to reap the rewards of their hard work.

 

I’m not the only one who thinks this way. The Bible is filled with teachings and principles about the importance of hard work and diligence. The Old Testament book of Proverbs offers many examples. For instance, Proverbs 10:4-5 declare, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”

 

Even if we’ve never worked on a farm, it’s clear that if a person is unwilling to expend the necessary effort, they shouldn’t feel entitled to anything in return. As the adage tells us, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

 

Another verse points out the likelihood that diligence will bring the opposite outcome: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).

 

Paradoxically, however, the Scriptures place their greatest emphasis on receiving the things we truly are not entitled to – salvation, forgiveness, a personal relationship with God, and assurance of eternal life after our earthly lives have ended.

 

When asked, “Do you think you’ll go to heaven when you die?” many people will answer, “I think so. I’m a pretty good person.” To which the Word of God seems to respond, “Wrong!” Because Romans 3:10-12 states, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…there is no one who does good, not even one.”

 

Underscoring that point, Romans 3:23 delivers the bad news: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In other words, not one of us measures up to God’s perfect, holy standard. 

 

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait too long to read more comforting words, even if they have nothing to do with our being “entitled.” Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Then Romans 6:23 observes, ”For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

We could cite many other passages, but two in particular capture the Bible’s position that salvation and right standing with God can’t be earned or deserved, but received only on the basis of His mercy and unmerited favor.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 asserts, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Titus 3:5-7 affirms this: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy…so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs [with Christ] having the hope of eternal life.”

 

We can debate “entitlements” as they’re currently perceived in our society, but from God’s point of view, we’re entitled to absolutely nothing. Anything and everything we receive from Him is solely on the basis of His love and grace. 

Tons of ‘Friends,’ But No Real Friendships?

Friends, we might say, are a dime a dozen these days. And we all know a dime isn’t worth what it used to be. If we spend any time at all on social media, we can collect “friends” much like we’d collect dandelions on a spring morning. We can get a lot of them, but what are they really worth?

 

One social media accounts says I have more than 1,000 friends. Isn’t that impressive? But I bet if I were to encounter 90 percent of them in the mall or at Walmart, I’d have no clue who they were. And they wouldn’t know me either.

 

Other social media report on “followers” rather than friends, but the idea’s the same. It’s nice to know we’re connected – even if only in a cyberspace kind of way. However, if we were in a crisis, how many of these “friends” or followers could we count on for help?

 

Promotional photo of the cast
of "Friends." (Wikipedia image)

Many of us remember the famous sitcom, “Friends,” that ran on TV for years. What a gang they were, having fun and sharing one another’s joys and sorrows. They still live in the world of reruns, but I digress. We’ve denigrated what means to be a friend, applying it to casual acquaintances at work, people we sometimes run into at the grocery store, individuals we shake hands with during meet-and-greet times at church, folks we see at the gym, and so on.

But shouldn’t true friendship amount to more than recognizing faces, knowing someone’s first name, and exchanging, "Hi, how ya doin'?"

 

We could do a bit of research, checking to see what famous people have said about friends and friendship. But I’ll leave that to you. I can think of no greater source to consult about friends than the Bible. No one could say it any better than Jesus: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Then He proceeded to do just that by willingly dying on the cross to atone for our sins.

 

The book of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament offers a stellar example of true friendship in David, the future kind of Israel, and Jonathan, the son of David’s predecessor, King Saul, who had severe security issues. 

 

When Saul plotted to kill David, Jonathan stepped up in David’s defense on several occasions and then went to warn him of the deranged king’s threats. At times he even risked his own father’s indignation in defending David: 

“Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, ‘You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame…? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established….’ But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David” (1 Samuel 20:30-33).

 

At the poignant end of their last meeting, we read, “David bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together – but David wept the most. Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord…’” (1 Samuel 20:41-42). He was referring to a covenant of friendship they had made years earlier.

 

To the day he died in battle along with his evil father, Jonathan remained faithful to his friend David, even sacrificing his own aspirations. He epitomized what another king of Israel, Solomon, one day would write: “A friend loves for all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).

 

We might never be a position of having to put our lives at risk for defending or protecting a friend, but many people have – and in so doing confirmed the depth of their commitment. True friendship refuses to limit itself to the superficial. As the adage says, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” 

 

Proverbs 18:24 states it this way: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” We all need friends like this, and we need to be a friend like this to someone as well.

The Command That’s Both Old and New

Many of us are at least somewhat familiar with the Ten Commandments. There was a time when most people could recite them almost by rote, but in these “post-Christian” days, that’s no longer the case. In reading the Bible we discover other commandments, but when asked, Jesus boiled them all down to two: 

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).

But did you know there’s a commandment that’s both old and new?

 

Years ago, the keynote speaker at a national Christian conference stated the best way to gain a good understanding of a book of the Bible is to read it repeatedly, “until its message becomes a part of you.” He suggested starting with the New Testament book of 1 John, since it’s short, consisting of five chapters. “If you read it through every day for a month, you’ll be amazed at the impact it has on you,” he said.

 

I decided to give it a try. Every day, I dutifully read all of 1 John’s five chapters and learned a lot. However, two verses didn’t seem to make sense. They were 1 John 2:7-8, “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in Him [Jesus Christ] and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.”

 

Why did this trouble me? Because as a writer, I’m conscious of how ideas connect and am quick to notice when a train of thought seems to jump the tracks. Verse 7 said, “I am not writing you a new command but an old one….” Yet the very next verse stated, “Yet I am writing you a new command….” Knowing the author of this book was the apostle John, after reading and re-reading this several times I wanted to ask, ‘Come on, John! Is it old or is it new?’ I couldn’t get past the seeming contradiction.

 

As it happened – not a coincidence, I’m certain – I had been trying to memorize two other verses that describe what the Bible says about followers of Christ. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

 

The other verse was 2 Corinthians 5:17, which declares, “Therefore anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!”

 

Being relatively new in my faith at the time, these verses perplexed me because they seemed to say that if I was “in Christ” and had been “born again,” then I was a new person. It said I’d been given a new life. Yet in many ways I seemed like the same messed-up guy I had always been, struggling with the same issues and temptations as before. How could I be a “new creation”? How could Christ be living in me if I continued doing the same old stuff?

 

This led to be a turning point in my spiritual journey, an “Aha” moment. One weekend I was assigned to cover and report on a Christian businessmen’s event in another city. As it happened – again, I know it wasn’t coincidence – I stayed in the home of a man who felt his mission in life was to help young believers understand who they really are in Christ, rather than who they think or feel that they are.

 

It would take too long to detail our discussions that weekend. Suffice it to say I discovered I had been trying to live the so-called “Christian life” in my own strength. When I failed, I thought I should just try harder. That isn’t what the Scriptures teach, however. 

 

At a particularly teachable moment, Jesus used the object lesson of a grapevine to admonish His disciples, “If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). He didn’t say “you can’t do a lot” or “you can’t do nearly as much.” He said, “apart from Me you can do nothing.”

 

At another time Jesus told His followers, “A new command I give to 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). There’s that phrase, “a new command” (or commandment). Since the Jews had already received the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18), why was He calling it a “new command”?

 

This was my “Aha”: Living the Christian life as God intends isn’t difficult; it’s impossible – in our own strength. This is why Jesus said, “apart from Me you can do nothing.” Later the apostle Paul would echo that principle by writing, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

 

Attempting to live a new spiritual life with old fleshly habits and weaknesses is an exercise in futility. To be a “new creation in Christ” means having the life of Jesus in us through His Spirit. Appropriating the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to do what we can’t do ourselves, no matter how good our intentions are and how hard we try.

 

Summing it all up, John the apostle wasn’t contradicting himself when he wrote, “I am not writing you a new command but an old one,” and in the next verse stating, “Yet I am writing you a new command.” The old, unchanging command is for us to love others as Jesus would. Except our imperfect, sinful selves can’t. We might not even want to. But through the power of the “new command,” we can – appropriating the power and motivation of Christ’s Spirit at work in us. This understanding, at least for me, has been truly transformational!

Fools, Folly, Foolishness and Other Fun Stuff

Happy April Fool’s Day! Based on what we typically see on the news day after day, one might think this deserves to be become another national holiday. But for now, it’s just a silly day for little pranks and tricks with no treats. 

 

No one knows for certain the origin of April Fool’s Day, but it’s been observed in many parts of the world for centuries. Some say it dates back to the 16^th century; others claim the observance can be traced back to ancient Rome. No matter. It’s clearly an age-old tradition that “honors” a human trait having no national or cultural barriers: Foolishness. 

For the most part it’s just a time for harmless trickery. “Hey, your shoelace is untied!” You look down and realize you’re wearing loafers or sandals. “April Fool!” Deftly affixing a sign on someone’s back that says, “Kick me!” Bogus news reports: “The Pope is converting to Judaism.”

 

Sadly, even without the fanfare, every day has been “fool’s day” since the beginning of time. It all started when the serpent asked Adam and Eve, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Then it proceeded to assure them, “You will not surely die…. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:1-5). Wow, did they play the fool! Humankind has been struggling with being fooled ever since.

 

An old proverb states, “A fool and his money are soon parted,” and there’s no doubt of its veracity. Many of us have learned that lesson at least once. Abraham Lincoln sagely noted, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” I hope that’s still true.

 

Henry David Thoreau offered the view, “Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.” Can you think of any recent examples? Then we have a classic from a 1546 collection of proverbs, “There’s no fool like an old fool.” I hope I never resemble that remark.

 

If you want to find substantial commentary about fools, folly and foolishness, there’s no better place to look than the Bible. There are many verses in the Old Testament book of Proverbs that speak about them. They address the foolishness of laziness; being lured by sexual temptation; speaking rashly before thinking; infidelity; ignoring necessary correction and rebuke; selfishness; unrestrained anger, and a host of other topics.

 

Entire chapters in Proverbs are devoted to the contrast between wise and foolish thinking and actions. We could cite many passages, but Proverbs 14:8 kind of sums them up: “The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.”

 

Mark Twain, ever a master of clever word play, famously observed, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” I think it’s stated even better in Proverbs 17:28, written thousands of years earlier: “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”

 

An extended passage describes a young man’s encounter with a woman “dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent…. With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter…” (Proverbs 7:6-27). We can apply the warning of this passage not just to sexual sin, but also to being enticed by immoral or unethical behavior in any form.

 

One of the “wisdom books” of the Bible, Proverbs presents us with truths and insights worth reading over and over. Consisting of 31 chapters, it’s a good exercise to read one chapter a day for an entire month. Then, as I have, the reader might well decide it’s worth reading again for another month – or more.

 

However, the subject of fools and foolishness in the Scriptures isn’t limited to Proverbs. Perhaps the sternest denunciation of fools and their foolishness is found in the book of Psalms. It’s so serious that Psalm 14 and Psalm 53, which have almost identical wording, both start with the same words, “The fool has said in his heart there is no God.” As if to say, “In case you missed it the first time….”

 

Some who read this might think, ‘How intolerant! How judgmental!’ However, this statement isn’t from a book written by a human author, or a speech given from a podium. It comes from the Word of God, and it’s been my experience that His opinion carries a lot more weight than mine – or anyone else’s.

 

If believing there is no God is foolishness, what’s the remedy? The Scriptures tell us that as well. Jeremiah 17:5-7 declares, “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord…. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” Similarly, Psalm 144:15 asserts, “blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.”

 

So, if you like, have a bit of fun this April Fool’s Day with a harmless prank or two. But when it comes to matters of faith, it’s no time for foolishness.