The Age of Arrogance

 As a young boy my mother used to have a code that she would speak quietly to me when I began to speak or act in ways that displayed an overabundance of pride. She simply would look at me a mouthed these three letters – S. P. S. I knew what these letters meant – Self Pride Stinketh! It also meant to stop bragging, praise others, and speak less. If I ignored her silent admonition, then I was escorted out of the room and her message to me was made plainer! How childish to have to have your mother put a curb on your tongue.

     Is this just a problem for immature children? A casual glance at culture would suggest that S.P.S. needs to be whispered into the ears of many adults in our culture. Meryl Streep is a successful actress who’s received numerous Academy Award nominations (winning three), and Golden Globe Award nominations (winning eight). Some time ago she expressed her view of the movie industry in an interview with Helena de Bertodano in the Daily Telegraph (London), "It's sort of exhausting, this self-congratulatory atmosphere in which the movie community lives. It's unbearable. We're not that important in the world, but we certainly all think we are…I shouldn't talk about it, I mean I'm really grateful that my work is recognized…but boy, we've gotten a little bloated. It's so grand and the outfits are so incredible and the critique of how everybody looks and the desperation of people to make an impact—it really gets to me." Perhaps Meryl Streep was whispering in the ears of Hollywood’s culture a sort of S.P.S. Does anyone in the industry pay attention?

     Arrogance that is birthed out of pride is a malady that has existed since the fall of Lucifer when he rebelled against the God of heaven and was cast out of His presence for all eternity. There is no place in the universe for an alternate God. One person observed, “Pride in who we are or what we own or what we have accomplished likewise causes us to put ourselves in the place only God should occupy.” Not a wise direction to go, just ask Lucifer!

     Pride and its offspring, arrogance, is the poison that paralyzes and distorts our thinking. In such a state we are likely to foolishly think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, and conversely think more disparagingly in our estimation of others. The Apostle Paul had to issue an S.P.S. to a church he loved, “I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us” (Romans 12:3 NLT). Pastor Stewart Brisco summarized the idea this way, “Don’t overthink or underthink who you are – be honest!” Too often we can fall into the trap of building ourselves up, by tearing other people down. That is just another way of allowing arrogance to unleash its destructive ways.

     The antidote for arrogance is to heed the wisdom that James gives to a church suffering trials and oppression. He wrote, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (4:10 NLT). When the honor in life comes from the Lord, who knows all things and people perfectly, that surpasses any honor that could be given by people, or honor we bestowed upon ourselves. People who think they know the whole story about us most likely don’t. Even our personal estimations can be jaded by the deceptive hearts that we all have. The Lord told the prophet Jeremiah “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve” (17:9-10). The Lord provides honest honor!     

     Let God pass out the accolades that really matter. We need not bestow them upon ourselves. Jesus told a story in Matthew 25:14-29 about the kingdom of heaven and rewards. In the story the ones who invested as they should were praised and rewarded by the master, “‘You have been faithful in handling this small amount,’ he told him, ‘so now I will give you many more responsibilities.’” (21, 23). The one who pridefully relied upon his own wisdom was not complemented but condemned. The master summarizes, “The man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him’” (29). There was an example of proper pride in the reporting by his first two servants. They simply reported the facts of the matter. The last servant, proud of his shrewd thinking, was condemned.

     From time to time in my life, pride and arrogance still rises to the surface of my interactions with people. God has graciously brought back to me my mother’s whisper, “S.P.S.” In those moments I am reminded to stop bragging, praise others, and speak less. It may be good for each of us to think about that.    

Obsession with Busyness

How many times have you asked a person, “How are things going?” It is not unusual for them to respond something like this, “Life’s good, but we are super busy.” Sometimes we assume that this comment is reserved for those who are adults and are juggling a lot of responsibilities related to their profession, family, or community involvement. I have discovered that busyness in our culture is intergenerational. It is a malady that strikes the young as well as those who are older. Busyness is no respecter of persons!

     In my life I have the privilege to intersect with multiple generations. I have grandchildren who are in a constant state of running from one event to another. I look at the calendar pasted on the door of their refrigerator and wonder how they could squeeze one more event into their packed life – but they do. I serve on a college campus mentoring students and they seem to be in perpetual motion. They are balancing course requirements, working to pay tuition, socializing with a coed that has caught their eye, engaging in internships or service projects, performing responsibilities like eating and laundry (if not close to home), and of course, allowing time for recreation i.e. computer games and social media – always time for that! Then we come to adults and a cartoon character comes to mind of a frazzled individual trying to address all the things that pile into their life like earning a living, caring for multiple generations of family members, connecting and ministering to their mates, fulfilling house projects, engaging in some sort of hobby (if possible), and of course being the chauffer, cook, and family referee. Even folks in retirement communities are stricken with the burden of busyness. The issues are very different but no less demanding. Now the focus is upon doctor’s appointments, family involvements, caring for physical demands like physical therapy and related health issues, along with a host of other demands. Have you ever tried to schedule time with a senior citizen? Lots of luck!

     It seems apparent that we live frantic lives. A century ago Henry David Thoreau concluded that, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” What would he say about the days in which you and I live? In the Harvard Business Review there was an interesting article entitled, “Beware a Culture of Busyness” by Adam Waytz (March–April 2023). In it he writes that Nora Rosendahl, the chief operating officer of the performance coaching firm Hintsa, conducted a small social experiment by documenting answers to the question “How are you?” She discovered during a week, nearly eight out of 10 people said, “Busy.” Social scientists have a title for this condition tagged “time poverty.” How interesting that living in a culture enamored with time saving gadgets and strategies, we are nonetheless having trouble with managing our time. Why? Waytz concludes that our culture values busyness, adding, “Busyness has become a status symbol.”

     While people often applaud people who are busy and assume that they must be significant, not everyone is impressed. A busy husband does not impress a neglected wife. Overlooked children do not necessarily flourish in their harried home life. Friends are not impressed that people are too busy to connect with them. You get the idea; life needs to be more than busy. Lest you think that this busyness pandemic is something new, people throughout the centuries have battled the barrenness of busyness.

     Two individuals in the life of Christ display this. In Luke 10:38-42 we see the interaction two sisters have with Jesus. Martha was the busy one and, “was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing” (40). Busyness often captures our attention and creates distortions in life. Martha focused upon physical food and not spiritual food for her soul. In contrast, “Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught” (39). She was busy, but in a unique way and with different matters. Her priority was her soul, not her belly or the belly of Jesus. She was feasting upon the nourishing words that Jesus was serving up to feed her hungry heart. When a busy individual encounters someone who seems to be a slacker, resentment often results. Martha complains to Jesus, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me” (40). Martha essentially wants Mary’s priorities and agenda to be altered to become like hers.

     How does Jesus resolve the issue? Instead of adjusting Mary’s activities, he applauds her singular activity of focusing upon what Jesus was saying and tells Martha she needed to avoid the bareness of her busyness. If Jesus would comment on our lives that reflect lives of “quiet desperation” what might he say? How would he evaluate what we are doing? Does our busyness direct us in the right direction or become a distraction focused upon things that really do not matter and lead us to frustration? Who are we most like, Mary or Martha? Let’s not be obsessed with the busyness of misplaced priorities, but with the best thing – “really only one thing worth being concerned about” (42). Jesus countered the busy life of Martha by offering a better alternative. Perhaps we need to readjust our lives in a similar way. 

WOW Is Coming

Each August for the last ten years I have been involved in “WOW Days” at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School where I serve as a Student Care Giver. The WOW letters are an acronym for “Weekend of Welcome” held for Freshmen, new students, and their parents. Dorm students then can move into their dorm rooms. It is always amazing how much gear students feel they actually need – but then again, I like backpacking! The event is also designed to familiarize new students with what to expect as they enter this phase of their life. Resident students get the ins and outs of dorm life. Commuter students learn where to park their cars, find places to eat, and more importantly where to get coffee on campus. Students also have time for some fun with fellow classmates and of course to check out co-eds strolling the campus. Orientation opportunities suggest how these new students can make the most of their collegiate experience. Parents after unloading the car ­– or in some cases a truck! – have orientation sessions too to help them process what lies ahead for their children. This is a time where they can be assured that their child will be well taken care of and answer any questions.

     In my opinion, there is another WOW that coincides with this weekend for these new students. This acronym is for parents and stands for “Weekend of Wonder.” Many questions were not asked in the orientation session for parents. In fact, many were not even thought of until the trip home. Then the WOW moment for parents begins. “Did we adequately prepare them for this?” “Did will give them the best advice?” “Did we do the right thing in giving them our blessing as they launch into this new unknown?” At a certain point in the Weekend of Welcome, all parents are asked to say their goodbyes, get in their vehicles and leave. I have watched family huddles and hugs and seen more than a few tears as farewells were expressed. The launch into the unknown is now official.

     This time of the year I am transported back to when our son was launched into the unknown. He was our first child to leave home for university, and he was going to one in Aberdeen, Scotland. There he would do his undergraduate studies for the next number of years in a very different educational structure. Since he was so young, I had to travel with him to open an international bank account, line up phone cards (this was before cell phones), and make sure he had all he needed. A week after our arrival it was time for me to have a WOW experience. “What in the world were we doing – so far away?” “Did I do enough to get him settled?” “Will he be OK?” I remember walking away from him on a misty night in Aberdeen. After a number of steps, I turned around and looked back just as his silhouetted form entered the lighted entrance to his dorm. Tears welled and I turned back again to walk to where I was staying, pack up, and fly back to the USA early the next morning. It was a long flight with an abundance of questions and wondering whirling in my mind.

     Parents have these WOW moments throughout a child’s life. Will they be OK in nursery school, grade school, intermediate and high school? Will they be OK at the week of camp, in the week with the grandparents, on that first long unsupervised drive, at a youth party, on the first date, their wedding, caring for their first child, and the list goes on. I have described life as a series of changes with an occasional crisis thrown in. What we really wonder about is, “Can we trust God with our child even in a crisis?”

     The Bible portrays numerous occasions where parents are having a WOW experience. One is recorded in Exodus 2:1-10. Moses’s parents had their wondering experience when their son was born. Historically these were tumultuous times. The ethnic group, the Jews, of which they were a part, were a hated people. They were enslaved, abused, and faced persecution that included infanticide of their male children (1:16). In these days Moses’ parents, Amram and Jochebed (Ex. 6:20), had a son. Moses was hidden until it became impossible to do so. Then the WOW moments came. Can my child be safe in a parent-crafted ark? What will happen when he is found in the river where we placed him? Will he be cared for? Will I ever see him again? Who will bring him up, if not us? The biggest question really was, “Can God be trusted with this child in this crisis time?” As you read the story you see how God intervened and those wonderings were addressed. God not only saw that Moses was cared for, but also that Moses would be the person that God would use to deliver and care for an entire nation that was in peril.

     I now have grandchildren that are leaving home and are being launched into the unknown. I need to remember that the unknown is my perspective not God’s. He knows the end from the beginning because he is God (Isaiah 46:9-10). May you have another WOW in your life. This acronym means “Waiting in Wonder.” Waiting in wonder and faith to see what God will do. I am always delighted to see how God works (Roman 8:28) even in the hard and disappointing times. It is then I can say, “WOW what a God we have!”            

Hast Makes Waste

Isn’t it amazing how often we can remember a saying that was shared in the past? However, more recent comments flow out of our minds with great ease. Here are some of the pearls of wisdom said to me as a child that I still remember and likely said to my children. “Close the door, you are going to let the heat out!” When I was a child there was no air conditioning, so it was always the heat that was escaping. Another classic was, “Always wear clean underwear in case you get in an accident.” I now wonder how many EMTs check a victim’s underwear after an accident before they treat them? A headscratcher I heard frequently, “You can't find it? Well, where did you leave it last?” Come on, if I could figure out that question, we would not be having this discussion! The one pearl of advice that has been dismissed now that I am older – and likely when younger – was, “Cupcakes are NOT a breakfast food!” In fact, I have changed that saying now to, “Life is short, eat cupcakes for breakfast!” You get the point. Many of the things that were said to us have stuck in our minds, but they were really not that life altering.

     However, there were several sayings that lodged in my mind which I rank highly on my list of “Worthwhile Remembering.” One was, “Hast makes waste.” Often, I look back at a decision and wished I had remembered this before I acted. Another was, “Measure twice, cut once.” Many a handyman project could have avoided aggravation if that advice was followed. The last saying that comes to mind sort of ties the preceding sayings together, “Look before you leap.” How many messes in life could have been avoided if this thought had come to mind earlier. Perhaps these words of wisdom are locked away in your minds too along with other sage pieces of advice that you have gathered over time.

     King Solomon wrote and collected “proverbs to teach people wisdom and discipline… They will give knowledge and purpose to young people” (Proverbs 1:2-4). Sadly, while he was a person of great wisdom and produced thousands of proverbs to impart that wisdom (1 Kings 4:29, 32), his later life reveals a man controlled by his passions and not his wisdom. However, the Book of Proverbs shares a collection of advice that merits a person’s attention.

     Proverbs speaks about making wise decisions that is based upon, “Thinking before you act.” He says clearly, “Zeal without knowledge is not good; a person who moves too quickly may go the wrong way” (19:2 NLT). Taking the time to gather the evidence in a situation and then distinguishing what it reveals is time well spent (20:8). For some people, the only activity in which they engage is jumping to conclusions.

     It is also wise to, “Think before you speak.” Proverbs says, “Wise speech is rarer and more valuable than gold or rubies” (20:15). To arrive at wise speech a person must take time to weigh their words and formulate what to say and how to say something. Sometimes it takes time for another to come along and help one process a situation and come to a wise decision as to what needs to be said (20:5).  

     Too often people fail to make plans that take into consideration sound advice that gives good counsel (20:18). Not only does this come from human advisors (19:20), but also seeking the Lord who directs the our steps (20:24). Afterall, we must remind ourselves that we can make plans but the “Lord’s purpose will prevail” (19:21).

     How many have acted rashly because emotion has been their guide and they have not taken the time to cool down and think through their actions? Sage advice in Proverbs is, “Don’t say, ‘I will get even for this wrong.’ Wait for the Lord to handle the matter” (20:22). The result of hasty action we are told is that “Short-tempered people must pay their own penalty” (19:19).

     Do you recall Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet? Romeo makes a hasty decision to take his own life after he presumes that Juliet is dead. Making an impulsive decision he ingests poison before receiving the truth that she was not dead, but merely drugged. Juliet revives, sees dead Romeo, and takes her life. The tragedy reveals Romeo’s hast. He failed to assess the actual situation and overlooked the potential advice of others. His deadly plans were hatched based upon the emotion of the moment. How tragic indeed, “Haste makes waste.” Proverbs also says, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death… The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with great confidence” (14:12, 16). A valuable alternative is to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (3:5-6).

     Someone has suggested that there is real wisdom in reading a chapter of Proverbs each day during a month, since there are thirty-one chapters. That is one way to acquire God’s wisdom. You may say, “That takes too much time.” But I suggest, “Hast makes waste, but pausing may be profitable!”   

Good Enough or the Best?

How often have we said to ourselves or even out loud, “That’s good enough.” Essentially what we are saying is, “It is not worthwhile to invest anymore effort; this will do for the time being.” We are willing to settle for the state of things as they are and not willing to invest any more time, treasure, or talent to produce a better outcome or product. I have lived with the results of such decisions from time to time throughout my life. One such situation concerned a 1956 Chevy Bel Air coupe which I wrecked when I was 16. Thankfully the car was not totaled, and my friend and I were not injured in the accident.

     The car, while drivable, had some serious body damage. The additional bad news was that my parents disciplined me by saying they were not getting the insurance company involved. I was responsible for the repairs. My first step was to take the car to a repair shop to get an estimate. A buddy had assured me he knew of a body shop that was the cheapest around. What a wake-up call! The news was not good.  I was bowled over by the “reasonable” estimate. I started to negotiate with the body shop owner to see what repairs could be made to make it “good enough.” How about a used door instead of a new one? Was it possible to pull and pound out the fender instead of replacing the mangled one? Could I supply parts I found by searching the junk yards down by the river? Would cans of spray paint cover up the damage? The repair shop owner finally settled on a price estimating the cost of what he would do, and I agreed that I would do the rest. The result I hoped would be good enough.  After a couple of weeks, the car was repaired as agreed upon and I was left with a “good enough” product that was far from good enough. I got that for which I had settled ­– a patchwork car that announced to the world that it had been in an accident! What made matters even worse is that the car, when mentioned, bore the label – “Bobby’s car.”

     How often in life do we make the decision to settle for the “good enough” rather than aim for the best? How many have relationships that are assumed to be “good enough” but not the best they could be? Who has chosen to give a few minutes to someone assuming it is “good enough” when what they really needed was time for our undivided attention? How many have looked at investing in developing their walk with God and concluded their meager effort was “good enough” until you have more time in the future? Will there ever be more time than the time you invest right now? How often have we made plans to address a bad habit or sinful practice and concluded our intentions are “good enough.” Perhaps it is better to realize that you can be more than a conqueror as you rely upon Christ’s power and the control of the Spirit to break free of those bondages (Romans 7:18-8:1, 5, 37). Perhaps you could add many other scenarios where you settle for the “good enough” and not strive for the best.

     Oswald Chambers in his devotional writing “My Utmost for His Highest” concludes, “The great enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but the good which is not good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best.” Putting it in my own thoughts, “Don’t be satisfied to settle for good enough.” The “good enough” is not only dissatisfying, but it can also be dangerous. I thought of this one time when I was delayed boarding a scheduled airplane flight. The garbled message over the public address system indicated that the flight was delayed because the mechanics were seeking to further inspect one of the instruments on the airplane. At first, I was annoyed. Upon further consideration, I was glad that I had a ground crew checking out the airplane that was not giving a pass on the airplane’s condition saying, “It’s good enough.” They wanted to be assured that the airplane they were inspecting was the best it could be for the safety of the passengers and their own peace of mind. Realizing this, my aggravation melted away.

     The Apostle Paul is an example of a person who was not willing to settle for life that was “good enough.” He writes in Philippians 3:12-14, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved… or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Paul could claim many achievements in life as he described them in previous verses. He never concluded however that they were “good enough.” He did not settle – he kept moving toward the best that he could be because of the work of God in his life. Like him, we must press for the best, not for the “good enough.”      

Here Comes Mother’s and Father’s Day

Children, heads-up, Mother’s Day is May 14. Closely following is Father’s Day a month later on June 18. I prefer not to assume, “Best is first,” and rather think, “Ladies first!” Then again, since Father’s Day was made official in 1972 – 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official – one may wonder if there is some sort of preferential treatment of mothers! Whatever spin you put on the dating of events, it is noteworthy that someone saw fit to single out a date to honor these individuals who are important in our lives. Parents are important!

     But does everyone see this truth as valid? An uproar ensued in November 2022 when The National Educators Association tweeted, “Educators love their students and know better than anyone what they need to learn and to thrive” (twitter.com/NEAToday/status). Giving the tweet the benefit of the doubt, the implications of the statement were at least not well thought out. Afterall, who has not said or written something rather carelessly? Perhaps parents reacted less than positively because they may feel marginalized in the rhetoric of current culture. Parents are essential in the lifelong learning of their children. Study after study emphasizes the benefits of parental influence as well as the detriment in a child’s life when that influence is missing. I have learned much from the highly committed teachers that impacted my life. In some ways I learned even more from my parents who were able to teach by both life and lip many other things I needed to navigate and problem-solve in a chaotic world.

     There are many ways that parents can teach and impact a child’s life. Perhaps several analogies may illustrate the ways a parent may influence one’s child – a car carrier, a guard rail, or a tow truck. When a child begins their journey in life, they make few decisions. They are on a “car carrier” taken from place to place without being asked their opinions or given options. Parents are super engaged in the child’s life and decision making in this stage.

     As a child grows the parents take on another role. Perhaps we could say they become “guard rails.” The child develops more independence on the “road of life.” The parent places well placed guardrails to keep a child from drifting off course, protecting them from danger, and helping them discern direction by their own observation. The child still has limitations, but now they realize there are consequences when traveling through life if you ignore the “guardrail’s guidance” – i.e., a scratch, a dented fender, or worse. Here the parent is still engaged in a child’s life and giving guidance as decisions are being made. Life is now being lived while experiencing elements of freedom as they live in a dangerous world that could seriously damage them if they do not use their freedom wisely. Parents can live life with their children and the child sees how the parent manages or mismanages life. Have you ever observed a mangled guardrail? They teach a life lesson even if it is simply, “One needs to be careful when navigating through this part of life.”

     One thing a parent does not want to become to their children is a “tow truck.” Some parents think a child learns best by unbridled experience. The child is cut loose and then the parent follows at a distance to service the breakdown of a mismanaged life. Even worse, sometimes they are called to clean up the wreck occurring through unwise decisions, leading to misguided actions, and producing tragic consequences. Parent’s strategic engagement is important in a child’s life that extends well beyond formal educational environments. Life on life is an essential element that must be provided by healthy and helpful parental engagement for a child’s wholesome development.

     In 1 Samuel 2:12 ff there is a sad picture of a parent, Eli, who failed in his role. He knew his role. As a priest he had the Law that defined his parental duties i.e., Deuteronomy 6:6-9. But he was living in a time when culturally “all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25). It seems that Eli parented like his culture operated. The result was that his two sons “were corrupt” (1 Sam. 2:12). Their father became a “tow truck” to clean up their messes. How did they get like this? First, no instruction in spiritual things – “they did not know the Lord.” Second, Eli provided no “guardrails” in his sons’ lives. He allowed his sons to live like the lawless culture around them. He heard “his sons made themselves vile” and “did not restrain them” (3:13). Lastly, Eli modeled that he did not honor the Lord. He “honored his sons more” than he honored the Lord (2:29). His failure to lovingly restrain his sons cost Eli and his sons their lives.

     It is true you do not carry children all their lives. It is equally true that as children are given more personal responsibility a parent must provide guardrails for their lives. Neglecting to do these things is parental negligence. Children failing to heed these things are foolish.

     As you approach these special days when parents are acknowledged, children thank God for the parents he gave you – good or bad they are teaching or have taught you something. As parents, evaluate the kind of parent you are and ask God to enable you to be even more effective in your divine calling.

     Again, happy Mother’s Day and Father’s Day… or vise versa. You decide why the order was chosen!              

    

Trivial Pursuit or Risk?

Which game most typifies your life — “Trivial Pursuit” or “Risk”? If we were able to take an accurate inventory of how we spend our time each day, we might be rather amazed by our time investments. According to the latest stats in the “American Time Use Survey” from the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average American spends their time in a variety of pursuits including some of these: sleeping (average of 8 hours and 33 minutes); working (for people with full-time jobs average 8 1/2 weekday hours at work); pursuing educational activities (averaged 28 minutes a day — with students considerably more); engaging in household activities (18 minutes house cleaning, 11 minutes a day doing laundry, 34 minutes a day preparing meals and cleaning up); enjoying leisure activities (people spent 5 hours, 16 minutes a day — watching TV 2 hours 48 minutes a day; socializing 38 minutes a day; exercising and sports — men 1 hour 42 minutes working out or playing sports and women exercised 1 hour and 18 minutes); eating and drinking (hour and 11 minutes for meals and snacks); and grooming (51 minutes a day). This summary simply portrays that time is not “squirreled” away; it is spent in small incremental investments that will eventually run out. Everyone has 24 hours per day, 365 days per year – 8,760 hours every year of our lives. What do we do with it all? Too often we use the time in trivial pursuits rather than investing that time in meaningful pursuits that may involve some risks.

      As we approach the upcoming Holy week in the Christian calendar, we see contrasting perspectives between Jesus and his disciples. Jesus was on a mission that involved great risk — to move toward his enemies in Jerusalem who desired to take his life by crucifixion on a cross (Matthew 26:1-4). By contrast the disciples were preoccupied with the trivial issues of life. When Mary risked her precious possession by anointing the feet of Jesus with costly ointment in anticipation of Jesus’ death (John 12:3-8), the disciples saw her action as a waste (Mark 14:4-5). Jesus saw her action as a good work (6) and concluded it was no trivial pursuit but as a risk worth taking (8-9).

     Judas by contrast saw an opportunity to make a profit by betraying Jesus to the religious establishment. He was intent on amassing material wealth and ignored the spiritual bankruptcy reflected in his own life (Matthew 26:14-16). He completely ignored the teaching Jesus had proclaimed earlier, “What does it profit a man. To gain the whole world and forfeit his life” (Mark 8:31-38). Even Peter objected to the risk Jesus was incurring on that occasion and was rebuked by Jesus telling him, “You mind not the things of God but the things of men.” How often are so-called-followers of Jesus risk adverse yet passionate about things that really do not matter where “moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20).

     When Jesus was finally betrayed by Judas, essentially all the disciples betrayed Him. None expected that they would ever do this even when Jesus announced they would stumble and be scattered (Mark 14:27-31). The most outspoken was Peter who assured Jesus that he would not fail Him. He was up to the risk of standing with the Lord in the face of opposition. All the disciples said the same thing (31). Yet faced with the religious leaders and soldiers that night in the Garden of Gethsemane, “they all forsook Him and fled” (50). The risk to their life in that moment was too great. They were committed to the pursuit of staying alive. Brave declarations are not the same as brave actions. Even Peter’s emotional promise of being more loyal than all the other disciples (14:29) vaporized in the face of a servant girl’s testimony of Peter being a follower of Jesus (14:67, 69, 70-72). Trivial pursuits do not seem as trivial when we are ruled by emotion and fear more than unswerving commitment to what matters most in life.

     Jesus was willing to take the risk required to fulfill the mission he was give by his Heavenly Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was faced with the full cost of the risk he was taking as he faced the cross before him. The risk produced sorrow as he moved into the garden, he “began to be very sorrowful and sore troubled. Then he said unto Peter, James, and John, ‘My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death’” (Matthew 26:37-38). Even as Jesus prayed the weight of the risk bore down on him and he asked the Father, “If it be possible, let this cup pass away from me” (39). The statement of submission to doing the Father’s will is stated succinctly, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Living a life that is willing to take the risk is not easy but is often necessary to accomplish God’s will.

     The rest of the story involved Jesus’ death on the cross for the sins of the world, a resurrection, and an ascension into heaven to be the advocate for those who are His children. The writer of Hebrews challenges us to “Fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus avoided the trivial pursuits of the world and embraced the risk of obedience that the Father had set before him.

     What are we pursuing in life — trivial things or things that which really will make a difference? Jesus is the example to follow. Use the 8,760 hours you have each year to invest in the eternal. Then you will not be engaged in trivial pursuits.    

Human Beings or Human Doing?

We need to remind ourselves that God made us to be first “human beings” not to be “human doings.” Unfortunately, we sometimes live as if our life is measured more by what we do than by realizing we are human beings made in the image of God for His glory. We are designed to do something, but that something is not ultimately the measure of our life. Our lives are measured by how God is glorified in the human being God has made us to be. Apostle Paul reminds one church that even in the ordinary things of life God can be glorified, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). As human beings we are valuable as God is glorified in and through us.

     Some years back Harry Gray, then CEO of United Technologies, wrote a piece entitled “How Important Are You?” which appeared in the Wall Street Journal. It presented some analogies showing how important each human being is in the grand scheme of life. Answering the question he writes, “More than you think. A rooster minus a hen equals no baby chicks. Kellogg minus a farmer equals no corn flakes. If the nail factory closes, what good is the hammer factory? Paderewski’s genius wouldn’t have amounted to much if the piano tuner hadn’t shown up. A cracker maker will do better if there’s a cheesemaker. The most skillful surgeon needs the ambulance driver who delivers the patient. Just as Rodgers needed Hammerstein you need someone, and someone needs you.” God has made human beings by His sovereign design so that they can contribute their part in the world to bring glory to God.

     Too often we go to extremes as we process our lives. We may inflate who we are by what we do and become arrogant in our estimation of our value and position in the world. The other extreme is equally dangerous as we marginalize our value as we look at what we do and conclude, “I am only a _______.” Such a view casts dispersions upon God’s plan and purposes for which He has made us as human beings. The estimation causes us to undervalue our worth in God’s sight, even wondering, “Why did God even bother creating me?”

     It is interesting that when we emphasize our “human doings” a sister problem often arises. We can easily become envious of what another does, and the green eye of jealousy keeps us from rejoicing in how God is using someone else for His glory. Director Oliver Stone cautioned, “Never underestimate the power of jealousy and the power of envy to destroy. Never underestimate that.” Perhaps that is why the English poet Philip Bailey wrote, “Envy's a coal [that] comes hissing hot from Hell.” When a human being focuses upon the “human doing” a destructive result easily occurs. The definition of envy Chuck Swindoll gives is right on target, “Envy is a painful and resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another… accompanied by a strong desire to possess the same advantage. Envy wants to have what someone else possesses.” How devastating that can be.

     In Mark’s gospel (12:38-44) Jesus warns the crowds to be careful of emphasizing our “human doings” rather than being “human beings” that live to glorify God. The religious leaders of that day were making a great show of their doings. They lived to put on a show for the people to observe. Jesus said of them, “They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers” (38-40). They lived to put on a show that brought glory to themselves. It was all about doing and self-display.

     In contrast to these displays, Jesus then reports on a widow he observed. There were people making a great show of their generosity as they deposited their money (41). But Jesus took note of a poor widow who possibly made a disregarded deposit. It was a small gift in the eyes of people (42), but enormous in  Jesus’ estimation. Being aware of all things he says, “Out of her poverty, [she] put in everything—all she had to live on” (44). Jesus gave this evaluation, “This poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others” (43). What was Jesus evaluating? He was not merely looking at her as a “human doing” but as a “human being” that was living to glorify God with an act of worship.

     Was she envious that others had more to give because they had a better station in life? It is unlikely. Her full focus was that she was able to glorify God with what God had given her as a human being made in the image of God. God wants us to stress the right things in life. We are more than what we do. We are the sum total of who God has made us to be as a human being designed to glorify Him.   

Guided by Principle or Resolution

We are now several weeks into the new year. How are you doing with those resolutions that you had hoped would alter your life or at least adjust it for a period of time? Blogger Mick de Boer shared a survey and article in which he reported “19 Mind-Blowing New Year’s Resolution Statistics (2023).” He indicated that 38% of US adults set New Year’s resolutions every year. The largest demographic group to do so are young adults (18-34) at 59% of those who make them. The top three resolutions are health-related with “exercise more” being the top one. However, the great intentions did not necessarily produce great results as 23% quit after the first week, 36% do not make it past the first month, and only 9% keep their resolution throughout the year. He also discovered that “People over 55 are 3 times less likely to have resolutions compared to younger adults.” Perhaps Stephen Shapiro, author of “Goal Free Living: How to Live the Life You Want Now,” offers a correct assessment as to why older folks quit making resolutions. He writes, “At some point, people just decide to stop hurting themselves, and they call the whole thing off.” So, if your resolution to avoid the leftover holiday candy dish and walk three miles a day is still in place, congratulations. Call me to come over to empty your candy dish to help you!!

     Perhaps the grocery-list-of-resolutions is the wrong approach to make life altering course corrections. Maybe establishing a guiding principle for all of life is a better approach. The principled life is one that allows the bigger, all-encompassing goal to alter all the lesser goals for life. This is the approach the Apostle Paul uses as he is encouraging a church that was living in a culture that could easily sabotage the zeal a person might have for an altered life. He shared this guiding principle, “So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good. Don’t act thoughtlessly but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to” (Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT). Running one’s attitudes and actions through this grid would certainly cause one to stop and consider what they are doing. Simple questions like: “Is this wise? Is this good? Is this thoughtful? Is this what God would want me to do?”— would certainly have a great impact upon how one would live in this world. The guiding principle and related questions would also have a broader impact on our lives. The principle would give us an expansive outlook into other areas of our lives beyond the selective resolutions we make.

     Bernard Baruch, an American financier and international statesman, once said, “Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed, whatever follies I have witnessed in private and public life, have been the consequences of action without thought.” Too often our impulses lead us and not guiding principles which give one the opportunity to pause and reflect upon the unintended consequences of our actions. Thus, we rush into decisions that are both harmful to ourselves and damaging to others. Many times, we have said, “If I had only thought that one through…” But we didn’t. The guiding principle for our life was neglected and as a result we are surrounded by the rubble of the disaster of misguided decisions.

     While reading a little bit about the sinking of the Titanic recently, I was intrigued by the guiding principle that was ignored as the “unsinkable” ship cruised through the North Atlantic on April 14, 1912. The result we know was a disaster and the catastrophic loss of 1,514 lives. On the 100^th anniversary of the tragedy, Alan Boyle, Science Editor, NBC News, wrote a piece entitled “10 Causes of the Titanic Tragedy.” Among his findings were clear facts that showed that there was a key guiding principle ignored. This contributed to the catastrophe. One of the 10 causes that stands out was that the iceberg warnings went unheeded. The warning should have altered the ship’s speed and extra precautions should have been taken. They weren’t. Captain Smith maintained full ahead speed of the ship as he decided to beat the record of a sister ship in the White Star fleet. Another cause Boyle noted was the binoculars for lookouts were locked up. They could have aided the lookouts on the night of the collision. Some historians have speculated that the fatal iceberg might have been spotted earlier if lookouts had them. These are some of the issues that stand out possibly underscoring the major factor that the general principle of “safety first” was not guiding the officers of the ill-fated ship.

     How many have “sailed” into this new year wanting a different outcome and make resolutions. Would it be more advantageous to seek to carry out an overarching guiding principle that would help us navigate all of life. The Bible provides numerous principles. They are worth considering and implementing. Sail through this year as a person that has a wise principle guiding them as they journey through 2023.