Wise In Our Own Eyes

“In Discipleship Journal, Don McCullough wrote: "John Killinger tells about the manager of a minor league baseball team who was so disgusted with his center fielder's performance that he ordered him to the dugout and assumed the position himself. The first ball that came into center field took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth. The next one was a high fly ball, which he lost in the glare of the sun and it bounced off his forehead. The third was a hard line drive that he charged with outstretched arms; unfortunately, it flew between his hands and smacked his eye. Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted, “You idiot! You've got center field so messed up that even I can't do a thing with it!””*

Have you ever met someone who is never wrong?  What a trial it is to have to deal with such a person.  The Bible tells us that there is more hope for a fool than the one who is wise in his own eyes (Proverbs 26.12).  Be it the sluggard (Proverbs 26:16) or rich man (Proverbs 28:11), the person who cannot see their own flaws has serious “I” problems.  Jesus illustrated the problem this way: “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3–5).

No one is perfect.  No one always does it right.  It would be good to remember that the next time we are tempted to be critical of another’s efforts.  Lord, please help us to avoid “I” problems.

God loves you!

Mike

*Wake Up Calls, Ron Hutchcraft, Moody, 1990, p. 46

Sandbox Theology

Robert Fulghum wrote in the Kansas City Times, "Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.  "These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody . . . When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. " This writer has captured part of what Jesus meant when he said, "Unless you become like little children, you won't enter the kingdom of heaven."*

There is a temptation for some of us to make things more difficult than necessary, especially when it comes to spiritual matters.  Rarely is it motivated by some sinister effort to intentionally complicate matters.  Like the Pharisees before us, we genuinely want to serve God as carefully and completely as possible.  But also like the Pharisees before us, our sincere desire causes us to make laws to help us keep other laws.  And, before long, we go far astray from what God intends.  We start gagging on gnats while swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24).  Our diligent search for life in rules and regulations causes us to miss the real Lifegiver (John 5:39).

Jesus was the Master of sandbox theology.  When questioned about the Law of God, He said it was really very simple.  He boiled it all down to two fundamental concerns: loving God and loving your neighbor (Matthew 22:35-40).  You don’t have to be a systematic theologian to understand that.  Even a child can get it.  If serving God has become a burden, then we have missed something important.  Jesus said His  yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).  If that is not our experience, perhaps we need to go back to the sandbox.

God loves you!

Mike

*Hugh Duncan, sermonillustrations.com

Will 2020 Be Different?

            Once again, by God’s grace, we stand at the threshold of a new year.  For most people, it is a good time to reflect on the past 12 months and think about some personal improvements that we might make in the next 12 months.  If you’re not a resolution-maker, that’s fine.  Call it whatever you like.  But spiritual growth as a child of God is expected.

Perhaps at least partly due to a deep sense of his own failures, the apostle Peter had much to say about the need for Christian improvement.

●     “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation...” (1 Peter 2:2).

●     “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5–8).

●     “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

            Growing as a disciple is hard work.  That’s why some of us will decide its not worth the effort.  Don’t be that person!  While the status quo is a comfortable place to live, it is also a dangerous place because a lack of growth often leads to regression in our faith.  Another quick reminder: if you choose not to grow this year, at least make an effort to not stand in the way of those who do.  It’s easy to sit back and criticize those who are trying to grow in Christ.  Don’t be that person either!

            How will 2020 be different for you?  Is there at least one small area of your life as a believer that could stand some improvement? 

God loves you!

Mike