Double Trouble

 Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!

– 1 Samuel 12:16

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

It’s been about 2,000 years since Jesus’ first disciples heard these great words of wisdom found in Matthew’s gospel. And aren’t they just as relevant and reassuring to his followers today? Surf the Web or turn on the TV, and just try to avoid the never-ending news coverage of COVID-19, social unrest, politics and the economy. And that’s not to mention the turmoil found in every other nation of the world. 

The point is that there’s trouble everywhere. And there’s no escape — even when your TV is off and you’ve turned away from YouTube. For some people, trouble comes in the form of a job loss or furlough. For others, it’s an illness or the prospect of major surgery. Or maybe your problem involves family or relationship issues such as a divorce or the loss of a loved one. Everyone faces trouble, and their obstacles are significant.

Under such gloomy circumstances, it’s good to know that we worship a God who’s much greater than any pandemic, economic difficulty or international dispute. Ours is a loving Creator who literally spoke the universe into existence, formed great mountain ranges with his hands and parted the seas with a breath.

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” asks the writer of Genesis, the first book of the Bible.

Let’s take God at his Word when he tells us that through all things in life, he works for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose. We’re not immune from trouble once we turn our lives over to Jesus and become Christ-followers. But we do gain access to a Power that helps us endure any difficulty — great or small. Likewise, we also become the beneficiaries of an eternal inheritance of a magnitude that will make our current troubles fade into oblivion. The barriers and sorrows that seem so great today will become laughably insignificant tomorrow.

With that in mind, let’s consider these timeless words of assurance from Jesus:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Trouble may be all around us, but there's no need to be anxious about it. Let’s remember that when everything seems to be falling to pieces, the truth is that the pieces are falling into place.

Fear Not

 

“Don't be afraid!" Moses replied. "God has come only to test you, so that by obeying him you won't sin."

– Exodus 20:20

With 2022 just weeks away, many people will soon begin to think about their New Year’s resolutions. Popular goals include losing weight, learning a new language and landing a better job. And that makes sense. After all, the New Year represents a clean slate with plenty of possibilities. But then again, there’s also a certain level of anxiety. Considering how our lives have changed over the past two years, who knows what tomorrow may bring?

It’s said that the admonition Fear Not appears in the Bible 365 times: one for every day of the year. However, Christ-followers aren’t immune from anxiety and fear. For example, it’s safe to say that many — or perhaps even most of us — are afraid of saying yes to God. One of the problems is that we too often think of our Lord as a cosmic consultant who offers well-intentioned suggestions rather than the all-knowing Creator who made us, loves us and wants only the best for us. But when we get down to it, saying no to God is perhaps the most basic definition of sin. And mankind has been doing just that since those early days of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

We know in our heads and our hearts that God loves us. In fact, he loves us so much that he sent his only Son to die on the cross to pay for our many failures in life. So with this in mind, why would anyone be anxious about saying yes to God?

 

First, saying no and playing it safe is a basic human instinct. Fleeing from danger (real or perceived) is logical when we consider our innate desire for self-preservation. We also can say no to God when he calls us to do something that’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. And taking that first step can be awkward, difficult — and sometimes scary.

But maybe selfishness is the biggest reason so many people are afraid to say yes to God. After all, agreeing with God often means we’re saying no to us. But be forewarned: When we turn our backs to God, we need to prepare for a certain level of spiritual storminess and turmoil. God knows what he wants and how he wants to do it. So we shouldn’t be surprised when we find ourselves in a much worse situation after our refusal. As the saying goes, sometimes we need to feel the heat before we can see the light.

A New Year is around the corner. Let’s resolve to make the most of its opportunities by surrendering our anxiety and fears, stepping out in faith and saying yes to God.

All Things New

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

– Romans 12:2

Ever had a computer or smartphone infected by a virus or malware? If so, you know that helpless feeling when it crashes, freezes or slows to a maddening crawl. And soon enough, that once top-of-the-line machine becomes nothing more than an expensive plastic paperweight.

But don’t give up hope quite yet. There are reputable companies that can not only clean out such infections, they can also help prevent future problems by fixing unrelated computer performance issues. What was once a dead or crippled computer can become better than new. And all that time spent on the phone with your company’s Help Desk will look like a bargain in retrospect. 

Every Christ-follower for the last 2,000 years can recognize this modern-day cyber-illustration. Like a crippled machine made whole again, Christ-followers become born again once they accept Jesus Christ through faith as their Lord and Savior. We start over at that point with a clean slate with God — now ready to do good works to advance his kingdom. Think about it: Everything we’ve done wrong since birth — none of it will be held against us after we leave this life on earth! All the pitiful ways we’ve treated others, the lies we’ve told and the potential we’ve wasted over the years … it’s all forgiven because Jesus paid the price and died for us on the cross. 

The result is that we’re now free and have an incredible future with God because of our faith in Christ. But this is much more than a simple intellectual exercise. Instead, authentic, faith-filled Christ-followers must demonstrate tangible changes in who they are, what they think … and especially what they do. As we read in the New Testament’s Book of James:

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Of course, we’re not saved from the punishment we deserve because of any good deeds we might do. If that were the case, it would be possible to earn our way to God’s acceptance. The fact is that our feeble efforts and good intentions are never enough. There’s nothing left for us to do except follow God’s plan of salvation — and accept his free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

It's then for us that all things become new.

The Jealous Type

You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

– James 4:2

Millions of Americans invest in their health by working out at the gym, eating organic food and avoiding excess sugar and fat. Nevertheless, our nation still has a heart condition. According to current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, now claiming almost 660,000 lives each year. That’s about one of every four fatalities.

Heart disease is more than a physical infirmity — it’s also a debilitating and deadly spiritual condition. One variety is jealousy, and there are several well-known cases of it recorded in the Bible. The first occurs within the opening chapters of Genesis between brothers Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain was jealous that God preferred Abel’s offering over his own. And unable to control his bitterness and envy, he killed Abel, and then tried to mislead God about his crime. When his Creator asked about Abel’s whereabouts, the murderer responded, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 

It’s later in Genesis that we find another instance of jealousy and deception. This time it involves Joseph, the son of Jacob — the patriarch of the nation of Israel. Jacob doted on Joseph, and the boy’s older brothers resented it. Joseph also didn’t win their affection by telling them about his symbolic dreams, which suggested that they would one day bow down to him. What’s more, Jacob had presented Joseph with a special coat of many colors, which signified the prominence of this handsome young son in his heart. One day, when Joseph ventured out in the fields to find his brothers, they spied him from afar and conspired to kill him. But they soon had a change of heart and instead decided to sell him into slavery.

Although the brothers’ horrendous deed led to years of heartbreak and struggle for both Joseph and Jacob, God used their jealousy as a vehicle for good. Joseph was both blessed and protected while in captivity. And he gained favor in the eyes of Egypt’s pharaoh — so much so that he eventually became the second-most powerful man in that nation. When a famine spread across the region, Joseph would even use his God-given wisdom to rescue millions of people from starvation — including his brothers and father. And yes, the brothers did bow down to Joseph, just as his dreams had predicted.

“You meant to do me harm, but God meant it for good,” Joseph explained, “so that it would come about as it is today, with many people’s lives being saved.”  

Are you the jealous type? Rather than envying each other’s accomplishments, possessions or good fortune, the cure for jealousy — the so-called Green-Eyed Monster — is to adopt an attitude of gratitude for our own many blessings. With this in mind, we’d be wise to take this passage from the Book of Jonah to heart:

“But as for me, I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation and deliverance belong to the Lord!”

Help Wanted

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

– Luke 10:2

Although millions of Americans lost their jobs following the COVID-19 business shutdowns, there’s lots of good news on the employment front. Companies like FedEx, Amazon and UPS are hiring thousands of new workers in preparation for the busy holiday season. There’s a nationwide shortage of truck drivers. And Help Wanted signs are commonplace in storefronts, with some businesses struggling to fill their open positions.

But if you’re in the job market, be aware that employers still prefer experienced, can-do candidates who meet their exacting criteria. Those who fail to impress and excel in some categories face the reality of not making it to that critical second interview.

Your first hurdle is to prove to the interviewer that you can do the job. What’s more, employers have to decide if they like you. Even if you’re well-qualified, you probably won’t get the job if they think you lack the right chemistry. They also want to know if you’re a risk. In other words, do you have a reputation for being difficult to manage? And finally, you must be affordable. Employers will eliminate you from the running if they think your salary demands are unreasonable.

Fortune 500 companies aren’t the only ones with high standards for their team members. For example, Christ-followers are tasked with preparing God’s Kingdom and being a bright light in a dark, troubled world. And since it’s such an important job that can yield eternal, life-changing rewards, only certain candidates are considered. First, they must be available on an as-needed basis. (Expect to work  weekends and holidays!) They also need to be obedient and follow the Boss’s (Jesus) directions — even if they don’t make much sense at the time. Effective Christ-followers must also be humble in their work and share the credit whenever it’s due. Overtime and sacrifice are a given. And to top it off, they must display initiative and be on the lookout for opportunities to help their customers (neighbors), both local and foreign.

Is it any wonder that most people won’t respond to Christ’s Help Wanted sign? To quote the Navy’s old recruiting slogan, “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure.” Here’s how Luke’s gospel records Jesus’ words to his would-be candidates:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Landing a job can be hard — even in a vibrant economy. But here’s some good news: Jesus is hiring right now for his organization’s growing team. And many of his highest-producers have had no experience in the field. Yes, the working conditions aren’t always ideal. But there are plenty of rewards along the way. And the retirement plan is out of this world.

Fighting Words

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

– Matthew 5:22 

The saying goes that you don’t let your mouth write a check that you can’t cash. In other words, don’t threaten to do something unless you’re willing to back it up with action. The message is that our tongues can get us into lots of hot water. And when we’re too quick to speak and even quicker to anger, catastrophe and regret can follow.

The sentiment of this sage advice is hardly new. About 2,000 years ago, James — the half-brother of Jesus — wrote the following New Testament passage:

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

Do these words hit close to home? Anger is one of mankind's earliest and strongest emotions, and it even played itself out early in the Bible through the world's first murder, when Cain killed his brother Abel.  

We couldn't control our anger back then in that quiet, agrarian setting, and we still can't today — sometimes in the form of petty arguments or even road rage on traffic-snarled highways. But Christ-followers are to live to a much higher standard and strive for gentleness as evidence that God lives through us. But keep in mind that gentleness isn't another word for wimpiness. Instead, biblical gentleness is the transformation of our innate anger into the power to do God's will in the world. A good definition is power focused on the positive.   

If you're a Christ-follower who's finding it hard to tame your tongue, take heart. The transformation from our old self into a new creation is a work in progress that's on God's timetable. It's a change that takes place bit by bit and day after day along each step of our faith-journey. But the problem is that the journey's pathway is narrow, twisting and full of unexpected hairpin curves. And when we don't keep our eyes on the destination, we tend to end up in the ditch.

Jesus also told his disciples to expect bumps and potholes in this road. "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come," he explained. "But woe to that person through whom they come."

It’s with the same mouth that we can both bless and curse others. And if we use our tongue the wrong way, we must accept the consequences. But the good news is that when we fail and sin, we can freely ask for help from our Savior, who lived the perfect, sin-free life to wash them all away: past, present and future. That's because Jesus paid in full when our mouth wrote that check.

Words to the Wise

When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

– 1 Kings 3:28

We read in the Old Testament book of 1 Kings that God gave Solomon — the son of Israel’s famous King David — wisdom and very great insight, as well as a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. In fact, Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom found in all of Egypt, and kings from all nations sent their people to listen to him.

One of Solomon’s wisest acts was to ask God for wisdom — rather than riches or fame — after he assumed the throne following his father's death. God honored Solomon's astute request with wisdom beyond human understanding. And great riches and fame soon followed it.
 
Solomon was an effective ruler when he lived by God's standards, and he used his wisdom to administer justice throughout Israel. But despite this, Solomon tended to falter in his personal life and make poor decisions when he took his eyes off God. It's through his years of learning-it-the-hard-way that Solomon penned Ecclesiastes, the book of the Bible that summarizes many of the wise king's observations about life.
 
His first observation was that this is our one and only life. And it's only through God that we can find true happiness in it. Likewise, our lives are short. Therefore, we need to make the most of the opportunities God gives us each day.
 
Although our lives are brief, they are more like cross-country marathons than straight-away sprints. Jesus centuries later reinforced Solomon's observation: "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction," Christ warned his followers, "and many enter through it."  The takeaway is that we must enter the Kingdom of God via life's winding roads and narrow gate. The hard way is the only way.
 
Finally, Solomon wrote that everyone's hour will come when they leave this brief lifetime and pass into the next chapter of existence. And since none of us knows exactly when that will be, we all must be ready — both for when we'll die and for where we'll spend eternity. 
 
Those are indeed words to the wise.