Wisdom: The Principal Thing

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7: 13-14 (NKJV)

Wisdom seems to be in increasingly short supply these days. We have embraced Secular Humanism in all facets of our lives and culture (also within the Church). Moral relativism appears to be the order of the day. We lack any real moral or ethical standards, so pretty much anything goes.

“The fool has said in his heart,         
“There is no God.”         
They are corrupt,         
They have done abominable works,         
There is none who does good.” Psalm 14:1 (NKJV)

The more we remove the Light of the Gospel from every area of our lives, the darker and more clouded our minds become. The more ignorant we are of the Bible, the easier we are to fool.

The foundation for all wisdom is truth. So if we desire wisdom, we must go to the source of all Truth: God and His Word. There’s no other way around it. We won’t gain much wisdom from watching our favorite television shows, attending sports events, going to movies, reading novels, or any other of the hundreds of things we spend our time on. Even if there isn’t anything inherently wrong with these activities, we must seek Him where He can be found.

“Wisdom is the principal thing;      
Therefore get wisdom.      
And in all your getting, get understanding.      
Exalt her, and she will promote you;      
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.      
She will place on your head an ornament of grace;      
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”      
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,      
And the years of your life will be many.      
I have taught you in the way of wisdom;      
I have led you in right paths.      
When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,      
And when you run, you will not stumble.      
Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;      
Keep her, for she is your life.” Proverbs 4:7-13 (NKJV)

If we value wisdom at all, we must make gaining it a top priority in our lives. Every decision we make will be based on something, either wisdom or foolishness. Wisdom always provides better outcomes. Wisdom always makes our daily walk easier.

One might think God knew what He was talking about when He told us to get wisdom.

Fancy that.

“To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgement, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion–a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:2-7  (NKJV)

Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved

Practically Perfect

English: Screenshot of Julie Andrews from the trailer for the film Mary Poppins (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Remember the movie, “Mary Poppins” (Walt Disney, 1964; based on the book by P.L. Travers)? She was described (self-described, actually) as “practically perfect in every way.”

MARY POPPINS:
By the time the wind has blown the weather vane around,
I’ll show you if I can.
No matter what the circumstance for one thing I’m renowned.
My character is spit spot spic and span.
I’m practically perfect in every way.

JANE: Practically Perfect?

MARY POPPINS:
So people say.
Each virtue virtually knows no bound
each trait is great and patiently sound.
I’m practically perfect from head to toe.
If I had a fault it would never dare to show.
I’m so practically perfect in every way.

Both prim and proper and never too stern.
Well-educated yet willing to learn.
I’m clean and honest my manner refined
and I wear shoes of the sensible kind.
 I suffer no nonsense and whilst I remain,
there’s nothing else I feel I need to explain.

I’m practically perfect in every way.
Practically perfect that’s my forte
uncanny nannies are hard to find.
Unique yet meek unspeakably kind,
I’m practically perfect not slightly soiled,
running like an engine that’s just been freshly oiled.
I’m so practically perfect in every way>

(Robert B. Sherman and Richard M Sherman; Composers and Lyricists)

I remember watching the movie “Mary Poppins” when I was much younger and dreaming of the day when I would be beautiful and perfect like her. She was always so kind, so wise, and so unflappable, even in the most unusual circumstances. She was the epitome of all that I hoped to be.

Strong perfectionist tendencies run in my family and I have struggled with them all of my life. As I have grown older, I have come to understand what perfectionism really is. It is a perversion of what God originally intended: the pursuit of excellence in all that He sets before us to do. Perfectionism is deeply rooted in pride. It is based on the assumption that if you work hard enough or work smart enough, you will never make a mistake; each task, each decision, each relationship will be perfect. This is, of course, never possible. The sin nature that we struggle with daily always prevents it.  As we come face to face with the gap between what we are and what we want to be (or think we should be), our lives become a never-ending series of disappointments. We can never achieve, never fulfill, and never accomplish what we want to or expect we should.

Perfectionism is always destructive, despite what psychologists may believe and say to the contrary, because pride is its root cause. You are constantly aware of how far you fall short of what you expect of yourself or of what you believe others expect of you.  This becomes growing self-contempt which leads to self-punishment and then to depression or bitterness, as both real and perceived failures result in the continual erosion of your confidence and sense of worth. When you believe that every situation’s outcome depends on what you do, the pressure to work even harder becomes increasingly more intense; you expect that your efforts will make everything “right.”

The pride of perfectionism is very clear. You act as judge and jury for each action, sentencing yourself to what you see as deserved punishment when you don’t succeed. There is no room in this pattern of behavior for the love, mercy, and forgiveness of God because you have already passed judgement and found yourself guilty. You are deceived into believing that you can make yourself ”good enough” if you just keep trying harder.

What God requires of us is excellence in each task He sets before us, not perfection.  Our behavior should reflect our role as an ambassador for Him; we need to mirror Christ’s nature and character. For those with strong perfectionist tendencies, the line between the pursuit of excellence and the drive for perfection is often blurred. It is easy to slip over that invisible line without realizing it. Fundamentally, this is what perfectionism is: striving to make ourselves (and others) perfect through our own efforts and will.

Over the years, I have struggled with perfectionism in many areas of my life. Some of these areas I have since come to peace with, while there are others that I still struggle with.  One of my more recent struggles has been with computers and technology. I came to use computers later in life. Twenty-two years ago when I left the work force to give birth to our daughter, computers were just beginning to be used in nursing care for charting in the medical record. At home, I rarely used our computer, and when I did, it was for basic e-mail functions and an occassional internet search. My daughter will tell you how often she tried, over a three-year period, to teach me how to “copy-paste” something, with very little success. I would understand her directions, but because I rarely used it, I would then forget how to ”copy-paste” the next time I needed to. Don’t ask me why I never wrote it down– seems like that would have solved the whole problem!

It wasn’t until I returned to nursing about six years ago that I finally had to come up to speed with some elementary computer skills. The learning curve was pretty steep, and I still do some rather foolish things (like deleting items that never should have been deleted!) far more regularly than I care to admit. One of the reasons I have struggled in this area is because I have seen how easily my daughter and others of her generation learned the “ins and outs” of computer use. It almost seems as if they have some innate sense of what to do and how to do it. Shouldn’t they have to learn it the hard way like I did? Clearly, if I was smarter (or more perfect) I should be a computer expert by now!

Obviously, this is quite ridiculous, as anyone can see. It is however, indicative of the heart of a perfectionist. The person driven by perfectionism doesn’t see what is a reasonable goal or a realistic outcome. The perfectionist also applies to others the same standards of “perfection” that he applies to himself. No one ever completely measures up to this standard, thus putting those relationships at risk. When our standard is wrong, our results will be wrong. This is always a “no-win” situation.

There is only One who is perfect in every way. The men and women in those Biblical accounts that God holds up to us as examples of what He considers “perfect” and “blameless” (Noah, Moses, David, Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Solomon, Paul, Peter, and many others) shared a common determination. They purposefully and faithfully walked with God, pursuing Him with their whole hearts. They were quick to repent when they sinned. Even though their behavior was not perfect, God judged their heart attitude as “perfect.” When we view our lives from God’s perspective, we see that a humble heart which seeks to walk with God, is far more important to Him than perfect behavior. If our heart is right with God, then our behavior will be ultimately become right as well.

The perfectionist’s heart and mind are rarely at rest. It takes great effort to shut down that internal drive to set everything perfectly in its place. Someone driven by perfectionism never completely relaxes because he is always seeing life’s many imperfections and keeps working diligently to “fix” them. Learning to trust God and letting go is the ever-present challenge.

This is obviously something that I can not do in my own strength. With the grace and mercy of God, I renew my purpose to let the Holy Spirit push the remaining vestiges of perfectionism from my life, restoring balance to those areas that are still out of balance. The older I get, and the more God reveals Himself to me through His Word and by His Spirit, the more odious the sin of perfectionism becomes to me. When I feel that I haven’t measured up, I want to be able to say with increasing regularity (and a twinkle in my eye), “Once again perfection slips from my grasp! Not to worry, God has things well under control.” I want my heart to find rest.

“I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be; but thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, ‘By the grace of God I am what I am.’” ~ John Newton (1725 – 1807)

“Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9b (NKJV)

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 (NKJV)

Related Content: http://americanvision.org/3881/slumbering-in-the-slough/

Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved

The “Health And Wealth” Gospel: Health

(Author’s Note: As in the previous post on wealth, this is not meant to be an exhaustive treatise on health and healing. It is most certainly not meant as a criticism in any way of those who are dealing with serious health issues in their own lives or in the lives of those that they love. It is our great privilege to help and encourage one another as we “fight the good fight of faith” in every area. Enough said.)

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:2-5  (NKJV)

For those who know me, or have read some of my previous posts, you are aware that I am, by training and profession, a registered nurse. In the earlier years of my professional life, I worked predominantly in hemodialysis; now in a non-traditional role as a clinical documentation nurse specialist. One would think that this would give me some sort of minor “expertise” in the area of health. Not so. Certainly not so in regards to God’s views on health and healing.

Like the subject of wealth, health and healing generate much heated argument and debate in Christian circles. The arguments run the gamut from, if you are a “good” Christian, you should never get sick to, God makes you sick to teach you a lesson.

I would be less than honest if I didn’t tell you that I struggle with the subject of healing, probably more than any other in my Christian walk. I struggle because what I believe to be true about God’s will for health and healing, I have trouble holding to in my personal life. I have “head knowledge” but not much “heart revelation.”

As I stated in my earlier post on wealth:

“No matter what we believe on this subject, we would probably all agree that there was no poverty, lack, or sickness in the Garden of Eden and there will be none in Heaven. If we start with the premise that what God created as “good” at creation is also His perfect will, then we must at least consider that God does not want us sick or broke. From there it is likely to get sticky.”

It gets sticky because in so many ways we hold on tight to our sicknesses and diseases. Paying close attention to many of our conversations, you become aware of how tightly we hold on to them. We discuss our ailments in painstaking detail until you want to yell “TMI (Too Much Information) Alert”!  What if we do this because we are sometimes, in actuality, using that illness to draw attention to ourselves to gain other’s pity, or as someone once stated, in order to get, “A cheap sympathy shot”?

Every day as I review patient’s medical records for physician documentation accuracy, I read about the life experiences of the people who now find themselves in a place of serious illness. For some, this illness was a direct result of poor life choices that brought them to the place where they needed hospitalization. For others, it seems that they were just going along, living their lives and minding their own business, when catastrophe struck.

There is no doubt that there is much we can do to take care of ourselves and prevent illness. Certainly, I think, everyone could agree that God designed our bodies for health. He has placed within the DNA of every cell the “desire” to heal itself. It is that premise on which medicine is based. Each treatment, each medication, is developed and administered to give our bodies “help” in returning to a healthy state. It is why we call it “dis-ease“; it is not considered the norm or standard for our bodies.

It is the sin of Adam and Eve that opened the door to sickness and disease in the Garden of Eden. If we use Jesus as our perfect example (and we should), we know that He was never sick and never dealt with disease in His own body. He was fully God and yet fully man, a concept which I do not understand. As he was “tempted in all things as we are” (Hebrews 4:15), He must have been tempted to succumb to sickness and disease. He certainly was exposed to those diseases that were prevalent in His day and yet He never got sick. Not only did He not get sick, but He actively went about healing all who would believe.

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38 (NKJV)

Clearly from this passage, sickness and disease are considered oppression by the devil. Why then do some believe that God makes us sick to teach us something? Now, I will be the first to admit, that there is much that God can, and does, teach us from our infirmities. I would argue though, that we certainly could learn these lessons in another way.

If we truly believed that God wanted to teach us a lesson through illness and disease, why do we so quickly run to the doctor for help? Why don’t we just stay sick, learn our lesson, and get it over with? Seems pretty silly when put in that way, doesn’t it? No one desires to be sick. It disrupts our lives and keeps us from doing those activities that are important.

What if the whole point of sickness and disease is that the enemy causes and uses it to keep us from being effective in our ability to fulfill the “Great Commission”?  We can’t do what we are called to do if we are laying in a hospital bed or curled up on the couch too sick to do anything. Why would God deliberately cause something that hampered us in fulfilling what He had specifically asked us to do?

Now, lest anyone get ready to “tar and feather” me for this view, I have heard many examples of people who have taken their experiences with disease and even injury, using them as a glorious example of God’s grace and mercy. Clearly in a world filled with sin, things happen. That being so, is it correct to ascribe to God that which is clearly Satan’s domain?

From my own life, my mother died at a young age (55) from a rare form of cancer. My mother handled her illness with great faith and graciousness. She had many plans for service in the Kingdom during her retirement years, which at the point of her death was a few short years away. Because of her early death, she never fulfilled the desire which God had placed in her heart. What people were not reached for the Gospel because she was not there to tell them?

I will be the first to admit that I have more questions than answers for much of this subject, but of these things I am sure: God wants us healthy, we need to fight sickness and disease with everything we’ve got, both in the natural and spiritual realms, and God still heals in miraculous ways today. The God Who is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) has not changed His mind in this regard: His perfect will is reflected in what He created in the Garden of Eden and what is present in Heaven. Just as He did in His walk on earth, Jesus Christ desires to heal all who come to Him. We must hold steadfastly to that in faith when the enemy “seeks to steal, kill, and destroy” us or those who are most dear to us (John 10:10).

I would ask you to consider that it is possible illness can give a certain ”benefit” to some of us, causing those to hold on to it tightly. Illness can elicit sympathy from others (validating the “pity party” we could be having in our own hearts), it can provide a convenient excuse for those things which we would rather not do, and it can give us a reason to not fulfill the call of God on our lives. Ouch!! Been there, done that–all of them.

Lest anyone think that I am being critical of others, I have had my own battle with rheumatoid arthritis. There were many long months where just getting out of bed in the morning was excruciating. From bed (at 3:00 a.m.), to the one and a half hour daily commute on public transportation into work, there were multiple opportunities to give in and give up. It is only the grace, mercy, and strength of God that helped me to continue. He sustained me when exhaustion from pain and the disease itself wore me down to my last ounce of courage and strength.

I am under no illusion, however, that this issue with rheumatoid arthritis was God-given or a “gift” in any way. I know its source and its cause. Have I learned from it? Yes, absolutely. But, I may not have learned what others thought I would. I have learned that sickness and disease are a curse. There is no benefit from it that I could not have learned from God’s Word or by listening and obeying His Spirit. It has kept me from doing things for my family, it has kept me from the ability to always give 100 percent at work, and it has kept me from doing many things for the Kingdom that I would have been able to do in the past.

So, I am left with a belief system that has not completely played out in my personal life. I know that it is God’s will to heal “all my diseases” but have not yet seen that completely manifested in my own life. I have made progress, however. God has graciously brought me to a place where each day’s struggle is a mere shadow of what it has been in the past.

I know that this subject is one of great debate in the church and is a particularly “touchy” one. This is in no way meant as a criticism of those who are dealing with serious illness. I have great compassion for those who struggle with constant pain and life-altering illnesses. I do not know why it seems that God heals some people but not others. I only know that it is God’s will to heal and as F.F. Bosworth has said: “Faith begins where the will of God is known.”

I am left with the conclusion that, as there can be no problem with God, the problem must somehow be with us and our understanding. If we are going to fulfill God’s call on our lives, we must do this unhindered by that which keeps us from doing so. I would then ask: Do some, by believing that God causes sickness, no longer heals, or wants to teach us a lesson through disease, actually allow the enemy to gain a foothold in their lives that he should not have? Do we give him the opportunity to destroy that which he should not have the opportunity to destroy? Do we permit him to keep us from advancing the Kingdom of God by accepting sickness and disease in our bodies?

I know that the maturing of our faith is a growth process. The time to start praying and believing for healing and health is when we are dealing with minor “inconvenient” health issues, such as a cold or a headache. If we learn how to stand in faith and agreement with God’s Word at that time, we will be ready when the enemy tries to bring out his “big guns” against us. But, we will never even start this faith process if we believe that God wants us sick or that this is part of His plan and purpose. Make no mistake, the enemy’s prime purpose for disease is to take us out of the race–permanently.  If he can not prevent us from entering the race that God sets before us, he will do everything within his power to keep us from completing the call of God on our lives. Satan does not “play nice in the sandbox.”

God can, and certainly does, use these experiences to mature our faith. I would postulate that there may be a better way. If we learned from God’s Word, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and from the experiences of others, maybe we wouldn’t have to learn everything the “hard way.”  Isn’t that what we try to teach our children? Don’t we stress to them the value of learning from our mistakes and other’s mistakes so that they don’t have to make the same ones?

I believe that this is why God includes, in Scripture, so many examples of people whose lives were less than sterling examples of wisdom. He shows us what we should not do, and what we should. At the very least, where healing and health are concerned, we should consider revisiting our beliefs and opening our hearts to the possibility that what we have always accepted as true, may not be true. What would we find that God has to say about the subject if we did an extensive study across the entirety of the Bible? Would we find that this lines up with what we hold so dear?

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2 (NKJV)

Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved

The “Health And Wealth” Gospel: Wealth

(Author Note: This is not meant to be an exhaustive treatise on the subject or any excuse for those who call themselves Christian and manipulate others for their own financial benefit and gain. Enough said.)

“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant, which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV)

There are very few topics that generate more heated and angry discussions in Christendom than that of the so-called “health and wealth” gospel. I have heard passionate arguments on both sides of the fence. Like all, I have struggled with it, but ultimately I am left with: what was God’s original intent before sin came into the picture and made a mess of things? How did He manifest this intent in the lives of His servants?

No matter what we believe on this subject, we would probably all agree that there was no poverty, lack, or sickness in the Garden of Eden and there will be none in Heaven. If we start with the premise that what God created as “good” at creation is also His perfect will, then we must at least consider that God does not want us sick or broke. From there it is likely to get sticky. To the best of my knowledge, poverty and sickness are part of the curse of the law that Christ redeemed us from.

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

There are many that hold fast to the view that wealth is evil, citing the well-known “truth” that “money is the root of all evil.” But is that what the Scripture really says?

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NKJV)

Money itself can not be evil. It is an inanimate object. It is the sin in our own hearts that makes wealth problematic: the love of money. I believe that the root of our strong beliefs and emotions about wealth are likely two-fold. We are afraid of the greed and envy that we suspect (but are usually not willing to admit) is hiding in our own hearts and we have seen the abuses of wealth by others. Thus, I have one question: should that be our motivation for behavior and our standard for belief? Do we pattern our lives, as Christians, on what we fear in ourselves and what we despise in others or, should we pattern our lives on what God has said in His Word?

Clearly God does not have a problem with wealth, per se. Look at Job, Abraham, Joseph, David, Solomon, and others. None of these men had problems paying their bills. Their wealth was not the central focus of their lives. It was, rather, a by-product of something else: their relationship with the Living God and their faithfulness and obedience to His commands. God blessed them, and just as we find great joy in blessing our children with gifts and provision, how could we say that our loving Father would do less?

I can’t speak for any others, but as for me, I have always been afraid of money and wealth. I did not despise it. I was terrified of the responsibility of it. I was afraid of other people’s greed and envy if they thought I had it. I was afraid of the visibility that came with money. I was afraid of what I perceived as its seductive and destructive power. Easier to be “average” and just bump along like every one else with just enough to get by. Like many, I had the attitude of: “just us four and no more” when it came to considering God’s financial blessing in my life.

Like a hammer, money is only a tool. It is a convenient and portable medium of exchange for something that we value more than that piece of green paper we call the “dollar.” A hammer can be used to pound nails and build a house or it can be used as a weapon to kill. The hammer can only do what the hand that is wielding it makes it do. It has no will of its own. Likewise, money can be used for good or for evil purposes depending on the heart of the one who is using it.

We are commanded in the “Great Commission” to go into all the world “making disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NKJV). Practically speaking, we are not all able to go to the mission field in a far away country, but there are many fine mission organizations that are doing just that. It is a fact that each one of these organizations require money (and other things) in order to do the job that God has called them to do. And as I was often told as a child: “Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.” We can, by extension, be a part of the work these mission groups do with our financial support. As we sow into the work that they are doing, we then share in the spiritual blessings that result from our financial partnership with them. Like it or not, money is the international means of exchange.

What if the entire point of wealth and money is not about us? What if the only point of wealth is to advance the Kingdom of God and establish His covenant on the earth (as noted earlier in Deuteronomy 8:18)? By espousing poverty (in its various forms and degrees), do we actively thwart God’s intent? Do we cause the Gospel to not go forth where it should go because we have discerned the purpose of wealth incorrectly? How can we possibly be a blessing to others if we have nothing extra to give? As the old adage says, have we “thrown the baby out with the bath water?”

We knew someone many years ago, who by any standard would have been considered wealthy. He was a committed Christian with a heart for the advancement of the Gospel and was very generous in his support of it. When others would question him about his obvious wealth (and the visible results of it), all he would say was: “When you are an irrigation ditch for the Lord, even the evaporation amounts to a fair bit.” That was usually the end of any discussion on the subject.

God gave R. G. LeTourneau multiple inventions that resulted in great wealth. He was eventually able to sow ninety percent of his income back into the propagation of the Gospel, living on the other ten percent. Even on that ten percent, he did not have trouble paying his electric bill. His inventions are still in use today, and there is a university which bears his name that is training young men and women to use their God-given talents and abilities in service to God.

When we look at others, we view them through the lens of our own soul. We often ascribe to them the motives that are lurking in the dark corners of our own hearts. It is obvious to all that there is no shortage of examples where wealth has been misused, even within the church. The issue here is not whether you have money. It is only an issue of whether or not money has you.

Wealth, in and of itself, is not the end game. The use of our wealth (in whatever amount God has blessed us with) must be about stewardship. Stewardship is about what we do with what God has given us. I do not know why God gives some “one talent,” some “five talents,” and others “ten talents” (parable of the talents: Matthew 25:14-30); that is within His sovereign will and I am not intelligent enough to figure that out. I do know that we cannot judge whether someone has been a faithful steward of God’s financial provision by the car they drive, the house they live in, or the clothes that they wear. It is impossible to know how obedient they have been to God’s command for stewardship on outward appearances alone. We can not see their heart. We cannot judge the intent of their actions. We can only judge whether we have done what He has asked of us with the financial provision He has entrusted to us. We can only judge whether we have a “love of money.” We will only give an account before God’s great throne of judgement for our financial stewardship.

My husband has a standard set of questions for others when the subject of wealth and money comes up. He is especially vocal when the subject involves criticism of those within the ministry that are wearing, driving, or living in an example of what others would call wealth. He asks: “Why should it only be the rock/rap stars, business tycoons, actors, and sports stars that are allowed to have that level of financial blessing? Why do we believe that Satan treats his servants better than God does? Why would anyone want to be a Christian if the only benefit is “fire insurance” for the life hereafter? They can be broke and sick without the Gospel. The Gospel means “good news.” Most Christians aren’t living like there is much of that good news in their lives. Why isn’t the world saying about us: ‘Man, those Christians really know how to live’?”

It is time for those of us who profess Christ as our Lord to examine our hearts and make the Gospel and the Great Commission top priority with our financial resources. It has been estimated that only between five to twenty percent of church-goers tithe (depending on the source of your information). What could be accomplished for the Gospel if we were at least obedient in this alone?

I do not believe that God is opposed to wealth and the enjoyment of His manifested financial blessings. He is, however, opposed to greed and envy. He has a specific purpose for wealth: the advancement of His kingdom to all corners of the earth.

The question then becomes: how much do we value the Gospel? What do we think it is worth in comparison to the other things that we value in our lives? Do we value the “Great Commission” and our obedience to fulfill that mandate more than whatever else we spend our money on?

Where else but in God’s economy can we take something with no ostensible value, like a piece of paper money, and exchange it for something of eternal value, like salvation of the lost? If we are not faithful with the $10.00 He gives us, why would we think He would ever give us the opportunity to be faithful with larger amounts? It is time to be faithful in the small things like money, so that He will trust us with true riches.

As a pastor that we listen to from time to time has said:

“The purpose of prosperity is not to buy, buy, buy. The purpose of prosperity is to give, give, give.”

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? ‘No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.’” Luke 16:10-13 (NKJV)

(The “Health And Wealth” Gospel–Health, to follow)

Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved

“Pulling A Joseph”

Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar (painting circa 1816–1817 by Philipp Veit) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.

So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.

So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” Genesis 39 (NKJV)

Our pastor is currently preaching chapter-by-chapter through the book of Genesis. A few weeks ago he covered the chapter on Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. We are all familiar with the story–a young man was sorely tempted by a woman who sought to defile him. And Joseph ran. In fact, he fled so quickly that the coat he wore was left tightly grasped in the hand of Potiphar’s wife–tells you how aggressively she pursued him!

Very few would have the moral fortitude or courage to turn down this type of offer if it was extended to them. Fear of the consequences of refusal would cause most of us to capitulate. Not Joseph. He held his ground and with a “No!” until he recognized he was about to succumb–then he ran. Potiphar’s wife was not amused at his rejection and further compounded her sin with lies and revenge. Joseph’s stand for righteousness caused his imprisonment. But even there, God continued to bless him.

We live in a world where most of us run from righteousness and hold fast to our sin. We deceive ourselves into thinking we are strong enough to hold out against those things that tempt us. Unfortunately, we usually get pulled into the very sin we are trying to avoid–with disastrous results. Most of us would never question an alcoholic who refuses to sit in a bar because the temptation to drink might become too strong. He knows well enough that he can’t play with even the thought of consuming alcohol. Why is it we think we can “handle” our temptations any better?

My father was a man of great moral integrity. My mother never had to be concerned about his faithfulness to her. Even when he travelled extensively for his job and was gone for weeks at a time, she never had to worry. She knew my dad would never betray the trust she had in him. There was, however, nothing wrong with his eyesight. In fact, he enjoyed the sight of a pretty woman as much as the next man. He often told the story of the first time he saw my mother. He was impressed! Over the years, he would make jokes about his appreciation of the fairer sex by saying: “Just because you are on a diet, doesn’t mean you can’t look at the menu!” Each time he said that, everyone laughed–including me. I am absolutely certain he would never have made a joke of it if it had been a serious temptation for him. Not all men are like him though. Many do not just appreciate the view, in an esthetic sense, but use it as a springboard for thoughts that become temptations to sin. (This is not limited to men–it applies to women, as well.)

All of this has led me to think about my dad’s joke. On a deeper level, it really isn’t that funny. It suggests, at its most serious, that as long as we only “look,” it’s o.k. But, is it really? Without active resistance, does not that first look lead us to the next step down that path towards temptation and then to sin?

For example, if I am trying to control my food intake in order to shed a few pounds, would anyone recommend that I go to a large buffet with mountains of delicious food? To go back to the example of an alcoholic, would we say it was wisdom for him to attend an event were alcohol consumption was the main event? Or, if a man has real issues with fidelity, would we say it was alright for him to look at internet pornography or begin a close friendship with another woman? Of course we wouldn’t. And yet, every day we flirt with temptation when we don’t remove ourselves from the very situations that put us at risk to sin.

This past week, I had to “pull a Joseph.” After several months of trying to deal with the temptation to get pulled into strife (and feeling like I lost most of the time), I finally had to remove myself from the situation. The consequences of this decision have not yet fully played out as it is work-related. I work in a department where there are only three of us and we share a small “closet” of an office. Jammed into this small space leads to a rather “intimate” social experience, especially as we all take lunch at the same time in our office. Conversations being what they normally are over the lunch break, many subjects have been discussed. I found myself way out-of-step with the opinions of the other two women. The dissenting opinions which I voiced were not always well received even though there have never been any loud voices or arguments. After trying several methods of dealing with the problem (including not participating in the conversation at all), I realized that I had to do something “drastic.” The sense of strife in that small space was palpable, disturbing, and totally unacceptable to me.

So, I removed myself from the lunch break, taking my break at a completely different time of day. I am already sensing some of the consequences. I have no doubt my decision has been discussed and I did not come out in a favorable light. It has likely been seen as a “rejection” and will heighten the growing distrust which already exists in the department. I can’t change any of those things. Any open discussion of the subject would lift the lid on “Pandora’s Box” about a great many issues which would only add to the strife, not lessen it.

Genesis never tells us what happened to Potiphar’s wife (or Potiphar for that matter). We do know, however, that God honored Joseph’s flight from temptation–eventually. One can only wonder what Potiphar and his wife thought when Joseph was elevated to the “number two place” in the land under Pharoah. Were they ever concerned about reprisals? We don’t know.

Now, I don’t intend to infer that my decision to “pull a Joseph” should be equated to Joseph’s own decision to flee the temptation of adultery–or that I will ever receive the honor of being “second in the land.” I only want to make this point: we can’t play with temptation–ever. Temptation is no laughing matter. If we don’t fight (or flee) temptation with everything we have, we can and will succumb to sin. That is, after all, the Enemy’s purpose: to pull us into sin and keep us there so we lose our effectiveness and testimony as Christians.

And so, I must rephrase my father’s joke: It is precisely because I am on a diet that I don’t allow myself to look at the menu.

Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved

This Little Light Of Mine

About two years ago at this time, my daughter attended the American College Dance Festival Association’s regional conference representing Belhaven University. I wrote the following post as a result. This week, Belhaven University is hosting that same conference on their campus and she is participating as adjunct faculty. This experience has been very different from her previous one. Hannah is very excited about what has transpired this week: the teachers, the adjudicators, the students, all have made the conference a wonderful experience. Many prayers were offered by Belhaven staff and faculty prior to the start of the conference. Its subsequent success is a result of those prayers and the daily example of Christ’s love that has been shown to each participating college and university.

Dead Men Dancing

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV)

My daughter is attending a regional college dance conference. Last evening was the opening concert, with dance selections performed by various colleges. As I understand it, during this conference, each college takes a turn performing that piece of choreography which they brought for adjudication. Their days are filled with master classes on various dance styles and dance performance related subjects. Each evening there is a concert to showcase various pieces.

My daughter called me last night, after the opening performance, to talk about what she had seen. Her overwhelming observation was that while many of the pieces performed were interesting and technically skilled, they were “dead.” She was struck with the fact that there was no “life” in the other dancers or in their choreography.

Towards the end of our conversation, she said to me, “Mom, this is my generation.” She was troubled that these young men and women had no seeming purpose to what they were doing. The dances that they performed were only so much music and movement with no obvious meaning. The contrast between these other groups and her own was profound and revelatory to her.

Her heart was moved with compassion for those of her generation who had no relationship with Jesus Christ. I don’t know who started the conversation that led to their ultimate decision, but these girls decided that during the next several days, they were going to pray together as a group for the classes they would attend and the other participants in this conference. They determined they were going to live their lives and dance in a way that caused the others to ask: “What makes you so different?”

I remembered the song I used to sing as a child called, “This Little Light Of Mine“:

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Won’t let Satan blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine.
Won’t let Satan blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes. I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel – NO! I’m gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel – NO! I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine over the whole wide world, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

This is, of course, what we should all be doing: living our lives in a way that it is obvious to others that there is something radically different about us.

It seems these days, much of the American church is about being “culturally relevant.” We structure our church services to be more “seeker sensitive” until we water down the power of the Gospel. We are afraid to offend others with the Truth. The Truth of the Gospel is offensive. It should force us to make a choice.

I am well pleased with my daughter and her friends. They have determined to live out their faith in a way that makes a difference. They aren’t worried about being culturally relevant at a conference where it is all about cultural relevance. Dance, like the other creative arts, mirrors what is in our cultural soul, and our souls are dead.

If we are actively walking in the power and authority of the risen Christ, we won’t have to worry about cultural relevance. People will be drawn to us for the Life and Love that is emanating from us, just as they were drawn to Jesus Christ during the days He walked on this earth. They will want what we have. They will be forced to ask: “What makes you so different?”

We don’t have to apologize for the Gospel. We don’t have to try to make it more palatable. It is LIFE to a dying world.

Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved

Super Woman/Abiding Woman

I came across this via a friend on Facebook from ”The Mom Initiative.” Oh, and for the record–still working on this!

Perspective Is A Beautiful Thing

Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” Exodus 15:20-21 (NKJV)

My husband has just returned from a trip to India with Mission India. His tells of those he met who are filled with (and exude) the joy of the Lord, even in the midst of great poverty and persecution. The miraculous is common place there as people who have lived their lives in utter darkness are brought into the light of Jesus Christ. They don’t “know any better” than to take God at His word, believing that all the Bible says is true.

“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Luke 18:17 (NKJV)

They haven’t learned to play “church” or put qualifications on what God will do for them. If God said it, they believe He will do it. Their lives are filled with incredible joy and power. Life in India as a Christian is not easy. Even being in grave danger is no deterrent to them sharing the good news of the Gospel. Below are just a few examples of the power of Jesus Christ in their lives.

We heard the story of a man that had to walk on his hands due to a physical disability who travelled 200 miles by bus because he heard Mission India had children’s Bible materials. He was given the box of books he requested but no one quite knows how he got them home.

Or the story of a young lady requesting to enter the Church Planter Program. When asked why she wanted to undertake something so difficult, she told them that when she became a Christian, her family put a fatwa on her life. She didn’t know how much longer she had to live, but wanted to make sure others heard the Good News in whatever time she had left. Several months later, she was killed by her family.

Or the pastor who was beaten to an inch of his life, but returned to the same village after he recovered to continue preaching the Gospel.

Or that of another young lady who was spectacularly beautiful but when she became a Christian had kerosene poured on her and was set afire. When asked how she could be so radiantly joyful, replied, “With all my Jesus has done for me, how could I be any less?”

Or the joy on the faces of the children participating in a Children’s Bible Club that is held on the top of a garbage dump with smells so overpowering as to be almost intolerable.

While I do not make light of the current difficulties we face here in this country, many Christians won’t even bother going to church if it’s raining outside. Does this not tell us the value we place on our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ?

India is not an unusual situation for Christians in the world at large. Many countries have a similar hostile environment. And while we are blessed to live in the United States where we have had incredible freedoms, there are those who believe that persecution is coming–or has already started. I am reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

These verses tell us to give thanks “in” all things–not “for” all things. God did not intend for His Church to become a punching bag for all the enemy throws at us. He has given us the Holy Spirit to overcome our challenges and difficulties. We tend to forget something our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world have not: we are meant to overcome the enemy. And we can do this because Jesus Christ purchased that ability on the cross through His death and subsequent resurrection.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NKJV)

So, the next time we think we have it tough, we need to remind ourselves how much we have been given and should be grateful for. We need to remember the persecution of those around the world who are called by His name, praying for their protection and continued courage to proclaim the Good News under incredibly difficult circumstances. Because no matter what we face here, as yet, we do not fear for our lives.

Perspective is a beautiful thing.

(Author’s note: The above picture was taken during the piece “MASSquerade” presented at Belhaven University as part of the Fall Faculty Concert in 2011. The story depicted in this piece was of the games we play with each other in church. My daughter, Hannah, is the center young lady of the three in the front. My thanks to Matthew Palfenier for permission to use his photograph.)

Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved

That’s True, But. . .

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Romans 5:12-6:3 (NKJV)

Recently, I had a relatively short conversation with someone about one of those “controversial” subjects in Christendom. We were talking about oppression of the enemy, particularly as it applied to health and health-related issues.

I grew up being taught, and believing, that sometimes God makes you sick to “teach you something,” or worse yet, “to teach you a lesson;” that disease is inevitable, and you might as well just accept it–we all have to die sometime anyway. Having been a nurse for almost thirty-six years, I have seen more disease, death, and heartache than I care to mention and never had reason to question my assumptions until recently.

As Christians, we know (and I think, believe) that God created Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden as perfect. After He finished His creation, He said that “it was good.” There was no sin in the Garden before that fateful “apple;” no sin–no results of sin. That means there was no greed, no envy, no hatred, no poverty, no idolatry, no sickness, no disease. God never created any of that in the perfect place He put Adam and Eve. Therefore, I must conclude that God never wanted Man to have any of it.

We know further from Scripture that Jesus Christ was the “second Adam.” His death and resurrection was meant to restore what was lost through sin by the “first Adam.” As far as I can tell, God intends for us to have what Adam and Eve had: no greed, no envy, no hatred, no poverty, no idolatry, no sickness, no disease. If that is true, why is there no appreciable difference in how the Church looks as we live in this world?

Anyway, back to the conversation. As I related the above belief, my friend said, “That’s true. . .” And, even though he didn’t come right out and say it, there was a “but. . .” that was left unsaid.

As many know, five years ago I began to struggle with Rheumatoid Arthritis (Rheumatoid Disease). God has been steadily restoring my health and about six months ago, I took myself off all the medication I had been prescribed. Doing better than I ever anticipated, I still have the occasional day when symptoms are challenging. As I was praying about it, I asked the Lord why this was so (since He had brought me so far). I will never forget what He said to me: “Because you tolerate it.”

That shook me up. I know faith plays a very active role in what God does and doesn’t do in our lives. I know it is impossible to please Him without faith:

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

As I have been meditating on faith and what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, I have been convicted of how little faith is actually operational in my life; how often I act as if what Jesus Christ did on the cross wasn’t enough.

Salvation through Jesus Christ is so much more than just “fire insurance.” The benefits of restoration to a relationship with the Father do not begin after we die. God intends for us to live a victorious life here. He has given us the keys for that life through the sacrifice of the cross.

You see, the world is already sick and broke and without hope. If we don’t give them an alternative, we are no different from the other religions out there. We have a risen Savior, a living Savior, Who actively intercedes for us with the Father. He paid the ultimate price to cleanse us of our sins and all unrighteousness. He restored to us what God originally intended for Man in the Garden Of Eden.

And yet, we don’t live like that. We aren’t even taught that this kind of life is possible. There is much vitriol within the Church for what has been termed the “Word of Faith movement.” I won’t speak to that here except to note that like everything else, we often take what others have said to be true without doing our homework. No matter what your perspective in the Church, there is likely to be error preached and emulated. Nobody has all the answers and gets it perfectly correct. That is why we must “work out our own salvation” (Philippians 2:12-19) and why we were given the five-fold ministry of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher (Ephesians 4:11). We are to continually work together to understand Scripture and become more like Jesus Christ.

Instead, we are fractured and fractious. It is no wonder the rest of the world sees us as irrelevant. It is no wonder our lives don’t look any different from those who don’t profess faith in Jesus Christ. Clearly, we aren’t doing something correctly.

Today happens to be “Rheumatoid Awareness Day.” I am reminded once again what God told me a few short weeks ago and am asking myself this question:

What else am I tolerating in my life that shouldn’t be tolerated?

Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved

Learning Patience

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

I don’t know anyone who enjoys the process of learning patience. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you are a child or an adult, learning patience is a slow, tedious, and uncomfortable process. These days, we have become so used to “instant” everything that even ”normal” amounts of patience seem to have become a lost art. Our lives move at warp speed and we have no time to wait for anything.

A couple of years ago, we inherited my father-in-law’s newer computer. Our previous computer was many years old, extremely slow, and temperamental. That computer was a daily lesson in how to wait, and I really struggled with it. For someone who came to computers fairly late in life, I now spend the greater portion of my days on the computer. My computer at work is pretty fast, so when I came home to our old computer, I would fuss at how long it took to do even the simplest of tasks. I would like to say that patience was perfected in me through this experience, but anyone who knows me well would be laughing.

Historically speaking, I have always tried to do everything fast: I worked fast, I walked fast, I ate fast, and I made decisions fast–slow was never part of my vocabulary. I was like the license plate I saw many years ago on a Ford Mustang, “No Go Slo.” It has only been within the past several years that, as a result of a challenge with rheumatoid arthritis, I have had to slow down, and it hasn’t been an easy lesson for me to learn.

Learning patience is never fun. It is true there are some who come by patience more easily, but unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them. I have empirical evidence of God’s sense of humor when I look back over the experiences of my life. Considering how many times I have had to learn and re-learn the same lessons on patience, one could think that the issue of patience is important to God. Sometimes I have passed the “test,” and sometimes I haven’t. And for those times when I didn’t “pass,” that same test kept popping up in my life. There’s a saying which always makes me smile: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

The issue of patience in our lives is ultimately one of trust and faith; faith that God will work all things out for our good. The challenge is always to keep from trying to solve these issues in our own strength. The more we try to “fix” things, the more messed up our lives become, and the longer God waits to remedy the situation.

We have a saying in our family about the process of waiting for God to work: “It seems like God thinks He has all the time in the world! Doesn’t He know we need this fixed right now?” (Said with a smile, of course.) In a recent conversation with my daughter, we were talking about this process of waiting and how often it feels like God has us dangling over the edge of a great abyss until the last possible moment, at which time He rides in to the rescue. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like that sense of “dangling” while God works. This lets me know conclusively I am not in control of the situation or the outcome.

The process of learning patience and trust in God would probably be easier if we could actually see how God was working in the background; the pieces of the puzzle He was pulling together so our problem would be resolved. We have to trust that He loves us enough to be concerned about these issues and have faith He is working on our behalf. And, we have to bring these requests to Him which requires the understanding that we need His help.

Because God knows the end from the beginning, He knows what we don’t: how this problem or trial is important to the maturing of our faith. I always looked at problems as just another nuisance to get past until I can get on with “real life;” or at least that’s how I have looked at them in the past. Like some cosmic list, I check off each one as it’s resolved so I can move on to the next one. Unfortunately, there never seems to be an end to my “problem list.” I have missed many of the simple joys of life because I have been focused on my list of problems (think Martha, not Mary in Luke 10:38-42).

It is only the grace of God which works His patience in us as we learn to quietly wait. It doesn’t matter what we are waiting for, the process of patience and learning to trust in God are cornerstones of our faith walk. Just as in Aesop’s Fable of the “Tortoise And The Hare,” it will be “slow and steady” that gets the job done. There is no quick and easy way to learn these lessons of patience, trust, and faith. Just as the tortoise slowly and methodically made his way towards the goal, by God’s grace we too can “cross the finish line” on this one.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NKJV)

Copyright © 2013 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved