RUN...

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.     -- 1 Corinthians 9:24

Thesaurus.com lists antonyms of the complacent as: unhappy, unsure, concerned, discontent, discontented, dissatisfied. 

I must have missed something. I can understand these to be the opposites of contented, not not complacent.

The Bible calls us to be contented; but never complacent. Paul speaks to the power of contentment. It is this very attitude that gives context to his statement, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). And the value of contentment is driven home by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: Be anxious for nothing... and consider the birds of the air... (Matthew 6:25-26).

Contentment and complacency are vastly different. One is a blessed satisfaction. The other is a lack of desire and caring. Contentment is a settled heart. Complacency is a lack of heart.

Paul utilizes action metaphors is describing his passion for Christ and his mission: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal... (Phil 3:14). He likens the life of faith to training for a boxing match, running a race, and fighting a battle. These are not word pictures of complacency.

Complacent Christianity is not true Christianity.

Growth and progress should be the norms in our relationship with God. Stagnation is the alternative; and that is no way to live.

God, I have my running shoes on...

For now...
D

THE LONELY ARROGANT...

"Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
-- 1 Corinthians 8:1

Any time I have attempted to prove myself the smartest person in the room I've failed. On many fronts. First, I seldom have the highest IQ in any setting - even when alone. (I've known of an Ikea chair or two that have me beat.) Second, even if one were to prove to be smartest, he or she has still failed. The failure comes in simply having to prove it. In other words, winning the IQ competition usually goes hand in hand with losing the relationship opportunity.

The issue is not IQ, it is arrogance. Notice that Paul writes, (This) "knowledge" puffs up...; and not knowledge puffs up... There is a significant difference. 

The Apostle Paul is not against knowledge. He is not belittling education and understanding. As a matter of fact, Paul most certainly had an incredible intellect. He was in line to be High Priest of Israel and had an incredible grasp of the Old Testament. He confounded Greek philosophers with his wise arguments. And at one point, was even accused by a king of being driven mad by his "great learning."

Scripture repeatedly states that God's desire is that we have wisdom, understanding and knowledge. He is the author of all of the above.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding...     

-- Proverbs 2:6

Here is the point: Arrogance is a disease. It is a sickness of the soul. And it is an infection that affects every relationship. (Chosen ignorance is also a disease - and often a religious one. But that is for another post.)

Arrogance is self-serving / Love serves others

Arrogance stands alone / Love exists in community

Arrogance tears down / Love builds up

Arrogance leads to failure / Love always wins

Given time, the arrogant person will prove to be the smartest in the room - because he will be alone. 

God, help me to be humble and to love...

For now...

D 

THE LONELY ARROGANT...

"Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
-- 1 Corinthians 8:1

Any time I have attempted to prove myself the smartest person in the room I've failed. On many fronts. First, I seldom have the highest IQ in any setting - even when alone. (I've known of an Ikea chair or two that have me beat.) Second, even if one were to prove to be smartest, he or she has still failed. The failure comes in simply having to prove it. In other words, winning the IQ competition usually goes hand in hand with losing the relationship opportunity.

The issue is not IQ, it is arrogance. Notice that Paul writes, (This) "knowledge" puffs up...; and not knowledge puffs up... There is a significant difference. 

The Apostle Paul is not against knowledge. He is not belittling education and understanding. As a matter of fact, Paul most certainly had an incredible intellect. He was in line to be High Priest of Israel and had an incredible grasp of the Old Testament. He confounded Greek philosophers with his wise arguments. And at one point, was even accused by a king of being driven mad by his "great learning."

Scripture repeatedly states that God's desire is that we have wisdom, understanding and knowledge. He is the author of all of the above.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding...     

-- Proverbs 2:6

Here is the point: Arrogance is a disease. It is a sickness of the soul. And it is an infection that affects every relationship. (Chosen ignorance is also a disease - and often a religious one. But that is for another post.)

Arrogance is self-serving / Love serves others

Arrogance stands alone / Love exists in community

Arrogance tears down / Love builds up

Arrogance leads to failure / Love always wins

Given time, the arrogant person will prove to be the smartest in the room - because he will be alone. 

God, help me to be humble and to love...

For now...

D 

SILENT SATURDAY...

The horror of crucifixion Friday lingers. The finality of the tomb buried all hope.

It is Saturday... and it is silent.

No one dreams of what lay ahead in only hours - tossed away stones, angels in white, a vacant tomb, and... No one can even begin to imagine.

It is Saturday... and it is silent.

The collective breath of heaven is held. Sunrise orders have been issued to angels.

It is Saturday... and it is silent.

Followers huddle in fear. Their past dead, their future unclear.

It is Saturday... and it is silent.

But the sun will lower and rise again. Saturday will pass, and Sunday will come. Darkness will pass. Light will break forth. Silence will be consumed by the joyous choirs of heaven.

What is dead will be alive. He who died will live.

It is Saturday... and it is silent.

But not for long!


For now...
D

COMPARED TO WHAT?

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, to which God has called him.  
-- 1 Corinthians 7:17

Contentment is  a powerful thing. Comparison drains vitality like juice from a squeezed lemon.

Life's circumstances, trials, fears and pains do their best to at times to deflate us. And when we add the squeeze of comparison we can truly feel defeated and despondent.

Philippians 4:13 is one of the more quoted verses in Christendom:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Often, it is used in ways that can distort the meaning to be self-serving. When understood in context, however, we see that Paul makes a powerful statement about contentment. He writes of understanding the secret of being content no matter the circumstances.

At the same time we must never confuse contentment with complacency. Paul, who wrote of this contentment also wrote:

Not that I have already obtained this... one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind 

and straining toward what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal... 

of the upward call of God.  -- Philippians 3:12-14

That is not the mantra of a complacent man! But note the goal - it is not one of personal aggrandizement or glory. Nor is it one of comparison. Paul's driving passion was to know both the God who called and redeemed him, and to grow in the personal purpose for which this God transformed him.

Comparison will drain us... Complacency will anesthetize us... Contentment will empower us.

And our contentment is in Christ.


God, let me find my place in you...

For now...
D

Lessons from Max #1 - DANCE OVER THE LITTLE THINGS

A word about LESSONS FROM MAX:

What are to come in this and the following posts are reflections and applications. They will come randomly. If ever compiled, I will do the work of prioritizing and tying them together with some flow. But for now...

DANCE OVER THE LITTLE THINGS!

Much of my house has tile floors. And one of the first things that comes to mind (and emotion) when I think about Max is the sound of his nails on the tile when he danced.

Max danced when it was time to eat. He danced when someone came to the door. He danced to go out, he danced when he came back in. He danced when he was about to get a treat. Max was a dancer... over the little things.

It is easy to take the common for granted. We march, sometimes drudge, along through our day. String enough drudge days together and they turn into drudge weeks, months and years. A drudge life.

Lesson #1 (from Max): 

DANCE OVER THE LITTLE THINGS!

One of my favorite themes in the movie Evan Almighty is that of "the dance." Evan's children loathe "the dance." They are embarrassed by "the dance." The movie ends with a great scene in which God says to Evan, "It's time." Then God and Evan dance on a hill under a tree.

We should not withhold celebration for the big things only - the major events of life. They are too distant between. Most of life occurs in the interims. Dances should not be reserved for destinations. Dances must be part of the journey.

I return to OKC in a couple of nights after a week of travel. I will miss the white snout looking through the upper glass of the front door at the sound of my car pulling in. And the silence will strike me. I miss the sound of nails on tile. I miss Max's dance. But I'm thankful for the lesson. 

For now...
D

Don't be embarrassed - Own that dance!

MINE...

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.
-- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

It's one of my favorite scenes in Finding Nemo 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-3e0EkvIEM

Mine...

The seagulls seem to know only one word: MINE. And they repeat it in staccato machine-gun like fashion. Mine... mine... mine... It is a funny scene. We laugh... then get slightly irritated... then realize...

We are seagulls!

What is it that we consider "MINE?"
My house... my car(s)... my career... my kids...?
My life?

There are a couple hard realities within the true Christian life (and the following is certainly not an exhaustive list):

1) Nothing is truly ours. (We might argue that our faith is ours - our relationship with God. And though it is a gift, I'll concede on this point.)
2) Everything - in this life - is temporary. (See #1.)
3) It's not all about us. (Ouch!)

No, not even our lives are our own. A ransom was paid for us. A price - a high price - was offered up. A sacrifice was made. And we were purchased with the price of Christ's blood.

The Apostle Paul was a great example of one who understood that nothing - his stuff, or even his very life - was his own. And he learned this from the one who was the perfect example of sacrifice.

Jesus said:
For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve; and to give his life as a ransom for many.     -- Mark 10:45

No, we are not our own... we are not the owners of self. Mine... mine... mine... is the cry of the selfish, the self-absorbed, or at best, the immature. (And it is often what I exclaim; whether out loud or with an internal scream.)

God created us for a purpose. His purpose. And when we realize and rest in the truth that we are his - completely - we experience joy. Not the temporary happiness of stuff (Mine!), but true joy.

God, I am yours...

For now...
D