Five goals I'm aiming for in the coming year

Most families have traditions that coincide with special times of the year. One of our traditions is to take a multi-state tour to visit family during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. We begin the week by visiting my father and my sisters, then we travel further north to visit Andrea's parents. After a few days with them, we drive south to spend time with Andrea's sister and some of our friends in the Pittsburgh area. The week always culminates with a New Year's Eve party hosted by some of our good friends who live a few minutes from my sister-in-law. I hope this is a tradition we can keep going for a while.

The dawning of a new year is also a great time to take stock of what you're presently doing, and what you need to change. In the final weeks of the past year, I gave a lot of thought to this coming year and wrestled through some changes and improvements that I believe the Lord would like me to make. I think I have my list boiled down to five critical areas, and in just a few moments I'm going to share them with you.

As I share my list, and my rationale for making it, I would encourage you to be thinking about what the Lord would also like you to be focusing on. Maybe something from my list should also be on your list. If so, please adopt it as your own and let's give Jesus glory together this year.

I. Aim for what matters most

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

The kingdom of God is a concept that is spoken of multiple times in Scripture. His kingdom is quite different from the kingdoms of man. The kingdoms of man are typically built on the shaky foundations of selfish ambition, unhealthy accumulation, and the attempt to obtain power over others. But the kingdom of God is much healthier than that, and the goals of His kingdom are further reaching that the goals of mere earthly kingdoms.

The kingdom of God can be experienced wherever He rules and reigns. The Bible teaches that there is going to come a day when Jesus Christ will physically and personally reign over this earth with complete benevolence and justice. That's certainly an important aspect of the kingdom of God that we ought to look forward to. As we await that day, we're also invited to welcome Christ to reign with His benevolence and justice in our hearts and lives.

So if I'm going to truly aim for what matters most in this coming year, I'm going to need to stay focused on the kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of man or my own personal kingdom. Christ has invited me to seek His kingdom and receive the gift of His righteousness. Therefore, whatever I do in this coming year needs to be very intentionally dedicated to honoring Him and elevating His name in praise.

II. Remove unhealthy clutter

"God is not a God of disorder but of peace." (1 Corinthians 14:33, CSB)

At a young age, probably around 8-years-old, I started to realize that I didn't like clutter. Believe it or not, my parents didn't have to ask me to clean my room. It was usually the cleanest and most organized room in our home. My teachers didn't need to ask me to clean my desk or my locker. It was usually very organized. I work better, think better, and get more accomplished when I'm not surrounded by clutter.

It probably wouldn't surprise you to learn that one of the aspects of God's character that I appreciate most is the fact that His is orderly. Scripture tells us that He is not a God of disorder but of peace. There is order to His creation. He operates according to His perfect plan, and He is making sense out of the disorder we brought into this world when we rebelled against Him. The Father is taking the chaos and conflict we stirred up and He's steering things in the direction of order and peace that He's facilitating through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Our lives can become easily cluttered, and that clutter can often be more consequential than a room that needs a good purging. Sometimes our lives become cluttered with obligations that it's time to hand off to someone else, affiliations that it's time to end, and relationships that it's time to alter, amend, or terminate.

Can you identify anything or anyone you've invited into your life that doesn't belong there any longer? What's preventing you from removing what you need to remove or changing what you need to change? I suspect it's the opinions of someone else who may want you to hold on to that clutter forever.

Some years ago, several larger items were left to me from the personal belongings of a family member that passed away. Truthfully, I didn't want or have need for them so I gave them to family members who did need them. I didn't feel bad about giving these items away because to me they would have become clutter. My love for that relative has no correlation or connection whatsoever to the possessions they left behind. As you can imagine, my decision to give those items away was not looked upon favorably by some members of my family, but I can live with that. I made the right decision for myself and my household. It's wise to resist receiving the clutter others may try to force upon you.

III. Filter my influences

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;" (Psalm 1:1)

"Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?" (Proverbs 6:27)

I love how the book of Psalms begins. In the opening verse of the book, David speaks of a blessed man. He tells us that a blessed man doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers. There's a progression that takes place in these verses. When we get involved in unhealthy things, we tend to first walk toward them, then stand near them, then sit among them. But blessed is the man who doesn't treat sin casually or welcome its influence into his life.

I also greatly appreciate the counsel David's son, Solomon gave us in Proverbs 6. He used the analogy of attempting to carry fire next to your chest. Doing so is most certainly going to result in burning your clothing. It's not possible to carry fire close to your body without getting singed or burned by it.

The influences we welcome into our lives operate in the same fashion. We will be directly impacted by what we allow to get close to us. We will be changed by what we permit to influence us. I have seen that in my life many times. I have also seen that happen to those I care about.

For that reason, I have decided to become much more intentional about what I allow to influence me. In recent months, I have become more active in filtering my news sources, my entertainment sources, and my usage of social media. I want my mind to remain focused on Christ and the wisdom for living He supplies through His Spirit. I don't want to be dragged down or led astray (like I perceive much of humanity is currently being led astray) by unhealthy worldly influences.

IV. Invest in relationships

"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:2-3)

"This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:16, CSB)

Scripture teaches us to reflect the heart of Christ in how we interact with one another. In Ephesians 4, Paul explained that believers are called to display humility, gentleness, and patience toward each another. We're also called to bear with one another in a loving way while maintaining unity and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the first letter the Apostle John wrote to the church, He also called us to display love to one another in a very specific way. We're called to lay down our lives for one another with the same heart motivation Jesus demonstrated when He laid down His life for us.

In recent years, the Lord has been helping me to place a greater value on the relationships He has allowed me to have with the people He has placed in my life. For that reason, I'm trying to tangibly show others just how much I value them. I'm trying to be very intentional to invest in my relationships with with my wife and my children. I'm trying to carve out more time for extended family and friends. I'm also working hard to establish relationships with new people. In fact, during the past twelve months, even in the midst of all that's been taking place in the world, I have become friends with more new people than at any other time other than my freshman year of college. I want this pattern to continue in the coming year.

And as these relationships grow, I'm praying that the Lord will help me to represent Him well. I receive so much joy from my relationship with Jesus and I want others to experience the joy they can have through Him as well. Many of the people in this world that I love deeply haven't yet grasped the joy and peace Christ is offering them. I'm hopeful that if they can in a small way see what He's doing in my heart, maybe they will also invite Him into their life as well and experience what a healthy relationship with their Creator feels like.

V. Be intentional about showing appreciation

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Several months ago, I interviewed an author for my podcast. His name is John Ruhlin and he wrote the best-selling book, "Giftology." It's a book that would probably be good for all leaders to read because in that book he outlines practical ways to show appreciation to those you live with, work with, and serve with.

In speaking with him, I became convinced that I need to improve in showing appreciation toward others. Making sure others know they are loved and appreciated is a biblical concept that all believers should adopt as a practice. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul challenged the church to encourage one another and build one another up. It sounds like Paul wanted the believers of the early church to be intentional about showing appreciation to one another.

Of my personal aims for this coming year, I suspect this might be the area that I struggle with most. I think the reason I struggle with it might be because I have allowed my life and my time to become too cluttered in other areas, and as a result, the time I would have been able to allot for showing creative appreciation is being consumed by obligations that I should gradually and gracefully take a break from.

If you're familiar with the book, "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman, you probably already know his theory that people tend to give and receive love in five different ways; words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, physical touch, and gifts. As I attempt to devote myself to getting better at showing appreciation, I am going to try to use Chapman's suggestions to show love and appreciation toward those the Lord has placed in my life.

So what are you aiming for this coming year? Is there anything on my list that might be practical for you to add to your list as well? What has Christ been impressing upon your heart? How can you give others a greater glimpse of the joy you have in Him during this coming year?

I truly hope this coming year will be a year of great progress in your relationship with Jesus, and the love, joy, and peace that He has placed in your life will genuinely overflow into the lives of others as He does His miraculous work through you.

© John Stange, 2021

Do you feed the fires of drama, or foster a culture of peace?

When I was in high school, I had several jobs that I tried to juggle at the same time, in addition to working at my father's grocery store. It was a tiring, but very educational experience. I learned a lot in the process, and was exposed to a variety of interesting people who all taught me something of value in one way or another.

One particular person, an older woman that I worked with for several years demonstrated an interesting pattern that took me a while to catch on to. She was truly someone I loved and appreciated. She was a very hard worker who was highly competent in what she did. I also thought she was a lot of fun. But she had one fatal flaw that eventually stood out to me in a cautionary way. Wherever she worked, she created unnecessary drama, and sometimes that produced conflict and hard feelings. Unfortunately, I think that also cost her quite a few opportunities in life because that became her reputation.

In our relationships with our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, we're called to model the heart of Christ in all conversations and interactions. This world is good at teaching us how to foster drama and conflict, but Christ demonstrates what it looks like to bless one another with the kind of peace He chooses to bless us with. His desire is that His church feed a heart of unity, not a spirit of division.

Proverbs 17:9-20 gives us great counsel on how that can be accomplished. In this passage, we're challenged not to feed the fires of drama, but rather foster a culture of peace within the body of Christ.

I. Seek reconciliation and restoration

Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. (Proverbs 17:9-11)

Years ago, Tim Keller wrote a book called "The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness." It's a short book, but the title grabbed my attention right away. In that book, Keller encourages Christians not to be so caught up in themselves. He reminds us of the joy of Christ-empowered humility. The publisher's summary of the book states this, "gospel humility means we can stop connecting every experience, every conversation with ourselves and can thus be free from self condemnation. A truly gospel humble person is not a self-hating person or a self-loving person, but a self-forgetful person."

I think if we're willing to be a little more "self-forgetful", we can also get to a spot of reconciliation and restoration a little quicker with those who may have offended us in the past. Instead of feeding the flames of bitterness in our hearts, we can stop thinking so much of ourselves and brooding over who may have wronged us.

In fact, Solomon tells us in this portion of Proverbs that those who choose to cover an offense are seeking love, but those who refuse to stop repeating the matter to every ear that's willing to listen are fostering division.

Two of the most helpful verses from the New Testament that reinforce this concept to my heart are 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. In that passage, we're told, "Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs." (1 Cor. 13:4-5, CSB). Those who have had their offenses covered by Christ, delight to share that blessing with others by keeping no record of wrongs.

A loving person seeks reconciliation and restoration, and they do so honestly. Solomon tells us that process may involve a loving rebuke and words that are momentarily hard to hear, but that's certainly preferable to the rebellion, division, and conflict that are frequently fostered by those who reject Christ and embrace the harsh values of this world.

II. Value sense over strife

Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    rather than a fool in his folly.
f anyone returns evil for good,
    evil will not depart from his house.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense? (Proverbs 17:12-16)

What experience would you like to have in your home; the presence of wickedness, or obvious examples of the Lord generously blessing your household far beyond what you deserve?

I was having this conversation with my son just the other day. The Lord had blessed him in a very obvious way, and we were tracing the hand of God's providence throughout all the circumstances that had led up to that moment. That then led to a deeper discussion of the multiple ways we can trace God's hand doing that same exact thing for our family as a whole.

That contrasts with the effects of the warning Solomon gives in this passage. Here he tells us about the effects of returning evil for good. In that case, a household doesn't experience blessing but rather the greater presence of evil. In fact, Solomon seems to indicate that as long as a person persists in returning evil for good, they can continue to expect the presence of evil in their home. The spiritual and relational effects of their decisions will eventually deliver bitter fruit.

But those who have been blessed with wisdom from the Spirit of God learn to value godliness over worldliness, and sense over strife. When they notice things getting heated between them and others, they attempt to de-escalate the problem before it turns into an all out war. They quit before the quarrel breaks out. As I have often heard it said, "You don't have to attend every fight you're invited to." I value that counsel.

III. Love unconditionally

A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)

When my sisters and I were growing up, we witnessed an event where several adults that were siblings got into a long and protracted form of conflict. We didn't know all the details, but part of the conflict involved an inheritance and the transfer of real-estate. We watched them go from a seemingly loving family to divided adversaries that remained at odds with each other for years. In observing that, my sisters and I promised each other that we would never do that to each other, and by the grace of God, we have kept that promise.

But there are times when even close ties between friends and family can be tested. Solomon explained that those moments don't need to be times of division. Rather, we can continue to love one another in the midst of adversity.

One of the greatest blessings of a relationship with Jesus Christ is the realization that in Him we are loved without condition. God the Father displayed that unconditional love like this...

"God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.  Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10, CSB)

In a very personal way, this demonstration of love has had a major impact on how I handle myself as a husband and a father. It is my desire to create a culture in our home that reflects the unconditional love of Christ that He demonstrated to us first. The desire to love without condition gets regularly tested in my life, but as the truth of the gospel grabs hold of my heart, this is something the Lord is helping me value and prioritize. I'm certain it makes a difference on the health of my marriage, and the quality of my parenting, and it definitely helps foster a spirit of peace in our home.

IV. Pray for wisdom to see beyond this moment

One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. (Proverbs 17:18-20)

Most people on this planet only live for today. They don't think much about tomorrow. They don't make decisions that will benefit themselves and others in the long-term. They just react to whatever comes their way without much thought beyond the moment.

Solomon gives a few examples of that. He speaks of people who puts up security for others (the equivalent of our modern-day practice of co-signing a loan). He speaks of those who love transgression and make their doors high or trust in high walls (which was a symbol of pride and arrogance). He also talks about that nature of living with a crooked heart and a dishonest tongue. It's all evidence of living with a short-term perspective.

But through Christ, we can experience an eternal perspective. We can live in the moment while fostering a faithful eye toward the future. We can pray that the Lord will increase our wisdom and open our eyes to see what He holds in store. It's a hopeful perspective that He grants those who trust in Him and rely on His guidance.

As Solomon explains in Proverbs 17, we can choose to be people who feed the fires of drama or we can foster a culture of Christ-empowered peace. With hearts that are ruled by Christ's peace, let's give this world a powerful glimpse of His work of transformation within us.

© John Stange, 2020

Making plans that align with God's greater purposes

A couple months ago, something happened to me that I couldn't foresee. I was at a three-day training event in Pittsburgh with a group of authors, podcasters, and business leaders. We were having a great time together, and as the event was coming to a close, I walked over to the parking garage where I had been parking my car every day, only to discover that the the gates were down and my car was locked inside. They locked the garage an hour earlier than posted.

Several other people at the event were with me when I made this discovery, and I was in such a good mood that I found this problem more comical than upsetting. I even jokingly said to one of my friends, "Hmmm. I wonder what happens next?" It seemed clear to me that the discovery of my car being locked in that garage was just the beginning of what was about to become a story I would tell the rest of my life.

The friends I was with asked me what I was going to do. I thought about it for a minute, outlined my plan for them, then gave it a shot. There was just enough room for me to slide under the gate, so I slid my way into the parking garage. Then I started my car and drove it up to the area where I could pay my toll. I hoped that paying the toll would trigger something that would lift the gate and allow me to get my car out of the building, but that didn't work.

The next part of my plan involved driving my car to the lower level of the parking garage to see if there might be another exit. There was, but it was also locked. So, for several interesting minutes, I utilized the help of my friends to brainstorm a new plan to see if we could figure out how to actually raise the gates and get my car out of the building.

There were chains attached to the gates, so I pulled them loose then attempted to raise the gates by pulling them. That didn't work. Several times I tried to lift the gates by hand, but they were securely locked. I was running out of options until another friend noticed a series of buttons on one of the walls. At her suggestion, I walked over to them and tried to discern what they might do. One button in particular caught my attention, so I pressed it and thankfully, it opened the entrance gate which would allow me to maneuver my car out of the building.

In a situation like that, it was helpful to have a plan. It was also practical to adapt the plan when my initial approach wasn't working, and helpful to have good counsel from my friends because without their help, it's entirely possible my car might still be stuck inside that building.

In general, I think making plans is a good thing, but when we're making plans, there's something we need to be careful about. For us as believers in Jesus Christ, we need to make sure that our plans aren't born out of selfish motives or worldly pursuits. When we develop a plan in life, we want to make sure that it aligns with God's greater purposes, and that's what Solomon demonstrates for us in Proverbs 16:1-9. So, what does it look like to operate with a plan that aligns with God's will?

I. Commit what you do to the Lord's glory

The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:1-3)

More times than I can count, I have listened to people outline the plans they have in store for the next season of their life. And I've done the same exact thing. We like to talk about the things we're going to do, the places we're going to go, and the open doors we're going to walk through. Occasionally, our plans work out like we expected, but more often than not, they get amended, sometimes drastically.

I still remember a conversation I had with a friend several years ago. He had developed a five-year plan for what his family was about to do. He included all kinds of specific details. On paper, it looked great. But soon after writing it all out, his wife shared some unexpected news with him. They thought they were finished having children, but apparently God had a surprise in store for them and their plans were drastically, and happily amended.

Solomon tells us that humanity likes to make plans. We have all sorts of things charted out. We have all sorts of expectations for the coming months and years, but the real answer for what's coming up rests in the sovereign and providential hand of God. He orchestrates what He knows will be best for His children. He tests the motives of our hearts. And for our benefit, He allows some of our plans to come to fruition, while others He elects to put the brakes on.

Solomon encourages us to make plans with a particular goal in mind. In Proverbs 16:3, he tells us to, "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." What is Solomon trying to tell us? He's telling us to commit what we do to the Lord's glory. We're challenged to submit our work to the Lord. We're invited to trust His guidance and direction. And as we do so, He will enable our plans to succeed provided that they are in line with His will.

This instruction reminds me of the words of Jesus as He prayed to the Father in Luke 22:42. In that time of prayer, Jesus said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." We're called to apply that same attitude to the plans we make. He calls us to commit our plans to the His glory and submit our work to His guidance and will.

II. Turn away from evil and toward Jesus

The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of trouble.
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
    be assured, he will not go unpunished.
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. (Proverbs 16:4-6)

The other day, I was watching a news broadcast that involved security tape of a crime being committed. The people in the video were not aware they were being recorded, and they certainly didn't expect the recording to be broadcast by the media. As I watched the recording, I felt conflicting emotions. On one hand, I was glad that their crime was going to be addressed, but on the other hand, I felt bad for them because it's very likely that they're about to spend years in prison. Somehow, they had been convinced to embrace evil, and now they were going to pay a steep price for that decision.

As followers of Christ, that's not the direction our lives should be taken. Scripture speaks repeatedly about the concept of repentance. Repentance is a beautiful word, but it's often treated like a very scary concept. Through Christ, we're invited to repent of our sin. When we do so, we're turning away from evil and turning toward Him. That's His calling on our lives, and that's precisely what He empowers us to do on a daily basis.

That mindset should also be reflected in the plans we make and the overall direction we attempt to bring our lives. Solomon teaches us in this passage that if we have arrogant hearts, we will invite evil into our lives and then experience punishment. Arrogance is an abomination to the Lord. Arrogance is, in effect, acting as if we're a greater authority than the Lord is. An arrogant heart elevates its plans above the plans of the Lord and rejects the opportunity to humbly seek the life-giving presence of Jesus.

But those who fear the Lord won't embrace arrogance. They will turn from evil and turn toward Jesus who atoned for their sin at the cross. In Proverbs 16:6, Solomon said, "By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for." Jesus is the perfection of steadfast love and faithfulness, and in His faithful love, He atoned for our wickedness. So, since our sin has been atoned for by Jesus, why should we return to the very thing He paid so great a price to liberate us from?

By the grace Christ supplies, make certain that the plans you craft are plans that turn away from evil and turn toward Jesus.

III. Submit your plans to the Lord's greater plan

When a man's ways please the Lord,
    he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:7-9)

Have you ever noticed how it seems to be hard-wired into humanity to desire the approval of our parents? As a grown man who still has one living parent, I still care about his approval. As a father, I have seen this same desire at work in the hearts of my children at every stage of their lives. I think it's part of how we have been designed, and I also think that the greatest form of approval we have been fashioned to seek is the approval of our Heavenly Father.

In Proverbs 16:7, Solomon speaks about a man's ways pleasing the Lord. He tells us that when a man's ways please the Lord, the Lord will even cause the man's enemies to be a peace with Him. We're also told in Proverbs 16:9 that the Lord will establish the steps of a person who submits their plans over to Him. These are encouraging aspects of our relationship with God to see illustrated in His word.

One of the aspects of the gospel that amazes me is the fact that in Christ, the Father is pleased with us. If we've trusted in Jesus, He lives within us. From that point, whenever God the Father looks at us, He sees His Son and He is pleased. Do you let yourself think about that? Does it amaze you that God could possibly look at your life and be pleased with you?

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

Do you have a plan for your life? Have you submitted that plan over to the Lord? Can you confidently say that the Lord is pleased with that plan?

When we make plans, we need to make sure that those plans align with God's greater purposes. A plan that aligns with His purposes pleases Him. A plan that aligns with His purposes is blessed by Him. A plan that aligns with His purposes brings Him glory.

© John Stange, 2020

Are you communicating the heart of the gospel?

A few nights ago, my daughter brought something up to me that concerned her. She had been watching a video online regarding some prominent pastors. The person who posted it took issue with the way some of these men were speaking. Apparently, some had chosen to be rather loose with their language and, potentially for shock value, had chosen to interject some profanity into their messages.

My daughter was troubled by this and wanted to hear my opinion. I told her that I don't like when people choose to do that because I think it creates a needless stumbling block. I also don't think it's a mature decision for someone who is supposed to be serving as an ambassador of Christ to speak in a way that doesn't represent the way Christ would speak.

One of the most powerful things about a person are the words they communicate and the way in which they communicate them. You may not be someone of great physical stature, but don't let yourself be convinced that there isn't great power and influence behind your words. The things that you communicate will impact people in dramatic ways.

As followers of Christ, we're called to be very intentional about how we use our words. It's through the things we say that people will hear the message of the gospel. Our conversations, the instruction we give, and the manner in which we pray should all be empowered by the Holy Spirit and aimed to reflect the heart of Christ.

Is this something that matters to you? Can Jesus be seen in what you say? Are you communicating the heart of the gospel when you interact with others? In Proverbs 15:1-8, we're shown several important ways that we as believers in Christ can use our words to honor Him.

I. Honor Christ in your conversations

A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. (Proverbs 15:1-4)

When I was a new Christian, the book of Proverbs was one of the books of the Bible that I read most. I was fascinated with its content. I wanted to gain as much wisdom as I could from the sayings that were presented in the book. Many of those wise sayings stuck in my mind and never left, including the opening verses of Proverbs 15.

In this passage, we're admonished to be mindful of how we speak. We're told that if we answer others in a soft manner, we will turn away wrath instead of inviting it. We're told that knowledge comes forth from the tongue of the wise and that the eyes of the Lord are upon us as we speak and interact with one another. This is all helpful to know, and it's particularly interesting when these words get tested in your life soon after you first learn them.

When I was a new driver, I took my car to visit my grandmother. She lived in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania where street parking was sometimes hard to get. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that a spot was open across the street from her home so I parked there, but when I left, it became apparent that her neighbor wasn't very happy about my choice of parking spots.

As I opened my car door and sat down, I noticed something on my front window. It was the top of a pizza box, tucked under my windshield wiper, and it had writing on it. As I got back out of the car to read what was on it, a man came out of a house and started yelling at me. He screamed at me for parking in front of his home (even though he had a driveway and didn't need the space).

As he yelled at me, the Holy Spirit brought to mind Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." So, when he finished screaming, I simply said, "I'm sorry. I'll be happy to move my car." I think my response surprised him because he immediately stopped yelling, hung his head low like he was ashamed of himself, and took the box top out of my hand so I couldn't read what it said. Then he quietly walked back into his house. As I drove away, I couldn't help but smile and I'm pretty sure I said out loud, "Wow, that really works!"

I'm glad the Lord allowed me to have that experience because it taught me something that has served me well all throughout my adult life. We can choose to represent the evil one in our conversations with each other, or we can honor Christ with our conversations. We can let our old fleshly nature stir up division between us an others, or we can respond to one another with grace and a demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit. From personal experience, I can testify to the fact that it's always better to honor Christ in our conversations than it is to speak like the unbelieving world chooses to speak.

II. Glorify Christ when you give instruction

5 A fool despises his father's instruction,
    but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. (Proverbs 15:5-6)

Scripture tells us that people were fascinated by the teaching and instruction of Solomon. It's clear that the Holy Spirit blessed him with great wisdom, and Solomon seemed to have the desire to pass that wisdom along to others. We're told that in some contexts, people would come great distances to hear him teach.

"Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions." (1 Kings 10:1)

If you're ever placed in a position of Christian leadership, and you're given the opportunity to instruct others, you'll very likely develop a burden for the people you're teaching. You'll desperately want them to take the teaching you're passing along to heart. You'll want to see them apply it to their lives. I feel this burden every time I preach, teach, or write. If you love those you're instructing, you can't help but feel this way. I suspect Solomon loved those he was instructing as well.

As a parent, you feel this burden too, but you're also aware of the fact that there's no guarantee that your children are going to accept what you've been teaching them. Solomon makes that clear when he tells us that, "A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent." (Proverbs 15:5).

Jesus felt this burden more than anyone. When He came to this earth to instruct, rescue, redeem, and restore lost humanity, He wanted us to value His instruction. And as we learned to value it, He wanted us to convey it to others. Jesus wants us to glorify Him in the instruction we give, but He also knows what it's like to be ignored. In fact, there were many during the generation in which He visited this earth who completely dismissed His teaching.

"The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12:42)

The people who instruct us have a demonstrable influence on our lives. If you're ever placed in a position to instruct others, glorify Christ in your instruction and point the hearts of those who listen to your words to Him.

III. Worship Christ in your supplication

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the hearts of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. (Proverbs 15:7-8)

Do you believe in the power of prayer? How convinced are you that the Lord will answer your supplication when you bring it before Him? Solomon taught that, "the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him." Are you convinced that this is true? Do you worship Jesus by lifting up your heart to Him in prayer?

While Josh McDowell was attending seminary in California, his father went home to be with the Lord. His mother had died years earlier, but Josh was not sure of her salvation. He became depressed, thinking that she might be lost. Was she a Christian or not? The thought obsessed him. “Lord,” he prayed, “somehow give me the answer so I can get back to normal. I’ve just got to know.” It seemed like an impossible request.

Two days later, Josh drove out to the ocean. He walked to the end of a pier to be alone. There sat an old woman in a lawnchair, fishing. “Where’s your home originally?” she asked.

“Michigan—Union City,” Josh replied. “Nobody’s heard of it. I tell people it’s a suburb of —”

“Battle Creek,” interrupted the woman. “I had a cousin from there. Did you know the McDowell family?”

Stunned, Josh responded, “Yes, I’m Josh McDowell!”

“I can’t believe it,” said the woman. “I’m a cousin to your mother.”

“Do you remember anything at all about my mother’s spiritual life?” asked Josh.

“Why sure—your mom and I were just girls—teenagers—when a tent revival came to town. It was the fourth night—we both went forward to accept Christ.”

“Praise God!” shouted Josh, startling the surrounding fishermen. -Our Daily Bread, September 18

Lately, the Lord has been reminding me that one of the most powerful things I can do is pray. Admittedly, one of my personality defects is my tendency to not want to burden others with my problems. As much as possible, I try to handle the problems I have in my own strength, but I'm thankful that the Lord seems to be bringing me to a spot where I'm finally convinced that my strength is not sufficient for everything that I'm facing.

When I come to the end of myself, and finally admit that I'm not truly capable of handling my burdens on my own, the Lord reminds me to come to Him. He relieves my stress through prayer. When I'm worried about our culture, the state of the church, or my children, I'm also reminded to pray. When I can't fully verbalize what's troubling me, He reminds me that all I have to do is say, "Help!" and He's ready to hear me and act upon my requests.

So many people are convinced that they need to do something to impress God in order for Him to listen to them. People think they need to do great deeds or make amazing sacrifices for Him to respond to their requests. But Solomon shows us something different. He tells us that the Lord hears the prayers of the upright. Well, how does one become upright? We become upright through the righteousness of Christ which is given to all who genuinely trust in Him. There is no other way. And as we approach the throne of the Father, covered in the righteousness of Christ, our prayers are heard and our supplications are granted in accordance with His will.

Does your life and do your words communicate the heart of the gospel? Do the things that proceed from your mouth honor the one who created your lips? Jesus wants to be seen in your life. He wants to give others a glimpse of Himself through your conversations, instruction, and times of prayer. Will you submit your life over to Him so that this transformative process can begin?

© John Stange, 2020

Building a life that can withstand what's thrown at it

On the last day of sixth grade, I got into a fight. I don't remember what prompted it, but I do remember that it happened during an outdoor gym class. Being that it was the last day of school, our gym teacher was in no mood for our behavior and he snapped.

After yelling at me and the kid I was fighting, he took a basketball and threw it at the other kid. The ball whacked him hard and he bent over crying. Then the teacher took that same ball and winged it at me, but to his surprise (and extra annoyance) I caught it, gave him a smile, and bounced it back to him. It definitely benefitted me that he threw the ball at me second because that took the element of surprise away and I was better able to anticipate it.

Some things in life catch us off guard, and other events and experiences are a little bit easier to anticipate. How are you handling what's being thrown at you? Are you building a life that can withstand what's being thrown at it, or do you feel a little beat up by some of the surprises that have come your way?

For many people, this year has been filled with unforeseen challenges and unexpected difficulties. Some of us are experiencing changes in relationships and occupations. Some of us are mourning the interruptions to our daily routines, limits on our personal freedoms, medical challenges, and even the extra hoops we have to jump through in order to be able to travel.

But here's what I know. Our circumstances and opportunities are always changing, yet the nature of our Savior Jesus Christ never changes. And with His help, we truly can withstand whatever comes against us in this world. Proverbs 12 gives us some great examples of what that looks like. What does this portion of Scripture teach us to withstand?

I. Withstanding the onslaught of wickedness

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
    but the house of the righteous will stand.
A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is despised. (Proverbs 12:7-8)

When the Lord created this earth, He created it perfectly. There was no sin. There were no shortcomings. There were no regrets, but knowingly, mankind rebelled against Him and invited wickedness into our earthly experience. Wickedness is something all mankind has struggled with since the day it was first invited into our lives.

The cultures of this world have historically celebrated evil. We champion violence. We give hearty approval to greed. Sometimes we envy those who seem to get away with the most evil. It's as if we've turned rebellion against the Lord into a game and we're just seeing how much we can attempt to get away with.

But those who have a genuine relationship with Jesus can testify to the fact that they are no longer mastered by wickedness. The victory over sin that Christ secured on the cross is a victory that's shared with all who trust in Him. That victory becomes apparent in all areas of a believer's life. We see the effects of that victory on display in this portion of Proverbs.

In this passage, Solomon speaks of the fact that the household of the righteous will stand, and a man who exhibits good sense will be commended. This is the fruit of a changed heart. This is the effect of Christ's presence on a person's home and life. And it stands in stark contrast to the long-term effects of those who persist in wickedness. Solomon tells us that those who continue to embrace wickedness will be despised and eventually overthrown.

Wickedness comes at us from every direction, even if we follow Jesus. I don't think I ever realized that more than I did when I first became a father. Being that I desire our home to be a place where Christ is honored, I do my best to attempt to filter sources of wickedness out of our home. Let me be the first to admit just how challenging that can be. You don't even have to go looking for it. It comes looking for you.

But with the strength of Christ, we can withstand evil. I love what we're told in Ephesians 6:13...

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."  (Ephesians 6:13)

I'm grateful that even though we live in a world that has been tainted with sin, we have been given the tools we need, through the Spirit of God, to stand firm and withstand evil when it comes looking for us.

II. Withstanding a haughty attitude

Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. (Proverbs 12:9-10)

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to interact with a man that I didn't know very well. We have a common friend, and I was introduced to him through that friendship. During the course of our conversation, something about him seemed off to me. I wasn't sure if he had a chip on his shoulder or what, but I wasn't a huge fan of the way he carried himself. Eventually, he turned the conversation into a discussion about how much money he had. Now I don't know if he really has money or not, but I can tell you that he definitely wanted me to believe he did. As he bragged about how much money he has at this season of life, I thought to myself, "What's the quickest way I can exit this conversation?" I grew instantly tired of listening to his bragging and haughtiness.

Solomon, on the other hand, was one of the richest men to ever live. He had more wealth than he probably knew what to do with, yet look at the words he penned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Solomon expressed that it was better to be lowly and humble than to pretend to be wealthy. It's better to lift others up when they're with you than try to drag them down or attempt to make them feel like they can't compare to you. Conceit drags people down. Humility lifts others up. And those who are truly humble will reveal their humility in ways that might surprise you.

One of those surprising examples of a person's humility and their value for life shows itself in the kind of mercy they would show an animal or a beast of burden. Solomon says that the righteous has regard for the life of his beast. He cares about what God has created. He sees animals as a gift from God and demonstrates the kinship God has created between humans and animals.

I saw a video recently that demonstrated the beauty of mercy begin shown to an animal, and I thought it was fascinating to observe. A young dog with a beautiful grey coat had been abandoned and brought to a shelter. It was so fearful around humans that it wouldn't eat. Eventually, the man who ran the shelter took two bowls of food, one for the dog and one for himself, then he sat down to eat with the dog inside the cage. With each bite the man took, he would also attempt to feed the dog. Eventually, the dog settled down and learned to trust him. In time, it began eating regularly and learned to socialize so well that the man decided to keep it for himself.

It was an act of humility for that man to be willing to sit in that cage with that dog, but isn't that exactly what Jesus has done for us? He saw us in our lost, scared, and hopeless condition, and He sat down to a meal with us. He showed us mercy while we were living like animals, and He invites us to model His humility to others while withstanding a haughty attitude.

III. Withstanding anxiety

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad. (Proverbs 12:25)

When someone you know is going through a season of anxiety, you can often tell just by looking at them. The expression on their face is down. They sit a little lower in a chair. Their shoulders seems a little hunched when they walk. Their pace may seem a little slower and their energy level may be depleted. There are external signs that signify what is taking place in their heart. If they are overcome by their worries and fears, their hearts are weighed down and begin to feel heavy.

Just last week, I walked past one of the members of our church and I happened to notice something different about her facial expression. Normally, she's a very enthusiastic person, but that day, I could tell just by looking at her that something was troubling her. I took a moment to ask her about it, and she admitted that she was feeling anxious about an upcoming surgery. She was burdened by the thought and very nervous, so a small group of us took a few moments to lift her up in prayer and offer words of encouragement. It seemed to help, and thankfully, everything went fine with her surgery as well.

Anxiety weighs us down. It tells us that we need to handle the things that only Jesus can handle. It makes us feel like we have been forced to carry a load that is beyond our ability to carry. It influences us to think that help isn't available to us and we're completely alone in our struggle.

Proverbs 12:25 reminds us that there is an alternative to being weighed down by anxiety. Our fears like to keep us hunched in a beaten down position, but a "good word" can make us glad. A good word can make us feel light again. A good word can be used by God to lift us up.

There is no greater word than the gospel. The word "gospel" literally means "good news" and good news is proclaimed and demonstrated all throughout the pages of Scripture.

In the gospel we're told that God created the world and humanity perfect. We rebelled against Him and became both sinful and condemned. But in His mercy, He chose to offer us a second chance.

Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth in flesh, lived the perfect life, took the punishment for our sin upon Himself at the cross, died in our place, rose from death, defeated sin, Satan and death and assures us that through faith in Him, we will be forgiven and given new life. In Jesus, we are no longer condemned, we are made righteous and are holy in His sight.

What message are you preaching to your heart? Is it a message of condemnation that produces anxiety or the good word of the gospel that produces joy?

With the power of Christ, your life can withstand what's being thrown at it. You have His strength to defeat the power of wickedness, His heart to combat a haughty attitude, and His hope to repel the encroachment of anxiety. Welcome His presence, and let Him keep building you into the person He has called you to be.

© John Stange, 2020

Will your integrity fuel your generosity?

The book of Proverbs is filled with good counsel and help. In it, the Lord reveals His heart and mind to us, and attempts to lead us down the right path. It is a practical book, but its practical wisdom can only truly be lived out by those who have genuine faith in the Lord.

Proverbs 11, like many of the chapters in this book, deals with multiple subjects and offers a variety of helpful contrasts between wisdom and folly, giving and taking, and righteousness and wickedness. As we look at these verses, I hope at least two concepts will catch your eye in particular; integrity and generosity. In fact, the primary question we're going to attempt to answer as we look through this chapter is, "Will your integrity fuel your generosity?"

I. Integrity won't lead you down a destructive path

"A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.  The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.  Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." (Proverbs 11:1-4)

Integrity is something that clearly matters to the Lord. When we read through the Scriptures, we can see that the subject is brought up through direct teaching, historical stories, and the example of the Lord Himself.

One the best definitions I have heard of integrity is this; “Integrity is doing the right thing when someone is watching and when they aren’t.” I like that definition, but for us as believers, we have the additional sense of accountability in knowing that the Lord is always watching.

As Solomon speaks about righteousness and integrity in these verses, he tells us that the Lord delights in just weights, values humility, admonishes us to keep our way straight, and to walk in righteousness.

As the Lord reveals these concepts through Solomon, we’re also shown their opposite. We’re told of people who keep false balances, walk in pride, take a crooked path, and put their trust in riches. Each of those examples is given to us to caution us not to follow their unwise and godless patterns.

During the course of Christ’s earthy ministry, He demonstrated to us what it was like to live with humble integrity. There weren’t two versions of Jesus. He was the same person in front of a large crowd and when He sat down for a meal with a small group. He spoke creation into existence, yet He was willing to humble Himself so He could effectively serve us.

Jesus isn’t asking us to do anything He wasn’t willing to demonstrate for us. As Christ was willing to take the form of a servant in order to serve us, so too should we be willing to serve one another. As Christ is the perfection of integrity, so too should we be willing to seek His guidance in order to live with integrity in our generation.

The godly and righteous traits that Solomon emphasizes in these verses find their pinnacle in Jesus. He is the standard of integrity and humility that we should all value, emulate, and worship.

II. You can have hope beyond this moment

"When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.  The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead." (Proverbs 11:7-8)

Several days ago, I officiated for a funeral. Funerals can be emotionally difficult for family and friends, but they can also be hopeful moments when the redemption Christ has offered us is welcomed and celebrated.

As I looked around the room at the many faces that were gathered, I saw a lot of sadness, but I also saw hope and joy. As believers, we truly have a hope that’s genuinely anchored in Jesus Christ.

Solomon tells us that when the wicked die, they don’t have the hope we as believers possess. Those who reject the Lord place their hope in earthly and transient things. They struggle to think about things from an eternal perspective. They usually remain caught up in the moment. Their greatest hopes are in their riches, their government, their status, or their abilities. But what sense does it make to anchor your hope to something that can change? What logic is there in anchoring your hope to something that can be taken away from you?

Through Christ, we have hope beyond the moment. Our hope is anchored in His unchanging and powerful nature. He holds us securely in His hands. He teaches us not to place our trust in things that can change or be taken away. He invites us to approach life with confidence that surpasses the shaky beliefs that govern the hearts of lost humanity.

III. It is a privilege to rejoice in righteousness

"With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.  When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.  By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.  Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent." (Proverbs 11:9-12)

Very recently, a friend of mine began the process of buying her first house. For years she has dealt with a lot of adversity, but she’s transitioning into a new season of life, and she has much reason to be optimistic. As a child, she dealt with a lot of pain in her family, and she frequently felt unloved and abandoned. As an adult, she has admittedly struggled to believe that anyone would want to genuinely be her friend, let alone respect her or value what she’s accomplished.

She has admitted that to some of us, but just the other day, she took the risk to post of picture of the house she’s buying. The place is beautiful. And to her surprise, hundreds of people have now gone out of their way to let her know how happy they are for her and how they’re celebrating this purchase right along with her. It’s as if we’re all living vicariously through her to celebrate her accomplishments as our own.

A similar thing happens in the lives of those who practice righteousness. Solomon tell us that when it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices and the city is exalted. Everyone feels lifted up right along with them.

This stands in stark contrast to the activities of the godless and wicked. Godless men destroy their neighbors. They use their words to cut them down and belittle them. They attempt to bring harm to others because they’re convinced that the only way they can feel better about themselves is by making others feel low.

But the truth is we will never ultimately feel better by crushing the spirit of another brother or sister. The more we violate our conscience or ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us, the lower we will eventually feel. But if we speak with grace and go out of our way to lift others up, we will honor the people the Lord has blessed us with the privilege to interact with.

IV. Kindness isn't as expensive as you think it is

"A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.  A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.  The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.  Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.  Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.  Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered." (Proverbs 11:16-21)

What does kindness cost you? That might seem like a funny question, and in some respects, it may not even be a logical question because ultimately, I believe Scripture teaches us that kindness is a net-gain, not a net-loss. A kind person receives much more in benefit than they incur as an expense.

The wicked defraud. They attempt to earn dishonest wages. Their eyes are glued to the prospect of earthly rewards. But those who walk in the righteousness of Christ, find life. Even their children experience great blessings.

As a father, I take great joy in the thought of the blessing of God being poured out upon my children and grandchildren. In this passage we're told that the Lord has blessings in store for the children of those who truly believe in Him. We're told here that "the offspring of the righteous will be delivered." True deliverance is found through Jesus Christ, so it's my prayer that the generations that come from me will truly enjoy the deliverance that Christ offers them through faith in Him.

V. Let the generous heart of Christ be seen in you

"The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.  One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.  Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.  The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.  Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.  Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.  Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.  If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!" (Proverbs 11:23-31)

This proverbs concludes with multiple examples of biblical generosity. In this passage, believers are admonished to give freely, lavish blessings upon others, and enjoy the blessings that come back upon them as they practice generosity. We're also reminded never to trust in riches. Our calling is to trust the One who blesses without idolizing the blessings He bestows.

One of the things the Lord has been communicating to my heart repeatedly, particularly in recent years, is that one of the greatest earthly joys He will allow me to experience is the privilege to be generous with what He entrusts to me. Last week, He surprised us financially in an unexpected way. In return, we were able to be extra generous in our giving toward His work in the church. I also had lunch with a group of friends, so I decided to surprise them and pay the bill. Someone we met during the week expressed a need for food, so we bought them groceries. A member of our family had a car repair that we contributed to. We also made an extra principal payment toward our mortgage (so I guess we were even a little generous toward the bank).

Do you ever wonder what you might do if the Lord surprised you and gave you millions of dollars? What would you do with it? Can I suggest something that I think is pretty accurate? I think you'd be just as generous with it as you already are with what you presently have, no more and no less.

When the nature of Christ's generosity toward us becomes clear to our thinking, and we realize just how blessed we truly are, it becomes difficult not to be generous in return. As recipients of these blessings, Solomon encourages us not to withhold sharing with others what the Lord has blessed us to share. Just as Christ demonstrated with His sacrificial actions and His personal generosity, it truly is better to give than it is to receive.

© John Stange, 2020

Will you trust the Lord when you're feeling uneasy?

The other day, two similar things happened to me at the same time. First, I was talking to a friend of mine and he admitted to having had a hard morning. His family wasn't home, his schedule was being unexpectedly interrupted, and he was feeling emotionally off. He couldn't fully put his finger on the reason why he felt like he did, but he said his goal was to continue getting his work done in spite of his emotions.

At the same time that conversation was taking place, I received a text from a family friend who lives near where I grew up. She received news earlier that day that alarmed her, and she wanted an outside perspective on what she was experiencing, so we spent a few minutes chatting through her concern and getting to the heart of the matter.

I bring up these examples, because I think we all experience seasons in life when we feel uneasy. Maybe you're dealing with unexpected change in your life. Maybe you feel like you're being taken advantage of by someone you once trusted. Maybe you can't even put a finger on why you feel how you feel. Those experiences are common to us all, but what can we do when we're feeling uneasy or uncertain?

One of the things that you'll see as a pattern throughout Scripture is the Lord's invitation to trust Him in every circumstance. That's a pattern you'll see in Proverbs 10 as well. In this chapter, the Lord demonstrates the fact that He is overseeing our lives, working His will out through us, and bringing an end to the efforts of wickedness that threaten us. Let's look at some of the reasons the Lord assures us our hearts can be at peace.

I. The Lord won't let the righteous go hungry

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.  Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.  The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.  A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.  He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. (Proverbs 1b-5)

As you'll see in the statements included in this chapter, and in the coming chapters, many of the proverbs provide a contrast between the actions of the righteous and the wicked, or the wise and the foolish. We see that pattern clearly established in these verses in particular.

In speaking of the wicked, Solomon makes it clear that they bring sorrow and shame to their family, do not ultimately profit from their activity, will not be satisfied by the pursuit of their cravings, and will experience not only physical poverty, but relational and spiritual poverty as well. It isn't a pretty picture, but it is the reality of a life that's being lived absent of genuine faith in the Lord.

The righteous, on the other hand, are promised a much different outcome in their life. They bring gladness and honor to their family, experience spiritual life, are satisfied by what the Lord grants to them, and are amply supplied materially, relationally, and spiritually. The contrast between the wicked and the righteous couldn't be more stark.

But one of the things that really catches my eye about this group of verses is the Lord's promise that He will not let the righteous go hungry. How does that promise hit your ears? How does that assurance strike you?

Scripture tells us something very specific about righteousness. Left to ourselves, we aren't righteous. But through faith in Jesus, we are granted His righteousness as a gift. He imputes His righteousness to our account because we were deficient and needy.

"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:" (Romans 3:21-22)

Having received the gift of the righteousness of Christ through faith, I can personally testify to the fact that the Lord has met and continues to meet my every need. As a child, and as an adult, I have experienced some lean seasons that very easily could have taken me down the path of worry, but the Lord hasn't let that worry take hold in my heart because He has shown me in demonstrable ways that he feeds and meets the needs of those He calls His own. The Lord won't let the righteous go hungry. That is His promise to us.

II. The Lord will give you the right thing to say

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.  Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin.  The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.  On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.  The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.  Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.  The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.  When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.  The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.  The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. (Proverbs 10:6, 8, 10-14, 17-21)

I'm always amazed at just how important words are to the Lord. But when I think about it, that makes a lot of sense because Scripture tells us He spoke creation into existence and continues to uphold it by His powerful word.

"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." (Hebrews 1:3a)

The application of how our words are to be used is demonstrated in a variety of ways in this passage. Solomon tells us that the wicked and unwise use their words for destructive purposes, while the righteous and wise use their words to edify, bless, and honor.

The wicked promote violence, babble instead of listening, stir up strife, bring ruin, lead people astray, promote hatred, and engage in slander. The righteous receive instruction, promote life, forgive offenses, share wisdom, teach knowledge, and restrain themselves from speaking when it wouldn't be helpful.

In looking at these examples, I see a picture of the temperament of someone whose life is being led by the Holy Spirit verses someone whose actions are being dictated by the cravings of their sinful nature. We can build or we can destroy with our words, but a follower of Christ will emulate His example. We will use our words to make investments in the lives of others, and convey the wisdom and life found in His gospel.

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)

Don't underestimate the power of your words, particularly the words you speak to someone at a young or insecure season of life. One of the things that the Lord used to help sustain me during my youth was the kind words of one of the women in my home church. On many occasions during some of the most insecure seasons of my life, she used to say to me, "I don't know what God has planned for you, but I'm convinced He's going to do something special with your life. He has something amazing in store for you." I couldn't fathom why she was so convinced of that and why she would repeat it so often to me (and to my mother), but she was convinced of it.

She built me up with her words and God regularly spoke through her to me. She also made a point to teach me theology and other important spiritual concepts. And since that time, there are plenty of things that I have spoken from pulpits and written in books that were first explained to me by a woman in my home church who chose to make a verbal investment in my young and insecure life. I believe the Lord will also give you the right things to say if your heart and your tongue are submitted over to His lordship. If your life is submitted to the lordship of Christ, His Spirit will guide and direct your tongue to say precisely what's needed when it's needed.

III. The Lord will bring wickedness to an abrupt end

The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.  What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.  When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.  Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.  The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.  The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.  The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers.  The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. (Proverbs 10:22-32)

We live in an era in which many people choose to be brazen and bold with their rebellion against the Lord. I realize that's not necessarily unique to our era, but it does surprise me to observe it. The longer I have known the Lord, the more foreign my heart is becoming to living in rebellion to Him. One of my prayers for myself and my household is that we would live in the fear of the Lord. That we would learn to revere, respect, and love Him so much that we won't attempt to take our lives in a direction marked by disobedience to Him.

The only reason that's a priority in my life is because Jesus Christ has gripped my heart. Now that I know Him, value Him, and find my joy through Him, my perspective toward what contributes to a good life is drastically different from what it once was.

There are many in this world, however, who are convinced they will find satisfaction and delight through their direct rebellion against the Lord. They don't fear Him. They make a joke of His will or His ways, and they're convinced they can get away with whatever they want to get away with. But soon enough, they'll realize that they can't. We will all give an answer for our lives before the Lord. Wickedness has a short shelf-life, and the Lord promises to bring it to an abrupt end in His perfect timing. As this proverb states, the very thing the wicked dread will eventually come upon them. Their years will be cut short, and their expectations will perish.

When I was a teenager, my room was covered in posters of my musical heroes. Many of them were the famous rock stars of the day, and for years, I considered them to be the model of what the ideal life looked like. Now that several decades have passed since I idolized those men, it has been interesting and tragic to observe what life has been like for them in the years since. Most of those who are still living seem to exist in a state of permanent sadness and regret. The foundation they built their lives upon was faulty, and it left a trail of destruction in its wake.

But Christ wants more for us than that. He wants us to experience the confident hope of being assured that He will meet our needs, speak through us in powerful ways, and that His righteousness will ultimately reign upon this earth.

Apart from His intervention, we were lost, but now that He has drawn us unto Himself, we can live with confident faith in Him. So if you've been feeling uneasy for good reasons or for no good reason, please remember the wise examples we see in this portion of Proverbs and remember we can trust the Lord no matter how we may feel in any given moment.

© John Stange, 2020

Is it hard for you to accept correction?

Have you ever said something out loud that you didn't think would surprise someone, but it totally did? When I was being trained in counseling, I would spend time training in a group lab with other counselors. In that context, we would practice our skills on each other and attempt to refine each others' abilities.

One afternoon, we were asked to give feedback to each other about what the experience was like and I admitted to another counselor something that she seemed shocked to hear. I told her, "I don't think you'd be easy to counsel." The look on her face when I said that was one of surprise, alarm, and possibly hurt. I certainly didn't mean to hurt her feelings, but her resistance to outside input during our practice session gave me that feeling.

Soon after that experience, I started to ask myself if someone might also be able to make that statement about me, and I think it's fair to say that, depending on the subject, I might also be difficult to counsel. That's an area of life that I'm actively trying to improve, and I suspect it will continue to be an area I'll want to keep an eye on.

What about you? How well do you respond to counsel or correction? Do you get defensive and dismissive, or do you receive it with humility? Proverbs 9 invites us to wrestle with that thought.

I. Will you walk in the way of insight?

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.  She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.  She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town,  “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.  Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (Proverbs 9:1-6)

This proverbs utilizes the literary device of personification. As Solomon attempts to help us see the contrast between wisdom and folly, he presents them as if they are two different women. The woman of Wisdom is prudent, thoughtful, inviting, helpful, and filled with good counsel. She tries to guide lost people onto a better path. The woman of Folly does the exact opposite, but we'll examine her activities a little later.

In these verses, Solomon is trying to convey a picture of the benefits of embracing the wise counsel of the Lord. One of the major benefits we enjoy as those who trust in Jesus Christ is greater insight. He grants us His mind. He lets us see with His eyes. Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we are being intentionally led toward the truth, and we're being shown all sorts of things we wouldn't have naturally perceived. This chapter of Proverbs helps us gain a better understanding of how the Lord is actively pursuing us with His wisdom.

When we observe the work of the Lord, we see that He is intentional, organized, and methodical with His plans and the ways in which He deals with humanity. The personification of wisdom that we see in this passage helps illustrate that. We're told that Wisdom has built her house, prepared food and drink, and sent out her servants to extend an open invitation to partake. The Lord's activity toward humanity is being illustrated in this description. He's building His house, preparing a banquet table, and sending out His ambassadors into this world to extend an invitation.

In this passage, we're told that Wisdom invites the simple to change course, to eat the food she offers, to leave their simple ways, and to walk in the way of insight. Again, this is all being shown to us to help us gain a greater glimpse of the redemptive work of our Lord. Through Christ, we're invited to change course, find our sustenance in Him, leave our life of spiritual blindness, and walk in the light of the truth of His gospel.

That's all beautiful to consider, but it begs the question, "Will you walk in the ways of insight?" True insight is found in Jesus. True wisdom is found in Him. Do you want what He has to offer, or will you settle for the counsel of an "influencer" or a "guru" that is not omniscient? And lest that sound like I'm pointing a finger at you alone, I promise I'm not. That's a question I'm forced to wrestle with as well.

I have two offices that are both filled with books. In addition to that, I have bookshelves throughout my home that are also full, as well as a vast collection of digital books on most of my devices. Every day I'm reading the words and ideas of people that I allow to influence me. To their credit, many of them provide counsel that helps me navigate different areas of life. But the counsel of someone who isn't omniscient cannot supersede the counsel of one who is.

The wise counsel of God, accessed through faith in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will allow us to gain real insight. And as our mind begins the grasp the value of godly wisdom, His Spirit is willing to empower us to put it into practice in our daily walk.

II. Can you be corrected?

"Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.  For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.  If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it." (Proverbs 9:7-12)

How well do you respond to being corrected? What's your gut-level response or reaction?

I have noticed that some of the most successful people I know in just about every field also tend to be the most correctable. I have also noticed that the people in my life who never really seem to gain traction or momentum also tend to resist correction.

In this passage, Solomon tells us about the nature of correcting the uncorrectable. If you correct a scoffer, you get scoffed at. If you challenge a wicked man, you get injured. In both cases, we're being shown the gut-level response of these people to correction. They fight against it, and they do everything in their power to keep those who correct them at a distance. At times, the uncorrectable aren't afraid to verbally or physically hurt those who offer them wisdom.

But what happens when you instruct a wise man? If you give him good counsel, he will love you because he realizes the nature of the favor you've done for him. You've saved him from needless harm, error, or expense. You've been more beneficial to him than an entire army of "yes-men."

I have also observed an interesting pattern among the wise that truly sets them apart from those who refuse to be corrected. The ignorant invest in their distractions. The wise invest in their understanding. Some of the wisest people I know are always telling me about courses they're taking, books they're reading, and discussions they're having, while the ignorant only seem to care about the next thing that might make them giggle.

In drawing the contrast between the scoffer and the wise man, Solomon goes on to make it clear that the wisest among us will always be those who fear the Lord. When a person lives with genuine reverence and respect for the Lord, they are in a perpetual listening posture. Their entire life is being lived with an ear toward Heaven as they await the counsel and instruction the Lord will offer them next.

Years ago, a pastor told me the story of how his church building was built. When it was being founded, a wealthy businessman offered to pay for its construction. During the process, he asked the pastor to give him an answer related to something in his personal life. The pastor gave an honest answer, in a gentle way, even though it challenged the businessman's decision. Most people were afraid to challenge him, but because the pastor gave him honest counsel, he thanked him and said, "Thank you for your honesty. I had already decided that if you weren't honest with me, I wasn't going to continue funding this church."

I also know of a ministry leader that completely rejected the counsel of his board of advisors when they corrected him about an obvious (but correctable) error. In fact, he made this his ongoing pattern, and now they refuse to work with him at all. Nearly all have resigned.

What's your story? Can you be corrected, or will you do your best to resist it?

III. Who has your ear?

The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.  She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,  “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says,  “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”  But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. (Proverbs 9:13-18)

The picture Solomon paints in these verses is unpleasant and possibly offensive. He personifies folly and tells us that it's like a seductive woman who knows nothing. She yells, she entices passers by, and she invites people to join her on her path toward utter destruction. The picture painted here reminds me of a something my daughter and I witnessed last year in Philadelphia.

My daughter was purchasing a car from an older gentleman, and after we test-drove it, we took it to a business to complete the purchase and have the title changed. Twenty feet away from the door of the business, there was a woman standing on the corner of the street. She had a broom in her hand and she was yelling at nearly everyone who passed by, including another woman who looked like she was trying to walk home from work. As she yelled at that woman, she started making fun of her physical appearance, and it was so offensive that it caused a man who was also walking in close proximity to react and try to stop the screaming woman from yelling such hurtful words.

As I witnessed that, I prayed that the woman who was insulted wouldn't take the insults she just received to heart. I was hopeful that the Lord would strike those thoughts from her memory so she wouldn't internalize what she just heard.

In a similar vein, it's probably good for us to ask, "Who has our ear?" Are we listening to the loud yelling of folly, or can we hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to our conscience?

If we're arrogant, we won't hear the voice of the Spirit. The arrogant have ears that have been conditioned to primarily perceive folly, but the humble are listening for the voice of God.

The arrogant don't like to listen. They would rather speak than open their ears to the truth. They would rather live their lives convinced that they've already got everything figured out. In a sense, they attempt to be their own messiah. Instead of responding to the gracious offer of Jesus to save them, they attempt to be their own savior. Their ears aren't open to hear His life-giving gospel. They only want to hear themselves speak.

What about you? Do you think you're perfect? Do you even think you need Jesus? He's offering Himself to you. In fact, He may be calling out to you today, but you're going to have to turn down the volume on "the woman of Folly" if you're going to hear Him. But if you do hear Him, and respond to His invitation, He will graciously guide and protect you for the rest of your life.

Accepting correction isn't easy for many people, but a correctable heart is a redeemable heart. With Spirit-empowered humility, let's ask the Lord to make us receptive to the wisdom He grants us through prayer, through His word, and through the loving counsel of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

© John Stange, 2020

Your conscience will impact the quality of your life

What motivates the decisions you make? Why do you conduct yourself the way you do, and why is your life the way it is?

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend. He was telling me about some difficult things he's been dealing with lately, including some medical problems. Whenever you have medical issues, everyone offers you advice, but some of the advice he received troubled him. He said to me, "I know they're trying to be helpful, but my conscience just won't let me take that suggestion."

Part of the reason I have great respect for this friend is because he has shown me over time that he is a man of strong conscience. He has a high quality of life because he makes a point not to violate his conscience. We're all making "quality of life" decisions on a daily basis. And when we compare our decisions to the counsel we're given in Proverbs 6:1-19, we can clearly see that the quality of our lives will be directly impacted by the sensitivity of our conscience and our willingness to obey the Lord's counsel.

I. How long will you choose to remain ensnared?

"My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; 5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler." (Proverbs 6:1-5)

Becoming entangled or ensnared in something is quite unpleasant. It's unpleasant physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Several years ago, there was evidence that a mouse got into our house. Most homeowners eventually experience that nuisance, and as you'd expect, I set several traps near where I had seen evidence of the mouse's presence. Soon after, I heard one of the traps snap, and when I went to check it out, there was the mouse. He wasn't dead, but he was caught.

At first, I thought I should take him outside and finish him off, but as I looked at him, I started feeling compassion for his condition. I could kill him, or I could set him free. In a moment of empathy that surprised me, I felt compelled to let him go. I did give him a warning, however, that this was a one-time pass and if I saw him again, the meeting would end differently.

Like a mouse in a trap, it's easy to become ensnared by unhealthy and unwise things during the course of our lives. In this passage, Solomon describes someone who becomes ensnared by putting up security for his neighbor. In modern terms, this would be the same concept as co-signing a loan. I don't know if you've ever done that, but it's not a good idea. I have done that in the past, but I don't plan on doing that again. It rarely ends well. Most often, you become liable for the debts of someone else or you're forced to spend years worried about whether or not they'll actually make good on their payments.

Solomon's counsel is to do everything you can to get out of that arrangement because it's a trap that ensnares you. Do whatever you ethically can to get out of it.

And while loans and pledges can ensnare us, they aren't the only things in life that attempt to trap us. Frequently, we're enticed by our temptations to become ensnared in all kinds of ungodliness. Thankfully, Jesus looks at us with compassion and He offers us freedom from our entanglements through faith in Him. And as He blesses us with that freedom, He also reminds us not to return to our previous traps. A trapped life is not a quality life. An entangled life isn't a quality life.

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

II. Are you internally or externally motivated to work?

"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man." (Proverbs 6:6-11)

I don't know if you're a fan of insects or if they give you the creeps, but this passage definitely deepens my appreciation of ants in particular. We're told that they provide an excellent example of the kind of work ethic the Lord wants us to develop.

Ants make preparations with an eye toward the future. They gather what they need. They do the right thing without having to be directly instructed. And they don't waste their days in a slothful manner.

On the other hand, this world is filled with many people who have been created in the image of God, that choose to sleep away the time they can be using to make a meaningful contribution with their life. Solomon tells us that excessive slumber and laziness lead to poverty, and I'm sure we can all think of examples when we've seen that play out in the lives of people we know.

Just recently I asked my father for an update on someone that I remember him helping out years ago. "What happened to him?," I asked. He said, "After getting hired for an entry-level job, he decided to stop showing up. Now he primarily stays in his apartment, drinking beer, watching TV, and coming up with creative ways to convince the government to fund his lazy lifestyle, even though he's fully capable of working."

Are you motivated to do what the Lord has called you to do? Are you using your time, talents, and energy in accordance with His calling on your life, or are you wasting your days on distractions while avoiding your calling?

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)

In whatever vocation or area of service we commit ourselves to, let's do so with the understanding that we aren't serving ourselves, we're serving Christ. He is the one we're seeking to honor.

III. Can you be trusted to shoot straight?

"A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing." (Proverbs 6:12-15)

Something that has become very clear throughout the course of my life is the fact that the truth always comes to the surface. At times, I have felt frustrated with those who were operating dishonestly or in a shady manner, but the Lord has made it more and more apparent that if I wait long enough, I will see Him bring the truth to light.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we're called to be truth-bearers. Since our words and deeds impact the impression people have of Him, we should be mindful of the spiritual implications of our actions. Jesus instructed us to speak honestly, with a "yes" that means "yes" and a "no" that means "no" (Matthew 5:37). To do anything less demonstrates that we're deficient in our understanding of His holiness, and His calling on our lives to walk in holiness (1 Peter 1:16).

Solomon speaks to this issue as well when he tells us that a person who seeks to be of no value to others demonstrates their deficient character through dishonesty. They don't shoot straight. Their words are nothing but double-speak. Even their body language communicates deception. Eventually, when the truth comes to light, such a person will be utterly destroyed if they don't repent of their unbelief and its obvious fruit.

IV. Are you making life bitter or better?

”There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers." (Proverbs 6:16-19)

As this portion of Proverbs 6 concludes, Solomon shares a summary of things that the LORD detests. He despises all forms of deception, injustice, wickedness, and division. These are actions and attitudes that reflect the motives of Satan, not the heart of Christ. As Satan was cast away from the LORD's presence, so too will those who persist in the rebellion and unbelief of Satan.

But as followers of Christ, we have been blessed with a much greater option. Instead of making the lives of others bitter, we have been empowered to make their lives better through the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work within us. True quality of life is found through Christ, and we are graced with the blessing of investing that quality in the lives of those we interact with.

As I read this portion of the book of Proverbs, it seems clear to me that the Lord is encouraging us to be people who maintain a conscience that is sensitive to His guidance and wisdom. As we do so, we'll experience a greater quality of life, and we'll be positioned to contribute to the quality of life of others in a Christ-centered manner.

© John Stange, 2020

Affair-proof your heart

Years ago, I had a friend who seemed to be on a dangerous path. I started to notice that he was becoming far too comfortable interacting with women in a way that, in my opinion, was crossing an ethical line. His behavior started to catch the attention of several other friends as well, so instead of talking about him, I decided to talk to him. I knew it would be an awkward conversation, but I was fearful that he was going to do something that harmed his marriage and damaged his testimony. He thanked me for speaking truth into his life, assured me that he would be more careful, but eventually cheated on his wife anyway. It was hard to watch that unfold, knowing that I had done the best I could to help him.

In a similarly tragic vein, I just learned something tragic about a prominent Christian leader who projected faithfulness to his wife and fidelity to the Scriptures during the entirety of his adult life. While he was conveying an image of holiness and faithfulness, he was leading a double life of sexual infidelity.

Why bring this up? Well, for many (if not most) people, this is one of the primary areas of temptation whereby the devil tries to gain a foothold in our lives. Just look at our entertainment options or listen to the conversations of your peers. You don't have to look far to see the effects of our willingness to give our hearts over to sexual immorality.

And while it's certainly a risk to marry or trust another person, and while it's entirely possible that they may go in a direction that breaks your heart, please keep in mind that you can't control what another person does. What you can do is open your heart to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and invite Him to lead you toward the truth of the gospel and away from temptation. He gives us His strength and His counsel to enable us to avoid unfaithfulness.

With that in mind, let's look at the counsel we're given in Proverbs 5 that demonstrates how the Spirit is enabling us to affair proof our hearts.

I. Don't let yourself be enticed by smooth words (speak the gospel to your spouse)

"My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.  For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.  Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it." (Proverbs 5:1-6)

Solomon doesn't mince words as he attempts to paint a picture in this passage. The image we're given here is of a woman who tries to tempt a man, but keep in mind this same principal works the other way too. Men tempt women. Women tempt men. Neither scenario is good. The concept being conveyed is a person who tries to drag another person down into the depths of sin, instead of building them up and pointing them toward Christ.

There are three primary sources of temptation, and it's wise to be aware of each. We can be tempted by other people, by the devil, and by ourselves. Ironically, we more often tend to blame the devil or other people for tempting us than we blame ourselves even though we tend to be the biggest source of our own temptation.

In this passage, Solomon demonstrates how the smooth words of someone else, combined with our willingness to participate in wickedness, can lead us to the path of death. The path of death is the path of ignorance and rebellion without thought of the consequences of our choices. We were all on that path before coming to faith in Christ and being placed on His path of life. And if we've received new life in Christ, it doesn't make sense for us to return to the path He rescued us from, so don't go back to it.

Rather, instead of being enticed by the smooth words of your tempter, use your words in a proactive way. If the Lord has blessed you with a spouse, speak the gospel to him or her. Give your spouse daily reminders of the grace of Christ, and the faithfulness of Christ, through the verbal reminders you pepper them with throughout the day.

II. Keep yourself away from tempting situations (spend time with your spouse)

“And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.  Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house," (Proverbs 5:7-8)

Those who know me best know that food tends to be my biggest vice. I remember when our family first moved to Langhorne, PA, I was very pleased with the abundance of my favorite chain restaurants that are all just a 5 minute drive from my house or my office. It didn't take long before I found myself eating lunch at one of my favorites almost every day. When I finally started adding up the calories I was eating, I realized that in one meal, I was consuming more than I should eat in an entire day.

For that pattern to be interrupted, I needed to stop visiting those restaurants. It wasn't enough for me to promise myself that I'd make better food choices. I had to take a break from eating there, otherwise I'd be tempted to go right back to my unhealthy habits. I still struggle with this because I'm an emotional eater. I have the bad habit of medicating my stress with food.

With that in mind, why do you suppose the father in this passage encourages the son to stay far away from the temptress? Why is he told not to even go near the door of her house? He's being given this advice because proximity equals opportunity. If you put yourself near what tempts you, you're more likely to give in to it in a moment of weakness. If you keep your distance, you're giving yourself less opportunity to fall.

When it comes to marriage, we can flip this concept on its head and do something proactive. While keeping ourselves away from tempting situations, we can begin carving out time with our spouse. For some people, that's the primary way they know they're loved. If you carve out time for your spouse, you're demonstrating that you'd rather be with them than spend your time lurking where you're likely to be brought down.

III. You aren't an exception to the downside of unfaithfulness (so treat your spouse exceptionally)

lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner, and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.” (Proverbs 5:9-14)

Solomon continues to demonstrate the importance of marital fidelity in this passage by revealing the part of an affair that most participants do their best to ignore. Everyone seems to think they will be the one exception to the downside of unfaithfulness, but guess what, there are no exceptions.

Solomon very clearly tells us that the unfaithful person can expect loss of honor, oppression, to be taken advantage of, unexpected costs that derail their financial health, physical problems, and deep regret. I don't know how that sounds to you, but that certainly gets my attention. And there are no exceptions to this rule. Everyone who persists in unfaithfulness eventually pays this price.

That's why I'm so grateful that our Lord is compassionate toward us. Through Jesus, we're given the opportunity to repent of our unfaithfulness, get back on the path of life, and be cleansed of our iniquities.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Instead of convincing ourselves that somehow we're the exception to the downside of unfaithfulness, let's treat our spouses exceptionally. Let's make a point to demonstrate the sacrificial love and fidelity of Christ within our households.

IV. Be satisfied with the blessing God has selected for you (and be a blessing to the one God chose for you)

"Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?" (Proverbs 5:15-20)

Remember when restaurants didn't give you free refills on your beverages? When I was in high school, our tennis team visited a restaurant after a match that was a distance away. I was very thirsty and ordered a large iced tea with my meal. During the meal, I made the mistake of getting up from the table and one of the guys sitting across from me took most of my drink and poured it into his cup. When I came back to the table and discovered it, I was furious.

Solomon tells us that when it comes to married life, don't try to steal someone else's drink. Drink water from your own cistern. Enjoy the blessings and benefits of marital intimacy without attempting to satisfy that desire outside of marriage. Be satisfied with the blessing God has given you. Be a blessing to the one God blessed you with. Don't covet someone else's blessing. And don't forget that your marriage is meant to demonstrate the love of Christ for His bride, the church. Guard, protect, and provide for your marriage the way Christ is caring for His.

V. God is watching (so keep a close eye on your life and motives)

"For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.  The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.  He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray." (Proverbs 5:21-23)

Lastly, Solomon makes a point to remind us of something healthy that we far too often forget. He brings our attention to the fact that the eyes of God are always upon us. God is watching. There is nothing about our lives or our motives that can be hidden from Him. He knows it all.

If we squelch our conscience and try to live as if God cannot see us and will not hold us accountable, we will find ourselves dreadfully ensnared in the cords of sin. We'll be led astray toward folly and come to a tragic demise.

I don't know how this chapter of Proverbs strikes your ears, but I hope you can hear God's protective care in these words. He isn't revealing the downside of unfaithfulness to us to beat us up if we're already feeling guilty about something. He's revealing the truth to us so we won't take our lives in an ungodly and unwise direction. He's giving us words of prevention while also reminding us that He's the cure for this problem.

Christ is the solution for our wandering hearts. Through Him, we can affair proof our life. By finding our satisfaction in Christ, we don't need to attempt to satisfy the cravings of our old nature.

"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:6)

© John Stange, 2020

Do you have a forward facing faith?

When I was in my early teens, I remember our church taking the youth group on a hayride. The hayride was hosted by a farm that was a little distance away. To save gas, the adult chaperones decided that it would make sense to car pool, and several drivers offered their vehicles. One of the drivers who volunteered was our pastor. He drove a light blue station wagon with wood grain exterior trim, and I was assigned to ride with him.

During the days when seat belts were considered optional, station wagons were very fun cars for a kid to ride in. You had all the room in the world to roam around the back, but our pastor's car had one additional feature that I had never experienced before. His car had a bench seat in the far back that folded up from the floor and let you face the rear window. I volunteered to sit there and found it very entertaining. It was certainly a new perspective as a passenger.

By the end of the drive, however, the novelty wore off. It became clear to me that I strongly preferred facing forward. I wanted to see where I was going, not where I had already been. Spiritually speaking, I think that's a perspective the Lord wants us to develop as well. He invites us to be looking forward, not staring backward or looking side to side.

In Proverbs 4:20-27, Solomon speaks directly about that very thing. As we prepare to look at that passage together, let me ask, "Do you have a forward facing faith?"

I. Develop a thirst for righteous wisdom

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.  For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)

During the warm months, I typically mow my lawn on Monday afternoons. I usually take that day off, so if the weather cooperates, it's a good time of the week for me to get that task accomplished. To some people, it's a chore, but for me it's relaxing. I try to stay hydrated while I'm mowing, but I have noticed that when I'm done, there's nothing I seem to crave more than some sort of fruit juice. I suspect that my body is sending my brain signals that the fruit juice has the nutrients or electrolytes that were depleted while I was outside working.

I think we all know what it's like to have an intense thirst for something. We find it difficult to stop thinking about it until we obtain it. In my estimation, it's practical to keep that feeling in mind when we're reading this passage. Solomon is teaching us to develop a thirst for righteous wisdom.

As he makes a pattern of doing, Solomon writes like a father speaking to a son. He instructs the son, or the reader, to be attentive to his words and to have an ear that is inclined to listen to what he's saying because in that teaching, there is life and healing.

I picture the listener here being encouraged to have thirsty ears. We're encouraged to have ears that are highly eager to receive the wisdom of God. I frequently think about this when I'm preaching. I always know that when I'm proclaiming Scripture, I have to compete with cell phones, and I can tell if someone has thirsty ears that are ready to hear the word of God by whether the phone or the passage we're looking at has their attention.

If as followers of Christ we develop a thirst for righteous wisdom, we will experience blessings that are protective in nature. As our eyes and hearts learn to point toward Christ, and our faith continues to grow mature, we will be able to filter out so much worldly confusion. We'll actually begin to see the issues behind the issues, the real problems behind the presenting problems, and the needs behind the facades as we develop a thirst for righteous wisdom.

II. Guard your heart

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

A few months ago, I set up a new home office in my basement that has become the primary place I'm working right now. I like my desk. I like the privacy. I like the solitude that has allowed me to get more work done in less time because I have fewer distractions. But there's one problem with the office that I hope is only temporary. All of a sudden, it's being infested with yellow jackets. I still haven't figured out where these wasps are coming from, but I find myself needing to defend my favorite work environment from being invaded.

In a similar way, there are all kinds of things swarming around in our lives that would love to be able to invade our hearts. There are things that compete for our affections and our attention. There are things that want our full devotion, even though they aren't healthy or wise. Many people in this world, as well as many professing Christians, have allowed their lives to become derailed because they have stopped guarding their hearts.

Solomon encourages us to be vigilant in how we keep, protect, and watch over our hearts. He knew how susceptible our hearts can be to invasion and distraction. From our hearts we will gradually begin to display what we value and what we're prioritizing.

Our hearts, left to themselves, have a big problem. By nature, we struggle with sin, which means that our hearts our diseased and can't be fully trusted. Our hearts are actually quite adept at deceiving us. That's why Jesus chose to intervene on our behalf.

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person." (Matthew 15:19-20a)

Our hearts reveal what we value. Our hearts reveal what's going on within us. Our hearts demonstrate just how lost we would be without Christ.

Thankfully, through Jesus we receive a new heart. He teaches us to value new things that we didn't value while we were still leaving our hearts unguarded from the arrows of worldly temptation. The new heart He gives us aligns with His eternal desires for our lives.

So how can we avoid veering in an unguarded and unhealthy direction?

III. Don't be diverted from the path God placed you on

"Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.  Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.  Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.  Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil." (Proverbs 4:24-27)

Just the other day, I received a prayer request from someone I don't know personally. Due to a downturn in her industry, she was just informed that she lost her job. I have prayed for her multiple times since hearing that, and I'm sure most of us can sympathize with the emotions she's feeling.

So what should you do if you find yourself in a situation like that? Should you give up or should you press on? I don't know if you're familiar with the name Pat Flynn. He's developed a reputation over the years as someone who has figured out how just about anyone can bounce back from losing a job. Pat lost his job as an architect in 2008, and since that time, he learned how to successfully build an online business that helps people pass the exam needed to become an architect, and has been laser-focused on teaching people how they can build a business based on their expertise as well. He's a great example of the benefits that come from sticking to the right path over the long-term. His consistency is truly paying off.

There is a path the Lord directs us to follow in His word. As those who trust in Jesus Christ, all aspects of our lives are intended to be impacted by Christ's saving presence within us. We're encouraged to be people who do not divert from God's path. Our fidelity to remaining on that path will be visibly demonstrated in our speech, through our eyes, and by observing which direction our feet are walking.

The Bible has much to say about how we use our words. Solomon encourages us to put crooked speech and deception far from us. Elsewhere in Scripture, we're reminded that our words can build up, tear down, communicate the gospel, instruct the unwise, convey love, speak a blessing, and voice a petition before the throne of God.

"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34b)

The Bible has much to say about our eyes. Solomon encourages us to be people who look directly forward. Elsewhere in Scripture, we're encouraged not to look longingly toward worldly affections, to avoid feeding the lusts of our eyes, and to fix our eyes on Christ.

The Bible has much to say about how we use our feet. Solomon encourages us to think about where we're walking, to avoid veering off path, and to turn our feet away from evil. Elsewhere in Scripture we're invited to come running to our Heavenly Father who loves us, and to venture out as missionaries who bring the good news where it hasn't yet been heard.

All of this is to be done with a forward looking faith. The way we use our speech, the content we feed our eyes, and the path our feet follow should reflect the new heart Jesus has given us. And of the examples of a forward looking faith, His is the most powerful.

"let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross," (Hebrews 12:1b-2a)

We're called to have a forward facing faith that reflects the example of Christ. Jesus was willing to endure all He experienced on this earth because He could see beyond it. As we run our race on this planet, it can be far too easy to grow weary. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus, and learn to see what He sees, our perspective can drastically change.

Jesus was looking forward to the new family He would establish, the church. Jesus was looking forward to the redemption of billions of lost lives. Jesus was looking forward to the reformation and restoration of His creation. And because He was able to see beyond His momentary pain, He endured the most excruciating form of death imagined in the mind of man.

As those who follow Christ and trust in Him completely, let's remember His example. And keeping our eyes on Him, let's continue to look forward to what He has in store for all who know and love Him.

© John Stange, 2020

The blueprint for living a long and peaceful life

When I was in seventh grade, my science teacher was talking about biological and sociological factors that tend to contribute to a lengthier life span. In the midst of teaching on that subject, he asked the class this question, "How many of you would like to live till you're 100-years-old?" Most of the class raised their hands, but I didn't.

My teacher thought that was odd, so he asked me a follow up question. "Typically, when I ask my students a question like that, they all raise their hands. Why didn't you raise yours?"

I gave a reply that was 50% honest, and 50% an attempt to look cool and rebellious in front of my peers. I answered, "Life stinks!" When I look back at what was going on in my life during that season, and when I consider some of my major influences at that time, it doesn't surprise me that I said that. But now, if I was asked that question, I would give a very different answer. I happen to enjoy life, and I'm more convinced than ever that it is a gift from God.

We don't know how many days the Lord has ordained for us on this earth. It's different for us all. But when we examine Proverbs 3:1-12, we're given a blueprint that most certainly can contribute to a long and peaceful life. The counsel we're given in these verses is priceless.

I. Remember what you were taught

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you." (Proverbs 3:1-2)

One of the greatest privileges I have been given is the blessing of being a father to four great children. I love them. I'm proud of them, and I'm glad I get to spend large portions of my life with them. On a daily basis, they ask me questions, and they expect answers. I have never been shy about sharing my opinions and insights with them. But here's the interesting part of that. Sometimes they accept my counsel eagerly. Other times, they reject it and venture out on their own. That's the same pattern many of us follow in life, but I'm sure most of us can testify to the fact that things tend to go better when we listen to what we were taught.

As he does in multiple portions of the book of Proverbs, Solomon writes this section like a father giving advice to his son. This approach conveys the heart of a loving father toward his child. It also gives us a glimpse of the loving heart of God the Father toward His children.

These verses set the tone for what Solomon is about to elaborate on. If we want to avoid an untimely demise, and if we want to experience a peaceful life that isn't filled with needless pain and regret, we would be wise to listen to the counsel of those who love us and have walked a mile in our shoes just one short generation ago.

And above that, we would be wise to listen to the wise counsel Jesus has given us through His teaching. In fact, Christ reveals that we are being actively helped to remember His words. The Holy Spirit intentionally and powerfully reminds us of what Jesus said to us.

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:25-26)

II. Remain loving and faithful

"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man." (Proverbs 3:3-4)

I'm grateful that throughout the course of our days, we have the privilege of getting to know the Lord better and better. He has revealed Himself to us, and He has historically told us more about Himself so we would understand His nature and His character.

During the days of the exodus when Moses was leading the people of Israel toward the Promised Land, the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in powerful ways. During that season, the Lord made it clear to Moses that, by nature, He was merciful, gracious, patient, loving, and faithful.

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness," (Exodus 34:6)

Solomon was familiar with what the Lord had revealed about Himself back in the days of Moses, and as the Holy Spirit was inspiring him to write down these verses, Solomon encouraged us to reflect the heart of God by likewise remaining loving and faithful.

Through faith in Jesus, this is possible for us. When we trust in Christ, our heart is changed, our eyes are opened, and our desires are reformed. We begin to want the things that God wants, and value what he values. If we actively demonstrate the fact that we value love and faithfulness by lavishly bestowing them upon others, Solomon tells us we will find favor and success in the sight of God and man. The Father will delight to see us reflecting His heart, and others will grow to respect us because we're demonstrating the fact that we value, care for, and respect them.

III. Trust in the Lord

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.  It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)

On most Fridays, I take my wife out to eat, then we usually take a walk together and finish the evening with ice cream. I enjoy our conversations on Friday nights because it usually involves some reminiscing. We're in our mid-40's now, so it blows my mind when I think about the fact that we started dating when we were still teenagers. Every day I get to enjoy the fruit of the choices I made when I was young.

During my teen years, I was being peppered with advice from all angles. Some of that counsel was wise, but much of that counsel was bad. I'm grateful that I started listening to the counsel the Lord gives us in His word at a young age instead of trusting my own wisdom. It has had a huge impact on the trajectory of my life, and I think that's the point. The sooner we learn to trust the Lord's wisdom above our own ideas, the better life goes.

Solomon encourages us to be people who trust in the Lord with our entire heart instead of idolizing ourselves and our own ideas. He encourages us to acknowledge the Lord as the one who is in charge of our lives so that we won't veer off course. He challenges us, as he does throughout Proverbs, to fear the Lord and turn from evil.

All that being said, there is no more peaceful way to live your life than to go through your days trusting in the Lord, just as this passage says. When hard days come, we can trust that the Lord has a purpose for the lessons we're learning. When we're troubled about all the things we can't control, we can step back and be glad that He has everything under His control. When we're tempted to start living in the past, we can look forward to the future and take solace in the fact that Christ will return just as He promised to.

In every moment, and in all circumstances, we're called to trust the Lord.

IV. Honor the LORD with your wealth

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10)

What does it mean to honor the Lord with your wealth? Do you even feel wealthy? I read a statistic not too long ago that stated that if you earn more than $34,000 per year, you're wealthier than 99% percent of the people living on earth right now. And if you have just $4,210 to your name, you're wealthier than 50% of people living on earth.

I don't know how much money the Lord will entrust to you during the course of your life. It's likely there will be others who earn more than you and others who earn less. But the Lord has promised to meet our needs, and He sovereignly allows us to earn and receive what He has willed for us.

If we show that we won't worship money, but will use it to glorify Him, it seems likely from what we read in verses like this that the Lord may choose to entrust additional wealth to us. But if we don't honor Him with what He has already entrusted to us, I don't think He would be doing us much of a favor to give us even more. If we're going to turn money into an idol, the fatherly thing to do would be to hold back from giving us something that might actually draw us away from Him. So honor the Lord with whatever wealth He entrusts to your care.

V. Accept the LORD's discipline

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12)

As Solomon concludes this portion of the chapter, he points us toward one additional way the Lord demonstrates His love. God shows us He loves us through disciplining us. He doesn't discipline us because He hates us. His discipline is evidence of His love.

For this reason, Solomon encourages us not to despise, resent, or grow tired of the Lord's willingness to discipline us. God's discipline is protective and redemptive in nature. He’s rescuing us from harm and leading us away from greater errors. He's showing us that He is sufficient and that our lives are being compassionately overseen by One who cares for our well-being, and isn't shy about intervening on our behalf in a corrective way.

As the Lord disciplines us, He's giving us opportunity to learn, confess, and repent. Our sin has already been paid for by Jesus. Through Christ we are set free from our bondage to it. The discipline of God is a helpful way to get the taste of sin out of our mouths. He's helping us to realize that the sweetness of sin and rebellion is nothing but spoiled and bitter fruit.

The blueprint for a long and peaceful life isn't complicated, but more people reject that blueprint than accept it. As we trust in Jesus, and live out the fruit of that trust, there will be measurable benefit in our lives. This chapter of Proverbs makes that abundantly clear.

Notes:
1. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2082385/We-1--You-need-34k-income-global-elite--half-worlds-richest-live-U-S.html
2. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/07/how-much-money-you-need-to-be-in-the-richest-10-percent-worldwide.html

© John Stange, 2020

If it's important to you, you'll do what you need to get it

A few months ago, my mother-in-law bought me a book. It's a book about a musician that I have always admired and respected. She knows I have a lot of books and love to read. When she gave me the book, I joked with her, "You know, it's a little dangerous to try to buy a book for me."

"Why's that?," she asked.

"Because if I really want to read something, odds are I've probably already purchased it."

We laughed about that, because we both know it's true. I have pretty simple tastes, but if something truly catches my attention, it isn't too much longer before it's in my possession. And when it comes to knowledge, if I want to know something, I'm going to do whatever it takes to learn it. I think we all demonstrate that same capacity to one degree or another. If something is genuinely important to us, we'll do whatever it takes to get it. In fact, if you take a quick moment to analyze your life, you'll see that you're already pursuing what's important to you.

Solomon elaborates on that concept in Proverbs 2. He applies that approach to the subject of the wisdom of God. If the wisdom of God is important to you, you'll call out for it. You'll eagerly pursue it. You'll give up other things in order to get it. You'll plead with the Lord to bless you with it.

So how important is godly wisdom to us? Are we doing what we need in order to get it?

I. Is the treasure you're seeking and the treasure you actually need the same thing?

"My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:1-5)

How much of your life is being spent digging for some kind of treasure?

Sometimes I feel guilty about complaining because I know my life isn't anywhere near as difficult as the lives some of my ancestors lived. On my hardest days, I often think about my great-grandfather, Joseph Lewis, and the fact that he spent nearly every day of his adult life working in a coal mine. There were many days he didn't see sunlight because his task was to pick at veins of coal deep in the ground. And sadly, he lost his life in a cave in.

Solomon speaks of the treasure we're invited to dig for in this passage. He teaches us that we're to receive the words and wisdom of God like the great gift that they are. We're to treasure His commandments and seek to know even more about what He's communicating.

In fact, we're told to make this a matter of prayer. We're invited to call out to the Lord for the kind of supernatural insight only He can fully supply. If this becomes the pattern of our life, we'll be amazed at the good that comes from it. In the process of seeking the Lord's counsel and internalizing the wisdom He makes available to us in His word, we'll gain a deeper level of reverence for Him and we'll know Him in a full and meaningful way.

With this in mind, I love what Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:6. In that passage He says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." The wisdom of this world cannot satisfy our hearts, but the righteousness of Christ that we receive as a gift through faith in Christ, will satisfy the longings of our soul. And with His righteousness, we likewise receive His wisdom. He who lives within us offers us His counsel.

Admittedly, I have spent multiple seasons of my life seeking after things that I mistakenly thought would satisfy that longing. Thankfully, the Lord has been showing me that He alone is sufficient. The treasure that I was seeking and the treasure I actually needed weren't the same thing. But now my heart is convinced that in Christ I find all I truly need. Jesus is the wisdom of God personified and He offers Himself to us freely.

II. God is guarding your life in multiple ways through multiple means

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways." (Proverbs 2:6-15)

When our kids were little, we lived in a home with a nice wooden staircase. I thought it was lovely, but it was also a little dangerous. I went sliding down that thing, unintentionally, many times in my socks. And because our house was full of people, it wasn't always practical to have a gate in place to block it. Thankfully, we had our son Jay who, even at a very young age, was always willing to stand guard and legitimately protect his younger siblings from getting too close to it or falling down that staircase.

Have you ever paused to thank God for the ways He's intentionally guarding and protecting your life? Can you see the safety measures and guide-rails He's surrounding you with to keep you from falling?

Solomon gives us a glimpse of multiple ways the Lord is guarding us. He tells us that God guards us by giving us wisdom. We receive that wisdom as the Holy Spirit speaks to our conscience, and enlightens us through His word. We're also told that the Lord is sovereignly watching over the path we take. He shields us from evil. He protects us from perverseness. He delivers us from those who want us to join them on a crooked path.

Knowing that the Lord is guarding our lives should certainly be a source of comfort and confidence for us all, but it doesn't excuse us from paying attention to the steps we take or the way we walk our walk. We have been granted the liberty to embrace His protective guidance or try to live our lives outside of those rails. This passage shows us the wisdom of embracing the framework of God's protective care.

III. There is a high degree of similarity between spiritual and marital adultery

"So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life." (Proverbs 2:16-19)

I once heard a man state that when he was a child, his grandmother didn't want him to read some of the things Solomon wrote in the Bible, particularly when he brought up subjects like adultery and other issues related to marriage and intimacy. She told him he should wait until he was older to read them.

I do find it rather interesting how frequently subjects like adultery and unfaithfulness come up in Scripture. The history of humanity shows us that this is one of the primary areas of temptation we struggle with. In fact, when you take a look at the lives of leaders who eventually disqualify themselves in leadership, it frequently comes back to either their misuse of money or their lack of integrity in regard to sexual ethics.

And while infidelity within a marriage is certainly a big deal, there's a realm of unfaithfulness that the Lord often speaks about in the same manner. You may or may not have been unfaithful to your spouse, but all of us have struggled to be faithful to God. This has been the struggle of humanity from our earliest days. It was because of our willingness to sever our relationship with God and live unfaithfully that the Father sent us Jesus. Our relationship with the Lord needs to be restored and reconciled, and that's only accomplished through Christ.

"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4)

When we examine Solomon's words in Proverbs 2, he shows us that giving in to the temptation to be unfaithful only leads to ruin. Marital adultery and spiritual adultery both seem enticing and tempting in the moment, but they both lead to ruin and regret in the end. Solomon's words are strong counsel to us, "for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed."

IV. Build your life on a foundation of faith, righteousness, and integrity

"So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it." (Proverbs 2:20-22)

I'm grateful that through Christ, we don't need to remain on the path of unrighteousness and death. In Christ, we receive life. In Christ, we're made upright, and we're given an inheritance in the kingdom of God. As Solomon says, "the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it." The wicked who persist in their unbelief are cut off from the eternal goodness of God, but those who have faith in Christ will enjoy a secure inheritance in His presence forever.

This passage forces me to ask the question, "On what foundation am I building my life?" When you look at the example that's being held out for us to emulate, we're shown a person who chooses to build their life on a foundation of faith, righteousness, and integrity. As they trust in the Lord and receive His wisdom, they're shown that this is the right foundation to lay.

But some people build their lives on something much shakier. I won't use names, but I recently read an article about an influential person who is now deceased. During the course of his life, his public persona gave off the impression that he was a man of character, but since his death, it's starting to become clear that he may have been leading a double life. It drives me crazy when I learn of stories like that, but it's so common and we need to admit that we could easily find ourselves making the same mistake if we attempt to build our lives on a worldly or wicked foundation.

Is your life being built on the foundation of Jesus Christ who will foster faith, righteousness, and integrity, or are you living a double life, built on a shaky foundation that's bound to eventually crumble?

The wisdom and righteousness of Christ matters. It's of greater value than the treasures this world tries to convince us to value. If what Christ offers you is valuable to you, you'll do what you need to do to get it. Are you calling out to Him for it? How badly do you want the wisdom He offers? How intensely do you want Him to guide, direct, and protect your life?

© John Stange, 2020

Lasting in leadership over the long term

On Tuesday, September 15th, John Stange led a webinar on “Lasting in leadership over the long term.” The worksheets and slides from that event are included below. Please feel free to download them and use them with your church leadership team.

You’re also welcome to download a free copy of John’s book “Healthy” which is included below.

Don't allow yourself to be easily led astray

The book of Proverbs is one of the best loved books of Scripture.

What is the purpose of the book of Proverbs? The book of Proverbs is a fascinating book. It was written to impart godly wisdom to us, but that wisdom can only be fully understood and appreciated when it's coupled with genuine faith in the Lord. If we read its pages, and implement what we read, we'll be spared from making all kinds of unforced errors. We'll also get ahead in many meaningful ways in a shorter period of time by incorporating this wisdom into our life.

Who wrote it? The primary person who wrote the book of Proverbs was King Solomon. Solomon was king of Israel in about 900 B.C. and he was granted great wisdom by the Lord. He also compiled the wise words of other individuals and included them in this collection. This collection of divinely inspired wisdom was a great gift to the people of Solomon's day, but it's also a great gift to us as well. We would do well to heed the counsel contained in this collection of verses.

Topics in Proverbs: Every major topic of life is referenced in the book of Proverbs. Solomon speaks about the nature of our relationship with God. He also speaks about things like; our behaviors, our character, our motivation, financial wealth, relationships, ethics, and the process of raising children.

As we examine some of the wise subjects addressed in Proverbs, we're going to learn more about walking in the wisdom of God and what it looks like to grow in godliness, avoid costly mistakes, and get ahead in life.

I. Are you positioned to welcome or resist wisdom and instruction?

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:5-7)

One of my favorite pictures of my daughter Julia was taken at Core Creek Park in Langhorne, PA when she was a little less than 3-years-old. Andrea and I had taken the kids to the park to run around and play in the fields. We also brought along a small football that our sons liked to throw around when they were small. I offered to throw the ball to Julia as well and she cautiously agreed. As she did so, she put her hands out in front of her, squinted her eyes, and nervously waited for the ball to come crashing into her arms. She made herself ready to receive it in anticipation of its arrival.

Is it your belief that the Lord wants to bless you with His wisdom? Are you ready to receive it? Are you positioned to welcome it, or is your back still turned toward it?

As Solomon begins this collection of wise counsel, he shows us how to be ready to receive it. He invites the wise to hear and increase their learning. He encourages the understanding among us to get ready to obtain additional guidance. Then he draws a stark line between those who are in a posture to receive divine truth and those who turn their backs to wisdom.

Solomon is very careful to say that a person can only experience the true fullness of wisdom if they respect the Lord who is the source of wisdom. If we have genuine faith in the Lord and our hearts truly revere Him, we're positioned to hear His counsel and drink it in deeply. But fools despise godly wisdom and turn their backs to wisdom's source.

I don't believe we should use the words "fool" or "idiot" casually. For the most part, I have attempted to weed those words out of my vocabulary unless I'm using them in their proper context. A true fool, like Solomon references in Proverbs 1:7, is a faithless person. A fool utterly rejects the Lord and lives as if the Lord doesn't exist. I have chosen to stop using that term casually because it isn't a term that's meant to be taken lightly. It's a term that should be reserved for someone who lives in the arrogance of unbelief.

What side of that line are you living on? Are you positioned to welcome or resist the wisdom of God? When you look at the full counsel of Scripture, we're shown that we'll never touch the depths of wisdom until we come to a place of genuine faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the wisdom of God personified. Jesus is greater than Solomon. He is the one who created Solomon and the world Solomon occupied.

"And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,  righteousness and sanctification and redemption," (1 Corinthians 1:30)

"The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12:42)

II. The company you keep will lift you up or tear you down

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.  My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.  If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse” (Proverbs 1:8-14)

When possible, I try to grab lunch with some of the men I'm friends with in our church and in our community. It's a good way to connect, and sometimes it can provide a great opportunity for leadership development and discipleship.

Years ago, I used to carve out time to meet with someone, but I eventually had to stop. I noticed that every conversation eventually transitioned into what he disliked about other people. Then when he ran out of other people to cut down, he would "do me the favor" of telling me all the things he didn't really like about me. In his words, he was just trying to be "helpful," but I can't remember a single time I left one of those lunches feeling anything but discouraged by his demeaning negativity. Eventually, I decided it would be best to stop meeting for lunch because the company you keep will either lift you up or tear you down, and he was really good at tearing me down.

Solomon references that same concept in Proverbs 1:8-14, and I think it's particularly interesting that he mentions this in the very first chapter of this book. It's as if he's trying to tell us that the company we keep is such an important concept to understand that it will deeply impact our openness to receive and apply wisdom depending on who we're surrounding ourselves with. Some of the best people to surround yourself with are your parents.

Solomon encourages us to be people who take counsel from our parents. The Lord has given us our parents as a gift. They have lived through every season we're presently living through, and heeding their counsel can save us from many needless mistakes and regrets.

Isn't it comical how all of us at one point of another have probably convinced ourselves that we knew more than our parents? Practically speaking, that doesn't make any sense. People don't tend to get dumber the longer they live. As they accumulate experiences, relationships, and endure hardships, they tend to grow in wisdom as well. And if they know and love Jesus, that wisdom is also coupled with faith. What sense does it make to reject their wisdom when they offer it to us? Only the arrogant reject godly counsel when it's freely offered to them.

That counsel can stick in our thinking long after our parents are even living. Just the other day, my father told me that he was so tired on Sunday morning and didn't want to get up for church, but he could still hear my grandmother's voice in his mind saying, "The Lord gives you 168 hours every week. Is it too much for you to give Him one of those back?" So, even though my grandmother is presently in Heaven, the memory of her counsel still gets him out of bed for church on Sundays. She spent her life building her children up.

But as we've already said, not everyone in your life wants to build you up. Plenty of people will extend an invitation to you to join them in whatever mess they've immersed themselves in. Don't take that invitation. It's much easier to be dragged down than to be lifted up.

Solomon shares an example of companions who give counsel that is contrary to the advice given by godly parents. He speaks of men who try to entice someone to join them in ambushing an unsuspecting person. He speaks of those who attempt to entice you with worldliness, and he encourages us not to consent to their allure.

Who thinks so little of your well-being that they're willing to drag you down? Don't go in the direction they're trying to take you. Who loves you enough to lift you up? Walk with them, take their counsel, and make the point to give each other a regular glimpse of the heart of Christ.

III. You'll never get ahead by stealing someone else's blessings

“my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.” (Proverbs 1:15-19)

As Solomon describes those who attempt to ambush and rob an unsuspecting person, he reveals the outcome of that manner of living. Those who live this way will eventually find themselves ensnared by the traps they set for others. Their attempts to damage and destroy other people will only leave them damaged and destroyed.

I was thinking about his recently when I read a story about two well-educated, but young lawyers who decided to participate in several criminal acts. One threw a fire bomb into a police car, but her actions were caught on video. I couldn't help but think about the fact that she spent many years and lots of money in preparation for a lucrative career, then threw it all away by attempting to harm someone else.

How does a person really get ahead in life? I think that question will be answered for us through many of the examples we're given in the book of Proverbs, but even before we fully grasp that answer, I think this passage makes it clear that we won't be getting ahead by trying to steal someone else's blessings. Coveting another persons gifts, talents, and treasures will only leave you feeling jealous and empty. It's much better to celebrate another person's blessings than it is to condemn them for receiving them.

When we fail to celebrate the blessings someone else has received, we're also showing that deep down we're dissatisfied with the blessings we've been given. It's like saying to the Lord, "I realize you've been good to me, but you could have done better than this. You obviously must not have my best interests at heart." But Christ truly does have our best interests in mind when He allows us to receive and enjoy what we're entrusted with.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Throughout the course of your life, you're going to encounter many different influences. Some will attempt to build you up. Some will try to tear you down. Some will point you to Christ, and some will try to convince you that your heart can find contentment apart from Him. Ask the Lord to help you filter these influences so you aren't easily led astray from a sincere walk with Christ. Trust the Lord. Revere Him, and allow the healthy respect you have for His power to form the foundation of the wisdom your life is being built upon.

© John Stange, 2020

Are you spiritually discerning, dull, disinterested, or dead?

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

I truly wish the spiritual discernment we've been granted as believers in Jesus Christ was an aspect of our salvation that was valued, appreciated, and utilized more than it is. The older I get, and the more I observe the lives of those I care about, the more concerned I'm becoming that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are buying into the smoke screens and delusions of the age in which we live.

In every generation, Satan attempts to propagate values and priorities that aren't biblical. Those values are preached to us constantly through nearly every channel of communication and source of entertainment. Those values work their way into our textbooks, conversations, and parenting trends. Two things leave us wide open to buying into them; lack of prayer and lack of time in the Bible. We buy into a mindset that we should be guarding against because our minds are being fed a steady diet of worldly beliefs while being starved of the word of God.

Are we willing to admit this is a problem that's presently affecting the church? Would we be willing to ask ourselves the hard question, "Am I spiritually discerning, dull, disinterested, or dead?"

I. Your mind needs to be regenerated in order to have true spiritual understanding

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14) 

The other day, my youngest daughter and I were engaged in a debate. It wasn't contentious or argumentative like some debates in this world can become. Our discussion centered around the application of a particular portion of Scripture and whether or not we should interpret it as a hard and fast issue, or if there was some room for liberty in our understanding of that passage. I thought it was a good discussion, and I appreciated the spirit in which she approached the topic with me. She genuinely wanted to learn and didn't resist giving my viewpoint some consideration.

My daughter values the teaching of Scripture because she trusts in Jesus, and the Spirit of God lives within her. A stark contrast to that worldview is illustrated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:14. In that passage, Paul tells us that a person with a mind that hasn't been regenerated by the Spirit of God cannot understand the things pertaining to the Spirit of God. It's a foreign language to him. It sounds like foolishness, and the unspiritual person probably scratches his head wondering why anyone would believe something that cannot be observed in nature.

I think there's a lot of irony present in that viewpoint, however. The unspiritual person thinks spiritual truth is folly and can't fathom why we place so much trust in a God we can't see, but I can't help but wonder how much such a person would be willing to examine the nature of their own beliefs or who they're placing their trust in.

Everyone believes things they haven't seen. Everyone places their trust in people they haven't laid eyes on. Everyone believes theories and ideas they haven't personally verified. Have you ever considered that much of what you believe comes down to the fact that you have chosen to trust the person who delivered information to you first, and many of your core convictions are things you've never taken much time to research or examine?

If an online influencer or celebrity got to your mind first, you may treat their views as verifiable truth. If a parent, teacher, or pastor got to your mind first, you may also trust what they've told you. It may be accurate or it may not be, but you may be basing the way you live your life, the way you treat your spouse, the way you raise your children, and the way you relate to God based on information that may be false, yet you treat it as true.

So what should we do about this? I think one of the best examples we're given is found in the history of the early church as recorded in Acts 17:11-12 which says, "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men." They searched the Scriptures for themselves with the goal to learn what was true.

The natural person doesn't have the power to discern spiritual truth. They are an open vessel for the whims and wishes of destructive earthly philosophies to take hold in their minds. But those who trust in Jesus Christ have the internal witness of the Holy Spirit who leads us toward the truth and uses His revealed word, which He encourages us to examine, to help us differentiate between what is true and what isn't.

If you're walking by faith in Christ, keeping in step with the Spirit, you'll understand what He's telling you. But if you don't believe, or if you keep fighting Him, or if you never seem to get around to examining the Scriptures for yourself, you'll be ripe for deception and Satan will gladly swoop in, put a bag over your head, and encourage you to spend decades on this earth stumbling around in utter confusion while you wait for the world to tell you what to believe next.

II. Someone in a state of unbelief cannot make accurate spiritual judgements

"The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one." (1 Corinthians 2:15) 

Have you ever had to stand before a judge? Depending on your reason for standing before one, it can be an intimidating experience. Your hope is that the judge rules justly and makes the right decisions, but you know there's a risk that he might not.

When you become a parent, a coach, a teacher, or an employer, you also become a judge. When I was directing a conference center, I had to make daily judgement calls with campers and staff. I had to decide when to chastise and when to show mercy. I had to try to decipher truth when competing stories were presented before me.

I still remember a camper who was accused of vandalizing part of the camp's property. He denied doing it, so I asked that he be brought before me. I looked at him in the face, confronted him with the details I knew, carefully watched his body language and facial expressions while I was talking, then finished my statement with, "You did what you're being accused of, didn't you." When I made the right judgement call, he confessed and said, "Yes, I did." Then I thanked him for his confession and told him, "If you go back and fix it, there will be no further problems and I'll have no issue with you either." He undid his vandalism and didn't cause any further difficulties. I had to make a judgement call, and I think I made the right one.

In 1 Corinthians 2:15, Paul speaks of judgement, but he also makes it clear that an unspiritual person cannot make accurate spiritual judgements, while a spiritual person can. If you have genuine faith in Jesus Christ, your assessment of the the value of His life, death, and resurrection will differ greatly from the assessments of the unspiritual person. Your understanding of the nature and need of salvation will differ greatly as well, and the unspiritual person will not be able to see what you're seeing until their spiritual eyes are opened.

Are there people in your life who seem spiritually disinterested or spiritually dead to you? If you know Jesus, what role has the Lord called you to play in their life?

Christ is offering Himself to them just like He offered Himself to you. In fact, He's making His appeal to them through your words and your life. Your task is to pray for them, model genuine faith to them, value them, spend time with them, speak to them, pray with them, and then mentor them in the faith if they eventually come to believe in Jesus. I hope someone once did that for you as well.

III. Are we making the best use of the insight and understanding made available to us?

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

I used to spend a lot of time at my grandmother's house when I was a child. Her sister, my great-aunt lived there as well and was like a bonus grandmother to me. In their living room, they had end tables that doubled as book shelves. I used to walk past them all the time, but finally got curious enough to start reading the books my aunt had purchased. One was an almanac filled with interesting details about American history. For years, I read it and re-read it whenever I visited. It's amazing what happened to my history grades when I stopped walking past the books and started picking them up.

Do you ever feel like you're walking right past the insight and understanding God is making available to you?

It's obvious that we are not in a position to instruct the Lord about anything. He is omniscient. He knowns all things, and His thoughts are far above our own. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8)

But as Paul wraps up this chapter, he does so with a clear declaration that if we know Christ, we have been blessed with the mind of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, we are made able to see what He sees and think what He thinks. Are we making the best use of that ability?

Possessing the mind of Christ enables us to see ourselves from God's perspective.

Possessing the mind of Christ enables us to see others with the eyes of God.

Possessing the mind of Christ enables us to understand more clearly the times in which we live.

"Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command."  (1 Chronicles 12:32)

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16)

The mind of Christ is a gift given to all believers. Don't waste that gift. Understand the times in which you live. Walk in the wisdom of the Spirit, and resist the fallacies of the evil one that compete daily for space and dominance in your mind.

© John Stange, 2020

Do you actually understand what God is trying to say?

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

The other day, I had to make a long drive. When I'm making a long drive, I try to use the time to make and return phone calls. I had been meaning to contact someone who works with international missionaries and learn more about his ministry, so I scheduled the call to take place during the drive. Unfortunately, about twenty minutes into the call, I started to lose reception and his voice started fading in and out. I didn't want to interrupt his train of thought, so I did my best to piece together what he was trying to say, but eventually I had to admit that I couldn't understand what he was attempting to tell me.

God communicates with humanity, and He wants us to understand what He's trying to say. Some of us hear His voice, and some of us don't. Some of us clearly understand what He's telling us, and some of us don't have a clue what He's saying.

Would you like to be counted among those who hear the voice of God and understand what He's telling you? In 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, the Apostle Paul explains how that process takes place and what is necessary for us to understand what God is saying.

I. Certain truths can only be received if they are revealed

"these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”  (1 Corinthians 2:10, ESV)

In 1 Corinthians 2:8-9, Paul mentioned that the Lord has good things in store for those who love Him. These things are far beyond anything we have ever seen or could naturally imagine. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are guaranteed a place in God's eternal kingdom. As we walk by faith, our hearts develop confidence in the Lord and in His plan. We trust Him for things we have not yet seen.

Paul explains that this confident understanding we have regarding things we have not seen is directly connected to the fact that the Holy Spirit who lives within us has revealed these truths to us. This is a unique privilege because the Spirit does not live within everyone. Only those who trust in Christ are indwelled by the Holy Spirit (John 14:17), while the unbelieving world experiences the conviction of the Holy Spirit in an external way (John 16:8).

"even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:17)

"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:" (John 16:8)

The unbelieving world experiences the Spirit working on them from the outside. Believers experience Him working on us from within. And as He does His work, He shows us things we would not naturally perceive.

Unbelievers can look at creation and come to the conclusion that there must be an Intelligent Designer who made what we see. Believers, however, can also trust the fact that what we see will be remade and will no longer be corrupted by sin. We believe this because the Spirit has revealed these specific details in Scripture about what's coming up next. We would never naturally figure that out. These truths can only be known because they have been divinely revealed.

Likewise, I believe that if we're walking in step with the Spirit, He will reveal things to us about our own lives and the lives of people we interact with that wouldn't be known any other way. I have seen Him do this many times in my life when He has made something clear to me about another person, or has made something hidden obvious to me when I'm trying to help someone in a counseling context. I believe that's evidence of His internal presence and His ministry of revelation.

II. Through the Spirit, we understand the plans and purposes of God

“For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”  (1 Corinthians 2:11-12, ESV)

I was talking to a friend recently and he said to me, "You usually seem to be in a good mood, but have you ever angrily lashed out at someone?" His question made me think of a couple times when that's exactly what I've done. One particular time happened when I was a young pastor and a woman started publicly berating me because I didn't attend a viewing for one of her deceased relatives. I didn't even know about it until after it happened. After she lashed out at me, I replied to her and said, "I'm good at a few things, but one thing I'm terrible at is reading minds. Next time, if you want me to show up for something, it would help if you told me about it."

Do you have anyone in your life that seems to expect you to be able to read their mind? Why is that so frustrating? I think we're frustrated by that expectation because it's unreasonable and impossible. Paul confirms that in this passage when he says, "who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him?" We know what we're thinking, but others don't. Unless we reveal our inner thoughts, others will just be left guessing.

A similar thing could be said regarding God. Unless God reveals His thoughts to us, how will we know what He's thinking? But Paul teaches us in this passage that as believers in Jesus Christ who have the Holy Spirit living within us, we have been made able to understand God's plans and purposes. We've received the Spirit of God who makes us able to understand the things freely given to us by God. And as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:16, we have the mind of Christ. So with the Spirit of God and the mind of Christ, our capacity to comprehend deeper-level spiritual truths is made possible.

III. We are equipped to make known what the Spirit reveals to us

“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:13, ESV)

One of my favorite hours of the week is the mid-week Bible study we host at the church. In recent weeks, we've been going through the early chapters in Luke's gospel, and we're learning helpful things as we do so. That's also one of my favorite contexts in which to teach because it's a relaxed atmosphere that seems to foster helpful dialogue and discussion. It's an environment that genuinely promotes learning.

In a traditional educational environment, learning takes place when someone who is equipped to teach conveys information and takes the time to explain it. In the context of the church, one of the hardest things to convince people to do is teach or speak. Typically, the biggest obstacle that gets in their way is their own self-doubt. They doubt they're equipped to teach anything of value to someone else.

But if the Holy Spirit lives within you, you are equipped to impart spiritual truths to others. Paul stated that the things he was sharing with the church in Corinth were words that were taught to him by the Spirit. What is the Holy Spirit teaching you that He wants you to impart to someone else? What is He clarifying to your mind from His word that He wants you to pass along? And if you aren't willing to stand at a pulpit to do it, would you be willing to do it in some other way? A letter? A conversation? A social media post?

IV. Spiritual truths can only be understood in their fullness by those who are spiritual

“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:13, ESV)

In 1962, safety rules for riding motorcycles were written by the Honda Motor Company. As their products were gradually becoming more popular in the United States, they translated the rules from Japanese into English. Tell me if this translation makes sense to you...

1. At the rise of the hand by Policeman, stop rapidly. Do not pass him by or otherwise disrespect him.

2. When a passenger of the foot, hooves in sight, tootle the horn trumpet melodiously at first. If he still obstacles your passage, tootel him with vigor and express by word of mouth, warning Hi, Hi.

3. Beware of the wandering horse that he shall not take fright as you pass him. Do not explode the exhaust box at him. Go smoothingly by.

4. Give big space to the festive dog that makes sport in roadway. Avoid entanglement of dog with wheel spokes.

5. Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. Press the brake foot as you roll around the corners, and save the collapse and tie up.

Those safety rules are entertaining to read, but it would definitely help if they were interpreted more clearly. A native Japanese speaker wouldn't have even needed them to be translated because he would have understood them in their original form. Our ability to comprehend spiritual truth operates in a similar way.

Paul indicates in this passage that spiritual truths are understood by those who are spiritual, which likewise also indicates that spiritual truths are not understood by those who aren't spiritual.

So, here's my big question for you right now? Do you actually understand what God is trying to say or does the truth of His word remain foreign to your heart?

Many people, even professing believers, keep falling into the trap of believing worldly philosophies, cultural mantras, and the false teaching of today's talking heads, because they're trying to live with one foot in the world and the other foot in the kingdom of God. Where are your feet being planted? What makes sense to your mind? Do your core convictions (which will be demonstrated by your lifestyle) align with the clear teaching of God's word?

If you know Christ, please ask Him to clarify this for you. Ask Him to grant you a greater glimpse of what He sees, and the desire to ingest and apply His word to your life.

© John Stange, 2020

Insight holds greater value than authority

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

When you look at the things this world pursues, it's very clear that power and authority are high on the list. But which would you rather; authority or insight? Power or understanding?

Insight holds greater long-term value than authority. Scripture tells us that ultimately, every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. So what sense does it make to spend our lives trying to usurp His authority or build our own kingdom? I'd rather join Christ in what He's building than try to build something of my own. I'd rather gain insight into the deep and everlasting truths of God than spend my life immersed in the philosophies of man.

In 1 Corinthians 2:8-9, Paul shows us why insight holds greater value than authority.

I. Possessing power doesn't guarantee that you also possess wisdom

"None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:8)

A little over twenty years ago, I served on a ministry board with a very interesting man. In some respects, I appreciated the work he did, but in other areas, I often felt a check in my spirit when I spoke with him. For a while, I couldn't put my finger on what was bothering me, but then I heard him deliver a speech to a group of leaders and everything became clear to me. I noticed that every time he referenced the concept of "power", he practically salivated. He seemed fixated on obtaining power in all realms of his life, and the power he craved struck me as a desire to obtain an unhealthy amount of control over the lives of others. Years later, he was stripped of all his authority when this became clear to those he was supposed to remain accountable to.

When Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, he referenced the people of their era who possessed great power. Paul called them "the rulers of this age." Based on the context of this passage, I believe he was referencing both political and religious leaders in that statement, and he made it clear that even though they had great authority, there was much they didn't understand. The fact that they possessed power didn't guarantee that they also possessed wisdom. In fact, many of them had hardened their hearts to the Lord who is the source of true wisdom.

Years ago, I purchased a book called "Eyewitness to Power." It's an account that was written by David Gergen who served in an advisory capacity to several U.S. presidents. As I read that book, I wondered what it must have been like to offer counsel to the most powerful men in the world. Would they listen? How open would they be to outside instruction or ideas?

When a person becomes powerful, it can become quite difficult for them to receive wisdom from others. In many instances, they may fall into the trap of trying to deify themselves. They forget everyone who helped them get where they are. They frequently begin to think of themselves as the source of all the good things that have happened on their journey.

One of my favorite accounts of leadership in the Bible is the story we're told of Solomon. Solomon was a young man when he assumed the throne in Israel. It's widely accepted that he was less than 30-years-old, but some historians believe he may have actually been in his teen years when his reign began.

If you were made king of a powerful nation, what would your first action be? What would you do right from the start. Scripture tells us that as Solomon began his reign, he prayed to the Lord for wisdom. He could have asked the Lord for anything, but wisdom to lead well was his request.

"Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9)

The Lord honored Solomon's prayer, and I believe He's pleased when we make the same request. The leaders of this world want authority. They want power, and they aren't afraid to kill in order to obtain it. But followers of Christ are offered a gift that is of greater value than the limited power of this world. We're offered wisdom through Christ that this world's leaders struggle to understand.

II. Your understanding of Christ impacts what you do with Christ

"None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:8)

Have you ever been offered something that you didn't know what to do with? A while back, a friend of our family invited us over for a meal. The food was fantastic. We enjoyed several foods that were common in her ethnic tradition that were, up to that point, unfamiliar to us. One particularly tasty item on the menu was strips of meat that were prepared in a way we had never seen. In fact, when they were served to us, we weren't sure how to eat them, so we started cutting them with our knives and eating them with a fork. While we were doing this, our friend looked at us with confusion. Eventually, she admitted that in her culture, those strips of mean are typically picked up by hand and eaten like we would eat fried chicken.

We didn't know what to do with the food we were served, and it's clear that the leaders of this world had no idea what to do with Jesus when He offered Himself to them.

When Jesus was conducting His earthly ministry, people genuinely marveled at who He was. His reputation for wisdom and miraculous acts grew large. His willingness to confront unscrupulous leaders was also well known. Those in leadership were posed with a dilemma, "Do I worship Him, ignore Him, or crush Him?" Unfortunately for them, they chose to attempt to crush Him. At the behest of the religious leaders, and with the cooperation of the governmental leaders, Jesus was crucified and put to death. They killed Him because they didn't know what to do with Him.

I'm a little curious to know if we know what to do with Jesus? Your understanding of who He is will directly impact what you do with Him. Will you worship Him, ignore Him, or attempt to crush Him? If your eyes have been opened to see His divine nature, to understand that He is indeed God who became man, you'll be inclined to worship Him and submit all aspects of your life over to Him. But if you still think He was nothing more than a very interesting man, for the most part, you'll ignore Him. And if you're convinced His message is an offensive problem that needs to be prevented from spreading further, you'll do your best to crush Him by crushing His followers.

Let me say this in the plainest way I can. There is no more important question you need to answer than "Who is Jesus?" Your answer to that question will directly impact your understanding of your purpose in life. It will also directly impact your future destiny. If you want to grow in wisdom and live in hope, I dare you to ask and attempt to answer that question.

III. It's hard to imagine or quantify the wonderful things God has in store for His children

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9)

One of the hardest, but most beneficial things I have done in my adult life was obtain a master's degree in counseling. The courses and the group labs were intellectually and emotionally challenging. It has been almost a decade since I earned that degree, but I chose to earn it at a difficult season of life. It isn't easy to get a master's degree when you have a full-time job, and a family with four young children. The last six months of that process were particularly grueling, and I used to dream every day about the fun things our family would do the Summer after that degree was complete. I still remember how relieved I felt when that Summer finally came. It was wonderful to see and experience what I had been looking forward to for a long time.

I'm grateful that in this passage, Paul makes reference to the good things the Lord has in store for us in the future. In his comments, he makes reference to Isaiah 64:4 which says, "From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him."

Do you ever spend time wondering about what the Lord has in store for those who love Him? It's hard to imagine, and even harder to describe, but because we've been given the mind of Christ, we can already perceive and understand that it's going to be better than anything we've ever experienced. I don't know why I let myself get so attached to the things of this world, because the Lord has good things in store for us that are far greater than anything we've ever experienced this side of Heaven.

Not long ago, I started going through the contacts I had saved on my phone and I came across my mother's cell phone number. I miss her and I wish I could still call her, but it's been several years now since she passed away. Out of curiosity, I kept scrolling through my contacts and realized that multiple people in my contact list had passed away. One at a time, I went through and began deleting their numbers. Part of me felt sad, but another part of me felt intensely curious. I'm curious about what they're seeing and experiencing at this very moment.

Through Christ who helps me understand things I cannot see, here's what I truly believe. I believe that many of those the Lord has blessed me to know are experiencing sights greater than they ever saw on earth, sounds that are more beautiful than their ears ever heard on this planet, and experiences that are more amazingly wonderful than they experienced on the very best day of their earthly life. And if we also have the mind of Christ, which we receive through faith in Him, we can already perceive that the Lord has that in store for us as well.

In this world, there are many people spending their lives chasing power and authority, but they'll never find the peace their hearts crave even if they gain the power they seek. But those who trust Christ will be granted His sight. We will see with His eyes, and we will enjoy the blessings of the peace, hope, and contentment He supplies even now.

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

© John Stange, 2020

I can see things I couldn't see before

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

Throughout the course of our lives, we naturally begin to see things differently as we grow and mature. Our perspective develops as we take on new roles and responsibilities. I used to think leadership looked fun, now that I've been leading for a few decades, I can see that it's sometimes fun and sometimes very painful. As a child, I used to question the decisions of my parents, but as a father, I can more clearly see why they made certain leadership decisions that I didn't appreciate in my youth.

As we come to faith in Jesus, and our faith begins to mature, our spiritual eyes are opened. Once we are granted the mind of Christ, His Spirit shows us things that we were incapable of seeing before. Things that were hidden from us because we didn't possess a spiritual mind that was capable of comprehending them. God's word goes into detail about our new spiritual sight and the development of our understanding.

I. The wisdom of God is displayed in Jesus Christ

“but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)

When I was about twelve, my grandparents took my sisters and me to a drive in movie theater to see the movie "Big". In that movie, the character played by Tom Hanks gets a job with a toy company, and during a business meeting, someone tries to pitch an idea for a new toy. It's a robot that transforms into a building. After the idea is presented, Hanks raises his hand and says, "I don't get it." He thought the toy was boring and it would be better for the robot to transform into something that could move, not just a building that would sit still.

When the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is presented to an unbelieving world, I often wonder if they're also saying, "I don't get it." And if that is what they're saying, they're probably being honest because Paul says our crucified Savior is a stumbling block to Jews and sounds like foolishness to Gentiles.

The Jews who were waiting for centuries for the appearance of the Messiah struggled to wrap their mind around Him finally coming, only to be crucified. And Gentiles who come from all kinds of mixed up spiritual beliefs struggle to see how a suffering Savior who was put to death can accomplish anything meaningful in our lives at present.

But those of us who have come to faith in Christ have had our eyes open to the bigger picture. In Christ, we see the fulfillment of the Scriptures. In Christ, we see the atonement for our sin. In Christ, we not only see His vicarious death, but also the power of His resurrection. In bodily form, through His words and His actions, Christ demonstrated both the wisdom and the power of God because He is the source of true wisdom and power.

We also understand that we will never experience true wisdom or lasting power outside of a deep, relational connection to Jesus Christ.

II. God's plan, which was secret, has been made clear to you

"But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory." (1 Corinthians 2:7)

The older I get, the more I value having a plan, and I see this same trait in my children as well. A few months ago, I announced to our household, "Tomorrow, I'm taking a drive in my car. Anyone who wants to come with me is welcome to come. If you go, you will have fun, but don't ask me any other questions about it." Because I didn't annunciate all the details of my plan, only one person in my household joined me--my wife. And we had a lovely day together.

God is a planner. He is orderly and intentional. From eternity past, He planned for our redemption through His Son. But He's been revealing His plan to humanity gradually, a piece at a time. Certain aspects of His plan remained mysterious and hidden for ages. Likewise, there are certain details of what He has in store that He has only revealed to us in part at present. But in the meantime, He offers us the chance to take a ride with Him. He's giving us the opportunity to get in the car and believe He's got something good in store.

Amazingly, there are aspects of His plan that we have a more developed understanding of than did the angels and the prophets who lived prior to Christ's incarnation. They longed to look into the things that have been more fully revealed to us.

As recipients of this divine revelation, Paul tells us in this passage that we have the privilege to impart this secret or hidden wisdom of God to others. It will only be understood by those whose eyes have been opened by the Lord, but we are given the privilege to be the ones He speaks through. We reveal what we have been privileged to understand.

III. Through knowing Christ, your eyes are truly opened

"So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened." (Acts 9:17-19)

A few months ago, my father became unhappy with his television. It is a high-end TV that's supposed to last a long time, but he said the color was starting to fade and the image wasn't as crisp. In the meantime, he also went to his doctor to get cataracts removed from his eyes. When his eyes healed, he quickly realized that his TV was perfectly fine. His ability to see clearly was the real problem.

The Apostle Paul experienced a significant sight problem during his era as well. If you're familiar with the story of his life, you know he was zealous for the religious traditions he was raised in. He was well trained in Jewish theology and became part of a select group called the Pharisees. For a time, he hated and persecuted Christians because he believed their worship of Jesus was blasphemous. Jesus was still a stumbling block for Paul, until his eyes were opened.

God's word tells us that Jesus appeared to Paul and Paul was impacted both physically and spiritually through that encounter. For a time, he became physically blind after seeing Jesus, but after coming to faith in Jesus, his physical sight was restored and he was granted true spiritual sight.

If you know Jesus in a personal way, have you ever taken the time to notice how the Lord has been opening your eyes to see things you would never have naturally seen? When Christ opens your eyes, you will see yourself differently. You'll also see marriage, parenting, cultural events, morality, grace, justice, and the needs of humanity in a new way. The world will not understand your new perspective, but mature believers in Christ who also have had their eyes opened will understand you completely.

IV. The Holy Spirit will enable you to understand the whole counsel of God's word

“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:26-27)

For one week each summer, I have the privilege, along with several other seasoned pastors, to teach classes to new pastors. At this year's training event, one of the questions that came from one of the new pastors was, "How do I handle the fact that a very influential man in my congregation doesn't like when I preach through entire books of the Bible. He prefers that I preach on selected topics that fit with current events."

Every pastor experiences that same dilemma. We're called to preach the whole counsel of God's word, but when people become glued to the mind-warping power of modern media, they can sometimes prefer the pulpit to become the podium of current events instead of the sacred desk from which the Scriptures are preached. From time to time, I receive pushback in this particular area because more often than not I try to resist the urge to let my preaching calendar become dictated by the news cycle. I am willing to accept occasional criticism for taking this approach because I know that when the day comes and my service as a pastor ends, you'll always be able to say, "John preached the word of God. Even the awkward parts."

That was Paul's aim as well when he was proclaiming the Scriptures to the people in his era. He showed them that the Scriptures are pointing us to Jesus. He even went so far as to say that he couldn't be held culpable for the spiritual blindness or spiritual death of anyone because he never shied away from declaring the whole counsel of God's word, even the awkward parts.

As our eyes are opened through faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will also enable us to understand the whole counsel of God's word. We won't just see the parts we prefer to see. We'll see and understand the parts that challenge us as well, and I believe He will help us to value what He's showing us in those passages. As our faith matures, we'll even thank Him for confronting our false beliefs and opening up our eyes to the right perspective.

Tell me if this sounds familiar. "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." That quote is usually attributed to Mark Twain, even though it probably wasn't him who said it. But we laugh at the thought that's being conveyed because it's something we can all identify with. It takes time for us to see things that used to be hidden from our understanding.

Take heart because through Christ, we can now see things that we couldn't see before. God is giving us new sight and deeper understanding. Rejoice in His willingness to open our eyes, and generously share His wisdom.

© John Stange, 2020

We have been given wisdom that transcends this moment in time

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

I have come to believe that one of the greatest tools we as believers need to be utilizing during this era of history is the "mind of Christ." There are all kinds of ideas, philosophies, and perspectives bombarding us daily. And sadly, even some believers can at times begin to embrace worldly ideas as true if they aren't careful. But Christ enables us to see things more clearly when we walk with Him, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and embrace the counsel of his word.

In 1 Corinthians 2:6, we are told, "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away." So what does it look like for us to utilize the wisdom of Christ that transcends the mixed up perspectives of this era in history? I think there are several key things we're shown in Scripture that can help us navigate this confusing time in our lives quite well.

I. The wisdom from above outshines the wisdom of this world (James 3:17)

““But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.””

— James 3:17, ESV

Godly wisdom outshines worldly wisdom. James stressed that in his brief letter, and that's something we benefit from understanding as well. There are many ways the wisdom from above can be described including being "peaceable" and "open to reason," but that's not always a perspective you see embraced by this world.

I experienced a glaring example of this recently when my family was driving home from our vacation. We stopped at a gas station, and while I pumped the gas, everyone else walked into the store. I finished pumping the gas moments before they walked out, and as they were walking back to the van, a driver behind me started to get agitated. He beeped at me to move, then got out of his truck and started yelling at me while my kids were getting back into our van. He couldn't be reasoned with, called me some unkind names, insulted the entire state of Pennsylvania, and chose not to wait two more seconds for the pump to be free before leaving the gas station in a huff. It was a weird experience, but also a good example of what pours out of your life when your heart is governed by a selfish and worldly perspective.

The wisdom God supplies to those who trust in Jesus Christ operates differently. It outshines the easily irritated perspectives that dominate the hearts of those whose eyes are not open to the truth. The wisdom of God works hand in hand with the fruit of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives. James tells us that God's wisdom is peaceable, gentle, open to reason, merciful, full of good fruits, impartial and sincere.

From what I read in Scripture, and what I've seen through daily experience, I truly prefer the effect of godly wisdom in my life to the alternative. The wisdom of this world leads to frustration and exasperation because it's filled with "me first" motives. But the wisdom from above reflects the sacrificial heart of Christ and isn't dominated by self-seeking arrogance.

II. God's wisdom is granted to those who revere Him (Proverbs 1:7)

““The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” ”

— Proverbs 1:7, ESV

There are several proverbs that tend to fit in the category of "best known", and I believe Proverbs 1:7 is one of them. In that proverb, we're told that fools despise wisdom and instruction. They don't want to hear it and they frequently fight against it. But those who fear the Lord, are blessed in a unique way. They're blessed with deeper knowledge than what can be naturally obtained. This was made clear to me when I was young.

I was fifteen-years-old when I finally became serious about my faith in Christ. I had been a professing Christian for five years at that point, but I don't believe I was living with a healthy fear of the Lord during that season. As a result, ignorance and immaturity continued to persist in my life.

Then the Lord helped me to see what it meant to fear Him like this Scripture describes. It means to revere and respect Him. It means to live with a deep awareness and appreciation of His power. It involves admitting to yourself that there is a day when you will give a full account of your life to Him. When my heart latched onto that truth, I started to take my faith in Christ much more seriously. It stopped being an addendum to my life and became the very thing that defined my life.

In that season when I submitted my heart over to Him, He showed me new things. He granted me wisdom that I didn't previously have. I stopped fighting Him, started respecting Him, and great benefit came to my life as a result.

In some respects, I see this as a universal pattern of life. You are more likely to be assisted by those you honor and respect, and more likely to be chastised or not invested in by those you disrespect and fight against.

Many of you know that I dabble into certain entrepreneurial ventures. When people ask me about my hobbies, I often mention some of the online work I do in my free time. I podcast, write, speak, blog, and do a few other things as well. To my amazement, some of those hobbies have turned into sources of household income and I enjoy trying to make them grow.

There are several successful entrepreneurs in that space that I truly admire and try to learn from. I have no hesitancy expressing my admiration for them either, and just this week, I was blessed to have three of them reach out to me and freely offer me the kind of counsel they would normally charge thousands of dollars for. Because I showed them respect, they blessed me with the gift of their knowledge.

Admittedly, it's easy to value something in this world that improves our income, but how deeply do we value the wisdom and knowledge of God? Well, there's a simple way we can test if we value it. Do we fight Him or do we fear Him? Do we resist Him or do we revere Him?

III. Those who walk with Christ will understand the will of Christ (Ephesians 5:15-17)

““Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.””

— Ephesians 5:15-17, ESV

One of the most common questions we as believers wrestle with is, "What is God's will for my life?" We want to know His plan. We want to know what the best decisions to make happen to be.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, he gave them careful counsel that helped them understand the will of God. He told them that as followers of Christ, they were to look carefully at how they chose to "walk" or live their lives in this world. He warned them that they live in an evil era, so the best use of their time was to walk with Jesus instead of running away from Him. That was good counsel for them, and it's good counsel for us as well.

It also gets to the heart of why some Christians really struggle to understand God's will for their life. Because they aren't walking with Christ daily, they're beginning to embrace foolishness and treating it like it's wisdom. Then when it produces negative effects in their lives, they're confused as if they are getting something they didn't deserve. But here's the thing, we reap what we sow. The seeds that you're planting in your life and your mind will eventually bear the fruit of wisdom or folly.

A little over a week ago, I took a long walk while listening to an audio book that was narrated by the author. By the time the walk was finished, I felt like I knew him personally. Our walk with Christ is very similar. The longer we walk with Him, and the more we grow accustomed to listening to His voice, the better we come to know Him. Those who walk with Christ, will understand the will and the mind of Christ better than those who run from Him.

IV. Jesus will speak His undefeatable wisdom through you (Luke 21:15)

““for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.””

— Luke 21:15, ESV

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for what life in this world was going to look like for them, He didn't hold back. He revealed to them that they were going to be questioned by authorities and adversaries. He made it clear that they were going to have to appear before those who governed from a worldly perspective. But He also made it clear that they didn't need to fear when those moments came.

Because they had the mind of Christ, He would also speak His undefeatable wisdom through them. Their adversaries might ignore them or silence them, but they wouldn't be able to successfully contradict them. Right now I'm praying for church leaders who are preparing to get a real taste of what these early disciples experienced as we have now moved into an era where there are legal consequences for preaching the gospel to believers who have assembled for worship. The day will come when many of us will have to testify before authorities, and I'm praying that we will speak with the undefeatable wisdom of Jesus when that day comes.

The wisdom of the world is paper thin. It changes all the time, and while it proposes to be wise, it's usually foolishness dressed up in a new outfit. Jesus will help you see through it, and as He clarifies His truth to your heart, He will enable you to be the mouth He speaks it through.

We have the mind of Christ. His wisdom transcends this moment in time, and He's inviting us to begin using it.

© John Stange, 2020