Reluctant Retiree

If I walk into an art gallery or museum I will be amazed at the art, but often have difficulty understanding what the artist is trying to say through the chosen medium. Without knowing their motivations, it is difficult to understand their intended statement. I can often feel the same way in a conversation with a recently introduced companion. I may think that I understand the spoken words, but I may also not understand the intentions and meanings behind the words.

I Corinthians 2:12-13 says, “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 to us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” Our spirit is the part of us that holds our intentions and motivations, along with our personality. God has given His Spirit to those who trust in Him, so that we can begin to understand His intentions and motivations more, thereby knowing Him better. The Holy Spirit reveals the Father to us with groanings too deep for words.

There have been many times in my life when I couldn’t wait to take a shower and clean off. Sometimes it is because I had completed some messy job and before I could relax on the sofa I needed to clean up. Other times it has been because I worked hard and was sweaty. I can’t stand the smell of my own sweat.

Most of us have access to water and the facilities to clean the outside of our bodies. We do not, however, have the physical means to clean the inside. Furthermore, we are incapable in ourselves to purify our thoughts and motives or cleanse ourselves from the sins that we have committed.

I Corinthians 1:2 says, “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.” In this simple greeting, Paul gives us at least two encouragements. First, if we call upon the name of Jesus we are part of a huge body of believers called saints. Secondly, Jesus sanctifies us through faith by His sacrifice on the cross, making us holy and blameless before the Father. What we could not do in and of ourselves, that is make ourselves pure and holy, God did by giving His Son on the cross and accounting all our sins onto Jesus Christ. When we trust Him for this salvation and sanctification, He purifies our hearts and cleanses us from our sins.

We receive all kinds of advice, from instagram influencers to Dr. Phil. While some of this advice may be helpful, much of comes from the inflated egos of those seeking some sort of acclaim. Of course, we can go to the source of all wisdom, God, and find the truth and wisdom that will truly serve us well.

Philippians 1:9-11 says, “And it is my prayer that your love your abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” The Christian life is one of growing in wisdom so that our actions become pure and blameless, honoring God and bearing good fruit in our lives and for those around us. God’s Word provides us with the wisdom to live each day in righteousness.

We have a couple choices when we see weakness or failings in others. We can choose to take advantage of the situation by criticizing them and heaping more trouble upon them, so that we can please ourselves in some way. Or we can choose to ignore selfish desires and seek to help the person in their weakness.

Romans 15:1-3 says, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.'” Once again Jesus is our example. He did not live to please himself, but rather took on himself all the weaknesses and failings of us in order to save us and redeem us as His own children. Let us strive in God’s power to build others up.

Have you ever received something from another person that sparked a thought within you of something you should do for someone else? Isn’t that what giving is about? We receive something freely so that we can give freely to someone else. Perhaps you received some help moving, so you find yourself volunteering to help someone else move. Or maybe you were given some new electronic gadget and immediately think of a person who needs the same thing, so you go out of your way to make sure that person receives the needed item.

Romans 13:8 says, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” We should consider ourselves to be in debt to those we come in contact with. We owe them love, because God has freely loved us and loves them as well. God’s love is meant to be held onto tightly only so that we can share it with others freely.