Reluctant Retiree

If you have ever been to Costco, Sam’s Club, or Best Buy you know what a big warehouse store looks like. The selection of items to choose from is incredibly large. It seems like almost anything you could need can be found in one of these stores.

However, the things we really need are not found in a warehouse store. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

What we really need, and our hearts’ true desire, is love, joy, peace, patience, hope, help, mercy, grace, and goodness. God’s storehouse of blessings overflows with these gifts. We just need to pray and trust, and our God will supply. He eagerly desires to provide these blessings to anyone who will come to Him in faith.

Our justice system allows us to take our requests all the way to the top, the Supreme Court. When we have a complaint against a business, sometimes it may be necessary to take our issue all the way to the Chief Executive Officer.

But where can we go with our needs and the things that bother us? Who have the authority and power to help us. We must go to the supreme power, God. God gave us a command, “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything.” But how can we do this? We need help, so God made a provision for us, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” If we do this, God gives us this promise, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:5-7

So the formula is simple = Cast away anxiety or anxious thoughts, by telling God about them with thanksgiving, and He promises to give us peace beyond anything we have known before. We can get rid of all anxiety by praying and God will give us peace. Sounds good to me!

Our lives are busy. We run from one activity to the next, never taking the time to sit down and rest. Even when we plan a time to rest, another energy sapping activity gets our attention. We know that it is happening to us, but we seem to be powerless to keep it from occuring week after week. Even when we find time to rest our bodies, our minds are constantly at work and our souls are begging for restoration.

Where can we find soul restoring rest? Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

When a farmer wished to train a new ox, he hooked the yoke of a mature and experienced ox to the new one. The new ox would try to wander off in the wrong direction, but the experienced ox kept the new one on the right path and going forward. Eventually the new ox learned how to properly pull the plow.

Jesus said that we can find rest for our weary souls in much the same way. We need to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn the ways of righteousness. In effect, we hook ourselves up to the yoke of Jesus. When we try to wander off the right path, Jesus will teach us the right ways. We find rest as we let Jesus lead the way, and we experience rest as we surrender to the path of righteousness, instead of struggling to find the way.

Why not find true rest for your soul by attaching yourself to the yoke of Jesus? Let Him lead you in the ways that will restore your soul.

It seems to me that the choosing of baby names has gone off track. People are choosing names just to be unique and unusual. That name may be cute when they are an infant, but will the child suffer humiliation as they get older and interact with others? It used to be that parents chose names because they meant something and they dreamed that their child would live up to the name. Unfortunately for me, my parents chose a common family name, James. That name comes from Jacob of the Bible and means “one who grabs the heal, or supplants.”

Names can inspire us to do good if chosen wisely. But few names have the power of the name given to Jesus. Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus Christ was given the name with all the power and authority of God the Father. All things were created by Him, through Him and for Him. All rulers and authorities in heaven and on earth are subject to the power and sovereignty of God. Some day every person will bow before Him and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We get off the right path and into trouble when we fail to give Jesus the honor that is due to Him as Lord. We must start now choosing to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior or we will suffer the consequences of being forced to do so for eternity.

I have visited some places around the world in which the hardships of the people are written all over their faces. They seem to have no hope and their days are pure drudgery. I have also been in groups of people that seem to be living a continuous celebration. They seem to have life figured out. Although they also face their own struggles, they seem to pass through them victoriously.

Ecclesiastes 8:1 says, “Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.” Acting according to wisdom actually gives us shiny faces, meaning our faces are full of joy. If we follow the Lord’s wisdom, stress and anxiety melt away. Although we will struggle at times, God provides the strength to pass through the struggles and grow in faith and wisdom. In addition, other people will see the wisdom of following the Lord and be attracted to Him.