Reluctant Retiree

We are bombarded by people with big ideas? In a variety of media, they boast of hacks and advice that will change our lives. Most have little background, experience, training or expertise to be making such bold claims. They rely almost completely on their limited personal observations. But their voices are loud and their presentations are slick, gathering a large audience and many followers.

God has loftier standards for wisdom, standards we must use to evaluate the one who purports to expound great ideas. James 3:13 says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” The person who is truly wise will demonstrate his wisdom by his good conduct. Otherwise his words are mere smoke. Also, the wise person will not use blustery speech, but rather gentleness when providing wise counsel. Let’s quit following ones who are loud and showy. Instead let’s examine the character of the ones providing counsel. Let’s look for those who demonstrate wisdom by their good conduct and gentleness.

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:16-17

If we ask Him, God will give us what our hearts truly need. If we need some peace, all we need to do is ask God. When we need some kindness, we can ask Him for that also. If we just need some joy in our lives, God will gladly provide joy. Don’t be deceived into believing that you can achieve these things through your own efforts or that they come through what the world provides. Only God can satisfy the hungry heart, by providing what the heart truly needs. God never changes. He has always been in the business of providing for our sincere needs, and He will also do so.

Many people have ideas of what God desires from us. They are not shy about speaking their opinions. Most of these ideas are derived from their opinions about what God is like. For instance they may believe that God is peace, so He wants us to live in peace with each other. Unfortunately these opinions are biased toward what we want God to be, rather than what He is.

James 1:27 clearly explains what God really wants for us. It says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this; to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Simply stated, God wants us to do good things for others and to keep ourselves pure from the wicked influences in the world. In other words, God wants us to have pure hearts and clean hands.

Two weeks ago we hiked the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail from Abshire Park toward Middlebury. The wildflowers were in full bloom and we were awestruck by the array of colors. Today we hiked the same trail, but almost all the flowers were gone. The wildflowers had bloomed quickly and just as suddenly had lost their flowers.

James 1:9-11 says, “Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” So much of what we do and what we take pride in fades away quickly. How much wiser would it be to invest our lives in the things that really matter and last forever? Let’s consider changing what we do and how we think, so that we are aligned with the will of God. Then our efforts will be rightly directed and our labor will not be in vain.

When we give gifts, we think about what the other person needs or wants. We want to give something that pleases them. Our desire is to honor them and demonstrate our love.

Hebrews 13:15-16 says, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” We don’t offer animal sacrifices to God, but we can offer sacrifices that please Him. First we can simply acknowledge God for who He is and what He does. Praise befits His nature and blessings. Second we can do good works. Good done in the power of the Holy Spirit bears fruit and is a form of worship. Thirdly, we can share what we have with those in need. This sacrifice acknowledges that everything we have has been given to us by God. God is pleased when we offer these three sacrifices, as they reveal His blessings to us and His divine nature. These sacrifices honor God and demonstrate our love for Him.