Reluctant Retiree

I am such an introvert that whenever we need to call a business or a doctor’s office, I ask my wife to make the call. I don’t really want to talk to strangers about something I want or need. My wife, on the other hand, usually doesn’t mind talking to strangers and making our requests known.

I don’t have the same problem when speaking to God and making requests in prayer. It is an awesome act of grace that our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. We are encouraged to come boldly before His throne and make our requests known. I am amazed that He has given me access to the throne of Almighty God.

But it actually gets even better. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” The writer of Hebrews is clear that he is speaking about Jesus. He writes that Jesus is always speaking to the Father on behalf of all those who have trusted Jesus. Not only do we get to come before His throne to make our requests, but Jesus is already standing there advocating for us. He knows our needs better than we do ourselves. He is pleading our case based on His righteousness. That, my friends, is amazing grace.

It is common, in some parts of the world, for storekeepers to have various pricing levels based upon the storekeeper’s preferences. For instance, the lowest price is given to family members. The next lowest price is given to people of close association. The more remote the association between storekeepers and customers, the higher the price.

While this type of business partiality may be acceptable or rejected, showing partiality in general is a form of bias and prejudice. Prejudice is a destructive social force and harmful to all. However, it cannot be stopped simply by prohibiting it or even through education. It is a deeper and stronger force than that.

James 2:9-10 says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” Clearly God abhors bias and prejudice.

But this still doesn’t tell us how we can love our neighbor as ourselves. I John 2:5 gives us the answer: “but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought also to walk in the same way in which he walked.” God’s love is made complete and perfect in us as we seek to walk in His ways. He actually works in us and through us to show His love to others. He removes the selfishness and gives us the power to give sacrificially to others, as He did for us. We can then forsake the prejudices that have kept us back from fully loving others.

Generally, stubbornness is not regarded as a good quality to have. Stubborn people are usually shunned socially because people feel that they are hard to deal with. They are resistant to change and ideas. This quality inhibits growth in business and job opportunities, as well.

However, stubbornness in some areas is a good characteristic. When faced with a moral dilemma on the job or in our personal lives, it is good to stubbornly refuse to compromise our values. When it comes to providing for and protecting our families, we must resolutely do everything in our power to achieve these goals.

I Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor will not be in vain.” In these verses we are given a command and a promise. The command states that we must be steadfast in following Jesus and doing His work. If we heed this command, God promises that our labor will not be in vain. All our work will then achieve the objectives that God has set for us andwewillbepleasedwiththeresults.

When I looked at the news this morning, the first thing I noticed was that Congress argued with each other late into the night. Partisan disputes seem to be the norm these days. Everyone is holding onto their personal agendas and ideologies at the expense of the common good.

James 4:1-2 says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.” As long as we allow selfish motives to reign within us, we will not be at peace with each other. Somewhere we need to find the wisdom to look past our selfishness and seek to build up and benefit others.

Again James gives us help in finding this wisdom. He says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” These verses give us the basis for evaluating whether someone is speaking with wisdom. If we speak with peace, gentleness, mercy and impartiality with a life of good conduct, then we are speaking wisdom. But if our conduct exhibits jealousy and selfishness and our words are false and boastful, then we are not speaking wisdom. Words of wisdom lead to peace. Selfish actions lead to quarrels.

I am the stereotypical male shopper. When I go into a store I go straight to the item I want, pick it up and head to the cash register. I don’t evaluate the product against others in the same category and I am not very concerned with the relative price of my choice versus others. I may have done some research before heading to the store, but probably not much. My wife is the research fanatic. If I involve her in my choice selection, I will probably pay less and get a better quality product, but it will certainly take more time.

In other aspects of life, however, we are all prone to comparing ourselves with others. Whether it be the clothes we wear or the car we drive, we are often thinking about how these things rank in comparison to what our neighbor has. In social situations, we compare who we talk with to who are friends are speaking with. We judge how successful we are by comparing our awards, salary and promotions with those of others.

Unfortunately, comparing ourselves with others is a fruitless exercise. We will always be better than some and worse off than others. Even if we do win, in our judgment, so what? In the end, these achievements are meaningless, especially when you consider eternity. Our relative successes will all turn to dust one day and will not be remembered.

II Corinthians 10:12 says, “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” God is the standard by which we should evaluate ourselves. Ephesians 5:1 says that we should be “imitators of God”. He is the true and faithful standard for evaluating our lives. Becoming imitators of God will give us a life beyond comparison and ensure that we produce fruit in keeping with His grace.