Reluctant Retiree

As we go about our day, it is the looking to the right or left that gets us into trouble. We know what we should do and we set our minds to do it. But somewhere along our path we notice something on our right that attracts us. We keep moving forward, but we also continue to glance to our right to look at the attractive thing. While looking to the right, we start to veer slightly to the right. As we continue to look right, we get further and further off the straight line and way off to the right. Eventually we give in and give our full attention to the attractive thing.

This is the way temptation works in our lives. We set a straight path to do good and right things. Then something grabs our attention. It could be the praise of others, a new shiny object we want to possess, attention from someone of the opposite sex, money, or a host of other things. Soon we are consumed by thoughts of our distraction and have to have it. Then we find we have drifted far off the course we had set for ourselves, and we don’t know how to get back on course.

I Corinthians 10:13 gives us hope when it says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” The way to stay on the correct path is to always look straight ahead. There you will find Jesus offering you the strength and courage to stay on the path. Keep looking straight ahead to Jesus and the distractions on the right and left diminish in their attractiveness.

While I was growing up I played a lot of sports. Unfortunately, it seemed that I was always on bad teams. So bad in fact, that my teams inevitably won the “Sportsmanship” trophy, given to us mainly because we didn’t give up while losing most of the time. Frankly, I didn’t like that. I wanted to win.

Several years ago, Herm Edwards, professional football coach, gave a press conference after losing a game. He got a bit frustrated with the questioning and summed up his frustration by emphatically stating, “We play the game to win!” The video of his statement went viral and is famous in the sports world. It reflects the attitude and heart of every athlete. Athletes and coaches are consumed with thoughts of winning.

While participating in sports, I did my best to win. Unfortunately, there are many areas of my life that I didn’t always do my best. Sometimes I just gave a minimal effort to get a job done or fulfill a responsibility. What kind of an impact could I have made if I always gave my best to my wife, my family, my church, my job, my friends, and my community? Paul writes to the church in Corinth, encouraging them to give their best by saying: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.”

Life is a marathon with many opportunities to make a positive impact. Let’s give it our best under the guidance and in the power of God!

Watching the news on television, we are presented with one expert after another. Health, pandemic, weather, economic, political and even sports experts give their views and prognostications about events. Their credentials and previous experiences are not presented, so we can’t really evaluate their expertise.

I have always been a little bit skeptical about anyone purporting to be an expert. I want to know their credentials and education, but I also want to know how successful they have been in their field. For instance, I will only listen to a financial counselor who is at least better off financially than I am. I only listen to nutritional advice from someone who is healthy. Making predictions, even based upon experience and education, is serious business. Forecasts and prognostications should be carefully thought out by qualified professionals.

The Bible gave severe warnings to those who claimed to have a prophecy from God. These so called prophets were to be stoned to death if their prophecies were not one hundred percent correct. I wonder how many of the television experts would still be living if they were held to the biblical standard of perfection.

I Corinthians 8:1-3 says, “This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” God is not impressed with anyone who purports to be an expert. The expert’s knowledge is limited and doesn’t compare to the full knowledge that God possesses. But how much better is love than knowledge. Knowledge serves the possessor, while love serves everyone. Seek to build up others through love.

My wife and I just returned from a four day trip to central Michigan. We were treated to some spectacular scenery as we hiked through several county and state parks, along with some wildlife and nature preserves. The fall colors were in full display as the trees shimmered in the sun. We also enjoyed majestic rivers and lakes. The natural beauty filled our souls with wonder.

I Peter 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” God has prepared and is keeping an inheritance in heaven for those who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ. Unlike our natural surroundings, which are beautiful, our heavenly inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. The beauty we behold in the lakes, rivers, forests and nature preserves does not compare to the majesty of our heavenly reward. I rejoice in the beauty of both, but I can’t wait to behold what God is storing up for me in heaven.

Halloween just passed, a time when dressing up in costumes is not just acceptable, but encouraged. Along with the scary costumes, people dress up as their favorite characters and famous people. Some people are expressing the scary theme of Halloween, while others are trying to make a statement. While you can tell a little about a person by the costume they choose, it is not a reliable guide to evaluate character.

God wants us to put on special garments, as well. These garments should be fully representative of who we are. Colossians 3:12 says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another.” God expects us to put on the garments of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. We do this not because it is commanded, but rather as a result of the great love He has bestowed on us, such that we are called His beloved. We cannot muster up these qualities from within ourselves. Instead we can trust in His Spirit to empower us to reflect His love through us. If compassion and kindness are the clothes people see on us, then it is evident that we are followers of Jesus. If people do not see the garments of humility and meekness when they look at us, then we cannot expect them to see Jesus in us.