Who is the Greatest Among You?

We all want to be respected, held in honor and considered important.  I am sure you will recall the question of who would be the greatest in kingdom of God was hotly debated among the disciples of Christ.

James and John even attempted to obtain a firm commitment from Christ to designate them as second and third in authority under Him in the kingdom of God (Mark 10:37).

Note what Christ said in verses 42 through 44.  How can one be the greatest of all and yet be a servant to all at the same time?  How can we apply this instruction of Christ to our lives today?

We live an age of organizations.  They function in most aspects of our lives, from the economic to the spiritual.  Each organization has leaders.  They are the “greatest” in the organization.  An organizational chart represents their relationship to others in the organization.  It shows who is over whom in authority.

To view leadership in an organization from the perspective that Christ taught, however, we need to make a change in the orientation of the organization chart.  We need to turn it upside down.

Instead of the having a pyramid structure in which the head stone is sitting on top of and being carried by all the stones under it, we rather have a structure in the form of a tree.  The one in authority is the trunk, which supports and provides nourishment to all those under his authority.

Compare this with Christ’s statement in John 15:5: “I am the vine, you are the branches.”

Turing the chart upside down does not do away with authority.  Every organization needs authority to function.  The fact that Christ considers Himself the vine and we the branches does not diminish His authority over us.  It rather gives an example of how to properly perceive and execute godly authority.

Consider the human body.  Is the purpose of the body merely to carry the head around?  No.  The body’s purpose is to work, create, build, and produce something of value to others.  But it is the head that make each individual member effective in doing its part in the overall work of the body.

The head directs and coordinates.  The other members do the work.  However, the other members are effective only if they have the direction of the head.  The head does more than sit on top of the body.  It makes the body function effectively.

The head is, in reality, a servant to the whole body.  This is the lesson of leadership we need to learn.

A position of leadership in an organization, be it a family, a business, etc... is much like the function of the head.  The leader has a responsibility to make those under him effective.

Authority can be thought of as the power to exercise one’s responsibility to others, to supply what they need to produce the results expected of them.  Isn’t this how Christ exercises His authority over us?

How do we apply this principle?

If we are given a leadership role of an activity at school, church, etc...do we glory that we are in charge?  That we can now command and it will be done according to our wishes?  Do we attempt to make a name for ourselves?  Or do we see it as our responsibility to make those under us effective by supplying organization, direction, motivation, money or other needs so that they can make the activity a success, so that it can be enjoyable and profitable for the maximum number of people?  Are we servants to both those under us and to those who will enjoy the activity?

Let us once again consider the original question:  Who will be the greatest in the world tomorrow?  The answer is the ones who serves the most.

Today we are training to be leaders in the world tomorrow.  To qualify for leadership positions, we must learn to serve those under our authority. 

However, we do not need to have an extensive group of people under our authority at this time to learn this lesson.  What we do is to develop a serving attitude, not blindly responding to all question for help but wisely judging where we can best apply our time, money and talents to do the most good.

If we practice making our resources and opportunities serve the most individuals in the best way possible, we will be on the road that leads to true greatness, irrespective of how great or how limited our resources and opportunities may be now.

Where Are You Going

“Where are you going?” asked the young father as his young son was starting to go outside. The child said nowhere; he was just going outside to more or less wander around.

Have you noticed that some people tend to live their entire lives like that -- seemingly half asleep, bumbling around as if in the dark, never really knowing where they are going?

What about us?  Do we know where we are going?

Sad to say, many people don’t know where they are going.  The Bible makes plain exactly where all true Christians should be going.  The apostle Paul declared clearly, (read Hebrews 6:1).

His point is this:  Once we, as Christians, understand the foundational points of doctrine in God’s truth, we have something important to do.  Or, rather, we have somewhere important to go -- to perfection!

Paul was not the only one to give this advice.  Jesus Christ Himself was even more firm, making a direct command:  (read Matthew 5:48).

We have probably read this command before, but have we ever wondered why God wants us to be perfect?  The answer is found in the second half of the verse just cited:  “Therefore you shall be perfect,  just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

We must become perfect to be just like our Father.  Our Father is God.  Our destiny is to become His spiritual children and therefore part of the God Family.  If our destiny was to be something less than a child of God, then perhaps we could be less than perfect.  But it isn’t, and we can’t!  It just wouldn’t do for one of God’s children not to be perfect.

Clearly, perfection is impossible to attain in this life.  Everybody knows that; therefore some don’t bother to try.  But realize this:  One who accepts mediocrity in this life will never attain perfection in the next, for the very faults God wishes him to overcome are the ones he chooses to tolerate in himself.  And those who tolerate sin are unworthy of eternal life and its perfection!  God simply will not give eternal life to such a person.

Those who seek for perfection, on the other hand, will find it.  They will not find it now, of course, but in the Kingdom of God.  For it is the very attitude of settling only for perfection of character that God requires before He will give the gifts of eternal life and perfection!

Don’t be deceived.  Perfecting ourselves means work.  It means analyzing ourselves and our lives, finding the difficulties, sins and errors in our ways and, with God’s help, replacing them with His character.  It is tough.  It is at times agonizing and humbling, discouraging and tiring.

It is, quite frankly, the toughest job we will ever love!  For although  tough, it is addicting, exhilarating, invigorating, stimulating and overwhelmingly joyful and fulfilling!

Practice make perfect -- or, rather makes for perfection!

Our goal is to go where no human but Christ has truly gone before -- on to perfection.  We will not get all the way there ourselves.  We all know that before we leave.  But in leaving for the destiny of perfection, and in striving to get there, and in holding on to the goal, we will in the process develop the character that God demands of those He will finally make perfect.

That’s certainly where I want to go.  How about you?  Where are you going? 

Discouragement

Family problems.  Job problems.  People problems.  Problems with your mate.  Problems paying your bills.  Problems everywhere!

Life in today’s world is complex.  Paradoxically, while modern technology has offered many conveniences, it has also created an environment that makes just day-to-day living a struggle.  Much of the world’s population is jammed into cities -- piled one upon another.  With people come cars and buses and hours of traffic jams.

You know what it’s like.  Millions live in a highly competitive, concrete jungle.  It’s hard for some just to keep food on the table.

This is the kind of society in which we live.  And it creates stress.  As stress levels increase, problems are harder to deals with and discouragement can set in.

Everyone gets discouraged, at least on occasion.  But, thankfully, there is a way out!

Discouragement comes from many sources and appears in many forms.  It can sneak up on us when we least expect it.  Sometimes we feel like we’re on a roller coaster.  We can be so excited and positive, and then all of a sudden the balloon pops.  Nothing seems to go right.  But what do you do when you have problems and get down and discouraged?

Firsts, let ‘s look at some of the sources of discouragement.

Marriage & family problems.  These are probably the greatest problems people suffer today.  The family, the most basic unit of society, is crumbling.  The family, in many cases, no longer is a place of warmth and security, but a source of strife and contention for husbands and wives, parents and children.

Financial hardships.  Many of us try to live up to a certain standard that we have become acquainted with or accustomed to.  Then we suddenly find ourselves unable to meet expenses and pay the bills.  Or maybe unexpected circumstances happen with the house or car that require a great deal of extra money.

Failure.  It can be anything from a small failure to a major crisis, but failure often does discourage.  Many people try to cover up or ignore their failures.  Some try to drown them with alcohol or drugs.  Sometimes it isn’t just failure, but the fear of failure.  If you continually face circumstances that you feel you’re not on top of, you are bound to feel overly stressed and get discouraged.  Or, sometimes, it’s the failure of other people.  We see them falling down, and sometimes we can’t do anything to help them.

Broken friendships.  Maybe ties with a good friends are broken.  Maybe you had your trust betrayed or a confidence shattered.  Possibly you were building a friendship with someone of the opposite sex, and you thought it was going to lead to marriage.  Then, when it was broken, you didn’t know where to turn.  Many have been betrayed by a mate who has committed adultery.  There are all deep hurts that don’t go away easily.

Illness or sickness.  Serious discouragement can result from having a long-term illness.  You or someone you know might be sick, and though you try to commit the situation  to God, you still feel pressured by the problem.

Problems at school.  Many have problems with poor grades.  Or with a teacher or classmates.  Maybe you are trying to obey God, but you’re being persecuted because of your beliefs.  Or your school environment is negative.

Spiritual weakness.  Have you ever said this?  “I have been trying to overcome this problem for years, but it hasn’t gone away!  It’s part of me and I just can’t root it out.”  Sometimes we feel like we’re beating our heads against the wall trying to overcome spiritual weaknesses. 

When the same problems afflict us year after year and we feel we haven’t made any progress overcoming them, we can become frustrated and discouraged.

You may be suffering from some other form of discouragement that is particularly painful  for you.  But how can you overcome discouragement?  How can you find the way out of the dark tunnel that never seems to end?

The way out of discouragement generates powerful emotions, but you don’t need intricate or complex solutions to overcome this foe.  The strength you lack can be given to you by the Creator of peace, joy, happiness and courage.

God Himself can give you all the help you need to conquer discouragement!

Here, then are five things you can do, with God’s help, to overcome discouragement.

1) Turn your focus toward God. Meditate on His great power.  Think about what God has done in the past and what He is doing now to bring about His great plan of salvation.  When you put your problems in perspective with God’s plan, the troubles and trials of this life shrink.

God’s people have this tremendous promise: (read Romans 8:28)

This verse doesn’t mean the situation itself is good.  It doesn’t mean that it’s good that you lost your mate.  It doesn’t mean that it’s good your children are rebellious or that you’ve lost your job.  It means that any situation can work for good if you meet the challenge properly and let God guide you.

If you put your life in God’s hands, you will come out ahead in the long run.

2)Keep your eyes on the goal.  The goal of every Christian is to be born into the spiritual Family of God.  We need to get our minds off the physical and onto the spiritual.  God says to (read Colossians 3:2-3).

In other words, your earthly life is immaterial.  Of course, God wants us to prosper and live abundant lives now, but our physical lives will soon be over.   We are merely in training for the glorious eternal life ahead.

Satan, the archenemy of God, would love to get us down and discouraged.  But God has already chosen us and set us apart for His own purpose -- He intends to put us in His Family.

3) Be positive!  Our human nature likes to dwell on the negative when things aren’t going right.  We tend to feel sorry for ourselves.  Or we begin to feel trapped.  But force yourself to be positive!  Go to God and thank Him for what He does for you and for what you have.

David tells us: (read Psalm 92: 1, 4).

The tremendous privilege of being a part of God’s church is worth every suffering we could go through.  And we will triumph in the end.

Why get down in the dumps, worry about the problems you have today?  If you take the positive approach, you destroy your troubles.  You overwhelm them with positive knowledge and truth.

We’re not talking about a “pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps” philosophy.  We’re saying you should focus on the reality of the goodness of God, and the power and strength He provides.

4) Do something for others. When God’s goodness is real in your life, then you can easily practice this fourth step.

Hebrews 10:24 tells us to (read).  Think about how you can stir up and motivate somebody else.  Think about what you can do to set a good example for someone else.

It takes the love of God flowing through you to make a personal sacrifice of time, money or energy, with no strings attached, without expecting anything in return.  But when you serve with this attitude, God’s mind gives you peace and satisfaction.  If you sow goodness, will reap happiness and peace (Galatians 6:7).

5) Be patient.  This is one of the most powerful keys to overcoming discouragement.  Be patient with yourself, others and God.

When you are discouraged from struggling to overcome faults and sins, you need to remember the old adage:  You haven’t failed until you quit trying.  Every failure is only a lesson that helps you know better how to try the next time.  Growth takes time and effort.

We are to quick to condemn: (read Psalm 31: 22).  God is much greater in patience and understanding.  If God judged as harshly as we sometimes judge, we would have reason to be discouraged.  But He has infinite wisdom and understanding.  (read 24).

God is willing to respond and give us strength and consolation, providing we take the steps necessary to correct the problem. But we need to hang on and be patient.  If you focus on God, keep your eyes on the goal, stay positive, serve others and exercise patience, you will come out of the tunnel of discouragement and into the light.

Be a Good Example

In the early years of the Church the apostle Paul was inspired to write an encouraging letter of commendation to a group of people who were the right kind of example to their families and neighbors. Read I Thessalonians 1:2-3, 7.

Often the little things we do make a big difference in the way others see and respond to us. Making guests welcome to your home, sending an encouraging card, thanking the attendant at the store or restaurant, offering a polite word to someone who accidentally bumps into you at the store or on the sidewalk. All such actions add up to a life of helping and caring for others.

All of us need to back off once in a while, step out of the dense forest of our daily responsibilities and take a close and realistic look at ourselves, our labors and our accomplishments, and our daily example.

I am reminded of an appropriate quip: A man’s friend purchased a used car and he asked, “What model is it?” “It’s not a model,” his friend retorted, “It’s a horrible example.” Are we models of God’s way or are we horrible examples?

Our words and examples need to match up, they must not conflict. The old question applies here, “Do you practice what you preach?” As Christians we must practice what we say, what we have been taught, otherwise we become a false example, a false witness of God’s way.

Christ should be our example in everything we do (read I Peter 2:21).

Christ possessed leadership. What kind of an example does a leader set? The stamp of a leader is credibility. As future leaders in God’s government we must practice credibility in our daily lives.

Although it is sometimes difficult to achieve and maintain credibility, the steps are easy to identify and teach:

Always tell the truth. Failing to do so indicate an intention to deceive, whether planned or not. Any inconsistency between what you believe and what you hope another will believe, because of what you do or say, destroys creditability. See Proverbs 26: 18, 19.

Admit your mistakes. We are still human and make mistakes. Why pretend otherwise? When we say, “I was wrong,” it tends to strengthen our credibility when we say, “I’m right.”

When you don’t know or understand something, admit it, say so. Remember God is going to hold us accountable. The small advantage that might be gained momentarily by bluffing is far outweighed by the possibility of losing credibility.

Always keep your promises. I might add even if it hurts. The reaction to an outright lie or a forgotten promise may range from rage to annoyance but breaking a promise makes the other person, mate, child or acquaintance, feel cheated or forgotten.

Credibility is believability on the highest level. One of the highest compliments any of God’s people worldwide can hear is, “If he (or she) says so, you can bank on it.” We should hope that Christ will look on us this way when He returns, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Example is contagious. Our conduct will be imitated by those with whom we work, play and worship.
Don’t do as a common saying goes: “Don’t do as I do, do as I say!” Rather, follow Abraham Lincoln’s advice, “There is just one way to bring up a child in the way he should go and that is to travel that way yourself.”

Example can be used as a tool to help build a family, a team, an organization and the Church. It always inspires growth.

Never forget, a good example is worth a thousand sermons. Let’s spread the word with our example.

Compassion

As I watched the news recently there was a segment that focused on a medical school.  A required course for medical students was training in compassion.  I was amazed to find that compassion is no longer considered a natural human emotion or trait but a lost virtue that needs to be researched and taught in college.

Society is learning that humans need and crave a great amount of compassion.

It brings to mind a time Christ and His disciples journeyed to Jerusalem.  On the way they planned to rest at a Samaritan village.  The group sent messengers ahead to arrange accommodations but the village refused to cooperate.  Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and the Samaritans wanted nothing to do with the trip because of their animosity toward the Jews.

The disciples were furious, these villagers refused Christ!  “Lord do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” they asked (Luke 9:54).

James and John, nicknamed “sons of thunder,” were zealous for what they believed.  But they lacked an important ingredient: the compassion that comes from God’s Holy Spirit.

Sometimes it seems that those whom God is working with now are inclined to be more like the “sons of thunder” than compassionate Christians.

I have heard in the past from some that they have little sympathy for certain people in their trails.  They feel that afflicted members deserve their problems.  Or that those in trails should develop backbone and work their way out of the problems, without complaining or depending on others for solutions.  People have even told me that this world is not for the weak, and maybe we would be better off without these people to slow us down.

Strong words!  They have a degree of truth.  We often bring on our own problems.  And, when it comes right down to it, we are responsible for the character we build (or don’t build), and for working out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12).

Compassion in this world faces extinction.  Romans 1:29-31 paints a picture of our time.  II Timothy 3:2-3 says those living in the last days love themselves, boast, are brutal and abusive, and refuse to love others or forgive them.

Do we realize that these attitudes can easily poison us to affect how we deal with others, even our fellow spiritual brothers and sisters in the faith?

Note what David had to deal with, Psalm 69:20.  Christ went through the same agony centuries later.

But what was David’s attitude?  Psalm 35:13-14 says that David mourned for his enemies when they were ill.  He had grief for them as he would have had for friends or family.  He hated their works and asked God to humble them because of their evil.  But once they were humbled, he took their trails personally and even fasted for them on occasion.

Compassion is sympathy with someone’s suffering and a desire to ease their pain.

Compassion means you literally help bear the afflicted person’s burden.  Compassion is concern to the point of personal involvement.

How can we build active compassion?

Avoid self-righteous attitudes. Read Romans 12:3-5.  We can’t condemn someone because of his or her circumstances.  God has called people in nearly every circumstance.  There’s a purpose in everything God does.  We can learn from those who seem a little weaker and slower than the rest of us in some areas.

And even if the other person’s trail is self-inflicted, we should put ourselves in that person’s situation.  Sure, they caused the problem but how they are suffering.  Think about the pressures and sorrow they are under.  How would we feel?

Build on the compassion God gives through His Spirit.  God’s Spirit prompts us with feelings of concerns and the desire to help.  Don’t ignore or squelch these feelings.  Use them to build compassion.

Learn the art of intercessory prayer.  Have we every asked about the progress of a sick member when we hadn’t remembered to pray about them?  If so, those could have been vain words. If we were truly concerned, we would also have prayed about the situation.

God delights in answering the prayers we send up for others.  He loves to see unity; love, compassion and concern grow in His people.  Sometimes prayers are the only action we can take to help.  Our prayers will make a difference if we pray wholeheartedly, out of compassion for the one suffering.

Do what you can to help physically.  Prayers for the person are not enough if it’s in our power to do more (James 2:14-17).

Involvement takes effort and time.  It requires selfless awareness of other people.  It presupposes wisdom, since we need to know how to involve ourselves in another’s problems.  But, possibly the most important ingredient is patience with others in their faults and in their trails.

Be patient.  It’s so much easier to see situation clearly when we’re not the one suffering in it.  Sometimes it seems obvious to us what the solution is.  We can become impatient, “If he wont’ help himself, there’s nothing I can do.”  But, God requires us to suffer along with brethren.

Note what Job said in Job 6:14.  He is saying that we shouldn’t give us on a friend during a low period.

Help the afflicted person endure his or her trail until the end, when God’s purpose for the trail comes to fruition (James 5:7-11).  It may take longer than we had hoped, but, then, how many times has God had to wait patiently on us?

Read Romans 12.  It shows what God’s mind on the subject is and gives an outline of how to have compassion for our brethren.  Take the time to live this chapter.  You will be able have a part in another’s growth by your compassion.  And more, you will begin to learn a trait that God will have us extend to every human being.

Survial of the Fittest

The grotesque, snarling face of the elephant seal filled the TV screen as I viewed a recent nature program.  The battle of the huge animals was to determine who would be the master the herd.

After their offspring were born, the young also had to battle for survive.  Some were crushed beneath the giant bodies of other females or their own fathers, while others who got too far from their mothers’ sides were injured by the snapping jaws of other mothers.  Most lived until they could make it into the relative safety of the water nearby but many did not.

In nature, it’s survival of the fittest.  From the largest creatures to the minutest, it’s a constant battle to live and procreate.

We’ve seen the silvery salmon determinedly wrenching and beating their bodies to climb upstream to breed.  These fish have a built-in mechanism that propels them toward achieving their goal.  It’s do or die in the attempt.

Did God intend us to learn certain physical and even spiritual principles from studying the habits of these marvelous creatures He designed and brought into being?  Yes, indeed He did.

We too have a battle on our hands.  We can be thankful, for most of us; it’s not a battle for physical survival.  We aren’t obliged to kill or be killed in a never ending struggle for the right to live and procreate our kind.

We are in a battle however.  And it can be described as survival of the fittest.  For that’s what it is, only in a spiritual sense.  The rewards don’t go necessarily to those who are the strongest physically, the most agile or with the keenest senses.  Nor to the most beautiful and talented or to the most intelligent.  God has designed other ways to test who is spiritually the fittest.

How important is it to win in this struggle?  It’s all important, because it’s not just temporary physical existence that is at stake but our lives for all eternity.

What about the losers in the animal kingdom, those that don’t survive, and those wind up as food in the winner’s stomach?  Why weren’t they the fittest?  Let’s analyze their weaknesses.

Some losers wandered nonchalantly about, grazing here and there as they pleased, unalert and unaware of danger.  Easy prey for the predator.

Others overestimated their strength.  Striking out on their own they sometimes even disdained nourishment – food and water – until suddenly they were all alone and in a weakened state.

Some started out well, ever alert, growing stronger through experience in conquering the odds but as time went on they grew careless, weary of being on alert, tried of the constant battle.

The young who unwisely strayed from the protection of their mothers’ sides also became easy targets.

Others were caught in fierce storms without proper shelter.

They are many reasons the relatively few win out in nature’s battles while the majority end up as the victor’s lunch.  All share, however a common characteristic of losers – a grave underestimation of the enemy and of what it takes to be a winner.

The apostle Peter warned us about spiritually underestimating our enemy, read I Peter 5:8.

He’s out there, all the time, stalking us, looking for a weakness he can exploit.  Are we daily, fervently, asking for God’s protection in this jungle where Satan is king?  Or do we nonchalantly go about our business every day, oblivious to any danger?

Or maybe we’re the strong independent type who goes out to face the world without sufficient spiritual nourishment.  No time for prayer or Bible study this morning, we’ve got important things to accomplish.  We’ll pray and study later.  But it may be later than we think.

Are we weary of well doing?  We’ve been in the Church for years.  Ministers and brethren all over the country know who we are.  Haven’t we gained a lifetime membership in the Church?  God understands what we’ve been through, why we’ve let down in our standards.  Surely what we’ve accomplished in the past counts for something.

Do we try to get as close to the edge of the cliff as possible, try to stay out on the fringes yet still be part of God’s church? We’re courting disaster if we do.

Winning in this spiritual battle God has called us to be a lot tougher than we think.  If it isn’t tough for you right now, you are neglecting something.  God doesn’t promise everyone is going to make it.  It’s those who endure to the end.

Are your girding your loins – staying close to God – and fighting your spiritual battles daily against this world, self and Satan so you will be one of those winners God and Christ will honor in the Kingdom?  Read I Corinthians 9:24.

God wants us to win.  He has opened up access to Him and given us His Spirit and provided His word and His church.  We have no excuse if we neglect this “so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).  Remember, it’s survival of the fittest – the spiritually fittest.

Can You Express Thanks?

Not long ago at a store I held open the door for a woman with a child in one arm and a box in the other.  She hurried right through the doorway, saying not a word.  My first thought was, at least you could have said thank you.

Saying thank you was built into my vocabulary by my parents.  Now it seems to be out of date to many people.  Human beings seem to take others for granted.  We expect other people to do good things for us.

Somehow society has developed the disposition that others owe us something.  That others ought to automatically serve us.  We see it everywhere, on the job, in school and at stores.

This attitude has permeated many families and marriages.  We expect parents and mates to perform positively on our behalf.  No need to say thanks.  They are doing what is expected of them and they should know we appreciate it.

Basically this is a selfish approach.  Me first.

It isn’t any more difficult to say than it is to say what’s up or any other two words.  So it’s not a matter of language difficulty.

It’s a matter of will, attitude and determination.  I will not say thank you or I will say thank you.  We need to ask ourselves which we will do.

But someone will say why do I have to say thank you for everyday acts?  I think a better question would be, why not?

Living thankfully and expressing it, tells a lot about us as an individual.

In marriage, expressed thankfulness tells our mate they are appreciated, that the things they do makes us happy, that they have talent, that they can do or does it better and quicker than we can.

Expressed thankfulness is like a sweetener; in friendships, on the job, in our everyday activities.

It does something to the recipient; something positive.  Our expressed thankfulness activates the adrenalin of our mates, friends and co-workers.  Thankfulness is a stimulant, a short in the arm, an inspiration.

We, of course, should not express thankfulness to gain something from others.  But if something is gained, just be more thankful and mean it.  We express thankfulness because we are truly appreciative.  We are unselfish.

By the way, when was the last time we gave thanks to God for every breath of air He gives us to breathe?  Do we thank Him for our calling?  Read I Thessalonians 5:18.

As well, with our national day of Thanksgiving soon arriving it is worthwhile that we give God thanks for allowing us to live in this land that He has so greatly blessed.

Thank you!  Pass it on.