Endure: Don't Give In or Give Up - Part 3

Numerous examples of endurance derive from exceptional individuals who are handicapped. I sat beside a young woman in a college class and did not discover she was severely hearing impaired until the end of the semester. She took notes by reading the professor's lips. Can you imagine being deaf and attending a state university and being an A+ student?

When I'm faced with situations requiring value clarification and perseverance, I’m reminded of this young woman. Jesus' words from Matthew 7:13 speak to the issue. "For the gate is narrow and the way hard that leads to life, and those that find it are few." Every worthwhile endeavor may have a narrow gate and eventually require endurance.

The temptation might be to give up because the way is difficult. The alternative is to look for an easy way, the path of least resistance. Jesus was offered this alternative, but chose instead the narrow gate, leading to the cross. Consider the consequence for us, if he had chosen the easy way.  

Endure: Don't Give In or Give Up - Part 2

Endurance is, in truth, a test of values, especially where competing values cause conflict. A book called Values and Teaching, identifies most people as believing in prolonging life. However, place that ideal in a situation where someone is suffering from unbearable pain, caused by an incurable disease, and wishes to die…

Thank God most of us do not face that choice, but other situations where values collide make choosing unpleasant. You appreciate rules for driving safely, and although you need to be on time for work, you're late. You cherish being a patient, kind person, but someone is using you to their advantage. Your integrity depends on choosing your actions wisely.

A man explained he had a chance to reconcile with his ex-wife. He wanted to do right by his family and please God, but lack of trust blocked the pathway. God’s word teaches you to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, and he will guide your path." This is God’s choice for all believers. 

Endure: Don't Give In or Give Up - Part 1

Recently, I met a person who was experiencing intense conflict over office procedures and policies. What appeared to be a secondary issue, but turned out to be the primary issue, was this person’s fear of conflict and confrontation. He preferred to pout and internalize frustration rather than to be "up front" with the issues.

There are several ways to manage conflict. One is to endure in silence and become a helpless victim. A healthier way to manage is to be open and truthful, carefully explaining what you think and need. Then request the person's help and support for resolving problems. Change usually requires patience and endurance for appropriate change to become a reality.

Endurance displays character strengths. Endurance makes emotional and spiritual transformation possible. Character strengths come from believing the Lord God will use any situation to let you know he is interested in you and will give you strength to endure. You can love and trust him to faithfully keep his promises. 

Values: Boundary Markers for Living - Part 3

The idea that God is interested in you may be difficult to believe and accept. He not only has an interest in his creation, but he pursues you for his purpose so your days on the earth will be worthwhile. What does he ask in return? To love him with all your heart, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.

This command is not easy because it requires identifying and analyzing your values. Someone told me her priorities were her career first, then family, her social life, and finally God. Then she was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Confined to convalescence for an extended time, she was forced to rethink her purpose and goals for her life.

Identifying and analyzing your values may result in life-changing decisions. That God is interested in you and will pursue you is validated by Jesus' words, "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly." To accept that God is interested in you may require rearranging your values to include his love and purpose for you.  

Values: Boundary Markers for Living - Part 2

Values serve as boundary markers for everyday living. Values are guidelines for management of personal conduct. Do they provide guarantees for a perfect, sin-free life? No! We cannot say, "I have values, and they protect me from any temptation or whenever internal impulses push me toward sin."

The Ten Commandments are about values. They help Christians establish values and serve as a reminder when there are deviations from those boundaries. Jesus said he came to this world to fulfill the commandments, not to do away with them. Our self-interest and desires pull us away from the commandments and our personal values.

Romans 11 clarifies. "When Israel tried to be right with God by pursuing her own self-interest, Israel failed. God’s chosen ones have always been those who would invite God to pursue his interest in them, and they in turn received his approval." Values become crystal clear when we permit God to pursue his interest in us. Can you do that without hesitation?  

Values: Boundary Markers for Living - Part 1

Ernest Hemingway won the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature yet found it difficult at times to write a significant beginning sentence that portrayed a truth. While Hemingway is considered to have been a true American literary genius, his value system brought him intense pain and suffering which resulted in his eventual suicide.

Hemingway continuously sought to prove himself through his famous African safaris, his drinking ability, sportsmanship, and exploits with women, but discovered that permanent peace did not exist for him. A Quaker proverb addresses caring for and loving yourself. "It is true that each person has integrity that can be damaged and diminished by choices that person makes."

Your integrity is intricately connected to your value system, so your values either strengthen or weaken your integrity. Jesus posited a blueprint for guarding your integrity. "Love the Lord God with your whole being and your neighbor as yourself." "Do to others as you would have them do to you" is a choice God will bless while strengthening your integrity.

Golden Opportunities: Hard Choices - Part 3

Everyone has values for choosing how life should be lived. Jesus put our choices into perspective. "Enter by the narrow gate; for the wide is the gate and easy the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter it. Narrow is the gate and hard the way that leads to life and few are those who find it." What is your honest response to these words?

I asked a man in his late thirties if he could ask one thing from God, what would it be? After a long silence, he said, "A clean heart that’s been forgiven, one that absent of the guilt and shame I’ve brought on myself."

To enter the narrow gate requires examining your values. Put into perspective what's on the other side of the narrow gate that awaits you. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, or can the mind imagine what lies in store for those who choose to love God." God creates in us a new heart when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Will you do that?  

Golden Opportunities: Hard Choices - Part 2

When Jesus said, "Whatsoever you wish men would do to you, do so to them," he was teaching that the essence of righteousness is constructively doing good, not just avoiding sin. It means to create opportunities to do good by being proactive, earnestly seeking to incorporate this command into everyday life. It may require stretching to the limits of your sincerity, faith and patience.

Don't be fooled into thinking you can achieve this command in your own strength. It’s the presence of the Holy Spirit reminding, enabling and encouraging you to seize the moment. "Whatsoever you wish men would do to you," demands a desire to see good things happen to others.

The statement, "You never know what life is like for others until you have walked in their shoes," involves imagining yourself in that person’s position regardless of who that person happens to be. How about that? Would you even consider it? This is what the Golden Rule is asking you to practice each day.  

Golden Opportunities: Hard Choices - Part 1

The Jewish Rabbi Hillel was humorously challenged to teach the whole law while standing on one foot. Here’s his response: "What you do not like done to you, do not do to others. This is the entire law." The Golden Rule is based on "Love your neighbor as yourself." Can you love yourself, as this commandment intends?

Self-love includes the soul's desire for the essential enrichment that God provides. Loving your neighbor means believing he or she is worthy of the best that God makes available. One thing is for sure, bitterness, hate, anger and too much pride are incompatible with loving oneself as God intended.

Doing to others as you would have them do to you requires vigilance devoted to monitoring your attitudes, motives and actions. A desire to love God with your entire being must come first. Then be aware of opportunities that come your way, and deliberately choose to practice kindness, patience and goodness. These comprise the Golden Rule. God will reward your commitment to do so.  

Golden Rule: Golden Opportunities - Part 3

The mother of a young man who was brutally murdered related how she hated the man who committed the atrocious felony. She promised to give all her energies to keeping him incarcerated for the rest of his life. Complete healing may be impossible if the judicial system is lenient with this violent offender and neglects her need for justice.

Hate, bitterness and anger are self-destructive. My psychology professor noted that persistent stress subjects the body to disease by weakening the immune system. Hate, anger and bitterness are detrimental to the mind, body and spirit by creating a barrier to properly loving yourself.

Yet God’s word instructs believers to love what is good and hate what is evil. Hate felt toward another person, however, is contradictory to the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" is difficult to actualize, and is a lifetime endeavor. Implore God to give you the will to comply with his command. Would you do that? 

Golden Rule: Golden Opportunities - Part 2

In what areas of everyday life should the Golden Rule apply? "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is one of the toughest principles of life to put into practice. Our conscience teaches us it is right, and our intellect teaches us it is necessary for peace within ourselves and peace with other human beings.

          Jesus anchors the Golden Rule to a love for God. 1 John 4:20 reminds us, "If anyone says 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother cannot love God." For most of us, we hear this truth and it sounds right, but in reality, we have trouble applying it.

          What does the Golden Rule require from you? First, take it seriously. Next, do a thorough self-examination. Realize that God loves you unconditionally even with all your hidden secrets. Even when you were still in a depraved, sinful state, Jesus died on the cross for your redemption. Ask God for opportunities to practice the principles of the Golden Rule.  

Golden Rule: Golden Opportunities - Part 1

During her early childhood years, my granddaughter would make up some really funny stories. Occasionally her mother would ask, "Now is that what actually happened?" My daughter's purpose in questioning her was to teach the value of being truthful.

Most parents want their children to acquire a strong measure of independence. Gradually granting children independence enables them to stand apart from their peers enough to make decisions based on the values they were taught. Children need to know that strong, healthy values anchored in love for Christ Jesus are a mainstay in an ever-changing world.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" must be taught over and over until it sticks. It should be taught with gentleness and love for God in your heart and attitude. It's also critically important to help children recognize and understand their weaknesses and to teach them how to receive forgiveness from you and God. Healthy values stick forever.