Decide what price you're willing to pay to answer the call

There are few things in this world as stressful as buying a house. Right now as I'm writing this, the real-estate market is hot. Houses are appreciating in price and properties are selling quickly. The other day I had lunch with some friends, one of which is a real-estate agent, and he admitted that he's doing everything he can do to keep up with the business.

I have purchased four homes in my life. Two were rental properties and two were primary residences. Three of those four properties were in a part of Pennsylvania where housing prices tend to be affordable, but my current home is in a part of the state that tends to be more expensive. Properties cost two or three times what they cost where I used to live, and property taxes are double or triple the rate I grew used to as well.

When we bought our current home, I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the cost. Its price was average for this area, but that price felt like a real stretch to me 13 years ago. In fact, since the previous owners had been relocated by their employer, the home was owned by a relocation company. With that in mind, I decided to do something bold when I bought it. I offered a price that was $30,000 less than asking price, asked for several thousand in repairs to be made before we signed the papers, and asked the relocation company to cover our closing costs. If there was any chance of me being able to afford the house, they needed to accept my offer.

My real-estate agent was shocked when I told her what I was requesting. She was concerned that we might offend them with our offer, but I said, "It's a relocation company. I don't think they'll take this personally." Thankfully, with very little adjustment, they accepted our offer, and we were able to buy the house.

When it comes to our walk with Jesus and His calling on our lives, we're also going to need to consider the price we're willing to pay to answer His call. The truth is, it will cost you everything, and that's why most people in this world aren't following Him. The price seems too steep, so they stick with what's familiar, miss the entire point of why they were created, and go to their graves having no clue that they just traded eternal joy for the fleeting riches of this world.

Let's not make that mistake. Look with me at what Jesus tells us about what it means to decide what price you're willing to pay to answer His call.

I. This statement will only offend you if your heart is in the wrong place.

“Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” ”

— Luke 14:25-27

During the course of His earthly ministry, Jesus said many interesting things that could at times puzzle His initial audience. Many of those statements still puzzle people today, and the words Jesus spoke in this passage certainly fall into that category.

At this point in His ministry, Jesus had revealed His divine nature. He taught about eternal things with authority. He healed people of diseases. He raised the dead to life, and he ticked off religious leaders who were jealous of the attention He was getting. In fact, Jesus was becoming so well known that great crowds of people started following Him wherever He went and assembling to hear Him in the towns He visited.

It's ironic, but people still do the same things to Jesus today that they did back then. Some people in that crowd had devoted their entire life to following Him, while others were just there to observe out of curiosity sake. So to differentiate between them, Jesus made a definitive statement. He said that a person's love for Him must be so great that their love for their closest family would look like hate in comparison. He said we must be willing to identify with Him in every way, even by receiving the reproaches of this world, if we would really call ourselves His disciples. What do you think? Could that be said of you?

Several years ago, I received a word of criticism from someone that I think was intended to discourage me, but it actually had the opposite effect. I was criticized for caring more about my family than I cared about our church. That was certainly an interesting thing to hear because I know in my heart that I love my family and I love our church, but here's the thing... I do care about my family more than I care about anyone or anything else on this earth. I care more about my family than our church, my friends, and even myself. So I'm OK with that criticism. To be honest, it actually made that critic sound unwise and immature to me.

But according to Jesus, my love for my family, even though it is my greatest earthly love, must pale in comparison to my love and devotion to Him if I'm really going to be His disciple. The great news about that, however, is that when I truly understand what it means to walk in the love of Christ, that's when I learn what it really looks like to love my family. And through my relationship with Christ, I'm granted His power and wisdom to love and lead my family the right way.

So, when I look at Christ's comments about loving Him above everyone else, I realize that statement will only offend me if it needs to. It will only offend me if my heart is in the wrong place.

II. Have you considered the cost of what you're trying to build?

““For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” ”

— Luke 14:28-30

When we bought our home, part of what made it affordable for us was the fact that it needed some updating and cosmetic repairs that we have had to budget for over time. In the years since we first purchased it, we replaced the steps out front, put on a new roof, replaced the furnace and did a whole bunch of other things. But one of the biggest interior changes we made was updating the kitchen, appliances, and flooring.

When we did that, we had no idea how much it was going to cost, so we sat down with a contractor and did some planning. He mapped everything out for us, presented us with a variety of options, and surprised us with some really good prices that made it possible for us to get all the updates made as long as we did the majority of the prep work.

There is a natural cost to building something. Jesus used the example of building a tower to illustrate that. He said if you're going to build something like that, make sure you know what it's going to cost you ahead of time, otherwise you'll look foolish if you get the project started and can't finish it.

Christ's words in this passage are meant to give us a picture of discipleship and what it looks like to consider the cost of following Him. He's building our lives, and we're using His strength to build families, ministries, and businesses that are built with the specific aim of giving Him glory. What will it cost you to follow His lead? What are you willing to pay to build things His way?

III. Do you understand how much it will cost you to go to war?

““Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.” ”

— Luke 14:31-32

I find it very interesting that Jesus uses the analogy of a king going out to war in the midst of this challenge to follow Him. Going off to war involves planning, gathering resources, securing financial reserves, assembling a band of soldiers, training them to fight, and treating the wounds they might receive while in battle. It's not a small undertaking, and there's a lot of attention to detail that needs to go into it.

I preach a lot about Jesus, but sometimes I wonder if people really know what I'm talking about when I speak about the nature of following Him. The truth is, following Jesus can feel a lot like getting involved in a war. Not necessarily a war in the physical sense, but certainly in the spiritual sense.

If you decide to commit your life to following Christ and answering His calling on your life, you need to know that there will be people who will come against you. It won't seem rational and it won't make a lot of sense, but it definitely happens. Without exception, every time I have been obedient to committing myself to a major task or ministry that the Lord has directed me toward, I have experienced opposition.

But don't let yourself believe the people opposing you are the real enemy. They're being deceived into believing that their fight is against you, even though it isn't. The real enemy is Satan. The real battle is spiritual in nature. But the victory Christ secured in His resurrection from the dead is a victory that He graciously shares with all who trust in Him. His victory can become your victory if you're willing to entrust your life to Him without reservation.

IV. You're not ready to answer the call until you're willing to pay the big price.

““So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” ”

— Luke 14:33

Is there anything in your life that's still more important to you than Jesus? When we look at what He says in this passage, Jesus makes it really clear that if there's anything in our lives that's still more important to us than Him, then we really don't know Him. In this passage, He encourages us to renounce our idols and all the things of this world that we mistakenly believed could satisfy the longing in our hearts. They can't satisfy you. I just hope it doesn't take us most of our lives to figure that out.

How big of a price are you willing to pay to follow Him and say yes to His calling for you? Quite frequently, I hear people say they're willing to pay the big price, but when you take a closer look, you quickly realize that most people are all talk and no faith. They're all talk and no action. How many people do you know that won't even give up watching TV to invest that time in themselves, take action on their dreams, or say "yes" to Christ's calling on their life.

There's a song called "Something To Believe In" by a group called FM Static. I became familiar with the song back in 2003 and there's a line from it that often comes to mind, especially when it comes to the subject of faith in Christ and answering his call. In that song they say, "Don't want to spend my lifetime figuring out I missed the point now it's over."

Are you willing to pay the price to say yes to Jesus? I promise you, you won't regret it.

““Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.””

— Philippians 3:12-14

© John Stange, 2021

The opportunity of fatherhood

The other day, I came across a picture that was taken about 15 years ago. It's a picture of my grandfather, father, one of my sons, and me. We were dressed in nice clothing so we must have been at some sort of formal event, but I don't remember where that happened to be.

There are a few things that stand out to me about the picture. First, it was taken on purpose. All four of us share the same name, so someone must have suggested that we stand together to capture the moment.

Second, we're all smiling. It's obvious that we were happy to be together.

But the thing that stands out to me most when I look at that picture is my son's face. In fact, the other day I asked him to confirm to me if I was reading his expression correctly. His expression reminds me of the kind of face I used to make when my father and grandfather would include me in what they were doing when I was young. My son looked proud to be welcomed into the group, and he assured me that that's exactly how he felt.

All of us have fathers. Some of us are fathers. Some of us will be fathers one day, and others are currently raising future fathers. Wherever you are on that spectrum, I hope you recognize that fatherhood provides a great opportunity to help others develop a deeper understanding of God. I don't think fatherhood is valued in our culture the way it ought to be, but among believers, it should be held in high esteem.

What kind of opportunities does fatherhood provide?

I. The opportunity to demonstrate the heart of God

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. ”

— Matthew 18:1-6

It's been widely said, and I believe it to be true, that your relationship with your earthly father will most definitely impact your perception of God. If you had a healthy relationship with your dad, it's likely that you're going to assume the best about your Heavenly Father. If your relationship with your earthly father was deficient in some way, you're going to need your Heavenly Father's help to begin seeing your Him from a perspective that isn't negatively tainted by your earthly father's behaviors.

In John 14:9, Jesus said, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." Jesus is one with the Father, and He came to demonstrate His heart to us in very clear and tangible ways. In my opinion, one of the clearest ways Jesus demonstrated the heart of God was through His interaction with children. It's clear that the Lord loves and values the life of every child.

In fact, when the disciples were arguing about what greatness in the kingdom of God looked like, Jesus made it clear that to even be part of the kingdom of God, we need to approach Him with the humble heart of a child. A proud, unbelieving heart will never enjoy a rich welcome into the kingdom of God, but those who are willing to trust Him with childlike faith certainly will receive such a welcome.

While making this clear to the disciples, Jesus also made it clear that the nature of God is to be fiercely protective of His children. In fact, Jesus revealed that it would be better to be drowned in the sea than to cause a child to fall into sin.

Jesus revealed to us that God is loving, God is welcoming, and God is protective. You are a treasure to God, and if He blesses you with the privilege to raise or influence a child in any way, you're being entrusted with an opportunity to demonstrate His heart to them. God treasures the time you spend in fellowship with Him, even if some of the people in our lives may not.

Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: “Went fishing with my son today—a day wasted.”

His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: “Went fishing with my father—the most wonderful day of my life!”

The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. Isn't it nice to know that God never considers time spent with you wasted? -Silas Shotwell, in September, 1987, Homemade

II. The opportunity to shape the culture

““Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.””

— 1 John 2:15-17

As a father, I have tried as best as I know how to communicate truth to my children. I have told them about Jesus. I have explained the Scriptures to them. I have attempted to pass along the wisdom the Lord has shared with me. I also spend a considerable amount of time in prayer for them, more than they probably realize.

But I don't think the words I share with them or the wisdom I try to convey to them will matter much to them if I don't demonstrate that those words actually matter to me as well. They will be able to see what matters most to me by how I live my life. If I tell them to value Jesus and to avoid becoming wrapped up in the desires of this world while I'm still chained to worldly desires, they could rightly assume that what I'm telling them isn't something I really believe.

Thankfully, I'm confident that my children know exactly what I believe, and I'm grateful to see the impact it has on them. And as I observe that in my own household, and in the households of others, it has become clear to me that the more fathers embrace the opportunity to teach and model the gospel to their children, the more the entire culture is going to be impacted by that example.

III. The opportunity to lead like Jesus

““If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.””

— John 13:14-15

The other day, Andrea and I took a drive to have dinner with one of the pastors from her childhood and his wife. They were a great example of leadership to her, and many of the things they modeled have had an impact on how we try to steward our roles in ministry.

As we were driving there, we saw a family taking a walk together. They crossed the street in front of us while we were waiting at a light, with the father leading the group. He was holding a baby, and the mother was holding the hands of two young children. They all had shirts on that referenced their role in the family. The father's shirt unapologetically said, "Dad." The mother's shirt said, "Mom." And the children had shirts that either said "Son" or "Daughter." As I watched their family, I said to Andrea, "I love that so much. What a beautiful thing to see."

Fatherhood provides a wonderful opportunity to lead, and the wisest fathers learn to demonstrate the heart of Jesus in their leadership. There's a big difference between leading people and bossing people around. Many people make the mistake of believing that they're the same thing, but they aren't. A boss barks out orders and tells you to do things he's not willing to do. A leader invites you to join him in doing the hard things that he's also willing to do. That's the kind of leadership Jesus showed us.

Jesus wasn't afraid to get His hands dirty when serving others. He wasn't hesitant to display a servant's heart and biblical humility toward other people. Just imagine the impact it would have on marriages, parental relationships, and families in general if we took Jesus' example to heart. Fatherhood is a golden opportunity to lead like Jesus, and I'm grateful for the men who can look at the example Jesus gave us by washing the disciples feet and demonstrate their willingness to do the same exact thing in the service and sacrifices they make for their wives and children.

IV. The opportunity to lay down your life

“ “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.””

— 1 John 3:16

Chris Schultz's family is sharing his story of heroism, after the 31-year-old gave his life to save his son on Father's Day weekend.

"He loved his kids more than life itself," said Chris' brother, Ryan Olson. "Everyone says it, but he proved it."

Schultz leapt into action after his three year old son, Ashton, fell off Long Bridge in Detroit Lakes on Saturday.

"Ashton, being a curious, adventurous, 3-year-old, crawled through the rail and fell," Olson said. "Someone saw it and Chris went over instantly."

Olson says his brother managed to get Ashton to the surface, but he struggled to keep his own head above water as he handed his son off to a woman near the shore.

"(Chris) was holding on to her as well," Olson said. "He just couldn't hang on and he let go." -ValleyNewsLive.com, 6/18/19

Why would a loving father do this? I believe this is something instinctive that the Lord puts in a man that demonstrates the fact that we were created in His image. And there's no greater example of this kind of sacrificial love than what we see demonstrated in Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John made a point to remind the church over and over again that God is loving by nature. That love was on full display in the life, ministry, and eventual death of Jesus Christ. When someone wants to know what real love looks like, all they need to do is look to the example of Jesus who willingly laid down His life for us. The righteous for the unrighteous. The Savior for the sinner.

We don't deserve the love of Jesus. The only thing we ever did to deserve what He chose to do for us was rebel against Him and goof everything up. We had nothing to offer Him other than our long list of mistakes. But He showed us what love is by laying down His life for us, and if our faith in Him is genuine, we should be willing to do the same for those we love too.

Fatherhood provides a great opportunity to demonstrate the heart of God, to shape the culture, to lead like Jesus, and to lay down your life.

According to something recently shared anonymously on Bible.org, here's what a father teaches...

• He teaches kindness by being thoughtful and gracious even at home.

• He teaches patience by being gentle and understanding over and over.

• He teaches honesty by keeping his promises to his family even when it costs.

• He teaches courage by living unafraid with faith, in all circumstances.

• He teaches justice by being fair and dealing equally with everyone.

• He teaches obedience to God’s Word by precept and example as he reads and prays daily with his family.

• He teaches love for God and His Church as he takes his family regularly to all the services.

• His steps are important because others follow. -Bible.org

© John Stange, 2021

Dare yourself to do what others won't

Do you enjoy your present vocation, or is it something you continue to do because it's familiar, somewhat safe, and sufficient to pay the bills? Is that a good enough reason to continue doing what you're doing, or do you occasionally find yourself daydreaming about taking your life in a different direction - a direction that's more in line with your calling?

I'm friends with a man who has spent the past two decades teaching at a Christian college in the midwest. He's a gifted teacher and communicator, but over the years, it has started to become clear to him that his real calling is to write. On the side, he started writing books, then other people started to reach out to him for assistance writing their own books. Eventually, some of his high-profile business clients actually began hiring him to ghostwrite books for them, which he was happy to do.

In time, he developed a membership for budding writers to join, and dozens of people signed up to learn from him. Between his ghostwriting clients and his monthly membership, it started to become clear to him that if he wanted to, he could make a career transition that was more in line with his calling. The only problem was that doing so didn't feel safe. His work as a college professor felt secure, but going out on his own didn't.

What would you have done if you were him?

Just recently, he looked at his situation and realized that he didn't want to spend the rest of his life doing something that no longer matched what he felt most gifted to do. So he submitted his resignation letter to the college and decided to invest himself fully in his writing business. As a result, his business is growing, he has more time for his wife and family, and many of his peers are seeking his counsel because they're trying to get up enough courage to one day follow his example.

There's a path in this world that seems predictable and safe. It's the path most people are choosing. They choose that path in their vocation and they may even choose that path in regard to their spiritual life. In the meantime, that predictable and "safe" path begins to show how limited it really is because there's one thing it can't do for you. It can't stretch your faith.

Few people would be willing to choose the path my friend chose, even if it became clear to them that that's exactly what God wanted them to do. What about us? Would we listen to the voice of God if He started leading us in an unfamiliar direction? Would we dare to do what others wouldn't do?

Paul faced a similar dilemma, and he told us a lot about it in 1 Corinthians 9.

I. Be willing to sacrifice your rights to make the most of your privileges.

““This is my defense to those who would examine me.  Do we not have the right to eat and drink?  Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?  Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?””

— 1 Corinthians 9:3-6

When Paul was engaged in the work of his ministry, he faced a considerable amount of challenges. He was challenged by hostile people in a hostile culture. He was also routinely questioned by those who should have eagerly supported the work he was doing. Paul was also highly conscious of the fact that everything he did might become a pattern that church leaders and evangelists would copy. He also wanted to make sure his decisions didn't get in the way of the gospel being received by unbelieving people.

With this in mind, Paul chose to forego making use of some of his rights. He had the right to earn an income from the work he was doing to serve the church, but he didn't make use of that right. He had the right to be married, but he chose to remain single so he would have more time to preach and disciple. He made a regular habit of sacrificing his rights in order to make the most of the privilege to preach the gospel, plant churches, and train other leaders.

I love seeing that mindset on display in these passages. I find it truly inspiring. So often in life, we're tempted to throw a fit when we don't get our own way. Frequently, we get upset when we feel like we aren't getting what we deserve. But Paul took a different approach. The Lord was allowing him to see the bigger picture of what was going on. Paul became convinced that in the long run, it was worth it for him to resist insisting on his rights. He gave most of those things up so he could spend his time and his energy making the most of his privilege to help others come to know Jesus, and he kept that grander goal in mind throughout the course of his ministry.

II. Become so devoted to your calling that it would violate your conscience to abandon it.

““But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.  For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!””

— 1 Corinthians 9:15-16

How would you finish this sentence, "I will feel guilty if I don't devote my life to ....." Have you been gifted to do something specific? Has the Lord been opening up doors for you to accomplish something for His glory?

If you asked Paul to finish that sentence, he would tell you that his conscience would be troubled if he stopped preaching the gospel. He knew without doubt that this is what Jesus had called him to do. Discomfort couldn't stop him. Poverty couldn't prevent him. Imprisonment couldn't shut him up. The only thing that seemingly stopped him was execution, but all that really did was demonstrate the depth of his convictions and validate the many things he wrote about in the New Testament. Now those words are proclaimed from pulpits all throughout the world.

I still remember the first time I was asked to preach a sermon. I was so nervous about doing so ahead of time, but once I had the opportunity to do so, I knew the Lord had shown me what He wanted me to do with my life. He wanted me to share the gospel, teach His word, and communicate the hope we have in Jesus through every means He made available to me. He has given me the privilege to do so from pulpits, on the radio, through podcasts, and through the written word. My conscience echoes Paul's statement, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"

Has the Lord been making your calling clear to you? Are you devoted to that mission? Would it be a violation of your conscience for you to forsake or abandon that calling?

III. Your calling is a stewardship that you've been blessed to share.

““For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.  What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” ”

— 1 Corinthians 9:17-18

I was recently invited to speak at a church that has been in decline for several decades. They openly say that the glory days of that ministry were many years ago. As I met with their leaders, one of the things I reminded them of was the fact that they were the temporary stewards of that ministry. The church belongs to Jesus, and He has graciously allowed them to be the ones who oversee that ministry for a temporary period of time. Other leaders came before them, and by God's grace, new leaders will come after them.

The opportunities we're given, the talents we've been blessed with, and the gifts we've been supernaturally equipped with are a temporary stewardship. Paul could see that his ability to make the gospel known was a stewardship he had been entrusted with. Do you see your calling as a stewardship as well? It's a stewardship you've been blessed to share with others.

Paul didn't demand his right to earn an income from the work he was doing, even though he actually deserved one. Knowing the broader ramifications of the ministry that he was doing during the specific era of history he was serving in, he realized it would be better for everyone if he chose not to demand that income. Once he made peace with that concept in his mind, he took great joy in presenting the gospel free of charge.

As you and I operate as obedient stewards of our calling, we can adopt this same attitude. We may be tangibly rewarded for the work we do, or we may not be, but that's not the greater point. Jesus taught us that it's better to give than it is to receive, so let's be generous about sharing what He has gifted us to share.

IV. There's a side of life that you'll only see once you serve someone else.

“ “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.””

— 1 Corinthians 9:19

They say that serving others always sounds glamorous right up to the point when someone actually starts treating you like a servant. I think that's true. Servanthood really isn't a glamorous mindset, but it is a good one. There's a side of life you'll only see once you start serving someone else.

Have you ever noticed the change that occurs in a person's life once they have children? It changes someone to have to spend every waking hour focusing on the health, safety, and development of another person. It produces a new level of maturity and it can strip away remaining areas of selfishness if they haven't been previously removed.

The Lord was teaching Paul what it means to have a heart of a servant. That's why Paul was able to say that he was willing to be a servant to all people. He wanted to win them over to Christ, so he was willing to sacrifice his preferences, and humble himself in uncomfortable ways in order to do so.

Any idea why was he willing to do this? He was willing to do this because that's exactly what Jesus had done for him. When we observe the ministry of Jesus, we see Jesus doing what no one else would do or could do. Jesus lived the perfect life because we couldn't. Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sin because He was the only one without sin of His own. Jesus rose from the grave to secure the victory over death that He graciously shares with all who trust in Him. He did what others wouldn't do, and did what others couldn't do.

Understanding what Jesus has done for us is life-altering. Paul's life and attitude were changed by the work of Christ. Our lives will be changed as well. Are we still trying to hand God our excuses, or is our faith strong enough for us to dare to do what others simply won't?

© John Stange, 2021

Differences are illusions. The people you admire are just like you.

Learn more about John Stange’s newest book, “Dwell On These Things”

During my college years, there were few people I admired like Rich Mullins. Rich was my favorite musician. I admired him for the things he sang about in his songs and for the simple way he lived his life. He was well known, but he wasn't pretentious. He was a big deal, but everyone seemed to know that except him.

Whenever I had the chance to see him in concert, I went. I once got shushed by someone sitting in front of me because I was singing along with every word of his songs. I didn't realize they could hear me, but they made it clear that I wasn't the one they paid money to hear sing.

After one concert, I hung out for a while to attempt to meet him. I even jumped in to help the crew as they were breaking down the stage and getting all the equipment loaded for transport. As we were carrying and wheeling things into the truck, Rich walked by. I had the chance to talk to him, but I was too nervous to do so, so I just kept loading the truck and trying not to act like I was as big of a fan as I certainly was.

A year later, our college brought him in for a concert and I was asked to be his primary contact during the day of the show. My task was to take him out to eat and help him with any odds and ends that might come up over that six hour stretch. To say that I was excited was an understatement. But I was also a little bit nervous that I might discover that the image I had of him wasn't accurate. I wondered if he conveyed an image on TV or on stage that wouldn't match reality.

I was grateful when it became clear that he wasn't being duplicitous. We didn't eat at a fancy restaurant. He wanted Arby's. When fans recognized him at Arby's, he asked me if I could get them into the concert somehow because they didn't have money to buy tickets. Throughout the night, he walked with a limp because he had stepped on a nail a few days earlier. When I asked him to sign all my albums (I had every single one), he cringed when he realized I owned copies of the two early albums that he thought were his worst.

In that experience, I realized that one of the people I admired most in this world was no different than anyone else. He enjoyed fried foods. He limped, and he felt insecure about the art he created.

How often have we talked ourselves out of doing the very thing God has equipped us to do simply because we don't think we're celebrities? How many times have we avoided doing what we're being called to do simply because we've convinced ourselves that someone else with more name recognition can do it better?

The people we admire are just like us. The only difference between us and them is that they have a habit of taking action and some of us seem to have a habit of standing still because of our self-doubt, weak faith, and irrational insecurities.

The Bible attempts to talk us out of those doubts and insecurities in James 5:13-18.

I. Christ has given you His power. Are you willing to use it?

““Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.  Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.””

— James 5:13-14

One of the great blessings of being part of the family of God is that He graciously grants us His power to navigate the trials and tests of this age. Our lives are filled with ups and downs. Some seasons are marked by pronounced suffering. Other seasons are light and cheerful. Sometimes we endure illnesses and infirmities. Sometimes we feel healthier than ever.

Regardless of whichever season we may be in at present, we need the power of God. Through Jesus, we have been granted that power, but many believers spend the bulk of their days forgetting to access it or failing to use it.

What does James instruct us to do when we're suffering? He challenges us to access the power of God through prayer. And when we're cheerful and everything seems to be moving along smoothly, he encourages us to use God's power to express our thankfulness. If we're sick, he instructs us to gather our spiritual leaders to collectively access the power of God on our behalf as they lift up their voices to pray for our healing.

We haven't been left powerless in this world. Through Christ, we've been given great power, but are we willing to use it or would we rather stumble through life like people who are completely unaware of the gift they hold right in their hands?

II. What might you see if you just took the time to ask? (James 5:15)

““And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.””

— James 5:15

A few days ago, I received a call. It was from one of my college roommates informing me that one of our other roommates, a good friend to both of us, was just flown to the hospital via helicopter for emergency surgery on his heart. The situation was very serious and everyone was told to prepare for the worst. It was one of those moments when you feel compelled to do something, but you know there isn't anything in the physical sense you can do to affect the situation. The only thing I could do in that moment was pray. So that's what I did, as did many of our other friends as well as our church prayer team. I found myself praying for him all throughout the day.

Later that day, when I saw my wife, we also took time to pray for him together, and I said to her, "I'm praying in faith that the Lord will spare his life, and I truly believe in my heart that He will." The words of James 5:15 were on my mind. If I am going to bother to lift something up before the Lord, I need to pray in faith, not doubt. I was ready to accept whatever the Lord decided regarding my friend's condition, but I prayed in faith knowing that the Lord had the power to miraculously save his life. We learned the next day that he lived through the surgery and is in the gradual process of recovery.

I was grateful the Lord allowed us to see that outcome, and it makes me wonder what else we might see the hand of God accomplish if we just took the time to ask for His intervention? James teaches us that the Lord heals and raises up the sick. He also forgives the deepest offenses and sins, so what else do you suppose He's waiting for us to approach Him about?

Are you familiar with the hymn "What a Friend we have in Jesus"? It's a hymn we used to sing regularly at my home church when I was a child. It was written by Joseph Scriven, a pastor, who was living in Canada and wanted to comfort his mother who lived in Ireland. This is what he wrote back in 1855;

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

His words always make me wonder what peace I'm forfeiting and what needless pain I'm bearing simply because I haven't asked Jesus to intervene on my behalf.

III. Don't let worldly desires rob you of your confident access to God's throne.

“ “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”  ”

— James 5:16

Many people are fearful of meeting God someday. What do you think He would do if you walked right up to Him? Do you believe He would reject you or welcome you into His presence? Do you think He'd be irritated with your boldness or glad you came to Him? Is there something in your life that gets in the way of your willingness to entertain the thought of approaching Him?

Our desires for worldly things frequently hinder our relationship with God. The more we welcome worldly values and the sins our generation embraces to enter our life, the less we will feel confident approaching God. He offers us the solution to that in James 5:16.

In this passage, we're told to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other. When sin is called into the light, it's robbed of its power. And when we aren't saying yes to sin, we're free to say yes to Jesus who has given us the gift of His righteousness.

The prayer of a person who has been blessed with the presence of the righteousness of Christ in their life is more powerful than most people realize. Such prayers affect change. The prayers of the righteous invite the hand of God to intervene in the most impossible situations. And as Scripture demonstrates, the Lord is delighted to accomplish the miraculous on behalf of those He has blessed with the gift of His righteousness.

IV. Remember what God has already done through people just like you.

““Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.  Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” ”

— James 5:17-18

It's interesting to look at what Scripture reveals to us about the people we admire. Of the people mentioned in Scripture, one of the most admired is Elijah. He was a prophet in Israel during the reign of King Ahab, and he prayed that the Lord would withhold rain for three and a half years. Israel was consumed with idol worship at that time and Elijah felt compelled to pray in such a way that they would see a demonstration of the power of God through the lack of rain. Then he prayed again and the Lord brought rain upon the land.

Was Elijah special? Was he magic? God's word makes it clear that he wasn't. He was a man with a nature just like ours. When we read about his life in the Bible, God isn't trying to impress us with Elijah. The Lord is trying to show us what He's willing to do in a life that's submitted over to Him. If He was willing to do what He did through Elijah, what might He be willing to do through you?

The people we admire are just like us. In fact, I think it's wise for us to stop treating the people we admire like they're heroes or exceptional. The only real hero I want my heart to latch onto at this point is Jesus. From what I see in Scripture, everyone else is just like me, and I know myself well enough to know the limits of my strengths and weaknesses.

If your admiration for other people is getting in the way of your obedience to God's calling, then your admiration has become an idol. Respect the people who inspire you and set a good example for you, but don't turn their success into your excuse for inaction.

Differences are illusions. The people you admire are just like you.

© John Stange, 2021

Dream about helping the people who will only listen to you

A little over a year ago, my wife and I became friends with a woman that we find truly inspiring. In fact, just recently I had the opportunity to attend a seminar on team-building and organizational leadership that she put together for business and ministry leaders.

Years ago, I don't think she could have ever pictured herself giving that seminar. At an earlier season of life, she was homeless, living from her car, and pregnant with her first child. She lived in an area that didn't seem to offer her many opportunities, and she had no idea what to do with her life.

Eventually, she started to get her life onto a more stable footing, but she was still painfully broke. Being without a job, she got the idea that maybe people would pay her to clean their houses. She had no experience doing this, but she went to the dollar store, bought some empty spray bottles, and looked online to see how she might be able to create some basic, homemade cleaning agents. Then she attempted to get clients, and succeeded.

As her business and income started to grow, she hired people to work with her. She eventually took on more clients and began the process of hiring additional cleaners. Other companies took notice of her business growth and started asking her for help to organize their businesses better. From there, she started creating online courses on how to run a cleaning business and people started paying her the equivalent of college tuition to take them.

Now, she runs a successful business, employs multiple people, is loved by those who work with her, is considered an expert in her industry, and people regularly pay her to teach them everything she knows. She's in her mid-30's, and in the past year, she earned more income than all the the previous years of her life combined.

If you went back in time to the days when she was pregnant, living in a car, scared and depressed, I don't think she would have believed you if you told her that the day was going to come when people would be eager to learn from her and hang on her every word, but that's exactly what has happened.

What about you? Do you believe it's possible that you might have something valuable to say to others? Do you dream about helping people who might only listen to you, or are you still convinced that those people don't exist? Mentally speaking, does it feel like you're still abandoned, depressed, and living alone in a car?

If so, consider what Jesus revealed in His conversation with a discouraged woman from Samaria.

I. Do you struggle to believe anyone would listen to you?

Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’ (John 4:16-17)

The story that we're told in this portion of John's gospel fascinates me. In this passage, we see a woman who was going through a very difficult season of life. She was discouraged, seemingly avoided by her peers, and going through the motions of her daily responsibilities without much hope until Jesus graciously reached into her life.

The Scripture tells us that this woman was surprised that Jesus would speak to her because she was from Samaria and He was Jewish (and both groups tended to avoid each other). Jesus was also a rabbi and a man which would have also made her unlikely to believe that he would want to have a conversation with her.

One other thing that isn't directly stated in the text, but I believe may be implied, relates to the fact that she was at the well to collect water during the hottest part of the day. Most often, women would gather at the well in the morning or evening when it was cooler. This was also a form of social interaction for them. The fact that she was alone at the well at noon probably meant she didn't have very many friends.

But Jesus was willing to be her friend. He was willing to speak with her and associate with her. He even showed her that He knew the precise details of her home life and past relationships. This obviously shocked her for many reasons, including the fact that up to this point, it doesn't appear that too many people demonstrated much interest in her or anything she might say.

What about you? Do you struggle with the same concerns this woman faced? Does it seem hard to believe anyone would listen to you?

II. Jesus sees you, hears you, and is paying attention to you

"for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet." (John 4:18-19)

Recently, Andrea and I took a friend out to eat. He lives alone and seemed eager for the company, but he spent most of the meal on his phone. He kept answering it mid-conversation which made it abundantly clear that he wasn't terribly interested in our conversation. Here's a hint: If someone takes you out to eat, make eye contact with them and put your phone on silent.

I'm grateful that Jesus didn't convey an aloof or disinterested attitude to the woman from Samaria. In fact, He demonstrated to her in vivid detail that He saw her, heard her, and was paying attention to her.

Jesus gave this woman a recap of her relational history up to this point. She previously had five different husbands, and I get the impression that one at a time they may have abandoned her most likely for worldly or selfish reasons. Now, the man she was with wasn't even willing to make her his wife.

As Jesus made it clear that He knew these things about her present situation and the life story that led her to this point, she became convinced that He was a prophet. He knew things about her that were very clearly divinely revealed, and that amazed her.

Isn't it interesting to consider that the Lord pays that kind of attention to those He has created in His image? I struggle to remember the birthdays of many of my blood relatives, yet Jesus sees, hears, and pays attention to us on a deeper level than I think we often realize.

If that isn't something you typically allow your mind to dwell on, I hope you'll let the example from this portion of Scripture encourage you.

III. God is seeking worshipers. You can join Him in this search.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  (John 4:21-23)

Having a sense of mission in this world is helpful. When you gain a sense of what you're here for, you stop needing an alarm clock to wake you up in the morning. You smile when you think about your responsibilities. You daydream about how you can do what you've been called to do better.

Take a look at several mission statements from some well known companies and ministries:

• “Uber is evolving the way the world moves. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our apps, we make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders and more business for drivers.” -Uber

• “To attract and attain customers with high-valued products and services and the most satisfying ownership experience in America.” -Toyota

• “To follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.” -World Vision

God the Father has a mission as well, and Jesus makes it abundantly clear. The Father is actively seeking people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. And the wonderful part of that mission is that it's something the Lord invites us to join Him in as He fulfills it. In fact, a key component of that mission is His desire to use people like you and me to see that mission through to completion.

Do you wake up every day excited to join God in this effort? Do you even believe He wants your involvement and participation?

IV. There are some people who won't listen to anyone else but you

So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him. (John 4:28-30)

Here's something amazing that stands out to me from the account we're given in John 4. After speaking with Jesus, hearing what He could reveal about her, and being told that He alone could satisfy the deepest thirst of her soul, this woman left her water jar and went back into town to tell others that she believed she had just met the long-promised Messiah.

I think it's possible to tell when someone is lying. I believe the Holy Spirit points our hearts toward the truth, and I think He convinced the people of the town that this woman was sincere. We're told that after she said what she said, the people of the town stopped what they were doing and went up to the well to meet Jesus. In that moment, I think this woman became the world's most unlikely evangelist, but she was the very person the Lord used to communicate the hope that her entire town needed to hear.

Most people think they need all kinds of credentials to actually be listened to. What kind of credentials did this woman have? The only credentials she had was a hard life and a broken spirit. But something changed inside her when she met Jesus, and I think the people who knew her best could clearly see it. She went from feeling ignored and unloved to possessing a message and a voice that could not be ignored. Her faith in Jesus was her credential.

There are people in your life who will never listen to a pastor or a professor. They won't listen to an author or an expert. They don't even listen to the advice of their doctor, but they'll listen to you because they know you, observe your life, and can tell that you're speaking the truth. The only credentials you really need are a genuine faith in Jesus, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and a burning desire to share the hope you possess with someone else who needs it.

© John Stange, 2021

Don't disqualify yourself just because your beginnings are humble

Not long ago, I had a conversation with a friend who was lamenting certain aspects of his life story with the thought that his background didn't really offer him many advantages in life. In his estimation, he didn't grow up in a place of prominence. He didn't come from a family that was well off financially. And he treated these aspects of his personal experience as if they created some sort of upper limit that might hinder him from doing meaningful things.

Hearing him reflect on his life caused me to reflect on my life as well, and it made me ask the question, "If you come from humble beginnings, does that create an upper limit on how God might be able to use your life?"

I started reflecting on some of the things this world might tell me were my disadvantages. I grew up in a part of Pennsylvania where poverty and drug use are far too common. Our family experienced major conflict and disruption when I was in elementary school. My parents didn't stay together. I moved twelve times before graduating high school. Two of those homes should have been condemned. One was eventually torn down because it was beyond repair. The most stable house I lived in during that time was a government subsidized apartment complex.

We didn't have much money. Our utilities were regularly shut off, and I had no idea that the large blocks of cheese we were regularly snacking on were supplied by a social assistance program run by the state. As soon as I finished high school, I left town and rarely came back to visit. I borrowed money to go to college without realizing how hard it would be to pay back, worked two jobs while taking classes to help pay for school, got married the day after I finished my last class, and started my first full-time job as a pastor at a small country church a few weeks later.

By the grace of God, my adult life is much different than my childhood was. The Lord has blessed me in ways I certainly don't deserve, and I'm grateful that He protected my mind from adopting the belief that the disadvantages I experienced at a previous stage needed to define my life going forward. He's also been teaching me that some of those early disadvantages were actually blessings in disguise that have been a great advantage to me in other ways.

What about your story? Do you come from humble beginnings? Have you mistakenly believed that those humble beginnings might prevent the Lord from doing something really special with your life? Could it be possible that the Lord gave you your humble beginnings as a gift to teach you things you wouldn't have learned any other way? Is it also possible that He was using your humble circumstances to prepare your heart to understand what really matters most in this world?

I. Your starting point doesn't need to be impressive for you to be effective

"Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman.  The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.  When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.  And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him." (Exodus 2:1-4)

One of the most revered men of the Bible is Moses. Many of us look at his life and his faith, and we're in awe of the ways the Lord used him to do some very significant things. But how much time do we spend thinking about where he started and how many things were stacked against him at an early age?

At the time Moses was born, the people of Israel lived as slaves within the borders of Egypt. They had lived there for 430 years, since the time of Joseph, but as their population grew, the Pharaoh became concerned that their numbers were growing too rapidly and they might pose a threat to the security of the nation. He ordered that they be oppressed as slaves and that their infant sons be murdered. Specifically, he decreed that their baby boys be cast into the Nile River.

That obviously posed a dilemma for every God-fearing Hebrew family, and when Moses was born, his mother did her best to hide and protect him. She did this as long as she could, but by the time he was three months old, that wasn't possible any longer. So instead of tossing him into the Nile, she did something shrewd. She took a basket, made it water-tight, put Moses in it and placed the basket in the reeds by the river bank where it wouldn't float away. His older sister kept watch over him from a distance. This was done at a location where Pharaoh's daughter would come and bathe, and when she saw the baby, she had compassion on him and raised him as her own son.

When you look at the details of Moses' life, you can see the hand of God upon him the entire time. His life presents a series of low moments and high moments, but it was clear that the Lord was lifting him up and putting him right where he needed to be in order to do what he was called to do.

When I look at Moses' life, I'm also reminded that your starting point doesn't need to be impressive for you to be effective. You might be born among slaves that are forced to give you up. You might be floating in a little basket on the edge of the Nile, unable to do anything for yourself other than cry. But if God has a plan for you, which He most certainly does, He can orchestrate the most unlikely of circumstances to work in your favor and cause you to be raised up. He can rescue your seemingly hopeless life and put you in a place where you can impact the lives of many others for their good and for His glory.

II. A humble life is a useful tool in the Lord's hands

"Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3, CSB)

Humility is a word we're all familiar with, but many people define it incorrectly. Most often when I hear that word used, people seem to think it means to think poorly of oneself or to be somewhat down on yourself. But that's not what biblical humility looks like. Biblical humility involves understanding who you are in relation to God. God is perfect, we are not. God is all-knowing, we are not. God is creative, and we are creative on a lesser scale because we were created in His image. God is powerful, and those who trust in Jesus have access to His power, a power much greater than our own. That's the essence of biblical humility. We understand who God is and we understand who we are in light of that truth.

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." -C.S. Lewis

"A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you." -C.S. Lewis

George Washington Carver, the scientist who developed hundreds of useful products from the peanut once stated, “When I was young, I said to God, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the universe.’ But God answered, ‘That knowledge is reserved for me alone.’ So I said, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.’ Then God said, ‘Well, George, that’s more nearly your size.’ And he told me.” -Adapted from Rackham Holt, George Washington Carver

A humble life is quite useful in God's hands. I think that becomes pretty clear when we observe the life of Moses. I also think it's fascinating to consider that Scripture tells us that during the course of his life, there was no one on the face of the earth who was more humble than Moses. I suspect that interacting with God as much as Moses did certainly helped him develop an attitude of humility that genuinely glorified the Lord and put Moses in a position where God could steer his humble heart.

Is your heart open to being steered by the Lord? Are you needlessly berating yourself and perpetually putting yourself down, or have you developed a mature understanding of who you are in light of who He is?

III. Humility helps you identify and meet the needs of others

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 2:3-5)

Recently, a friend was telling me about what Christmas was like at his home when he was a child. He told me that his mother would lavish more gifts upon him and his brother than they knew what to do with. She had grown up with very little so she made a point to bless her sons with everything she felt like she once lacked. In fact, she spent the majority of her adult life caring for the needs of her sons, even at great personal cost to herself. This was her expression of love.

When we adopt a mindset of biblical humility, we learn to identify and meet the needs of others, even if the process of doing so is costly and painful. There's no greater example of this than the sacrificial service we see demonstrated in the life of Jesus. Even though Jesus is one with the Father, He didn't selfishly hold on to His divine rights and privileges. Rather, He submitted Himself to the will of the Father, demonstrated perfect humility, and placed our needs above His own comforts when He came to this earth to secure our salvation.

It's also interesting to observe that when Jesus came to this earth, He wasn't born in a castle. He was essentially born in a barn to two humble people who weren't highly esteemed by this world. And after His birth, the first visitors to come and see Him were a band of simple shepherds who were humble enough to listen to the instructions of the angels who announced His birth.

If Jesus Christ, the Son of God who created and sustains the universe by His powerful word was willing to exhibit humility in order to serve us and meet our needs, what kind of mindset should we be aiming to develop as the Holy Spirit transforms the way we think and live in this world? Our mindset should be the exact same as the mindset of Jesus where we look not only to our own interests, but the interests of others.

IV. In the Lord's system, the humble will be exalted

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:11)

In the world's system, the humble are pitied. In the Lord's system, however, the humble are lifted up. Jesus made it clear that the humble will be exalted while the proud will eventually be humbled.

So if you're interested in pursuing the dreams, desires, and calling God has placed on your life, don't disqualify yourself from those possibilities just because you may come from humble circumstances. From what I see in God's word, He has a great habit of taking people with humble beginnings and doing things with their lives that are far beyond anything they would have expected or imagined.

© John Stange, 2021

Are you living with a strong sense of God's calling on your life?

Your life is not an accident. You were born when you were born, and where you were born on purpose. You look a particular way, sound a particular way, and function according to a divine design. You have gifts, abilities, and talents that have been supernaturally entrusted to you. There are open doors and opportunities right in front of you that you've been uniquely designed to walk through, seize, and embrace.

Every single thing that I just said is 100% true, but it's also true that you may not believe me. It's entirely possible that you'd believe me if I said those things about someone else, but you struggle to believe these declarative statements could possibly be true of yourself.

What if I told you that God has an artfully crafted purpose for your life and He wants to use it to make an impact in the present that reverberates into eternity. Would you believe me or would you laugh at that concept? Does it even seem possible that the very One who spoke creation into existence would care to notice you, your situation, or your strengths? Among the billions of people who have walked the face of this earth how can it be that the Lord would pay special attention to you and map out a divinely orchestrated plan for your life?

I spend a lot of time reading the Bible because I believe that collection of writings is unlike any other text that's ever been produced. I believe every single word of the Bible was divinely superintended and inspired by a loving Creator who communicates with humanity and desires to initiate a relationship with us. And just as He facilitated and oversaw the articulation of every word of that book, so too does He oversee every human life. He gave you life. He's watching you live it, and He wants to work through you to do something amazing with it.

But if you don't want to believe what I'm saying, you won't. You can easily ignore it. In fact, that's what the vast majority of the billions of people walking this planet are doing. Many don't even believe there's a Creator, and among those who are willing to acknowledge that He exists, they certainly aren't convinced that He has a calling on their life.

What about you? What do you believe? What do you dream about? What do you desire? Are you living with a strong sense of God's calling on your life?

I. What is the mission you've been given?

And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”   And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.   But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:4-6)

It's impossible to read the book of Acts without being struck by the transformation that took place in the Apostle Paul's life. Before he came to know Christ and took the name of Paul, he was known as Saul. Saul hated Jesus, hated Christians, hated the church, and did everything within his power to discourage others from following Christ.

But that all changed, in an instant, when Jesus appeared to Saul and confronted his persecution. Several things stand out to me about this confrontation.

First of all, when Saul heard the voice of Jesus, he didn't know who was speaking to him. I find that very ironic, especially in light of the fact that up to that point, Saul thought he was doing God's will by imprisoning Christians or approving their execution. But when God actually spoke to Saul, Saul had to admit that the voice was unfamiliar. Up to that point, he spent his life ignoring the voice of God. Now God was speaking to him in a way that he couldn't continue to ignore.

Second, I love the fact that Jesus took the initiative to reach into Saul's life, even though Saul wasn't looking for Him. This mirrors our relationship with Christ as well. We weren't looking for Him. We were ignoring Him, but He came looking for us and He called us unto Himself.

Third, I enjoy reading about the mission Saul was given. Foreshadowing what Saul's life was going to look like from now on, Jesus said to him, "rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” Things were about to change for Saul. His mission was going to be laid out for him in very specific detail, and Saul was going to dedicate every ounce of his energy to fulfilling it.

What about you? Do you have a clear sense of your mission? Have you heard the voice of Jesus speaking to you in some way? Through your circumstances? Through the counsel of others who know Him? Through the Scriptures? And if you're finally hearing His voice, are you ready to move in the direction He's leading you?

II. Who have you been called to serve?

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:15-16)

On Friday evenings, almost without exception, Andrea and I go out to eat. There are several local restaurants that we enjoy, and we try to alternate where we eat so we don't get sick of the same thing.

Because we're such regular customers, the servers recognize us, and we recognize them. We also know which servers offer the best service. At one restaurant, we hold our breath hoping not to get one particular server because she almost never stops by our table. She's pleasant, but scatter-brained and inattentive. At another restaurant, we've discovered that one of their servers goes above and beyond to make sure we have a delightful experience. Most recently when we ate there and she told us she would be our server that evening, I said out loud, "Oh good! We were hoping you'd be our server this evening." I hope that made her feel good because her heart for service is exceptional.

Saul was about to learn about the concept of service in a brand new way after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus. Saul was blinded by that encounter, and his companions led him by the hand into the city. In Damascus, there was a Christian man named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision to prepare him for the fact that He was about to send Saul (who had a reputation for persecuting Christians) to his house. The Lord commissioned Ananias to lay his hands on Saul, and through that experience, Saul's sight would be restored.

When Ananias initially protested this plan to the Lord, he was told a little more about the Lord's plans for Saul. Jesus revealed that Saul was His chosen instrument to make His name known to the unbelieving world. Saul would experience a great deal of suffering as he gave himself to fulfilling this mission, but just the same, it was how his life would be used going forward. Ananias was obedient to the Lord's instructions. Saul's sight was restored, and he confirmed his new-found faith in Jesus by being baptized immediately afterward.

From that point on, it wasn't a mystery to Saul whom he had been called to serve. Saul was told to carry the name of Jesus before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. These were the specific people Saul (later called Paul) was commissioned to serve, and he had a clear understanding of this calling.

Who have you been called and equipped to serve? God gave you your personality. He even allowed you to develop certain preferences. He has gifted you with natural talents and supernatural gifts. He has given you the opportunity to live where you live, and ordained for you to be born exactly when you were born. He also assures you that you won't be dying one day early (Psalm 139:16). So you're going to be here exactly as long as He wants you to be.

I suspect He's also given you an affinity for certain people, or a burden to serve some particular group, profession, or tribe. Will you serve them, or will you offer up excuses right up until your final day? Is there something getting in the way of you listening to His calling? What voices are you hearing loudest in your head?

III. What voices do you need to start filtering?

But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” (Acts 2:13)

The devil has a playbook that he returns to often. One of his favorite plays is to use mockery to dishearten and discourage God's people. Sometimes, unfortunately, we do his job for him by mocking and berating ourselves. Other times, we give too much power to the harsh voices of our critics, and those voices dissuade us from saying "yes" to the dreams, desires, and calling God has placed on our lives.

Growing up, I had a relative that used to mock me incessantly. I'll keep his identity veiled so as not to incriminate him, but if he ever comes across these words, he'll know instantly who I'm referring to. He was several years older than me, which automatically meant that I looked up to him. I wanted to be just like him, but when I started taking my faith in Christ seriously, he tore me to shreds. He humiliated me before others whenever he had the opportunity to do so, and while that hurt, I eventually needed to come to a spot where I stopped caring about his opinions or listening to his voice. Ironically, when it became clear to him that he had lost his influence over me, he noticeably dialed back his mockery.

The early church was regularly mocked as well. In Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were mocked by those who didn't have a metric through which to understand the miracle that was taking place right in front of them. When the diverse crowd that spoke different languages was able to understand the preaching of the disciples, some in the crowd mocked them and claimed they were drunk. Sadly, without fully realizing what they were doing, they were equating the power of the Holy Spirit with drunkenness. In effect, they weren't just mocking God's people. They were mocking God Himself.

I suspect that it's possible that there are many believers in this world who have an understanding of God's mission for their lives and could even articulate an accurate description of whom they're called to serve, but they're being held back from doing so because they aren't yet filtering out the mocking voices in their lives. Those voices might be from people who are jealous of them. They might be voices in their head that are rooted in harsh words they received during their childhood. They might be verbal arrows that come at them from people they don't even know. Are you filtering out the voice of mockery in your life so it doesn't keep holding you back?

IV. What's holding you back?

Your life is not an accident. As Scripture shows us, God does amazing things with lives that are submitted over to Him. His mission of redemption through Jesus will advance. His passion to reach the lost will be satisfied. His desire to rescue the perishing will be met. He's going to use someone to do this. Why not you?

Stop talking yourself out of the dreams, desires, and calling God has placed on your life.

© John Stange, 2021

The portrait of a godly woman

The book of Proverbs is filled with practical wisdom regarding every major category of life. In this book, we're taught about the importance of trusting in the Lord, living a godly life, demonstrating honesty and integrity, practicing good financial stewardship, and filtering out the influence of anyone who attempts to steer us in an ungodly direction.

Early in the book, we're also given vivid examples that relate to women, specifically the kind of women we should not allow to gain a foothold in our lives. But now, the book culminates with an example of the kind of woman that everyone can look to as an example of godliness and wise living. The words of this proverb were first taught to King Lemuel by his mother. We know nothing else about either of them, but the Holy Spirit has been using these words for centuries to steer both women and men in a godly direction.

So, what does this proverb teach us about the life and character of a truly godly woman?

I. She can be trusted

An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31:10-12)

One of the things that I appreciate most about the Lord is that everything He says is true. Scripture teaches us that it is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18), so if we claim to be followers of Christ who are indwelled with the Holy Spirit, we too should reflect the truthful heart of God.

The honest and trustworthy heart of God is clearly reflected in the life of a godly woman. This Scripture describes her as excellent and precious. Her husband is able to trust her completely. He doesn't have to worry about what she's doing, who she's with, what she's spending, or what she's saying. His heart can be at rest knowing that his wife's heart is in alignment with the trustworthy heart of Christ.

I recently learned of a husband who has a trustworthy wife, but he refuses to trust her. He experienced some relational damage in the past, before he even knew her, and now he transposes that pain onto his wife and treats her with distrust due to his past trauma. In essence, he's robbing himself of experiencing the blessing the Lord has graciously given him.

When you get married, you're taking a risk to trust someone else. You can't control what they do or what they don't do with your trust, but you can choose to be trustworthy in your interactions with them. As Christ can be trusted, and as the godly woman in this proverb demonstrated trustworthiness, so too should we display trustworthiness and integrity toward one another.

II. She isn't afraid of work

She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. (Proverbs 31:13-16)

If you ever want to see my wife smile and then immediately roll her eyes, ask her to tell you about all the painting projects I have asked her to help me with over the course of the past few decades. Between houses we lived in and ministries we led, a significant amount of painting was needed. One of our children even told us recently that the smell of paint is the primary smell that reminds her of her childhood. I'm grateful for the work-ethic of my wife.

That's something we also see demonstrated in Proverbs 31. The godly woman in this passage is spoken of as a woman who works with willing hands. She makes great use of materials and tools. She rises early to feed her family and those under her oversight. She is even described as being a shrewd businessperson as she transacts in land purchases.

There is a certain sense of dignity in hard work. We don't work to somehow earn the Lord's favor, but the work we do can be done for His glory as an investment in the greater work of His kingdom. I see that mindset at work in the labors of the godly woman described in this proverb.

III. She carries herself with poise and dignity

She dresses herself with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle. (Proverbs 31:17-19)

Have you ever met someone in person that wasn't anything like how you perceived them to be from a distance? Earlier this year, I met someone that I've known for a while, but I had never actually met her in person. From a distance, she seemed serious and mature. In person, I was left with the exact opposite impression.

A godly woman isn't clothed with immaturity. She's dressed with strength. She demonstrates poise and dignity. She's the type of person that exceeds the impression you had when you only knew her at a distance.

IV. She proactively meets the needs of others

She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple. (Proverbs 31:20-22)

The other day, I read a story of a younger child that started saving up the money she earned from completing household chores. Once she saved a specific amount, she asked her mother to take her to the store so she could buy water bottles, individual size bags of chips, and a few other snacks. Then she asked her mother to take her to an area park where the homeless frequently set up camp, and she gave away the water and snacks until she ran out.

A godly woman demonstrates that kind of heart. It's a heart of compassion. It's the heart of Christ. As Christ has lovingly looked at us with compassion during our season of need, then took action to meet our needs on the deepest level, so too does a woman who lives a godly life. She opens her hands to the poor. She generously shares what she has with those who are in need. Her heart is motivated by Christ to be the hands and feet of Christ to those who need a gift of grace.

I also like how this portion of Scripture tells us that she doesn't need to fear for the well-being of her household because she knows their needs have been proactively met. It can snow, but that's OK because they're all properly clothed. Her care and provision for those she loves allows them to rest, much like what we experience when we learn to trust the Lord to meet our needs. In Christ, we find rest because He has graciously and proactively given us all we need for life and godliness.

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3, NLT)

V. She makes you look good to your peers

Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come. (Proverbs 31:23-25)

When I was in college, I worked during the semesters and I worked during the summer. The nature of my summer work usually involved working for camping ministries, but the location sometimes changed. I remember one particular summer, just before my senior year, when I was offered the program director position at the camp my wife attended and worked at. They didn't know me very well, but they knew her, and they figured if she was willing to date me, that was a sufficient endorsement. I was literally offered a senior staff position because they thought so well of my wife. Her reputation made me look good.

We see that same concept at work in Proverbs 31. We're told that the husband of the godly woman was known at the gates when he would sit among the elders. That was a position of respect and esteem. At the gates, the elders would make decisions and judgments on behalf of others. To be welcomed among them meant that you were respected by them. A major contributor to a man experiencing that kind of respect in that generation, and in ours, is the godly character of his wife. She reflects the heart of Christ so clearly that she makes anyone she's willing to associate herself with look better than they ever could have on their own.

VI. She generously shares her wisdom

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (Proverbs 31:26)

One of the wisest women I have ever had the privilege to know was my grandmother. There are so many things that I learned from her that I implement in my day-to-day life and gladly pass down to my children. She loved Jesus, loved her family, and wanted to see the generations that came from her do well and succeed.

This is yet another mark of a godly woman. When she opens her mouth, she speaks with wisdom. Kind words flow forth from her tongue. As one who is conscious of the love of Christ, she breathes out the grace of Christ with the words she speaks.

VII. Those who love her speak well of her

She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:27-31)

Recently, two friends of mine did me a nice favor that certainly met with my wife's approval. They messaged my wife to tell her some of the nice things I had said about her when I was in their presence. I thought that was nice, and I meant every word of it. I don't know why it stood out to them, but it must have made an impression since they decided to repeat it.

And even though as followers of Christ we live to give Him praise, it shouldn't surprise any woman who devotes her life to following Christ, blessing others, and serving people in His name, when she ends up receiving praise and appreciation from those she's been serving. The Scripture tells us that her children rise up and speak well of her, and her husband does the same because a woman "who fears the Lord is to be praised."

I'm sincerely grateful for the godly women the Lord has blessed me with the privilege of knowing throughout the course of my life. That list certainly includes my grandmothers, mother, wife, and daughters. It also includes many godly women in our church family and in my home church who have taught me directly about Jesus and given me a glimpse of His heart through their words, action, and character.

Never underestimate the kind of impact Jesus can make on the lives of others through your life if you choose to fully surrender it to Him. Prepare to be amazed. Let Him make you a portrait of godliness.

© John Stange, 2021

How can you resist living in the fear of man?

Our family has some strange habits that, if I'm honest, I don't really find strange at all. In fact, some of these habits involve behaviors that I heartily recommend to others if they're willing to be a little counter-cultural.

Several of those habits relate to the way we behave in restaurants. Anyone who knows me well knows that, for a season, my father owned a restaurant and a grocery store when I was in high school. I worked at both, and I still have a great appreciation for those who work in the business of selling or preparing food.

When the Lord blessed my wife and me with four children in close proximity to each other, we knew that it might be a challenge to visit restaurants as a family for a few years unless we insisted on some very specific parameters. One rule we insisted on was that they mind their behavior, and I used to tell them, "If our server or someone we don't know in this restaurant comes to our table and compliments your behavior, you'll be getting dessert." More often than not, that's exactly what would happen and we would reward the children with something sweet after the meal.

Another thing we insisted on from a very early age was that they ordered their own food and asked for their own refills. We frequently noticed that many children are quite fearful of speaking with adults. Some struggle to maintain eye contact and hold a conversation with a superior, and we wanted to see if we could teach our children to operate differently from a very early age. Thankfully, it didn't take a long time for them to catch on, and this practice helped them to learn how to speak up for themselves in an appropriate way.

But here's the thing, children aren't the only people who fear interacting with others. Adults fear it too. One of the major struggles that many of us as adults wrestle with is our fear of the opinions and attitudes of other people. In fact, some of us fear our fellow man so much that we idolize humanity. We might even spend the majority of our lives elevating the opinions of others over the decrees of God. I think it's fair to say that's what most people on this planet are presently doing.

So how can we go about our lives without being paralyzed by the fear of man? What principles does Scripture demonstrate for us that can fill our minds with the perspective that helps us defeat an unhealthy fear of others? How can we live out Solomon's teaching that, "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." ? (Proverbs 29:25)

I. Realize there is no such thing as celebrity

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”  So let no one boast in men. (1 Cor. 3:18-21a)

The Apostle Paul was someone who understood what it was like to walk by faith, and he bravely went to many cities and towns during the first century to preach the gospel, disciple new believers, plant churches, and raise up leaders. That wasn't an easy task, and even he admitted that there were times when he struggled with nervousness when he was speaking in front of certain crowds. The people of the city of Corinth were definitely a group that seemed to make Paul a little nervous.

Do you ever feel nervous when you're speaking in front of group? I think most of us do, but here's something that helps me when I'm doing it. Maybe it will help you too. If you want to overcome your nervousness, start measuring the success of your presentation by whether or not you're helping people, instead of whether or not they praise you for how you looked while doing it.

I think one of the reasons Paul had a difficult time speaking to the Corinthians was because they seemed to have a chip on their shoulders. Many of them seemed to think they were better than others, and that attitude was actually causing division within the Corinthian church. So Paul confronted that problem when he wrote to them.

He told those who thought they were wiser than others to humble themselves so that their pride didn't rob them of the opportunity they were being given to learn godly wisdom. Paul contrasted the wisdom of this world with the wisdom of God, and he reminded the church that the wisdom of the world is foolishness and will come to nothing.

But if we persist in idolizing the wisdom of this world, we'll also begin idolizing those who disseminate it. That's how celebrity culture emerges, and that's a big problem right now. People from all age brackets are making ungodly decisions because they first saw that mindset modeled by a celebrity.

The other day, I took my youngest daughter out for a slice of pizza. Right as we pulled up to the pizza place, I got a message letting me know that a well-known "celebrity" had just offered to make two appearances on my podcast. Thankfully, this person shares godly counsel, but my daughter asked me, "Are you going to be nervous about interviewing her?" I replied, "No, I don't think so. I used to get a little nervous when I did these interviews, but in recent months I've come to realize that there's no such thing as a celebrity. People are just people. Some share helpful things, and others just want attention."

How are we carrying ourselves? Are we trying to be celebrities, or do we demonstrate a servant's heart like Jesus? Are we idolizing celebrities, or is Christ the one we trust?

II. Understand who you really answer to

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess to God.”

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12)

Have you ever attempted to write something, but struggled with "writer's block?" I'm starting to realize there's a good way to overcome writer's block, and for me, the best way to overcome it is a deadline. When I'm accountable to someone, and I'm given a deadline to turn something in, my brain starts to get in gear the closer I get to that date.

It's healthy to live with a sense of accountability. Those who attempt to live their lives without it are setting themselves up for terrible failure and unnecessary regret. Families can help keep each other accountable. Spouses can do so as well. Employers, church leaders, and our brothers and sisters in Christ can all aid in the process, but there is no greater form of accountability than the realization that we're all going to stand before the Lord someday.

Scripture teaches us that the day is coming when we will appear before the judgment seat of God. Every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord, and all of us will give an account of our lives to Him. There's nothing that we'll be able to hold back. It will all be laid bare.

I think that's helpful to understand if we're presently struggling with the "fear of man." If that fear is holding you back from doing what God is calling you to do, it's time to give that fear over to Him and recognize that the Lord is the one we ultimately answer to.

III. Desire integrity more than you desire praise

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10)

We can learn a lot from the people who have come before us. The Lord has graciously raised up a whole host of people who have demonstrated what it looks like to live out our faith in this world. He also uses them to demonstrate what it looks like confront others with the truth.

In the early verses of Galatians, Paul confronted the church for drifting from the truth and centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of emphasizing the grace of God that is shown to us in Jesus Christ, some of the leaders in that church were starting to teach people that salvation could be obtained by strict observance to the regulations of the Old Testament law. Even though the gospel teaches us that salvation is by grace, through faith in Jesus, they were attempting to please those who believed differently by watering down that central truth.

This news reached Paul's ears, so he didn't mince words when he confronted it. He also made a point to express the fact that he valued his service to Christ more than he valued pleasing people. He knew his words were going to irritate the Galatians, but he said them anyway because they were true. Paul desired integrity more than he valued praise. That's a principle we need to understand as well if we're going to resist being governed by the fear of man.

IV. Remind yourself that earthly trouble cannot compete with eternal blessings

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen." (2 Cor. 4:16-18a)

Have you ever received an injury that felt like it took an excessively long time to heal, or contracted an illness that seemed to stretch on forever? Isn't that one of the worst feelings? Some of us have experienced conflict or distance from loved ones that seemed to stretch on for a very long time. When we experience physical, emotional, or relational pain that holds on for a while, it can feel rather easy to lose heart. But the Lord reminds us that we don't need to. There's a better option.

As men and women who have experienced the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be confident that all of our earthly struggles will result in a positive outcome eventually. One of the things they're doing is giving us the opportunity to contrast our earthly lives with the glorious future the Lord holds in store for us. If we will allow our hearts to contemplate the blessings of an eternity with Jesus, our present troubles will begin to feel light and momentary to us. We don't need to keep our eyes focused on the things that are seen. We can keep our hearts aimed toward the abundant, eternal life Christ has secured for us.

I think that perspective is helpful to keep in mind when we're wrestling with the fear of man. At times, there may be difficult consequences that we'll experience when we refuse to submit ourselves to the snares of earthly and ungodly mandates, but God's word reminds us that our earthly troubles cannot compete with eternal blessings.

All that to say, how prepared are you to make a stand in the midst of a fallen world for your faith in Jesus Christ? Does the fear of man keep you from expressing your faith openly? Has the Lord called you to take your life in a healthy and new direction, but the only thing holding you back is the fear of what others might think?

Most people spend the majority of their years living under the fear of man and failing to take action on God's calling for their lives. Don't make that mistake. Submit your heart to Jesus and don't be paralyzed by the values and opinions of this world.

© John Stange, 2021

The benefits of being broken

There's a season of life when we we're more prone to resist counsel than we are to receive it. For many of us, that season tends to be earlier in life, but for some of us, that season has fallen somewhere in-between or even later on.

A life that hardens itself to godly counsel is a life that tends to become needlessly difficult. When pride gets in the way of us heeding an outside perspective, we're setting ourselves up for a considerable amount of pain and brokenness.

But admittedly, there are benefits we can experience from being broken. As our pride is stripped away and our arrogance is shown to be useless, we can develop teachable hearts. And the beauty of the gospel is that Jesus delights to heal broken people. Frequently, He does us the favor of allowing us to experience a season of brokenness to remind us that running from Him produces unwanted pain.

As we prepare to look at portions of Proverbs 29, we're going to be shown some key things that demonstrate how we end up broken, but we're also going to be shown how we can emerge from our brokenness with greater wisdom and poise that demonstrates the presence of Christ in our lives.

I. Here's how you get broken

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
    will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
3 He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. (Proverbs 29:1-3)

Ignoring verbal help produces physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual pain. We've all done it, and hopefully, we've also bounced back from it, but Solomon shows us that it can persist so long and go so far that it sometimes leaves permanent scars.

The picture that's being painted for us here is a picture of someone who is regularly offered good counsel, but because it doesn't fit with what they want to hear, they reject it. They stiffen their neck against it instead of bowing their head to accept it. Their persistence in this direction will eventually lead to brokenness, and as much as you might want to save them from the consequences of their decisions, you can't always do it.

Frequently, if a person takes a stiff-necked posture toward the help they're being offered, they will also waste the blessings they've been given. Solomon tells us that a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. They waste the blessings they've been given, and they cost those who are attempting to bless them.

This comment reminds me of the parable Jesus told in Luke 15, a parable we often refer to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.   And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.   Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. (Luke 15:11-13)

If we don't see the value in the counsel we're being offered, we'll ignore it. If we don't appreciate the price that was paid to bless us, we'll waste the blessings we've been given. That's exactly what the son in Luke 15 did, and I suspect we can all think of times in our life when we've done the exact same thing, or something really close to it.

How often have you stiffened your neck to godly reproof?

How often have you squandered your blessings?

How long did it take for you to come to a place of repentance?

Giving yourself over to the temptations of this world will cost you and those who have invested themselves in you. Giving your mind over to the counsel of this world, and giving your heart over to the values of this world will eventually leave you broken. But will you listen if someone tries to keep you from journeying down that path? Some do. Many don't.

II. An un-snared heart learns to sing

A man who flatters his neighbor
    spreads a net for his feet.
An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,
    but a righteous man sings and rejoices. (Proverbs 29:5-6)

For the past few Springs, I have had a small problem in front of my house. Right by my front door, there's a post that holds up the roof to the front porch, and apparently, that post looks delicious to carpenter bees. Last year, I paid an exterminator to come and take care of the problem, but unfortunately, nothing was solved. So I bought a simple trap with small holes in it that supposedly works to get the attention of carpenter bees and capture them. Guess what? It worked perfectly. As far as I can tell, it trapped every bee and stopped them from damaging my porch.

Trapping household pets has a practical purpose, but being trapped or ensnared isn't an enjoyable experience for us as people. What does it take for something to ensnare us?

Usually a trap or a snare will play off one of our dominant areas of temptation. It will appeal to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, or the boastful pride of life as the Apostle John mentions in the book of 1 John.

"For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:16)

I don't want to be trapped or ensnared by worldly things, and I suspect you don't either. Solomon describes men who are trapped by their flattery or trapped by their transgressions in Proverbs 29:5-6, but as followers of Christ, that doesn't need to be us. Becoming ensnared by the things of this world robs us of the opportunity to fully enjoy the blessing of an unencumbered relationship with Christ. It's robs us of the daily experience of walking in the freedom and liberty Jesus has granted us. It also robs us of our motivation to sing with an unburdened heart.

Solomon tells us that a righteous man sings and rejoices. I like picturing that in my mind. It gives me a mental image of someone whose heart is light and cheery. Someone who is fully delighting in the presence of Christ in their life. Someone who isn't weighed down with the constant troubles and panic of this world.

When I was a child, I could always tell if something was bothering my mother based on her singing. She seemed to know the words to every song on the radio and would usually sing without hesitation when we were driving in the car, but then she went through a difficult stretch when her heart was burdened with many things, and the singing stopped. That stood out to me, and I always noticed when she sang and when she didn't.

In my father's grocery store, there was an older man named Dominic who sliced meat in the deli department. As a kid, I enjoyed interacting with him, but my favorite aspect of working with him was the fact that he turned everyone's deli order into a song. We would frequently wait with excitement to see what kind of creative musical interpretation or song parody he would come up with after people placed their orders for meat or cheese.

Which do you want, a heart that's ensnared with the things of this world or an unburdened heart that expresses the joy of Christ through song?

III. Those who appreciate healing seek to promote it

Scoffers set a city aflame,
    but the wise turn away wrath.
If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
    the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
    but a wise man quietly holds it back. (Proverbs 29:8-9, 11)

I think we can become very useful to the Lord and His mission to rescue lost humanity after we've gone through a season of brokenness. If you've bounced back from brokenness, you've seen both sides of life. You know what it's like to be low, and you know what it's like to be lifted up. You know what led you to the depths of despair, and you know what pulled you out.

The only hope we have in this world is Jesus. He takes the broken and mends us. His Spirit transforms our thinking and grants us the clarity to operate with a new, healthy perspective toward life in this world. As our faith develops and matures, we begin to see that the approach to life that we used to take doesn't work any longer. That old approach was steeped in worldly thinking. Our new approach is seasoned with the flavor of eternal life.

Worldly perspectives divide and tear down. Solomon explains that cities burn because of ungodly perspectives. He also shows us that arguments persist and anger gets vented in heated and unhealthy ways when the values of this world dominate and control our minds. But those who have been down that road and then were healed by Jesus, seek to promote the kind of healing He offers. Frequently, that healing is fostered through words.

Have you ever heard the phrase, "You don't have to attend every argument you're invited to?" I think that's a pretty good summary of what Solomon was attempting to teach in these proverbs. You don't have to argue with a fool. You don't have to take the bait of the scoffer. You don't have to vent every time you're provoked. Rather, you can practice quiet restraint as you yield your spirit to the control of the Holy Spirit. He will guide and direct your response.

This helped me recently. Not long ago, a friend gave my son several large pieces of woodworking equipment. In order to pick them up, we needed to rent a moving truck. I reserved the truck online and declined paying for additional insurance because I didn't need it. When we arrived to pick the truck up, the man running the counter insisted that we pay the fee for additional insurance and he attempted to argue with me about it. I told him we didn't need it, but he wouldn't let us take the truck without it. So, instead of losing my cool, I reasoned with myself that this man was aggressively irrational and I'd be able to clear this up later by calling customer service. I didn't argue with him, I just made a call. The charge was refunded and their main office apologized to me.

In this world, there will be many opportunities for you to be provoked. If you accept the provocation, you'll regret it. If you reject the counsel of those who love you, you'll regret it. But if you've experienced what it's like to be broken by this world, then mended by Jesus, you'll welcome the power of the Holy Spirit to guide your temperament and give you a powerful testimony of Christ-centered faith and wisdom that you can use to be a blessing to a very confused planet.

© John Stange, 2021

What do you do with the power you're given?

I have often heard it said that if you want to know what someone is like, give them power. Most people can't handle it. Some people do terrible things with it. The best leaders demonstrate the servant heart of Jesus, and the worst make decisions for selfish or vindictive reasons with little concern for how the lives of others will be impacted.

At some point in your life, it's very likely you're going to be entrusted with power. It may be on a small scale or on a large scale. When that day comes, what are you going to do with it?

And please keep in mind that for the believer in Christ, you've already been granted spiritual power that you're called to steward for the glory of Christ. Are you utilizing the spiritual power you've been granted to do that, or are you falling into the trap referenced in 2 Timothy 3:5 where it speaks of some people as "having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power."

In Proverbs 28, we're shown several broad categories where power can be utilized and applied. Some make great use of these opportunities and others don't. What will you do with the power you've been given?

I. The power to lead is misused by most

2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,
    but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
    its stability will long continue.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase. (Proverbs 28:2, 12, 16, 28)

A few months ago, I was talking with a friend who had just started a new job. It hasn't been his favorite job, but he likes it enough. But after a short while serving in his new role, he requested to be transferred to a different location within the company. When asked why, he admitted that it was a torture to him to have to work under his present supervisor. His supervisor was arrogant, demeaning, and discouraging. My friend said that the thought of having to deal with such demoralizing leadership for months or even years was enough to make him sick to his stomach. Thankfully, his company granted his transfer.

Good leadership can be challenging to find. Solomon knew that when he voiced the words of these proverbs, and he illustrated in great detail the ways in which ungodly leadership has a negative impact on everyone that has to live under it. When the power to lead is misused, it can destroy a culture, cause people to withdraw, foster various forms of oppression, and discourage participation.

That's why I think it's critical for believers to look to the example of Christ if they're ever placed in a role of leadership. A real leaders isn't a boss. Christ-centered leaders view their role through the lens of servanthood. Leaders who model Christ's heart see leading as a willingness to serve or suffer in order to make the lives of others better.

"But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant," (Matthew 20:25-26)

II. The power to obey is utilized by the faithful

The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but the righteous are bold as a lion.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law strive against them.

18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 28:1, 4, 18, 20)

Do you have a hidden life, or is your life an open book? Is there any part of your life that you wouldn't feel comfortable letting others know about? Are you transparent with your spouse, children, and friends? Is there any aspect of your life that you're trying to hide from the Lord?

Integrity and faithfulness are traits modeled by the Lord that he desires to see displayed in His people. He indwells us with His Spirit toward this end. But those who reject the Lord's presence take their lives in a much different direction. Solomon describes that direction for us.

When a person forsakes obedience to the Lord and tries to hide from Him, they'll flee when they aren't being pursued, they'll forsake the law, they'll fall in ways they don't see coming, and they'll experience the consequences of their rebellion. That's such a terrible outcome that it's hard to understand why anyone desires it, but the truth is, most people think those consequences only apply to other people. The deceptiveness of wickedness makes us believe that somehow we'll be the one exception.

Through faith in Christ, by the power of the Spirit, our desires and aspirations drastically change. It may be the case that in the past we delighted in rebelling and hiding from the Lord, but the Spirit opens our eyes to see a better way. He gives us the power to obey, and in that obedience, we experience blessing and an undisturbed conscience.

III. The power to help is a tool in the Lord's hands

22 A stingy man hastens after wealth
    and does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. (Proverbs 28:22-25)

I have heard this a few times before, and I read it again earlier this week, but some years ago, two engineers calibrated in a wind tunnel why geese fly in formation. Each goose, flapping its wings, creates an uplift for the goose that follows. The whole flock gains 71% greater flying range than if they journeyed alone. That’s why the leader of the V formation falls back periodically to let another leader take the point, and why the rest stay in line. -Source: Bible.org

Everyone goes further and does better when they have the help of someone else. Geese fly more efficiently and people live more fruitfully when they lift each other up. We will never grow to the level the Lord has called us to grow to without the help of the people He has strategically surrounded us with. He gives us the power to help one another, and uses the help we offer as a tool in His hands to build His church.

In general, Solomon gives us a few examples of what it looks like to commit to help one another, but he also shows us what it's like when someone withholds the blessings that were within their power to give. Those who are stingy or rob others will eventually experience material, relational, and spiritual poverty. But those who demonstrate their trust in the Lord by sharing the blessings He bestows, are themselves frequently enriched with even more to share materially, relationally, and spiritually.

Do you see yourself as a tool in the Lord's hands to lift up someone else?

IV. The power to trust leads to everlasting hope

25 A greedy man stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. (Proverbs 28:25-26)

There's a big lesson the Lord wants us to get out of life. He wants us to learn to trust Him. I believe the other lessons He's teaching us are important too, but they all seem to fall under that umbrella.

The temptation of this age is to trust in ourselves. We live an era of rampant humanism. We idolize what we think we know, and struggle to acknowledge the limits of human reason. I find it comical that we don't even know what's on the bottom of the ocean floor, yet we claim to understand the formation of the universe from a completely humanistic perspective, as if it came into being apart from the creative intervention of God.

Genuine trust in Christ leads to everlasting hope. Solomon tells us that,"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool," and, "the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched." We can either idolize ourselves and come to ruin, or we can trust Jesus who is the source of divine wisdom and power. The greater wisdom is found through trusting Christ. The greater power is found through trusting Christ, and His calling on our lives is that we would put that power to work.

In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push.

After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life.

For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

J. B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l:19-20, “How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God.” When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us. -Ernest B. Beevers, found on Bible.org

What do you do with the power you're given? Use it to lead, obey, help, and trust. Glorify Christ with your stewardship of the power He entrusts to you.

© John Stange, 2021

Four ways to stay sharp while sharpening others

One of the things that has become very clear to me over the course of my life is that the quality of my life is directly impacted by those I choose to surround myself with. There are people in my life that have sharpened me in very helpful ways, but there are others who seem to have a dulling effect on my life. The more I surround myself with them, the duller I feel. There are people in my life that have also had a distinctly depressive effect on me at times when I let them.

At this season of my life, one of my goals is to continue to surround myself with people who sharpen me spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. I want to make intentional investments in each of these areas, but I want the investment to be mutual. As others sharpen me, I want to reciprocate that blessing by helping to sharpen them.

Proverbs 27 is a helpful chapter of Scripture for many reasons including the fact that it demonstrates at least four ways we can stay sharp while simultaneously sharpening others.

I. Boast about God's sovereignty and providence

Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
    a stranger, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:1-2)

The older I get, the less likely I am to take the liberty to make definitive predictions about the future. I certainly would never have predicted what has taken place in the past year. It didn't look anything like I expected it to. And looking forward, I have no idea what the next year is going to look like either. Even the things I consider mundane or inconsequential may look much different, or maybe they won't happen at all, so why boast about what I can't predict?

Solomon teaches us not to be the kind of people who are boastful. We shouldn't boast about tomorrow because we don't know what tomorrow may bring. We shouldn't boast about ourselves either because that demonstrates unhealthy pride and conceit that doesn't reflect the heart of Christ.

But if we're going to boast about something, let's boast about something that matters. I'm choosing not to boast about tomorrow because I have no control over tomorrow. But since I know the One who is sovereign over all tomorrows, I'm going to boast about Him. I'm going to tell others that our Lord has His hand on human history and He's providentially working all things together for the good of those who know and love Him. He's steering human history toward the day when we will all bow our knees and confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord.

II. Welcome the feedback of those who love you on your worst days

Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
    profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:5-6)

Growing up, one of my favorite hobbies was to write. Sometimes I'd write articles or book-worthy content, but most of the time I would write song lyrics. And even though I enjoyed sharing that content with others, I grew a little hesitant to do so because I wasn't always comfortable with the feedback I received.

Feedback or critique is something we all need, but I don't think it's automatically easy to hear. It can be especially difficult to listen to when you're regularly on the receiving end of unhelpful criticism. That's why it's valuable to evaluate the feedback you're receiving while paying close attention to the sources. It's a far different subject to receive critique from those who love you on your worst days than it is to receive unfair criticism from those who despise you on your best days.

Solomon teaches us that the verbal wounds of a friend can be trusted, even though they may initially sting. Their words are meant to sharpen us and build us up in our walk with Christ. The input we receive from other believers is a gift that the Holy Spirit uses to help us grow in sanctification. Stay open to how He's using the words of those who love you to help you grow.

Not long ago, a good friend made a terrible decision that became known to a few of us who are close to him. When he was approached about it, he didn't receive the news well. In fact, his response was to say, "You're not allowed to talk to me about things like that." Ironically, it was the thing he most needed someone to talk to him about, but he resisted outside counsel.

How often does our relationship with the Lord take on the same exact flavor as that conversation? How many times in your life has the Lord attempted to speak to you about something and you told Him, "You're not allowed to talk to me about things like that."

III. Model the loyalty of Jesus

Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend,
    and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.
Better is a neighbor who is near
    than a brother who is far away. (Proverbs 27:10)

It's no accident that you know the people you know. The relationships the Lord has blessed you with are intentional. And when your seasons of trial and testing come, you'll feel far less anxious if you reach out to those you trust and allow them to help you shoulder the burden. That's something the Lord has been making clear to me during this season of life.

It also becomes clear, over time, that there are certain people who will only be part of your life for a short season. I've heard it said that we have life-long friends, but we also have 5-minute friends. Based on what Solomon teaches in this passage, I think it would be wise for us to try not to be in the 5-minute friend category.

Solomon teaches us not to forsake our friends or the friends of our family. In this passage, he expresses the value of loyalty and faithfulness. These are traits that are best modeled by our Lord, and should also be visibly practiced in our lives as we follow Him.

I'm grateful for the loyalty of Jesus Christ in my life. I'm grateful that He's not only my Lord, but also my friend. And even though the majority of relationships I have experienced in this world have been somewhat conditional in nature, His friendship isn't like that at all. He sees me at my best and at my worst, and isn't ashamed to call me His brother and His friend.

"For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers," (Hebrews 2:11)

Who are you blessing with the gift of Christ-centered loyalty? Who is convinced that you'll still call them your brother or your sister, even on their worst days?

As Jesus gave me the gift of His loyalty, I had the privilege to share that gift with a friend earlier this week. In a few months, I have a book coming out and the publisher asked me to reach out to other authors to endorse it. One of the endorsers, who is also a friend, came back to me after submitting her endorsement and admitted that she was worried her endorsement might reflect poorly on me because she's only been a Christian for a few years. She felt genuinely concerned that the life she led before coming to know Christ might hurt my reputation in some way, and through the grace of Jesus I was able to say, "I literally don't care about any of that. Jesus isn't ashamed to be my friend or your friend. And I will never be ashamed to be your friend either."

IV. Make generous investments in the lives of others

Iron sharpens iron,
    and one man sharpens another.
Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and he who guards his master will be honored. (Proverbs 27:17-18)

Just yesterday, my wife sewed a pair of pants for me. In her hand was one of the standard pin cushions that looks like a tomato with a strawberry hanging off of it. I asked her what the point of the strawberry-shaped cushion was and she said, "That cushion sharpens and cleans your pins. If they're dull or dirty, you poke them into the strawberry a few times to make them useful again."

All kinds of tools need to be sharpened after regular use. Sometimes you use a stone to accomplish that task. In the case of iron, it can be sharpened by using another piece of iron. People operate the same way. We have the opportunity to sharpen one another. We have the privilege of making generous investments in one another's lives.

You are the person you are, and I am the person I am largely due to the generosity of someone else. It starts with the fact that Jesus generously gave Himself for me. It continues with the fact that the Holy Spirit lives within me and He is transforming the way I think and live. It continues even further with the fact that other followers of Christ who have the Holy Spirit living within them have taken an interest in my life and continue helping to refine me.

Wrapping up...

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

The time we invest becoming spiritually, emotionally, and relationally sharp has great value, not only for ourselves, but for the people the Lord gives us the privilege to help sharpen as well.

© John Stange, 2021

Five helpful truths parents need to keep telling themselves

I have developed some unique habits over the course of my life that seem to serve me well, but if I admitted all of them to you, you'd probably laugh. One of the habits that I developed as a teenager was to write out a list of advice to myself on how to raise teenagers because I was convinced that I would forget what it was like to be a teenager once I had kids of my own. Believe it or not, some of that advice has been rather practical.

If the Lord is calling you to raise children in the future or in the present, or if you've already raised your children and you're into the season of leaving a legacy for your grandchildren, please allow me to point out five principles I believe are taught in Scripture, about the process of training and influencing the life of a child.

I. Parenting children is rewarding, but it isn't easy

I enjoy being a father. The blessing of having children and raising them together with my wife has been an experience that I have truly considered a gift from God. When I think back over the past twenty years, my mind is filled with snapshots of conversations, day-trips, silly moments, vacations, and milestones. Most of the experiences we've been blessed to have together have been positive and rewarding, but other experiences have been infuriating, scary, or even heart-breaking. I'm sure my parents would say the same thing, as would their parents.

Parenting children is rewarding, but it isn't easy. When you have a child, you've basically committed yourself to thinking about their well-being continually, for the rest of your life. You'll do your best to protect them, provide for them, offer them counsel, and point them to Jesus, but the experience will stretch you in ways you didn't expect. The stretching probably won't feel good, but it is a good thing. I believe it's something the Lord uses in two ways.

First, I believe it's part of His sanctifying process. He uses it to produce holiness in our lives by teaching us more about the importance of self-sacrifice, admitting we aren't perfect, and relying on His help.

"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Second, I believe He helps us gain a greater glimpse of His heart through the process of raising a child. In my case, I can testify that He has been using my experience of raising children to help me learn more about the nature of unconditional love, the kind of love first demonstrated to us through Him.

II. You're responsible for what you model and teach, not what your child ultimately does with it

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

Those of you who have multiple children can testify that each child is unique. They may have the same two parents, grow up with the same instruction, live in the same house, but be completely different in nearly every way. Some may latch on to your wisdom and instruction early, while others rebel. Some may show an interest in spiritual things while they still live with you, while others might take longer for their eyes to be opened.

The promise we're given here in this portion of Scripture is that there will be fruit that comes from the investments we make in our children. If we model what it means to follow Jesus, and teach them how to navigate life experiences with Christ as their central focus, there will come a day, possibly much later in life, when that instruction will bear fruit.

I think that's helpful knowledge to embrace because many if not most parents share a similar quirk. Instead of accepting the fact that there will be times when our children make errors in judgment, we blame ourselves for every mistake or unwise decision they make. And that self-blame tends to get really strong when those children become adults who may make choices we're uncomfortable with. So please keep in mind, you're responsible for what you model and teach, not what your child ultimately does with it.

Some years ago, a friend of mine whose children are all adults asked me if we could chat. Two of her children were on a good path, and two weren't. Not long after that, I was talking with another friend who said something similar about his children. Fast forward just a little while after that and another friend with adult children told me the same thing about his kids.

I'm learning that seems to be a common reality for most parents. Different children make different decisions at different times. Some decisions will be wise, helpful, and godly. Other decisions will be harmful, destructive, and heart-breaking. And God Himself is sympathetic to it all because He experiences the same exact thing from us. When we look back in history to the first man and woman, we can see that just because you're raised by the perfect parent in the perfect environment doesn't mean you aren't going to rebel or make poor choices.

We are responsible for what we model and teach, not what our children ultimately do with what we've offered them.

III. If you don't influence your child for good, the culture will be happy to influence them for evil

We live in an era of many influences, some good and some bad. Our senses are continually being bombarded with information. It may even begin to feel like everyone is trying to either influence us, entertain us, sell to us, or control us. I guess it probably feels that way because it's true.

What influences are you allowing into your home, or endorsing through your consumption habits? I don't ask that to make you feel guilty, but I do ask that to invite us all, myself included, to become more intentional about this because if we don't influence our children for good, the culture will be more than happy to influence them for evil.

We may not think about this often enough, but there is actually a spiritual battle taking place every day for control of our minds.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ," (2 Cor. 10:3-5)

A key aspect of household leadership is the influence we have on those the Lord entrusts to our care. One of the greatest facets of the legacy you will leave to the generations that come after you is your influence. In fact, every day I'm being influenced by the lives of people who are no longer living. Typically it's because they set an example for me that's reiterated in what I have read, or the stories that are still being told.

If you're raising children, or already raised them, you continue to be a powerful force to influence them. As you remain careful to yield your mind to Christ, and surround yourself with influences that point you toward Him, the fruit of that example will reach into the lives of those who watch and learn from you. The culture may try to point your children and grandchildren away from Christ, but your life can be used by Him to point them toward Him.

IV. You're going to need to trust the Lord's promise on days when it seems unlikely to come to pass

I received a call on Thursday night from a friend who wanted to talk about raising children. She and her husband have an infant son, so she wanted to talk to someone who has already been through the process of raising sons to see what I would say. One of the comments she made to me was, "Parenting a baby is the most enjoyable thing I have ever done, but it's also the hardest." Being a wise-guy I said to her, "I have good news, it only gets harder."

Proverbs 22:6 assures us that if we train our children in the way they should go, they won't depart from it when they're old, but there are going to be many days when we're going to have to accept that teaching by faith because our eyes may be seeing something drastically different.

I was recently reading a story about one of Billy Graham's daughters that I found instructive. Many of us, myself included, have a great degree of respect for Billy and Ruth Graham, and the ways the Lord used them to bring millions of people unto Himself, but keep in mind they were also battle-weary parents who experienced some of life's hardest moments.

One of their daughters in particular went through a very difficult stretch of life early in her adulthood. She did what so many of us have done and rejected the good counsel she was given in some key areas of life by choosing to elevate her own ideas over the wisdom that was offered to her. Eventually, it all came crashing down and she found herself in genuine need of her parents' help in order to pick up the pieces.

Amazingly, they didn't crush her spirit when she came back to them. They didn't even express disappointment in her. Rather, they lovingly embraced her, welcomed her home, and helped her rebuild her life. Billy and Ruth trusted the Lord to bring their daughter back around even when it seemed unlikely, and that's exactly what they were able to witness Him do.

(Be sure to check out "Doing Life With Your Adult Children" by Jim Burns. That's where I read this story.)

V. You may not live to see the ultimate fruit of your investment, but it's OK to rejoice in it ahead of time

Take a quick look at these verses. What repeated assurances do you see?

• "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children," (Prov. 13:22a)

• "But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children," (Psalm 103:17)

• “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—" (Deut. 4:9)

We tend to think in moments of time, but the Lord shows us that He's thinking generationally. He speaks into a moment, but can see beyond that moment into the future. As our faith develops, I think He's also helping us to do the same thing. He's teaching us to see things that haven't even happened yet and to treat them like they already have.

By faith, I believe Jesus is returning like I've already seen it. By faith, I believe that I will enjoy the blessings of being part of God's eternal kingdom like I'm already seated at the heavenly banquet table I'm going to eat at. I think God also wants me to trust Him for the promises His word shares about my children, their children, and their children, whether I live long enough to see it with my own eyes or not. So I'm going to remain optimistic and rejoice about these things ahead of time because I believe the promise of God is true.

--

If you're preparing to become a parent, have adult children, or you're somewhere in between those two ends of the spectrum, I hope you'll take great encouragement from God's promises to you. Through faith in Jesus, you become a child of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you're enabled to raise children. Rely on God's guidance to see you through the process, trust Him to do what only He can do, and start looking forward to the blessings you can't yet see like you've already seen them.

© John Stange, 2021

Five goals I'm aiming for in the coming year

Most families have traditions that coincide with special times of the year. One of our traditions is to take a multi-state tour to visit family during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. We begin the week by visiting my father and my sisters, then we travel further north to visit Andrea's parents. After a few days with them, we drive south to spend time with Andrea's sister and some of our friends in the Pittsburgh area. The week always culminates with a New Year's Eve party hosted by some of our good friends who live a few minutes from my sister-in-law. I hope this is a tradition we can keep going for a while.

The dawning of a new year is also a great time to take stock of what you're presently doing, and what you need to change. In the final weeks of the past year, I gave a lot of thought to this coming year and wrestled through some changes and improvements that I believe the Lord would like me to make. I think I have my list boiled down to five critical areas, and in just a few moments I'm going to share them with you.

As I share my list, and my rationale for making it, I would encourage you to be thinking about what the Lord would also like you to be focusing on. Maybe something from my list should also be on your list. If so, please adopt it as your own and let's give Jesus glory together this year.

I. Aim for what matters most

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

The kingdom of God is a concept that is spoken of multiple times in Scripture. His kingdom is quite different from the kingdoms of man. The kingdoms of man are typically built on the shaky foundations of selfish ambition, unhealthy accumulation, and the attempt to obtain power over others. But the kingdom of God is much healthier than that, and the goals of His kingdom are further reaching that the goals of mere earthly kingdoms.

The kingdom of God can be experienced wherever He rules and reigns. The Bible teaches that there is going to come a day when Jesus Christ will physically and personally reign over this earth with complete benevolence and justice. That's certainly an important aspect of the kingdom of God that we ought to look forward to. As we await that day, we're also invited to welcome Christ to reign with His benevolence and justice in our hearts and lives.

So if I'm going to truly aim for what matters most in this coming year, I'm going to need to stay focused on the kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of man or my own personal kingdom. Christ has invited me to seek His kingdom and receive the gift of His righteousness. Therefore, whatever I do in this coming year needs to be very intentionally dedicated to honoring Him and elevating His name in praise.

II. Remove unhealthy clutter

"God is not a God of disorder but of peace." (1 Corinthians 14:33, CSB)

At a young age, probably around 8-years-old, I started to realize that I didn't like clutter. Believe it or not, my parents didn't have to ask me to clean my room. It was usually the cleanest and most organized room in our home. My teachers didn't need to ask me to clean my desk or my locker. It was usually very organized. I work better, think better, and get more accomplished when I'm not surrounded by clutter.

It probably wouldn't surprise you to learn that one of the aspects of God's character that I appreciate most is the fact that His is orderly. Scripture tells us that He is not a God of disorder but of peace. There is order to His creation. He operates according to His perfect plan, and He is making sense out of the disorder we brought into this world when we rebelled against Him. The Father is taking the chaos and conflict we stirred up and He's steering things in the direction of order and peace that He's facilitating through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Our lives can become easily cluttered, and that clutter can often be more consequential than a room that needs a good purging. Sometimes our lives become cluttered with obligations that it's time to hand off to someone else, affiliations that it's time to end, and relationships that it's time to alter, amend, or terminate.

Can you identify anything or anyone you've invited into your life that doesn't belong there any longer? What's preventing you from removing what you need to remove or changing what you need to change? I suspect it's the opinions of someone else who may want you to hold on to that clutter forever.

Some years ago, several larger items were left to me from the personal belongings of a family member that passed away. Truthfully, I didn't want or have need for them so I gave them to family members who did need them. I didn't feel bad about giving these items away because to me they would have become clutter. My love for that relative has no correlation or connection whatsoever to the possessions they left behind. As you can imagine, my decision to give those items away was not looked upon favorably by some members of my family, but I can live with that. I made the right decision for myself and my household. It's wise to resist receiving the clutter others may try to force upon you.

III. Filter my influences

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;" (Psalm 1:1)

"Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?" (Proverbs 6:27)

I love how the book of Psalms begins. In the opening verse of the book, David speaks of a blessed man. He tells us that a blessed man doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers. There's a progression that takes place in these verses. When we get involved in unhealthy things, we tend to first walk toward them, then stand near them, then sit among them. But blessed is the man who doesn't treat sin casually or welcome its influence into his life.

I also greatly appreciate the counsel David's son, Solomon gave us in Proverbs 6. He used the analogy of attempting to carry fire next to your chest. Doing so is most certainly going to result in burning your clothing. It's not possible to carry fire close to your body without getting singed or burned by it.

The influences we welcome into our lives operate in the same fashion. We will be directly impacted by what we allow to get close to us. We will be changed by what we permit to influence us. I have seen that in my life many times. I have also seen that happen to those I care about.

For that reason, I have decided to become much more intentional about what I allow to influence me. In recent months, I have become more active in filtering my news sources, my entertainment sources, and my usage of social media. I want my mind to remain focused on Christ and the wisdom for living He supplies through His Spirit. I don't want to be dragged down or led astray (like I perceive much of humanity is currently being led astray) by unhealthy worldly influences.

IV. Invest in relationships

"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:2-3)

"This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:16, CSB)

Scripture teaches us to reflect the heart of Christ in how we interact with one another. In Ephesians 4, Paul explained that believers are called to display humility, gentleness, and patience toward each another. We're also called to bear with one another in a loving way while maintaining unity and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the first letter the Apostle John wrote to the church, He also called us to display love to one another in a very specific way. We're called to lay down our lives for one another with the same heart motivation Jesus demonstrated when He laid down His life for us.

In recent years, the Lord has been helping me to place a greater value on the relationships He has allowed me to have with the people He has placed in my life. For that reason, I'm trying to tangibly show others just how much I value them. I'm trying to be very intentional to invest in my relationships with with my wife and my children. I'm trying to carve out more time for extended family and friends. I'm also working hard to establish relationships with new people. In fact, during the past twelve months, even in the midst of all that's been taking place in the world, I have become friends with more new people than at any other time other than my freshman year of college. I want this pattern to continue in the coming year.

And as these relationships grow, I'm praying that the Lord will help me to represent Him well. I receive so much joy from my relationship with Jesus and I want others to experience the joy they can have through Him as well. Many of the people in this world that I love deeply haven't yet grasped the joy and peace Christ is offering them. I'm hopeful that if they can in a small way see what He's doing in my heart, maybe they will also invite Him into their life as well and experience what a healthy relationship with their Creator feels like.

V. Be intentional about showing appreciation

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Several months ago, I interviewed an author for my podcast. His name is John Ruhlin and he wrote the best-selling book, "Giftology." It's a book that would probably be good for all leaders to read because in that book he outlines practical ways to show appreciation to those you live with, work with, and serve with.

In speaking with him, I became convinced that I need to improve in showing appreciation toward others. Making sure others know they are loved and appreciated is a biblical concept that all believers should adopt as a practice. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul challenged the church to encourage one another and build one another up. It sounds like Paul wanted the believers of the early church to be intentional about showing appreciation to one another.

Of my personal aims for this coming year, I suspect this might be the area that I struggle with most. I think the reason I struggle with it might be because I have allowed my life and my time to become too cluttered in other areas, and as a result, the time I would have been able to allot for showing creative appreciation is being consumed by obligations that I should gradually and gracefully take a break from.

If you're familiar with the book, "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman, you probably already know his theory that people tend to give and receive love in five different ways; words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, physical touch, and gifts. As I attempt to devote myself to getting better at showing appreciation, I am going to try to use Chapman's suggestions to show love and appreciation toward those the Lord has placed in my life.

So what are you aiming for this coming year? Is there anything on my list that might be practical for you to add to your list as well? What has Christ been impressing upon your heart? How can you give others a greater glimpse of the joy you have in Him during this coming year?

I truly hope this coming year will be a year of great progress in your relationship with Jesus, and the love, joy, and peace that He has placed in your life will genuinely overflow into the lives of others as He does His miraculous work through you.

© John Stange, 2021

Do you feed the fires of drama, or foster a culture of peace?

When I was in high school, I had several jobs that I tried to juggle at the same time, in addition to working at my father's grocery store. It was a tiring, but very educational experience. I learned a lot in the process, and was exposed to a variety of interesting people who all taught me something of value in one way or another.

One particular person, an older woman that I worked with for several years demonstrated an interesting pattern that took me a while to catch on to. She was truly someone I loved and appreciated. She was a very hard worker who was highly competent in what she did. I also thought she was a lot of fun. But she had one fatal flaw that eventually stood out to me in a cautionary way. Wherever she worked, she created unnecessary drama, and sometimes that produced conflict and hard feelings. Unfortunately, I think that also cost her quite a few opportunities in life because that became her reputation.

In our relationships with our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, we're called to model the heart of Christ in all conversations and interactions. This world is good at teaching us how to foster drama and conflict, but Christ demonstrates what it looks like to bless one another with the kind of peace He chooses to bless us with. His desire is that His church feed a heart of unity, not a spirit of division.

Proverbs 17:9-20 gives us great counsel on how that can be accomplished. In this passage, we're challenged not to feed the fires of drama, but rather foster a culture of peace within the body of Christ.

I. Seek reconciliation and restoration

Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. (Proverbs 17:9-11)

Years ago, Tim Keller wrote a book called "The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness." It's a short book, but the title grabbed my attention right away. In that book, Keller encourages Christians not to be so caught up in themselves. He reminds us of the joy of Christ-empowered humility. The publisher's summary of the book states this, "gospel humility means we can stop connecting every experience, every conversation with ourselves and can thus be free from self condemnation. A truly gospel humble person is not a self-hating person or a self-loving person, but a self-forgetful person."

I think if we're willing to be a little more "self-forgetful", we can also get to a spot of reconciliation and restoration a little quicker with those who may have offended us in the past. Instead of feeding the flames of bitterness in our hearts, we can stop thinking so much of ourselves and brooding over who may have wronged us.

In fact, Solomon tells us in this portion of Proverbs that those who choose to cover an offense are seeking love, but those who refuse to stop repeating the matter to every ear that's willing to listen are fostering division.

Two of the most helpful verses from the New Testament that reinforce this concept to my heart are 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. In that passage, we're told, "Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs." (1 Cor. 13:4-5, CSB). Those who have had their offenses covered by Christ, delight to share that blessing with others by keeping no record of wrongs.

A loving person seeks reconciliation and restoration, and they do so honestly. Solomon tells us that process may involve a loving rebuke and words that are momentarily hard to hear, but that's certainly preferable to the rebellion, division, and conflict that are frequently fostered by those who reject Christ and embrace the harsh values of this world.

II. Value sense over strife

Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    rather than a fool in his folly.
f anyone returns evil for good,
    evil will not depart from his house.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense? (Proverbs 17:12-16)

What experience would you like to have in your home; the presence of wickedness, or obvious examples of the Lord generously blessing your household far beyond what you deserve?

I was having this conversation with my son just the other day. The Lord had blessed him in a very obvious way, and we were tracing the hand of God's providence throughout all the circumstances that had led up to that moment. That then led to a deeper discussion of the multiple ways we can trace God's hand doing that same exact thing for our family as a whole.

That contrasts with the effects of the warning Solomon gives in this passage. Here he tells us about the effects of returning evil for good. In that case, a household doesn't experience blessing but rather the greater presence of evil. In fact, Solomon seems to indicate that as long as a person persists in returning evil for good, they can continue to expect the presence of evil in their home. The spiritual and relational effects of their decisions will eventually deliver bitter fruit.

But those who have been blessed with wisdom from the Spirit of God learn to value godliness over worldliness, and sense over strife. When they notice things getting heated between them and others, they attempt to de-escalate the problem before it turns into an all out war. They quit before the quarrel breaks out. As I have often heard it said, "You don't have to attend every fight you're invited to." I value that counsel.

III. Love unconditionally

A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)

When my sisters and I were growing up, we witnessed an event where several adults that were siblings got into a long and protracted form of conflict. We didn't know all the details, but part of the conflict involved an inheritance and the transfer of real-estate. We watched them go from a seemingly loving family to divided adversaries that remained at odds with each other for years. In observing that, my sisters and I promised each other that we would never do that to each other, and by the grace of God, we have kept that promise.

But there are times when even close ties between friends and family can be tested. Solomon explained that those moments don't need to be times of division. Rather, we can continue to love one another in the midst of adversity.

One of the greatest blessings of a relationship with Jesus Christ is the realization that in Him we are loved without condition. God the Father displayed that unconditional love like this...

"God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.  Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10, CSB)

In a very personal way, this demonstration of love has had a major impact on how I handle myself as a husband and a father. It is my desire to create a culture in our home that reflects the unconditional love of Christ that He demonstrated to us first. The desire to love without condition gets regularly tested in my life, but as the truth of the gospel grabs hold of my heart, this is something the Lord is helping me value and prioritize. I'm certain it makes a difference on the health of my marriage, and the quality of my parenting, and it definitely helps foster a spirit of peace in our home.

IV. Pray for wisdom to see beyond this moment

One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. (Proverbs 17:18-20)

Most people on this planet only live for today. They don't think much about tomorrow. They don't make decisions that will benefit themselves and others in the long-term. They just react to whatever comes their way without much thought beyond the moment.

Solomon gives a few examples of that. He speaks of people who puts up security for others (the equivalent of our modern-day practice of co-signing a loan). He speaks of those who love transgression and make their doors high or trust in high walls (which was a symbol of pride and arrogance). He also talks about that nature of living with a crooked heart and a dishonest tongue. It's all evidence of living with a short-term perspective.

But through Christ, we can experience an eternal perspective. We can live in the moment while fostering a faithful eye toward the future. We can pray that the Lord will increase our wisdom and open our eyes to see what He holds in store. It's a hopeful perspective that He grants those who trust in Him and rely on His guidance.

As Solomon explains in Proverbs 17, we can choose to be people who feed the fires of drama or we can foster a culture of Christ-empowered peace. With hearts that are ruled by Christ's peace, let's give this world a powerful glimpse of His work of transformation within us.

© John Stange, 2020

Making plans that align with God's greater purposes

A couple months ago, something happened to me that I couldn't foresee. I was at a three-day training event in Pittsburgh with a group of authors, podcasters, and business leaders. We were having a great time together, and as the event was coming to a close, I walked over to the parking garage where I had been parking my car every day, only to discover that the the gates were down and my car was locked inside. They locked the garage an hour earlier than posted.

Several other people at the event were with me when I made this discovery, and I was in such a good mood that I found this problem more comical than upsetting. I even jokingly said to one of my friends, "Hmmm. I wonder what happens next?" It seemed clear to me that the discovery of my car being locked in that garage was just the beginning of what was about to become a story I would tell the rest of my life.

The friends I was with asked me what I was going to do. I thought about it for a minute, outlined my plan for them, then gave it a shot. There was just enough room for me to slide under the gate, so I slid my way into the parking garage. Then I started my car and drove it up to the area where I could pay my toll. I hoped that paying the toll would trigger something that would lift the gate and allow me to get my car out of the building, but that didn't work.

The next part of my plan involved driving my car to the lower level of the parking garage to see if there might be another exit. There was, but it was also locked. So, for several interesting minutes, I utilized the help of my friends to brainstorm a new plan to see if we could figure out how to actually raise the gates and get my car out of the building.

There were chains attached to the gates, so I pulled them loose then attempted to raise the gates by pulling them. That didn't work. Several times I tried to lift the gates by hand, but they were securely locked. I was running out of options until another friend noticed a series of buttons on one of the walls. At her suggestion, I walked over to them and tried to discern what they might do. One button in particular caught my attention, so I pressed it and thankfully, it opened the entrance gate which would allow me to maneuver my car out of the building.

In a situation like that, it was helpful to have a plan. It was also practical to adapt the plan when my initial approach wasn't working, and helpful to have good counsel from my friends because without their help, it's entirely possible my car might still be stuck inside that building.

In general, I think making plans is a good thing, but when we're making plans, there's something we need to be careful about. For us as believers in Jesus Christ, we need to make sure that our plans aren't born out of selfish motives or worldly pursuits. When we develop a plan in life, we want to make sure that it aligns with God's greater purposes, and that's what Solomon demonstrates for us in Proverbs 16:1-9. So, what does it look like to operate with a plan that aligns with God's will?

I. Commit what you do to the Lord's glory

The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:1-3)

More times than I can count, I have listened to people outline the plans they have in store for the next season of their life. And I've done the same exact thing. We like to talk about the things we're going to do, the places we're going to go, and the open doors we're going to walk through. Occasionally, our plans work out like we expected, but more often than not, they get amended, sometimes drastically.

I still remember a conversation I had with a friend several years ago. He had developed a five-year plan for what his family was about to do. He included all kinds of specific details. On paper, it looked great. But soon after writing it all out, his wife shared some unexpected news with him. They thought they were finished having children, but apparently God had a surprise in store for them and their plans were drastically, and happily amended.

Solomon tells us that humanity likes to make plans. We have all sorts of things charted out. We have all sorts of expectations for the coming months and years, but the real answer for what's coming up rests in the sovereign and providential hand of God. He orchestrates what He knows will be best for His children. He tests the motives of our hearts. And for our benefit, He allows some of our plans to come to fruition, while others He elects to put the brakes on.

Solomon encourages us to make plans with a particular goal in mind. In Proverbs 16:3, he tells us to, "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." What is Solomon trying to tell us? He's telling us to commit what we do to the Lord's glory. We're challenged to submit our work to the Lord. We're invited to trust His guidance and direction. And as we do so, He will enable our plans to succeed provided that they are in line with His will.

This instruction reminds me of the words of Jesus as He prayed to the Father in Luke 22:42. In that time of prayer, Jesus said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." We're called to apply that same attitude to the plans we make. He calls us to commit our plans to the His glory and submit our work to His guidance and will.

II. Turn away from evil and toward Jesus

The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of trouble.
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
    be assured, he will not go unpunished.
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. (Proverbs 16:4-6)

The other day, I was watching a news broadcast that involved security tape of a crime being committed. The people in the video were not aware they were being recorded, and they certainly didn't expect the recording to be broadcast by the media. As I watched the recording, I felt conflicting emotions. On one hand, I was glad that their crime was going to be addressed, but on the other hand, I felt bad for them because it's very likely that they're about to spend years in prison. Somehow, they had been convinced to embrace evil, and now they were going to pay a steep price for that decision.

As followers of Christ, that's not the direction our lives should be taken. Scripture speaks repeatedly about the concept of repentance. Repentance is a beautiful word, but it's often treated like a very scary concept. Through Christ, we're invited to repent of our sin. When we do so, we're turning away from evil and turning toward Him. That's His calling on our lives, and that's precisely what He empowers us to do on a daily basis.

That mindset should also be reflected in the plans we make and the overall direction we attempt to bring our lives. Solomon teaches us in this passage that if we have arrogant hearts, we will invite evil into our lives and then experience punishment. Arrogance is an abomination to the Lord. Arrogance is, in effect, acting as if we're a greater authority than the Lord is. An arrogant heart elevates its plans above the plans of the Lord and rejects the opportunity to humbly seek the life-giving presence of Jesus.

But those who fear the Lord won't embrace arrogance. They will turn from evil and turn toward Jesus who atoned for their sin at the cross. In Proverbs 16:6, Solomon said, "By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for." Jesus is the perfection of steadfast love and faithfulness, and in His faithful love, He atoned for our wickedness. So, since our sin has been atoned for by Jesus, why should we return to the very thing He paid so great a price to liberate us from?

By the grace Christ supplies, make certain that the plans you craft are plans that turn away from evil and turn toward Jesus.

III. Submit your plans to the Lord's greater plan

When a man's ways please the Lord,
    he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:7-9)

Have you ever noticed how it seems to be hard-wired into humanity to desire the approval of our parents? As a grown man who still has one living parent, I still care about his approval. As a father, I have seen this same desire at work in the hearts of my children at every stage of their lives. I think it's part of how we have been designed, and I also think that the greatest form of approval we have been fashioned to seek is the approval of our Heavenly Father.

In Proverbs 16:7, Solomon speaks about a man's ways pleasing the Lord. He tells us that when a man's ways please the Lord, the Lord will even cause the man's enemies to be a peace with Him. We're also told in Proverbs 16:9 that the Lord will establish the steps of a person who submits their plans over to Him. These are encouraging aspects of our relationship with God to see illustrated in His word.

One of the aspects of the gospel that amazes me is the fact that in Christ, the Father is pleased with us. If we've trusted in Jesus, He lives within us. From that point, whenever God the Father looks at us, He sees His Son and He is pleased. Do you let yourself think about that? Does it amaze you that God could possibly look at your life and be pleased with you?

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

Do you have a plan for your life? Have you submitted that plan over to the Lord? Can you confidently say that the Lord is pleased with that plan?

When we make plans, we need to make sure that those plans align with God's greater purposes. A plan that aligns with His purposes pleases Him. A plan that aligns with His purposes is blessed by Him. A plan that aligns with His purposes brings Him glory.

© John Stange, 2020

Are you communicating the heart of the gospel?

A few nights ago, my daughter brought something up to me that concerned her. She had been watching a video online regarding some prominent pastors. The person who posted it took issue with the way some of these men were speaking. Apparently, some had chosen to be rather loose with their language and, potentially for shock value, had chosen to interject some profanity into their messages.

My daughter was troubled by this and wanted to hear my opinion. I told her that I don't like when people choose to do that because I think it creates a needless stumbling block. I also don't think it's a mature decision for someone who is supposed to be serving as an ambassador of Christ to speak in a way that doesn't represent the way Christ would speak.

One of the most powerful things about a person are the words they communicate and the way in which they communicate them. You may not be someone of great physical stature, but don't let yourself be convinced that there isn't great power and influence behind your words. The things that you communicate will impact people in dramatic ways.

As followers of Christ, we're called to be very intentional about how we use our words. It's through the things we say that people will hear the message of the gospel. Our conversations, the instruction we give, and the manner in which we pray should all be empowered by the Holy Spirit and aimed to reflect the heart of Christ.

Is this something that matters to you? Can Jesus be seen in what you say? Are you communicating the heart of the gospel when you interact with others? In Proverbs 15:1-8, we're shown several important ways that we as believers in Christ can use our words to honor Him.

I. Honor Christ in your conversations

A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. (Proverbs 15:1-4)

When I was a new Christian, the book of Proverbs was one of the books of the Bible that I read most. I was fascinated with its content. I wanted to gain as much wisdom as I could from the sayings that were presented in the book. Many of those wise sayings stuck in my mind and never left, including the opening verses of Proverbs 15.

In this passage, we're admonished to be mindful of how we speak. We're told that if we answer others in a soft manner, we will turn away wrath instead of inviting it. We're told that knowledge comes forth from the tongue of the wise and that the eyes of the Lord are upon us as we speak and interact with one another. This is all helpful to know, and it's particularly interesting when these words get tested in your life soon after you first learn them.

When I was a new driver, I took my car to visit my grandmother. She lived in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania where street parking was sometimes hard to get. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that a spot was open across the street from her home so I parked there, but when I left, it became apparent that her neighbor wasn't very happy about my choice of parking spots.

As I opened my car door and sat down, I noticed something on my front window. It was the top of a pizza box, tucked under my windshield wiper, and it had writing on it. As I got back out of the car to read what was on it, a man came out of a house and started yelling at me. He screamed at me for parking in front of his home (even though he had a driveway and didn't need the space).

As he yelled at me, the Holy Spirit brought to mind Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." So, when he finished screaming, I simply said, "I'm sorry. I'll be happy to move my car." I think my response surprised him because he immediately stopped yelling, hung his head low like he was ashamed of himself, and took the box top out of my hand so I couldn't read what it said. Then he quietly walked back into his house. As I drove away, I couldn't help but smile and I'm pretty sure I said out loud, "Wow, that really works!"

I'm glad the Lord allowed me to have that experience because it taught me something that has served me well all throughout my adult life. We can choose to represent the evil one in our conversations with each other, or we can honor Christ with our conversations. We can let our old fleshly nature stir up division between us an others, or we can respond to one another with grace and a demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit. From personal experience, I can testify to the fact that it's always better to honor Christ in our conversations than it is to speak like the unbelieving world chooses to speak.

II. Glorify Christ when you give instruction

5 A fool despises his father's instruction,
    but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. (Proverbs 15:5-6)

Scripture tells us that people were fascinated by the teaching and instruction of Solomon. It's clear that the Holy Spirit blessed him with great wisdom, and Solomon seemed to have the desire to pass that wisdom along to others. We're told that in some contexts, people would come great distances to hear him teach.

"Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions." (1 Kings 10:1)

If you're ever placed in a position of Christian leadership, and you're given the opportunity to instruct others, you'll very likely develop a burden for the people you're teaching. You'll desperately want them to take the teaching you're passing along to heart. You'll want to see them apply it to their lives. I feel this burden every time I preach, teach, or write. If you love those you're instructing, you can't help but feel this way. I suspect Solomon loved those he was instructing as well.

As a parent, you feel this burden too, but you're also aware of the fact that there's no guarantee that your children are going to accept what you've been teaching them. Solomon makes that clear when he tells us that, "A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent." (Proverbs 15:5).

Jesus felt this burden more than anyone. When He came to this earth to instruct, rescue, redeem, and restore lost humanity, He wanted us to value His instruction. And as we learned to value it, He wanted us to convey it to others. Jesus wants us to glorify Him in the instruction we give, but He also knows what it's like to be ignored. In fact, there were many during the generation in which He visited this earth who completely dismissed His teaching.

"The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12:42)

The people who instruct us have a demonstrable influence on our lives. If you're ever placed in a position to instruct others, glorify Christ in your instruction and point the hearts of those who listen to your words to Him.

III. Worship Christ in your supplication

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the hearts of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. (Proverbs 15:7-8)

Do you believe in the power of prayer? How convinced are you that the Lord will answer your supplication when you bring it before Him? Solomon taught that, "the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him." Are you convinced that this is true? Do you worship Jesus by lifting up your heart to Him in prayer?

While Josh McDowell was attending seminary in California, his father went home to be with the Lord. His mother had died years earlier, but Josh was not sure of her salvation. He became depressed, thinking that she might be lost. Was she a Christian or not? The thought obsessed him. “Lord,” he prayed, “somehow give me the answer so I can get back to normal. I’ve just got to know.” It seemed like an impossible request.

Two days later, Josh drove out to the ocean. He walked to the end of a pier to be alone. There sat an old woman in a lawnchair, fishing. “Where’s your home originally?” she asked.

“Michigan—Union City,” Josh replied. “Nobody’s heard of it. I tell people it’s a suburb of —”

“Battle Creek,” interrupted the woman. “I had a cousin from there. Did you know the McDowell family?”

Stunned, Josh responded, “Yes, I’m Josh McDowell!”

“I can’t believe it,” said the woman. “I’m a cousin to your mother.”

“Do you remember anything at all about my mother’s spiritual life?” asked Josh.

“Why sure—your mom and I were just girls—teenagers—when a tent revival came to town. It was the fourth night—we both went forward to accept Christ.”

“Praise God!” shouted Josh, startling the surrounding fishermen. -Our Daily Bread, September 18

Lately, the Lord has been reminding me that one of the most powerful things I can do is pray. Admittedly, one of my personality defects is my tendency to not want to burden others with my problems. As much as possible, I try to handle the problems I have in my own strength, but I'm thankful that the Lord seems to be bringing me to a spot where I'm finally convinced that my strength is not sufficient for everything that I'm facing.

When I come to the end of myself, and finally admit that I'm not truly capable of handling my burdens on my own, the Lord reminds me to come to Him. He relieves my stress through prayer. When I'm worried about our culture, the state of the church, or my children, I'm also reminded to pray. When I can't fully verbalize what's troubling me, He reminds me that all I have to do is say, "Help!" and He's ready to hear me and act upon my requests.

So many people are convinced that they need to do something to impress God in order for Him to listen to them. People think they need to do great deeds or make amazing sacrifices for Him to respond to their requests. But Solomon shows us something different. He tells us that the Lord hears the prayers of the upright. Well, how does one become upright? We become upright through the righteousness of Christ which is given to all who genuinely trust in Him. There is no other way. And as we approach the throne of the Father, covered in the righteousness of Christ, our prayers are heard and our supplications are granted in accordance with His will.

Does your life and do your words communicate the heart of the gospel? Do the things that proceed from your mouth honor the one who created your lips? Jesus wants to be seen in your life. He wants to give others a glimpse of Himself through your conversations, instruction, and times of prayer. Will you submit your life over to Him so that this transformative process can begin?

© John Stange, 2020

Building a life that can withstand what's thrown at it

On the last day of sixth grade, I got into a fight. I don't remember what prompted it, but I do remember that it happened during an outdoor gym class. Being that it was the last day of school, our gym teacher was in no mood for our behavior and he snapped.

After yelling at me and the kid I was fighting, he took a basketball and threw it at the other kid. The ball whacked him hard and he bent over crying. Then the teacher took that same ball and winged it at me, but to his surprise (and extra annoyance) I caught it, gave him a smile, and bounced it back to him. It definitely benefitted me that he threw the ball at me second because that took the element of surprise away and I was better able to anticipate it.

Some things in life catch us off guard, and other events and experiences are a little bit easier to anticipate. How are you handling what's being thrown at you? Are you building a life that can withstand what's being thrown at it, or do you feel a little beat up by some of the surprises that have come your way?

For many people, this year has been filled with unforeseen challenges and unexpected difficulties. Some of us are experiencing changes in relationships and occupations. Some of us are mourning the interruptions to our daily routines, limits on our personal freedoms, medical challenges, and even the extra hoops we have to jump through in order to be able to travel.

But here's what I know. Our circumstances and opportunities are always changing, yet the nature of our Savior Jesus Christ never changes. And with His help, we truly can withstand whatever comes against us in this world. Proverbs 12 gives us some great examples of what that looks like. What does this portion of Scripture teach us to withstand?

I. Withstanding the onslaught of wickedness

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
    but the house of the righteous will stand.
A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is despised. (Proverbs 12:7-8)

When the Lord created this earth, He created it perfectly. There was no sin. There were no shortcomings. There were no regrets, but knowingly, mankind rebelled against Him and invited wickedness into our earthly experience. Wickedness is something all mankind has struggled with since the day it was first invited into our lives.

The cultures of this world have historically celebrated evil. We champion violence. We give hearty approval to greed. Sometimes we envy those who seem to get away with the most evil. It's as if we've turned rebellion against the Lord into a game and we're just seeing how much we can attempt to get away with.

But those who have a genuine relationship with Jesus can testify to the fact that they are no longer mastered by wickedness. The victory over sin that Christ secured on the cross is a victory that's shared with all who trust in Him. That victory becomes apparent in all areas of a believer's life. We see the effects of that victory on display in this portion of Proverbs.

In this passage, Solomon speaks of the fact that the household of the righteous will stand, and a man who exhibits good sense will be commended. This is the fruit of a changed heart. This is the effect of Christ's presence on a person's home and life. And it stands in stark contrast to the long-term effects of those who persist in wickedness. Solomon tells us that those who continue to embrace wickedness will be despised and eventually overthrown.

Wickedness comes at us from every direction, even if we follow Jesus. I don't think I ever realized that more than I did when I first became a father. Being that I desire our home to be a place where Christ is honored, I do my best to attempt to filter sources of wickedness out of our home. Let me be the first to admit just how challenging that can be. You don't even have to go looking for it. It comes looking for you.

But with the strength of Christ, we can withstand evil. I love what we're told in Ephesians 6:13...

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."  (Ephesians 6:13)

I'm grateful that even though we live in a world that has been tainted with sin, we have been given the tools we need, through the Spirit of God, to stand firm and withstand evil when it comes looking for us.

II. Withstanding a haughty attitude

Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. (Proverbs 12:9-10)

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to interact with a man that I didn't know very well. We have a common friend, and I was introduced to him through that friendship. During the course of our conversation, something about him seemed off to me. I wasn't sure if he had a chip on his shoulder or what, but I wasn't a huge fan of the way he carried himself. Eventually, he turned the conversation into a discussion about how much money he had. Now I don't know if he really has money or not, but I can tell you that he definitely wanted me to believe he did. As he bragged about how much money he has at this season of life, I thought to myself, "What's the quickest way I can exit this conversation?" I grew instantly tired of listening to his bragging and haughtiness.

Solomon, on the other hand, was one of the richest men to ever live. He had more wealth than he probably knew what to do with, yet look at the words he penned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Solomon expressed that it was better to be lowly and humble than to pretend to be wealthy. It's better to lift others up when they're with you than try to drag them down or attempt to make them feel like they can't compare to you. Conceit drags people down. Humility lifts others up. And those who are truly humble will reveal their humility in ways that might surprise you.

One of those surprising examples of a person's humility and their value for life shows itself in the kind of mercy they would show an animal or a beast of burden. Solomon says that the righteous has regard for the life of his beast. He cares about what God has created. He sees animals as a gift from God and demonstrates the kinship God has created between humans and animals.

I saw a video recently that demonstrated the beauty of mercy begin shown to an animal, and I thought it was fascinating to observe. A young dog with a beautiful grey coat had been abandoned and brought to a shelter. It was so fearful around humans that it wouldn't eat. Eventually, the man who ran the shelter took two bowls of food, one for the dog and one for himself, then he sat down to eat with the dog inside the cage. With each bite the man took, he would also attempt to feed the dog. Eventually, the dog settled down and learned to trust him. In time, it began eating regularly and learned to socialize so well that the man decided to keep it for himself.

It was an act of humility for that man to be willing to sit in that cage with that dog, but isn't that exactly what Jesus has done for us? He saw us in our lost, scared, and hopeless condition, and He sat down to a meal with us. He showed us mercy while we were living like animals, and He invites us to model His humility to others while withstanding a haughty attitude.

III. Withstanding anxiety

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad. (Proverbs 12:25)

When someone you know is going through a season of anxiety, you can often tell just by looking at them. The expression on their face is down. They sit a little lower in a chair. Their shoulders seems a little hunched when they walk. Their pace may seem a little slower and their energy level may be depleted. There are external signs that signify what is taking place in their heart. If they are overcome by their worries and fears, their hearts are weighed down and begin to feel heavy.

Just last week, I walked past one of the members of our church and I happened to notice something different about her facial expression. Normally, she's a very enthusiastic person, but that day, I could tell just by looking at her that something was troubling her. I took a moment to ask her about it, and she admitted that she was feeling anxious about an upcoming surgery. She was burdened by the thought and very nervous, so a small group of us took a few moments to lift her up in prayer and offer words of encouragement. It seemed to help, and thankfully, everything went fine with her surgery as well.

Anxiety weighs us down. It tells us that we need to handle the things that only Jesus can handle. It makes us feel like we have been forced to carry a load that is beyond our ability to carry. It influences us to think that help isn't available to us and we're completely alone in our struggle.

Proverbs 12:25 reminds us that there is an alternative to being weighed down by anxiety. Our fears like to keep us hunched in a beaten down position, but a "good word" can make us glad. A good word can make us feel light again. A good word can be used by God to lift us up.

There is no greater word than the gospel. The word "gospel" literally means "good news" and good news is proclaimed and demonstrated all throughout the pages of Scripture.

In the gospel we're told that God created the world and humanity perfect. We rebelled against Him and became both sinful and condemned. But in His mercy, He chose to offer us a second chance.

Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth in flesh, lived the perfect life, took the punishment for our sin upon Himself at the cross, died in our place, rose from death, defeated sin, Satan and death and assures us that through faith in Him, we will be forgiven and given new life. In Jesus, we are no longer condemned, we are made righteous and are holy in His sight.

What message are you preaching to your heart? Is it a message of condemnation that produces anxiety or the good word of the gospel that produces joy?

With the power of Christ, your life can withstand what's being thrown at it. You have His strength to defeat the power of wickedness, His heart to combat a haughty attitude, and His hope to repel the encroachment of anxiety. Welcome His presence, and let Him keep building you into the person He has called you to be.

© John Stange, 2020

Will your integrity fuel your generosity?

The book of Proverbs is filled with good counsel and help. In it, the Lord reveals His heart and mind to us, and attempts to lead us down the right path. It is a practical book, but its practical wisdom can only truly be lived out by those who have genuine faith in the Lord.

Proverbs 11, like many of the chapters in this book, deals with multiple subjects and offers a variety of helpful contrasts between wisdom and folly, giving and taking, and righteousness and wickedness. As we look at these verses, I hope at least two concepts will catch your eye in particular; integrity and generosity. In fact, the primary question we're going to attempt to answer as we look through this chapter is, "Will your integrity fuel your generosity?"

I. Integrity won't lead you down a destructive path

"A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.  The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.  Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." (Proverbs 11:1-4)

Integrity is something that clearly matters to the Lord. When we read through the Scriptures, we can see that the subject is brought up through direct teaching, historical stories, and the example of the Lord Himself.

One the best definitions I have heard of integrity is this; “Integrity is doing the right thing when someone is watching and when they aren’t.” I like that definition, but for us as believers, we have the additional sense of accountability in knowing that the Lord is always watching.

As Solomon speaks about righteousness and integrity in these verses, he tells us that the Lord delights in just weights, values humility, admonishes us to keep our way straight, and to walk in righteousness.

As the Lord reveals these concepts through Solomon, we’re also shown their opposite. We’re told of people who keep false balances, walk in pride, take a crooked path, and put their trust in riches. Each of those examples is given to us to caution us not to follow their unwise and godless patterns.

During the course of Christ’s earthy ministry, He demonstrated to us what it was like to live with humble integrity. There weren’t two versions of Jesus. He was the same person in front of a large crowd and when He sat down for a meal with a small group. He spoke creation into existence, yet He was willing to humble Himself so He could effectively serve us.

Jesus isn’t asking us to do anything He wasn’t willing to demonstrate for us. As Christ was willing to take the form of a servant in order to serve us, so too should we be willing to serve one another. As Christ is the perfection of integrity, so too should we be willing to seek His guidance in order to live with integrity in our generation.

The godly and righteous traits that Solomon emphasizes in these verses find their pinnacle in Jesus. He is the standard of integrity and humility that we should all value, emulate, and worship.

II. You can have hope beyond this moment

"When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.  The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead." (Proverbs 11:7-8)

Several days ago, I officiated for a funeral. Funerals can be emotionally difficult for family and friends, but they can also be hopeful moments when the redemption Christ has offered us is welcomed and celebrated.

As I looked around the room at the many faces that were gathered, I saw a lot of sadness, but I also saw hope and joy. As believers, we truly have a hope that’s genuinely anchored in Jesus Christ.

Solomon tells us that when the wicked die, they don’t have the hope we as believers possess. Those who reject the Lord place their hope in earthly and transient things. They struggle to think about things from an eternal perspective. They usually remain caught up in the moment. Their greatest hopes are in their riches, their government, their status, or their abilities. But what sense does it make to anchor your hope to something that can change? What logic is there in anchoring your hope to something that can be taken away from you?

Through Christ, we have hope beyond the moment. Our hope is anchored in His unchanging and powerful nature. He holds us securely in His hands. He teaches us not to place our trust in things that can change or be taken away. He invites us to approach life with confidence that surpasses the shaky beliefs that govern the hearts of lost humanity.

III. It is a privilege to rejoice in righteousness

"With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.  When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.  By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.  Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent." (Proverbs 11:9-12)

Very recently, a friend of mine began the process of buying her first house. For years she has dealt with a lot of adversity, but she’s transitioning into a new season of life, and she has much reason to be optimistic. As a child, she dealt with a lot of pain in her family, and she frequently felt unloved and abandoned. As an adult, she has admittedly struggled to believe that anyone would want to genuinely be her friend, let alone respect her or value what she’s accomplished.

She has admitted that to some of us, but just the other day, she took the risk to post of picture of the house she’s buying. The place is beautiful. And to her surprise, hundreds of people have now gone out of their way to let her know how happy they are for her and how they’re celebrating this purchase right along with her. It’s as if we’re all living vicariously through her to celebrate her accomplishments as our own.

A similar thing happens in the lives of those who practice righteousness. Solomon tell us that when it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices and the city is exalted. Everyone feels lifted up right along with them.

This stands in stark contrast to the activities of the godless and wicked. Godless men destroy their neighbors. They use their words to cut them down and belittle them. They attempt to bring harm to others because they’re convinced that the only way they can feel better about themselves is by making others feel low.

But the truth is we will never ultimately feel better by crushing the spirit of another brother or sister. The more we violate our conscience or ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us, the lower we will eventually feel. But if we speak with grace and go out of our way to lift others up, we will honor the people the Lord has blessed us with the privilege to interact with.

IV. Kindness isn't as expensive as you think it is

"A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.  A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.  The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.  Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.  Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.  Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered." (Proverbs 11:16-21)

What does kindness cost you? That might seem like a funny question, and in some respects, it may not even be a logical question because ultimately, I believe Scripture teaches us that kindness is a net-gain, not a net-loss. A kind person receives much more in benefit than they incur as an expense.

The wicked defraud. They attempt to earn dishonest wages. Their eyes are glued to the prospect of earthly rewards. But those who walk in the righteousness of Christ, find life. Even their children experience great blessings.

As a father, I take great joy in the thought of the blessing of God being poured out upon my children and grandchildren. In this passage we're told that the Lord has blessings in store for the children of those who truly believe in Him. We're told here that "the offspring of the righteous will be delivered." True deliverance is found through Jesus Christ, so it's my prayer that the generations that come from me will truly enjoy the deliverance that Christ offers them through faith in Him.

V. Let the generous heart of Christ be seen in you

"The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.  One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.  Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.  The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.  Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.  Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.  Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.  If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!" (Proverbs 11:23-31)

This proverbs concludes with multiple examples of biblical generosity. In this passage, believers are admonished to give freely, lavish blessings upon others, and enjoy the blessings that come back upon them as they practice generosity. We're also reminded never to trust in riches. Our calling is to trust the One who blesses without idolizing the blessings He bestows.

One of the things the Lord has been communicating to my heart repeatedly, particularly in recent years, is that one of the greatest earthly joys He will allow me to experience is the privilege to be generous with what He entrusts to me. Last week, He surprised us financially in an unexpected way. In return, we were able to be extra generous in our giving toward His work in the church. I also had lunch with a group of friends, so I decided to surprise them and pay the bill. Someone we met during the week expressed a need for food, so we bought them groceries. A member of our family had a car repair that we contributed to. We also made an extra principal payment toward our mortgage (so I guess we were even a little generous toward the bank).

Do you ever wonder what you might do if the Lord surprised you and gave you millions of dollars? What would you do with it? Can I suggest something that I think is pretty accurate? I think you'd be just as generous with it as you already are with what you presently have, no more and no less.

When the nature of Christ's generosity toward us becomes clear to our thinking, and we realize just how blessed we truly are, it becomes difficult not to be generous in return. As recipients of these blessings, Solomon encourages us not to withhold sharing with others what the Lord has blessed us to share. Just as Christ demonstrated with His sacrificial actions and His personal generosity, it truly is better to give than it is to receive.

© John Stange, 2020

Will you trust the Lord when you're feeling uneasy?

The other day, two similar things happened to me at the same time. First, I was talking to a friend of mine and he admitted to having had a hard morning. His family wasn't home, his schedule was being unexpectedly interrupted, and he was feeling emotionally off. He couldn't fully put his finger on the reason why he felt like he did, but he said his goal was to continue getting his work done in spite of his emotions.

At the same time that conversation was taking place, I received a text from a family friend who lives near where I grew up. She received news earlier that day that alarmed her, and she wanted an outside perspective on what she was experiencing, so we spent a few minutes chatting through her concern and getting to the heart of the matter.

I bring up these examples, because I think we all experience seasons in life when we feel uneasy. Maybe you're dealing with unexpected change in your life. Maybe you feel like you're being taken advantage of by someone you once trusted. Maybe you can't even put a finger on why you feel how you feel. Those experiences are common to us all, but what can we do when we're feeling uneasy or uncertain?

One of the things that you'll see as a pattern throughout Scripture is the Lord's invitation to trust Him in every circumstance. That's a pattern you'll see in Proverbs 10 as well. In this chapter, the Lord demonstrates the fact that He is overseeing our lives, working His will out through us, and bringing an end to the efforts of wickedness that threaten us. Let's look at some of the reasons the Lord assures us our hearts can be at peace.

I. The Lord won't let the righteous go hungry

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.  Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.  The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.  A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.  He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. (Proverbs 1b-5)

As you'll see in the statements included in this chapter, and in the coming chapters, many of the proverbs provide a contrast between the actions of the righteous and the wicked, or the wise and the foolish. We see that pattern clearly established in these verses in particular.

In speaking of the wicked, Solomon makes it clear that they bring sorrow and shame to their family, do not ultimately profit from their activity, will not be satisfied by the pursuit of their cravings, and will experience not only physical poverty, but relational and spiritual poverty as well. It isn't a pretty picture, but it is the reality of a life that's being lived absent of genuine faith in the Lord.

The righteous, on the other hand, are promised a much different outcome in their life. They bring gladness and honor to their family, experience spiritual life, are satisfied by what the Lord grants to them, and are amply supplied materially, relationally, and spiritually. The contrast between the wicked and the righteous couldn't be more stark.

But one of the things that really catches my eye about this group of verses is the Lord's promise that He will not let the righteous go hungry. How does that promise hit your ears? How does that assurance strike you?

Scripture tells us something very specific about righteousness. Left to ourselves, we aren't righteous. But through faith in Jesus, we are granted His righteousness as a gift. He imputes His righteousness to our account because we were deficient and needy.

"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:" (Romans 3:21-22)

Having received the gift of the righteousness of Christ through faith, I can personally testify to the fact that the Lord has met and continues to meet my every need. As a child, and as an adult, I have experienced some lean seasons that very easily could have taken me down the path of worry, but the Lord hasn't let that worry take hold in my heart because He has shown me in demonstrable ways that he feeds and meets the needs of those He calls His own. The Lord won't let the righteous go hungry. That is His promise to us.

II. The Lord will give you the right thing to say

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.  Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin.  The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.  On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.  The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.  Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.  The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.  When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.  The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.  The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. (Proverbs 10:6, 8, 10-14, 17-21)

I'm always amazed at just how important words are to the Lord. But when I think about it, that makes a lot of sense because Scripture tells us He spoke creation into existence and continues to uphold it by His powerful word.

"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." (Hebrews 1:3a)

The application of how our words are to be used is demonstrated in a variety of ways in this passage. Solomon tells us that the wicked and unwise use their words for destructive purposes, while the righteous and wise use their words to edify, bless, and honor.

The wicked promote violence, babble instead of listening, stir up strife, bring ruin, lead people astray, promote hatred, and engage in slander. The righteous receive instruction, promote life, forgive offenses, share wisdom, teach knowledge, and restrain themselves from speaking when it wouldn't be helpful.

In looking at these examples, I see a picture of the temperament of someone whose life is being led by the Holy Spirit verses someone whose actions are being dictated by the cravings of their sinful nature. We can build or we can destroy with our words, but a follower of Christ will emulate His example. We will use our words to make investments in the lives of others, and convey the wisdom and life found in His gospel.

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)

Don't underestimate the power of your words, particularly the words you speak to someone at a young or insecure season of life. One of the things that the Lord used to help sustain me during my youth was the kind words of one of the women in my home church. On many occasions during some of the most insecure seasons of my life, she used to say to me, "I don't know what God has planned for you, but I'm convinced He's going to do something special with your life. He has something amazing in store for you." I couldn't fathom why she was so convinced of that and why she would repeat it so often to me (and to my mother), but she was convinced of it.

She built me up with her words and God regularly spoke through her to me. She also made a point to teach me theology and other important spiritual concepts. And since that time, there are plenty of things that I have spoken from pulpits and written in books that were first explained to me by a woman in my home church who chose to make a verbal investment in my young and insecure life. I believe the Lord will also give you the right things to say if your heart and your tongue are submitted over to His lordship. If your life is submitted to the lordship of Christ, His Spirit will guide and direct your tongue to say precisely what's needed when it's needed.

III. The Lord will bring wickedness to an abrupt end

The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.  What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.  When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.  Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.  The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.  The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.  The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers.  The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. (Proverbs 10:22-32)

We live in an era in which many people choose to be brazen and bold with their rebellion against the Lord. I realize that's not necessarily unique to our era, but it does surprise me to observe it. The longer I have known the Lord, the more foreign my heart is becoming to living in rebellion to Him. One of my prayers for myself and my household is that we would live in the fear of the Lord. That we would learn to revere, respect, and love Him so much that we won't attempt to take our lives in a direction marked by disobedience to Him.

The only reason that's a priority in my life is because Jesus Christ has gripped my heart. Now that I know Him, value Him, and find my joy through Him, my perspective toward what contributes to a good life is drastically different from what it once was.

There are many in this world, however, who are convinced they will find satisfaction and delight through their direct rebellion against the Lord. They don't fear Him. They make a joke of His will or His ways, and they're convinced they can get away with whatever they want to get away with. But soon enough, they'll realize that they can't. We will all give an answer for our lives before the Lord. Wickedness has a short shelf-life, and the Lord promises to bring it to an abrupt end in His perfect timing. As this proverb states, the very thing the wicked dread will eventually come upon them. Their years will be cut short, and their expectations will perish.

When I was a teenager, my room was covered in posters of my musical heroes. Many of them were the famous rock stars of the day, and for years, I considered them to be the model of what the ideal life looked like. Now that several decades have passed since I idolized those men, it has been interesting and tragic to observe what life has been like for them in the years since. Most of those who are still living seem to exist in a state of permanent sadness and regret. The foundation they built their lives upon was faulty, and it left a trail of destruction in its wake.

But Christ wants more for us than that. He wants us to experience the confident hope of being assured that He will meet our needs, speak through us in powerful ways, and that His righteousness will ultimately reign upon this earth.

Apart from His intervention, we were lost, but now that He has drawn us unto Himself, we can live with confident faith in Him. So if you've been feeling uneasy for good reasons or for no good reason, please remember the wise examples we see in this portion of Proverbs and remember we can trust the Lord no matter how we may feel in any given moment.

© John Stange, 2020