"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3)
NOTHING.
That's a pretty strong word. Pretty exclusive. Pretty restrictive.
Do nothing from selfish ambition.
Not out to seek your own goals. Not trying to make yourself look better. Not trying to climb the ladder.
Do nothing from conceit.
Not because you want to be as important as someone else. Not because you want to have a position that everyone will see.
So how has your week been?
How much time have you spent in selfish ambition? How much of your motivation has been conceited?
Too much.
Now look after the conjunction. "...but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."
Rather than looking out for yourself, look out for others.
Rather than setting goals to make yourself look good, set goals for helping others.
How would that change your actions for this coming week?
You might stop to help someone with a menial task. Maybe you would change your plans to visit a sick friend. Maybe you would re-think your career plans.
How would it change your conversations?
Instead of putting others down to make yourself look better, you'll encourage others. Instead of gossiping and backbiting, you'll hold your tongue.
So try it for a week.
Do nothing from selfish ambition. Do everything in humility.
Showing posts with label humility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humility. Show all posts
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Humble before Man and God
In Numbers 16, Korah led a rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. He stirred up 250 leaders to challenge their authority.
"We are all holy. What gives you the right to rule over us?" was their argument.
Moses and Aaron responded by falling on their faces before these men.
They humbled themselves.
They plead with these men to remember the position of service that God had given them in the tabernacle. And then they challenged them to a duel.
"Come in the morning with your censers and we'll let God decide," was the challenge.
The next day, God told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the people. He would wipe them out for their rebellion.
Moses and Aaron responded by falling on their faces before God.
They humbled themselves.
They plead for mercy, asking God to punish those who were guilty, not all the people.
Korah came before the tabernacle. Moses said to the people that if these men died natural causes, then they were innocent. But if the earth swallowed them up, then they were guilty.
The earth swallowed them up.
Some of the accusers challenged the authority even further by refusing to come to the duel.
They were burned by fire from the tabernacle.
The next day, the people came back to Moses and Aaron and grumbled, "You have killed the people of the LORD."
Again, God told Moses and Aaron to separate from the people and He would just kill them all.
Again, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces, pleading for mercy.
Moses sent Aaron out into the camp with the censer to appease God and stop the plague that had already started.
About 15,000 people died in those two days.
Moses and Aaron illustrated humble leadership.
They put the honor of God and the benefit of the people before their own power.
They could have stepped aside and said, "Okay, God. We're tired of them, too. Let's move on without this dead weight."
But they remembered God's promise to bring this people to the promised land. They remembered the glory that God had revealed in Egypt and how that glory would be diminished if the people died.
They remembered that they were servants of God, not partners. They were to do His will, not their own.
How are we leading in the realms where God has placed us?
"We are all holy. What gives you the right to rule over us?" was their argument.
Moses and Aaron responded by falling on their faces before these men.
They humbled themselves.
They plead with these men to remember the position of service that God had given them in the tabernacle. And then they challenged them to a duel.
"Come in the morning with your censers and we'll let God decide," was the challenge.
The next day, God told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the people. He would wipe them out for their rebellion.
Moses and Aaron responded by falling on their faces before God.
They humbled themselves.
They plead for mercy, asking God to punish those who were guilty, not all the people.
Korah came before the tabernacle. Moses said to the people that if these men died natural causes, then they were innocent. But if the earth swallowed them up, then they were guilty.
The earth swallowed them up.
Some of the accusers challenged the authority even further by refusing to come to the duel.
They were burned by fire from the tabernacle.
The next day, the people came back to Moses and Aaron and grumbled, "You have killed the people of the LORD."
Again, God told Moses and Aaron to separate from the people and He would just kill them all.
Again, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces, pleading for mercy.
Moses sent Aaron out into the camp with the censer to appease God and stop the plague that had already started.
About 15,000 people died in those two days.
Moses and Aaron illustrated humble leadership.
They put the honor of God and the benefit of the people before their own power.
They could have stepped aside and said, "Okay, God. We're tired of them, too. Let's move on without this dead weight."
But they remembered God's promise to bring this people to the promised land. They remembered the glory that God had revealed in Egypt and how that glory would be diminished if the people died.
They remembered that they were servants of God, not partners. They were to do His will, not their own.
How are we leading in the realms where God has placed us?
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Prayer of Repentance
What is repentance?
Is it saying, "I'm sorry?"
Is it walking on your knees to a holy place, reciting a prayer?
Not surprisingly, the Bible is the source book for understanding biblical repentance. And we find an example of repentance in Daniel 91:16, giving us five elements of a prayer of repentance.
The first element is the Word of God. Daniel was reading the book of Jeremiah, a prophet in the years preceding, during and after the Babylonian exile. Daniel was living in Babylon in exile, so he knew what the current situation was. Jeremiah helped him understand why it was that way. This understanding caused Daniel to repent. Without the Word of God, repentance has no foundation (v 1-2).
The second element is Daniel's attitude of humility (v 3). Seeking God, pleas for mercy, fasting, sackcloth and ashes are marks of humility. It was not an attitude of "I've got to do this" or "If I do this, everything will be okay." But Daniel was shaken by the truths of God's Word and the evidences of God's wrath.
The third element is Daniel's recognition of God. Look through the prayer and you'll find these words that describe God: great, awesome, faithful, merciful, righteous, just, forgiving, angry, wrathful, listening. Clearly in God's eyes, God was right.
The fourth element is Daniel's recognition of guilt. "We have sinned against You." "To us belongs shame." "We have rebelled." "We have not obeyed." No blame shifting. No minimizing. No excuses.
The fifth is a request for forgiveness and restoration (v 16-19). Daniel cries out to God to restore His people and His land and His city. Not because of Daniel's prayer. Not because of the goodness of the people. Not because they have gone through rehab and are doing better. Not because they made promises to try harder. But because of God's name. Because of God's glory.
When was the last time you repented like that? Just for the big sins? Does God have a sliding scale giving more weight to more serious sins?
We need to walk in repentance.
Is it saying, "I'm sorry?"
Is it walking on your knees to a holy place, reciting a prayer?
Not surprisingly, the Bible is the source book for understanding biblical repentance. And we find an example of repentance in Daniel 91:16, giving us five elements of a prayer of repentance.
The first element is the Word of God. Daniel was reading the book of Jeremiah, a prophet in the years preceding, during and after the Babylonian exile. Daniel was living in Babylon in exile, so he knew what the current situation was. Jeremiah helped him understand why it was that way. This understanding caused Daniel to repent. Without the Word of God, repentance has no foundation (v 1-2).
The second element is Daniel's attitude of humility (v 3). Seeking God, pleas for mercy, fasting, sackcloth and ashes are marks of humility. It was not an attitude of "I've got to do this" or "If I do this, everything will be okay." But Daniel was shaken by the truths of God's Word and the evidences of God's wrath.
The third element is Daniel's recognition of God. Look through the prayer and you'll find these words that describe God: great, awesome, faithful, merciful, righteous, just, forgiving, angry, wrathful, listening. Clearly in God's eyes, God was right.
The fourth element is Daniel's recognition of guilt. "We have sinned against You." "To us belongs shame." "We have rebelled." "We have not obeyed." No blame shifting. No minimizing. No excuses.
The fifth is a request for forgiveness and restoration (v 16-19). Daniel cries out to God to restore His people and His land and His city. Not because of Daniel's prayer. Not because of the goodness of the people. Not because they have gone through rehab and are doing better. Not because they made promises to try harder. But because of God's name. Because of God's glory.
When was the last time you repented like that? Just for the big sins? Does God have a sliding scale giving more weight to more serious sins?
We need to walk in repentance.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
A Bad Day
Ever had a bad day?
You hit the snooze button too many times and the race is on.
The kids won't get out of bed.
There's a fight at the bathroom door.
Milk gets spilled.
Gas prices went up.
Traffic is bad.
Then you get to work and it just keeps getting worse.
How do you respond?
We all have bad days. And we get bad news.
Life is tough.
How do you respond?
Consider Job.
1000 oxen and 500 donkeys stolen. All but one of the servants tending them were murdered.
7000 sheep killed by lightning. All but one of the servants tending them were killed by the lightning.
3000 camels stolen by a raiding party. All but one of the servants tending them were murdered.
Seven sons and 3 daughters killed when a storm hits the house where they were celebrating together. All the servants in the house, except one, were killed in the collapse.
And this all happened in one day.
Everything he had worked for, everything that he loved, his means of support, his retirement plan, his hope of grandchildren - all gone in a matter of hours.
How did Job respond?
"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD'" (Job 1:20-21).
Job humbled himself, fell face down to the ground and blessed the name of the LORD.
No bitterness. No anger. No complaining.
Humility and worship.
Have you responded like that?
You hit the snooze button too many times and the race is on.
The kids won't get out of bed.
There's a fight at the bathroom door.
Milk gets spilled.
Gas prices went up.
Traffic is bad.
Then you get to work and it just keeps getting worse.
How do you respond?
We all have bad days. And we get bad news.
Life is tough.
How do you respond?
Consider Job.
1000 oxen and 500 donkeys stolen. All but one of the servants tending them were murdered.
7000 sheep killed by lightning. All but one of the servants tending them were killed by the lightning.
3000 camels stolen by a raiding party. All but one of the servants tending them were murdered.
Seven sons and 3 daughters killed when a storm hits the house where they were celebrating together. All the servants in the house, except one, were killed in the collapse.
And this all happened in one day.
Everything he had worked for, everything that he loved, his means of support, his retirement plan, his hope of grandchildren - all gone in a matter of hours.
How did Job respond?
"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD'" (Job 1:20-21).
Job humbled himself, fell face down to the ground and blessed the name of the LORD.
No bitterness. No anger. No complaining.
Humility and worship.
Have you responded like that?
Thursday, May 30, 2013
God Gives Grace to the Humble
Why is it so hard to ask for help?
We'll easily ask for help if we need to move heavy furniture.
If we need cookies for VBS, we'll send around a sign-up sheet.
If grandma's first cousin on her father's side has an ingrown toenail, we put it on the prayer sheet.
But if it's a battle against temptation, we try to fight it on our own.
If we're struggling with depression, we try to pull ourselves up out of the mire.
If we are having trouble communicating with our spouses, we laugh about it and ignore it.
Why don't we ask for help with spiritual problems?
Pride.
And that's why we see so little success in our spiritual lives.
"But God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).
We like the last part of the verse. "Be humble and God will help" is our battle cry.
Have you thought about the first part? "God resists the proud." God is actively fighting against the proud. He is ignoring them. He is choosing not to help them.
And He is God. The all-powerful, all-knowing Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
Do you think you might be able to wear Him down?
Just yesterday I learned this lesson. Texting two friends to pray for me in the battle in my mind, calling out for help. As the day progressed, God gave grace. He filled my mind with verses, songs and thoughts of the day's activities. I no longer had to fight, because God was giving me grace instead of resisting me.
Will I remember that lesson for a few more days?
We'll easily ask for help if we need to move heavy furniture.
If we need cookies for VBS, we'll send around a sign-up sheet.
If grandma's first cousin on her father's side has an ingrown toenail, we put it on the prayer sheet.
But if it's a battle against temptation, we try to fight it on our own.
If we're struggling with depression, we try to pull ourselves up out of the mire.
If we are having trouble communicating with our spouses, we laugh about it and ignore it.
Why don't we ask for help with spiritual problems?
Pride.
And that's why we see so little success in our spiritual lives.
"But God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).
We like the last part of the verse. "Be humble and God will help" is our battle cry.
Have you thought about the first part? "God resists the proud." God is actively fighting against the proud. He is ignoring them. He is choosing not to help them.
And He is God. The all-powerful, all-knowing Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
Do you think you might be able to wear Him down?
Just yesterday I learned this lesson. Texting two friends to pray for me in the battle in my mind, calling out for help. As the day progressed, God gave grace. He filled my mind with verses, songs and thoughts of the day's activities. I no longer had to fight, because God was giving me grace instead of resisting me.
Will I remember that lesson for a few more days?
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Unworthy Servants
All too often we think incorrectly about obedience to God.
We grumble and complain about how hard it is.
We pick and choose which commands we will obey.
We think that our obedience should earn brownie points before God or men.
We draw attention to ourselves for our good deeds.
We've got it all upside down.
And it leads to disappointment when God and others don't notice. Or when things don't turn out the way we wanted. Or we just get downright tired of obedience.
Rather than being selfish, we are to be unworthy servants.
Jesus used a parable to explain this to His disciples. A servant comes in from a hard day of work in the fields. So what would expect? Does the master say, "Here, take a break. I'll fix supper for you. Kick back in the La-Z-Boy and relax."
No, the master expects the servant to get himself cleaned up then to fix supper for the master. When he has completed his work, then the servant may care for his needs.
"So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty'" (Luke 17:10).
We should respond the same way in our obedience. A humble, unworthy servant delights in obedience.
We are unworthy to receive the blessings of God.
We are unworthy to be able to serve Him.
We are unworthy to be His servant.
Obedience in response to the outpouring of our Master's love and mercy is our duty.
We deserve nothing from His hand.
"We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty."
We grumble and complain about how hard it is.
We pick and choose which commands we will obey.
We think that our obedience should earn brownie points before God or men.
We draw attention to ourselves for our good deeds.
We've got it all upside down.
And it leads to disappointment when God and others don't notice. Or when things don't turn out the way we wanted. Or we just get downright tired of obedience.
Rather than being selfish, we are to be unworthy servants.
Jesus used a parable to explain this to His disciples. A servant comes in from a hard day of work in the fields. So what would expect? Does the master say, "Here, take a break. I'll fix supper for you. Kick back in the La-Z-Boy and relax."
No, the master expects the servant to get himself cleaned up then to fix supper for the master. When he has completed his work, then the servant may care for his needs.
"So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty'" (Luke 17:10).
We should respond the same way in our obedience. A humble, unworthy servant delights in obedience.
We are unworthy to receive the blessings of God.
We are unworthy to be able to serve Him.
We are unworthy to be His servant.
Obedience in response to the outpouring of our Master's love and mercy is our duty.
We deserve nothing from His hand.
"We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty."
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Is it possible to please God?
We are constantly doing things to make people like us.
A high school girl gets secret notes in her locker from that secret admirer.
A football player works hard at practice.
A new employee learns quickly, works late and gets the coffee.
A wife cooks her husband's favorite meal.
These are all good things to do, but so often our motivation is not to please the other person out of thankfulness, but to get something.
Unfortunately, we carry the same habit over into our relationship with God.
We say our prayers.
We confess our sins.
We are in church at least once a week.
We sing in the choir.
We pastor churches.
We drop a check into the offering.
We do good deeds.
Again, these are good things. But if we are doing them to make God like us more, so that He'll do what we want Him to do, we've got it all wrong.
If I do this, He'll answer my prayers.
If I do this, He'll let me into heaven.
All these activities are not what God desires.
"For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
You will not be pleased with a burnt offering." (Ps 51:16)
That seems like a rip-off, doesn't it? God commanded Israel to bring sacrifices and now we learn that those don't please Him.
What's up with that?
Read the next verse:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Do you want to know what pleases God?
A broken spirit. Brokenness. Contrition.
The humble recognition of your sinfulness in the presence of a holy God.
The humble recognition of your impotence in the presence of an all-powerful God.
Not just an assent to these truths, but a recognition in every day life.
"Against You, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight," wrote David in verse 4 of this Psalm.
How often do we excuse our sins, rather than admitting our guilt before God?
A broken spirit does not do that. A person with a broken spirit confess his sins, which is an admission of guilt.
How often do we face the challenges of each day on our own and just come to God with the big problems?
A broken spirit does not do that. Instead he is calling out to God all day long for strength and wisdom for each task.
Want to please God?
Let your spirit be broken.
A high school girl gets secret notes in her locker from that secret admirer.
A football player works hard at practice.
A new employee learns quickly, works late and gets the coffee.
A wife cooks her husband's favorite meal.
These are all good things to do, but so often our motivation is not to please the other person out of thankfulness, but to get something.
Unfortunately, we carry the same habit over into our relationship with God.
We say our prayers.
We confess our sins.
We are in church at least once a week.
We sing in the choir.
We pastor churches.
We drop a check into the offering.
We do good deeds.
Again, these are good things. But if we are doing them to make God like us more, so that He'll do what we want Him to do, we've got it all wrong.
If I do this, He'll answer my prayers.
If I do this, He'll let me into heaven.
All these activities are not what God desires.
"For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
You will not be pleased with a burnt offering." (Ps 51:16)
That seems like a rip-off, doesn't it? God commanded Israel to bring sacrifices and now we learn that those don't please Him.
What's up with that?
Read the next verse:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Do you want to know what pleases God?
A broken spirit. Brokenness. Contrition.
The humble recognition of your sinfulness in the presence of a holy God.
The humble recognition of your impotence in the presence of an all-powerful God.
Not just an assent to these truths, but a recognition in every day life.
"Against You, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight," wrote David in verse 4 of this Psalm.
How often do we excuse our sins, rather than admitting our guilt before God?
A broken spirit does not do that. A person with a broken spirit confess his sins, which is an admission of guilt.
How often do we face the challenges of each day on our own and just come to God with the big problems?
A broken spirit does not do that. Instead he is calling out to God all day long for strength and wisdom for each task.
Want to please God?
Let your spirit be broken.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Humble Leadership
Twelve men went to spy in Canaan.
Ten were bad and two were good.
Many of us know the story of the twelve spies sent in to Canaan, the land promised to Israel as an inheritance. Ten of them came back and spread fear in the camp. Two tried to encourage the people that God would give them victory.
The people's lack of trust in God led to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness with the entire adult population dying, never seeing the Promised Land.
What we often overlook is the response of Moses in this.
"And all the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron..." (Numbers 14:2). We're not talking a handful of people among the multitude. We're looking at everyone. 1.5 million people complaining. Calling for new leaders. Calling for someone to take them back to Egypt.
What did Moses and Aaron do?
"Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel" (v 5).
Humility. Prayer. Immediacy.
How does that fit into your picture and practice of leadership? Wouldn't you normally be prone to readjust your case, "Well, what I really meant was..." Or attempt to regroup, "We'll take this into consideration and consult with the elders..." Or argue. Or belittle. Or...
But drop to the ground with your face in the dirt?
Further into the chapter we see another example of Moses' humility.
God comes to Moses and says, "I've had enough of these people! Let me wipe them out and start all over with you!"
Sounds like perfect grounds for a church split. These people are wrong. I'm right. I'll just go across town and start another church. And this time, God was telling Moses that He would take care of the bad guys.
How did Moses respond?
"Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for You brought up this people in Your might from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land" (vs 13-14a).
Moses' concern was not for himself. Not even for the people of Israel.
His concern was for God's glory. His concern was that God's name would be ridiculed among the nations, not glorified.
How selfish our leadership decisions can be!
We want to protect our pride. Our territory. Our position.
Maybe we are even acting in behalf of those who are following us.
We want what we or they think is best for them. We want smooth sailing.
But that isn't what Moses wanted.
His desire was God's glory. That was the driving force in his actions.
How about your leadership today?
Moms, as you lead your children throughout the errands and tasks of the day, are you seeking God's glory?
Husbands, dads, as you lead your family, are you seeking God's glory?
Pastors. Employers. Employees. Teachers - are you seeking God's glory in the decisions you make, the conversations that you have?
Ten were bad and two were good.
Many of us know the story of the twelve spies sent in to Canaan, the land promised to Israel as an inheritance. Ten of them came back and spread fear in the camp. Two tried to encourage the people that God would give them victory.
The people's lack of trust in God led to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness with the entire adult population dying, never seeing the Promised Land.
What we often overlook is the response of Moses in this.
"And all the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron..." (Numbers 14:2). We're not talking a handful of people among the multitude. We're looking at everyone. 1.5 million people complaining. Calling for new leaders. Calling for someone to take them back to Egypt.
What did Moses and Aaron do?
"Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel" (v 5).
Humility. Prayer. Immediacy.
How does that fit into your picture and practice of leadership? Wouldn't you normally be prone to readjust your case, "Well, what I really meant was..." Or attempt to regroup, "We'll take this into consideration and consult with the elders..." Or argue. Or belittle. Or...
But drop to the ground with your face in the dirt?
Further into the chapter we see another example of Moses' humility.
God comes to Moses and says, "I've had enough of these people! Let me wipe them out and start all over with you!"
Sounds like perfect grounds for a church split. These people are wrong. I'm right. I'll just go across town and start another church. And this time, God was telling Moses that He would take care of the bad guys.
How did Moses respond?
"Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for You brought up this people in Your might from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land" (vs 13-14a).
Moses' concern was not for himself. Not even for the people of Israel.
His concern was for God's glory. His concern was that God's name would be ridiculed among the nations, not glorified.
How selfish our leadership decisions can be!
We want to protect our pride. Our territory. Our position.
Maybe we are even acting in behalf of those who are following us.
We want what we or they think is best for them. We want smooth sailing.
But that isn't what Moses wanted.
His desire was God's glory. That was the driving force in his actions.
How about your leadership today?
Moms, as you lead your children throughout the errands and tasks of the day, are you seeking God's glory?
Husbands, dads, as you lead your family, are you seeking God's glory?
Pastors. Employers. Employees. Teachers - are you seeking God's glory in the decisions you make, the conversations that you have?
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Speak up - but not about yourself
When talking to others about what god is doing in your life, the example of Paul in Corinth is important to follow. (1 Cor 2:1-5).
- Not with lofty speech or wisdom. Not using big words to impress. Not pontificating about what you know. Not showing off.
- Knowing nothing but Christ and Him crucified. Talk about Christ. Talk about what He has taught you, not what you learned. Put the emphasis on Him, not yourself. Even if you relate experiences that He used to teach you, talk about Him, not yourself. Emphasize the crucifixion, the work of Christ on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins.
- In weakness, in fear and in much trembling. Not bragging about it, but in humility. Not boasting about what God is teaching you. Not in fear of what others will think (or not think) about you. In fear of God. In fear of making yourself look great and not God. In fear of lying, exaggerating, blame shifting, or any other number of sins. In fear of leading others astray.
- Not in plausible words of wisdom. Not building your argument like a lawyer in a court room to persuade. Not in great debates.
- But in demonstration of the Spirit and power. Led by His Spirit. Not when you want to, but when He wants you to. Not talking about yourself, but about Christ. Not in your own strength, but in His.
Paul's reason for this type of communication was "that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." The hearers shouldn't be wowed with your communication skills, but wowed with power of God. You don't want them to put their trust in you. "Pastor said..." or "I have always been taught..." are words that show they have put their trust in someone other than God. Make sure that your conversation is pointing to Christ as revealed in the Word of God. Help them to understand that what you are teaching or sharing is not because of yourself, but because of what God says in His Word.
All this causes me to fear saying anything at all. I'd rather keep my mouth shut than open it and say something wrong. May God give me boldness and wisdom to speak when I should and to be quiet when I should.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Turned Upside-Down
When God created Adam, He created Eve to be his helpmate. Adam was incomplete and needed help, so God gave him a helper. Whatever task Adam had to accomplish, Eve was to come beside him and help him. It wasn't a master-slave relationship, but a unity for solving problems.
However, when Adam and Eve sinned, their marriage became cursed. It was turned upside-down. Rather than being a helper, Eve's desire would be for her husband's position of leadership. She and every woman after her would want to have control of the marriage and all the details. Adam's struggle would be in leading. Adam and and every husband after him would struggle to fulfill God's role for him to be the leader in the home.
Isn't that a great combination?
Adam was created to lead and now he would struggle leading.
Eve was created to be a helper and now she would struggle to be a helper and not the leader.
And we know what happens. The more the wife leads, the less the husband feels he needs to. So she leads more and he leads less.
Rather than the wife coming alongside to help her husband, tensions are so high in this struggle for dominance, that the husband doesn't let his wife know where he needs help. So she can't fulfill her role as a helpmate.
Unless the husband and wife are both spiritually led and fighting their battles against sin, the marriage is doomed. A point will come where the wife is the leader and the husband is the follower. They'll both get what they want, but it won't be what God wants. The marriage will fall apart.
Flowers and romantic getaways won't solve this problem.
It's a work of grace. God's grace can solve it.
It's a work of humility. Husband and wife have to humble themselves before God and each other and cry out for help.
It's work. It's not a one-time event. It will last as long as the marriage lasts. Because if neither husband nor wife continually work at fighting these upside-down roles, the marriage won't last.
However, when Adam and Eve sinned, their marriage became cursed. It was turned upside-down. Rather than being a helper, Eve's desire would be for her husband's position of leadership. She and every woman after her would want to have control of the marriage and all the details. Adam's struggle would be in leading. Adam and and every husband after him would struggle to fulfill God's role for him to be the leader in the home.
Isn't that a great combination?
Adam was created to lead and now he would struggle leading.
Eve was created to be a helper and now she would struggle to be a helper and not the leader.
And we know what happens. The more the wife leads, the less the husband feels he needs to. So she leads more and he leads less.
Rather than the wife coming alongside to help her husband, tensions are so high in this struggle for dominance, that the husband doesn't let his wife know where he needs help. So she can't fulfill her role as a helpmate.
Unless the husband and wife are both spiritually led and fighting their battles against sin, the marriage is doomed. A point will come where the wife is the leader and the husband is the follower. They'll both get what they want, but it won't be what God wants. The marriage will fall apart.
Flowers and romantic getaways won't solve this problem.
It's a work of grace. God's grace can solve it.
It's a work of humility. Husband and wife have to humble themselves before God and each other and cry out for help.
It's work. It's not a one-time event. It will last as long as the marriage lasts. Because if neither husband nor wife continually work at fighting these upside-down roles, the marriage won't last.
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