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As relational as we are, this one is probably going to hurt a little. Get this: Everything this side of eternity is temporal. Even relationships. Sure, we get that on some level, but then we are absolutely shocked when it affects us.
Church-planter, you need to hear this early on in your goal to see God do a work through your life. Workers, core team players, essential members, dedicated assistants, the list goes on - we have them for a limited time.
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Tommy Newberry's self-published book: Success is not an Accident might be of the genre where you would think - I don't want any quick humanistic quips to be a "success". At least that is how the title appeared to me as I was introduced to the volume.
But when you stop and think about it, who really sets out in life to be a failure? Anybody ever shoot for that intentionally? Really?
I tend to believe otherwise. If no one starts out aiming for a life of regret, maybe I should be more intentional about the way I do life. Not for the sake of being an outward success, but for the sake of pleasing Christ - for whom I was made. So maybe my perspective needs tweeking - maybe I should be more intentional about life, in order to prevent failure. Who wants to be a train wreck?
Mr. Newberry has biblical counsel about doing life. Great thoughts on altering perspectives are helpful. Here is a sample:
Imagine trying to throw darts at a dartboard in a room with no lights on. Even in the dark, you would eventually hit the board, and if you continued for long enough, you would probably hit the bull’s-eye. But if you turned on the lights, gathered a large supply of darts, got some coaching, and invested ample time in practicing, you would significantly reduce the time it would take to hit the dartboard. When you finally hit the bull’s-eye, many people would call you lucky. But you wouldn’t be lucky. You would just have been willing to do more things to ensure that you hit the bull’s-eye.
And another:
High achievers are motivated by pleasurable outcomes. Underachievers are motivated by pleasurable methods.
Ouch. But at least he calls the issue by name.
Enjoyable reading and challenging thoughts. Thanks, Mr. Newberry.
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Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said it. Phrased in the king's english, he said:
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
It makes common sense.
Then again, apparently not.
When you get on an airplane, where the tight quarters in economy have you spooning with your neighbor for half a day on trans-oceanic flights, then decorum and social graces take a beating. A recent news headline brought out social gaffes.
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"You! Sit down!"
That is how I met Florett. 84 years young, originally from Massachusetts, but now living in Idaho. Her voice betrayed her spunk. Whoever crossed her path was going find themselves challenged.
Florett informed me that she had become disenchanted with a particular religion, a church no longer played a role in her life. "I'm an old woman, so I need to know the answer to this question: If I keep the ten commandments and love my neighbor as myself, will that be good enough to go to heaven?"
I replied, "every religion on the planet states, 'Do, do, do...', but Jesus is the only one who says, 'Done!' Jesus said, 'It is finished.'" I explained in brief fashion, that we are resting in Christ' work, not our own.
Florett said, "I am 84 years old and have never heard that. I wish I had known that earlier. I now place my trust in Jesus."
"It is finished" is great news.
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Every Christian has been called to be diligent about His master's business. Those orders were what Christians call the great commission. If we are serious about the Great Commission, then our lives should reflect the implementation of those tasks:
- evangelize
- integrate into the Body of Christ
- teach the Word
Here is the pushback: Not everyone is ready to buckle down, reprioritize their life and exhibit self-discipline, transparency and accountability. That is why Paul stated that we are to train faithful men (and women). Pour our lives into those that show the desire to follow Jesus. Discipleship is as much an honor as it is a task.
Every Christian can better implement those core tasks by relationships and meetings designed around three essential criteria.
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