I read a book a few years ago called Franklin and Winston by Jon Meacham. He examines the deep friendship forged between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt during World War Two. Churchill was quite a character in many respects; one thing he was particularly known for was his humor. He was once asked, “Doesn’t it thrill you to know that every time you make a speech, the hall is packed to overflowing?”
“It’s quite flattering,” replied Sir Winston. “But whenever I feel that way, I always remember that if instead of making a political speech I was being hanged, the crowd would be twice as big.”
That’s owning up to a right understanding of one’s self. You may think that self-deprecating, but it is, in a sense, a right attitude of humility; it’s a type of meekness: a right understanding of one's self.
He might have preached lengthy sermons on the dignity of labor, temptation, how to enjoy life, the immortality of the soul, the worth of children, and the fact that God answers prayer.
Instead, He worked in a carpenter's shop, He met and conquered temptation in the wilderness, He went to parties and laughed with other happy people, He raised the dead, He stopped to love little children, and after He prayed, the power of the Lord was present.
He might have talked long and loud about the need of man for human sympathy, the worth of womanhood, the blessing of humility, and the equal worth of all men.
Instead, He wept at the grave of a friend, He treated all women with deep respect, He took a towel and washed His disciples' feet, He gave His time to the poor and outcasts.
Instead of talking about how He could transform lives, He took a harlot and made her the first herald of the resurrection.
Instead of preaching that people need bread, He fed the multitude.
Instead of arguing the spirit is stronger than matter, He walked on water.
Instead of telling people how bad it is to be crippled, He said, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk.'
Instead of merely telling people they should forgive, while He was dying and being spit on He prayed, 'Father, forgive them.'
- Charles Allen
Image: Carl Bloch, Sermon On the Mount, 1890.
Insecurity is prevalent and it's insidious. It effects everyone at some time or other - the rich and famous, and the poor and infamous. Even John Lennon once said, "I was feeling insecure you might not love me anymore."
And insecurity plays in the minds and emotions of more leaders than you and I ever want to imagine. (I have myself felt at times that I have an earned Ph.D. in insecurity...and I feel insecure telling you that!)
The "I-word" causes leaders to make decisions based upon pleasing people or pleasing God. Motives change. And it's at that point that every leader needs to step back, get honest, and say, "All I’m really doing here is seeking the approval of my father, or that lady, or the church boss." THIS WILL ALWAYS LEAD A LEADER ASTRAY OVER TIME.
Here’s the danger … I risk burnout due to impure motives and unrealistic expectations.
There's a vivid illustration of this in Luke 10. Jesus visits the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Martha was committed to host a big soiree' and dinner for Jesus; but she had crossed the line from serving to performing. She was in a compulsive, people-pleasing mood that night. “Hey, look at me! Clap for me!”
Remember what she eventually said? “Lord, tell my sister to come in here and help me! She’s leaving me here to do all the work!” You know what I think Martha was really doing here? I think she was looking for Jesus to say to her, “Oh my goodness, Martha, bless your heart. I had no idea. Everyone! Stop whatever it is you are doing – Peter, be quiet over there and listen! Look at Martha. Let’s give her a round of applause. She's doing all this ministry work alone. What a servant! She is our mentor and we should all strive to be just like her. Martha, you’re the greatest!” That’s the kind of Jesus Martha wanted in her home that evening.
I am floored by Jesus’ response to her. He recognized it as a compulsive act that was not rooted in service or love. “Martha, Martha. You are worried about so many things. There is really only one thing to be concerned about. Look at Mary; look at your sister.” She was in a quiet repose, sitting at His feet ... a worshipper.
Jesus was saying, “You must first be served by me before you can serve me.” Martha, relax. It’s devotion, not duty. Martha was a human doing before she was a human being. Do you recall Jesus' words from Matthew 11? "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest for your souls. Take my yoke, learn from me." Rest for your souls.
We can learn a number of lessons from Martha. Here’s what happens when I become like Martha:
1. I get distracted from “big picture” priorities, consumed by my own performance, constantly nagged by the thought of what others will think of me.
2. I grow weary because I attempt to do too much–for the wrong reasons.
3. I tend to become a perfectionist. And perfectionism can never last long.
In your push to make the team, earn the grade, attain the promotion, please the boss or client, make everyone in your church happy - remember that compulsive behaviour is a symptom of insecurity. It's devotion, not duty.
“By the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove to be vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I but the grace of God within me.” (I Corinthians 15:10)
Last week - October 6th - to be exact, marked an important day in the history of the Church. I share the following with you from Christianhistory.com and include the link at the end of today's blog. I have stood on the spot were he was burned in Brussells, (now an asphalt covered parking lot), and thanked God for men of faith and conviction like John Wycliffe.
How many Bibles do you have in your house? For most of us, Bibles are easily accessible, and many of us have several. That we have the Bible in English owes much to William Tyndale, sometimes called the Father of the English Bible. 90% of the King James Version of the Bible and 75% of the Revised Standard Version are from the translation of the Bible into English made by William Tyndale, yet Tyndale himself was burned at the stake for his work on October 6, 1536.
Back in the fourteenth century, John Wycliffe was the first to make (or at least oversee) an English translation of the Bible, but that was before the invention of the printing press and all copies had to be hand written. Besides, the church had banned the unauthorized translation of the Bible into English in 1408.
Over one hundred years later, however, William Tyndale had a burning desire to make the Bible available to even the common people in England. After studying at Oxford and Cambridge, he joined the household of Sir John Walsh at little Sudbury Manor as tutor to the Walsh children. Walsh was a generous lord of the manor and often entertained the local clergy at his table. Tyndale often added spice to the table conversation as he was confronted with the Biblical ignorance of the priests. At one point Tyndale told a priest, "If God spare my life, ere many years pass, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scriptures than thou dost."
It was a nice dream, but how was Tyndale to accomplish this when translating the Bible into English was illegal? He went to London to ask Bishop Tunstall if he could be authorized to make an English translation of the Bible, but the bishop would not grant his approval. However, Tyndale would not let the disapproval of men stop him from carrying out what seemed so obviously God's will. With encouragement and support of some British merchants, he decided to go to Europe to complete his translation, then have it printed and smuggled back into England.
In 1524 Tyndale sailed for Germany. In Hamburg he worked on the New Testament, and in Cologne he found a printer who would print the work. However, news of Tyndale's activity came to an opponent of the Reformation who had the press raided. Tyndale himself managed to escape with the pages already printed and made his way to the German city of Worms where the New Testament was soon published. Six thousand copies were printed and smuggled into England. The bishops did everything they could to eradicate the Bibles -- Bishop Tunstall had copies ceremoniously burned at St. Paul's; the archbishop of Canterbury bought up copies to destroy them. Tyndale used the money to print improved editions!
King Henry VIII, then in the throes of his divorce with Queen Katherine, offered Tyndale a safe passage to England to serve as his writer and scholar. Tyndale refused, saying he would not return until the Bible could be legally translated into English. Tyndale continued hiding among the merchants in Antwerp and began translating the Old Testament while the King's agents searched all over England and Europe for him.
Tyndale was finally found by an Englishman who pretended to be his friend but then turned him over to the authorities. After a year and a half in prison, he was brought to trial for heresy -- for believing, among other things, in the forgiveness of sins and that the mercy offered in the gospel was enough for salvation. In August 1536, he was condemned; on October 6, 1536 he was strangled and his body burned at the stake. His last prayer was "Lord, open the King of England's eyes." The prayer was answered in part when three years later, in 1539, Henry VIII required every parish church in England to make a copy of the English Bible available to its parishioners.
Bibliography:
ART OF MARRIAGE SEMINAR
@LowCountry Community Church
Friday & Saturday, August 26-27
Registration Deadline: August 14
Marriage can be tough – merging two lives, beliefs and hopes can cause a lot of conflict. Join us for THE ART OF MARRIAGE, a special event that includes expert teaching, engaging stories, real-life testimonies, and humorous vignettes to help strengthen your relationship. No matter what shape your marriage is in, this honest look at the challenges every marriage faces will offer hope that your marriage can become a work of art.
This high quality video conference will take place at the Bluffton Campus:
Friday the 26th: 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Saturday the 27th- 9AM to 4:30 PM
On Saturday, lunch and snacks will be provided
Cost: $60 per couple includes materials and food.
To register: CLICK HERE.
For more info about the Conference material and schedule CLICK HERE or call Pastor Joe Friesen at 843.836.1101.
I believe every Christ-follower is here on this earth to fulfill a God-given purpose. Eternity should be affected in some way by the fulfilling of our purposes. We shouldn't limit our lives to simply moving things around here on earth. Make it count for eternity.
How I invest my life shouldn’t just be to make things a little bit better here on earth without an eternal value in the context.
I read of an interview that took place during the Tournament of Roses parade in southern California a few years ago. The parade is known for its intricately designed theme floats. More than one million people line the route through Pasadena, California, annually.
A university student, who was watching the parade, was interviewed. He had spent a great deal of time in his four years working on the construction of these beautiful parade floats. He was asked by the interviewer if he had enjoyed being a part of this. He said, “Oh, yes. Working on these floats with all the people, watching them come down the street to be cheered and applauded by others, has been the highlight of my four years in university.”
The interviewer then asked him if he could see himself doing that as a career. And with wisdom beyond his years he very quickly – without a moment’s hesitation – said, “No way!” The reporter was quizzical and enquired why. He said, “Because I cannot imagine giving so much of myself to something that’s thrown in the garbage dump two weeks later.”
That young man had more insight than a lot of Christians I know. So many give so much of their lives to things that really don’t count! Let's live so that our lives have eternal value.
Image: In 2008, the New Mexico Tourism Department received the prestigious Grand Marshal’s Trophy for their "Passport to Our World & Beyond" float.
