The Plumb line- Part2

Part 2

 For PART1please click here

If you walk into a book store today and you will find row upon row of books written by Management gurus spouting mantras of how to be at the top of the ladder, how to better yourself, how to look good in the eyes of the boss, how to get noticed, how not to hold yourself back but assert yourself and on and on and on. It’s all about winning, how not to be a failure etc, etc. The pressures to conform are very real. Many have shared of how they do all the hard work and the lazy but cunning guy shoots ahead because he has mastered the art of self promotion and assertion. Then one wonders whether walking the straight and narrow helps?  Have you felt this way?

I find it very helpful to get my bearings, to align my heart against the Plumb line of the Word of God. Why? I do this because I am utterly convinced that the only enduring, flawless, timeless and dependable wisdom is found in the Bible alone. It has stood the test of time. The Word of God perfect- It instructs me that God is sovereign in full knowledge of how my life will unfold. It also instructs me that this world and all that it offers is temporary and passing. So with this in mind I carry on my quiet meditation and pen my thoughts on the following passage below.

 ^{Phil 2:3-4} Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Verse 3: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. This is such an area of temptation. I need to keep a guard over my heart and motives knowing the heart is deceitful above all else.  Every now and then it’s good to take a pit stop and take stock of what is going on in the boiler room of the heart. If I don’t, busyness gets me or the “success” of what I am involved in can cloud/dull and even blind me to what’s going on, on the inside. Jesus was always interested in what goes on in our hearts. Everything will be tested by fire (1Cor3:12-15). So I would be wise to stop in my tracks every now and them and do a heart check up – allowing the Holy Spirit to shed His light, wash and clean me – which He does with much grace and love.

Selfish ambition- Doing things that promote self interest, self glory. Doing things that get me recognition,  for my glory, promotion and elevation in the eyes of men. Often this would involved putting others down, even subtly, ignoring others peoples gifts and talents so that only “I” get noticed. The object with which I conduct myself is that “I” increase and that “I” get glory . This is nothing but “I-dolatry”.

Vain conceit- The dictionary tells me the synonyms of conceit are, egoism, egotism, narcissism, vanity .  The dictionary tells me vanity is being inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements, given to ostentatious display, especially of one's beauty, worthless, senseless or futile. It is the very opposite of humility. It’s thinking that only I can do the job well. What is the fall out of this? We don’t train others to do our job. We think we are indispensible. We get very critical and condemning of other peoples efforts. We don’t delegate. We are unable to encourage and appreciate the baby steps others take to grow their gifts. It also shows a lack of humility to realize that all our gifts and talents are “Grace Gifts” that we don’t deserve in the first place. We owe it all to God and need to hold these things lightly.

V3b- Rather, in humility value others above yourselves – This gives me the antidote to the first half of the verse. How do I cure myself of this malady of selfish ambition? By  practising the very opposite.

Firstly, being humble- how does humility express itself? In this case – considering others better than yourself and not looking out tomy own interests. How does this work out?

Others better than your self- this will put the breaks on self exalting thought patterns that constantly assail our minds. It will nudge us to look for ways to appreciate others. It will nudge us to release others, give others a chance to use their gifts.

Verse4:  ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Look not only to your own interest but also the interest of others. This strikes a death blow to self ambition. When we put others betterment before our own – we cannot exalt ourselves. We can only do one or the others. If we all had this attitude – it would breed so much growth for everyone .(including yourself because someone else will be looking out to your interests well) It will breed an atmosphere of acceptance, grace and security. It will breed an atmosphere of encouragement and appreciation and an atmosphere of wanting to mentor others so that they progress and get on in their walk with God and all that God has called them to with no strings attached.

It will mean that sometimes we have to let go of our lofty ideals/standards for the sake of unity, for the sake of brotherhood and oneness in Spirit ( without compromising your principles). But when you look at the big picture, when you look from Eternity’s perspective it won’t seem that ideal at all.

Verse 5-11. Gives us the grand key and perspective to everything.  The way down is the way up. As you lower yourself to the point of nothingness, God comes bursting in and does the very thing you sought after but in a wrong way. Jesus was offered  power, and fame when tempted in the dessert. But he overcame selfish ambition and lowered himself to serve the interest of His Father in heaven thus serving us sinful men. The end result it not only glorious exaltation to the highest place but He has been given the highest Name – the name above every other. Satan would like to deceive us into thinking we need to do this for ourselves – how wrong!!! When we leave things in the hands of a sovereign God – He works out things for our best, ALWAYS. 

When life rattles me, this is one of the passages of scripture I take refuge in and find great solace, comfort and assurance. I leave you with these thoughts – may you know rest in knowing His way- aligning your heart to the plumb line of this scripture.

Navaz

Jan2012

Satisfaction

Reflections -Satisfaction

Tuesday, 06 April 2010 (rewritten 5th July 2011)

REFL ECTIONS -SATISFACTION

One morning as I sipped my coffee and skimmed through the newspaper reading about the lives of the rich and famous, and all the things they pursue with passion, it made me think about LIFE. We all want to be satisfied in some way or another, be it having a family, a career, a hobby, accumulation of wealth. Different things give satisfaction and pleasure to different people. As I look around me I find the lines blurring between how many Christians view life and how the world around us views life.  Where do Christians look for satisfaction and fulfilment? Are we very different from the world?

There is a world view amongst Christians today that says, “My satisfaction and my self-fulfilment is the most important thing. . For me to be happy and satisfied is of foremost importance” There is a view that promotes the idea that this is the reason why God has made us. Then I contrast this view with what I read about the great heroes of faith who have gone before and even those who are with us in this present age, and think to myself - what gave them satisfaction? Why were they willing to endure such hardships? Why were they willing to go to ends of the earth often with little or no worldly comforts to cushion the journey? Was it easier for them than it is for us now? What is it that marks them out as a cut above the rest? What fuelled their passion and vision and mad them some of the happiest and satisfied people on earth? They did not have the trappings of modernity to ensnare and distract them, some may argue to their own defence.

I look to the Bible and find no biblical basis for this modern trend of thought. I find quite the contrary - Jesus spoke of denying self (Matt 16:24), laying down of one's life ( John 15:13), going the second mile (Matt 5:41), keeping our thoughts on things not of this world (Col 3:1-2), living as strangers and aliens (1Pet 2:11), being of this world though not of it (John 17:16). These are to quote but a few. The Westminister Catechism puts it well: ”The chief end of man is to enjoy God and glorify HIM forever”



I think there in ONE thing that can sum up the attitude that was characteristic of all these fine men and women.  To put it in Jim Elliot words: He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose. The great Apostle Paul said for me to live is Christ, to die is gain (Phil 1:19). The Psalmists echoed similar convictions when they wrote: One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord (Ps 27:4).... How lovely is your dwelling place O Lord (Ps 84:1). And in your presence there's fullness of joy and your right hand are pleasures forevermore.


This makes me think... that if I want to live a life to the full, fully satisfied, and fulfilled, then this is what I should aim to get sorted out first - everything will follow. Everything finds its rightful place when we first find our satisfaction in Christ alone. Many have put the cart before the horse (to their own peril) - looking for satisfaction in things that are temporal and often not in the centre of God's will for their lives. In fact am I not often guilty of using God to get “the stuff” and then giving Him the left over’s (if any)?


Am I saying that I should live an ascetic life? Far from it! We are called to an abundant life. But I also realize that everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial (1 Cor. 10:23). I need to find out what is beneficial for me according to the Lord's will for my life. These were the choices our heroes of faith made. They could have chosen the pleasures of this world, self satisfaction and fulfilment as the world defines it(and as many justify it by adding... "And still serve God"). No - they chose the straight and narrow road of radical obedience uncompromisingly knowing that abundant life and true satisfaction is only found on this path. They understood that broad is the path that leads to death ( not satisfaction as the devil tricks us into thinking) but narrow is the path that leads to life. They did not consider a little career break, the flat LCD, the extra holiday home, pet hobbies, as things of worth in comparison to doing the Master's bidding. They had indeed found the pearl of great price and were willing to give up everything to  go after HIM. The test would be that if my life was stripped away of all material comforts and pleasures would I still be a happy and satisfied person?

When I reflect upon this, my heart is stilled, settled and satisfied because I have found and treasure the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. And you know what? I find that when I  live with this perspective I see God’s blessings upon me more than I can ask or imagine. I find that I have a joy and deep satisfaction that this world cannot give or take away.That is the reward for a child of God who delights in His presence and finds satisfaction in Him alone. Jesus has promised that, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:37)The journey is not all that hard after all and I am able to say with confidence “My boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places" (Ps.16:6).

Navaz D' Cruz