A Tangled Web
I know several people who have been having a rough time lately--a really rough time. Some are enduring cancer treatment, while others have faced unexpected illness and surgery. Still other people are caught up in their grief after the sudden death of a loved one. Some friends have close relatives in jail because of domestic abuse and charges of fraud. Others have been blindsided by spouses who are insisting on divorce. Some job seekers can't find an appropriate job, while some business managers can't find enough reliable employees to get the job done.
Some of this is inevitable. We all get sick sometimes. We will all die of something, sooner or later. We are blessed to live in a time when medical care can often prevent excessive suffering or early death. Yet, it is too easy to focus on our disrupted lives and our pain, instead of thanking God for prolonging our lives and easing our suffering.
Sometimes, people make their own misery. When we insist on perfection--when we feel entitled to a perfect life--we are doomed to fail. News flash: there is no such thing as a perfect house, a perfect spouse, perfect kids, perfect job, boss, or employee. People are not perfect. It isn't unusual for us to be so greedy and self-centered that we can't think of anything else besides our own sinful desires. It can be too easy to give in to the temptation to take the broad path that inevitably leads to destruction. Then, when we are willing to do almost anything to get what we want, we may find that we have a big sin problem.
So, if we want something we can't afford, we may be tempted to find some way to get it anyway--borrow it, steal it, rack up excessive credit card debt, trust in the lottery to provide what we think we need. "Where there's a will, there's a way." But we could take that a step or two further: If you are willing to live within your means, and trust God to provide everything you need, you may discover a way to do what's most important, and you might find much satisfaction and happiness along the way.
I've seen too many marriages fail because one spouse grows tired of the other, and seeks new love elsewhere. Or, when life gets hard, the spouse gets the blame, wedding vows are forgotten, and another marriage bites the dust. Sometimes, though, when both marriage partners are willing to seek counselling and actually work to preserve their marriage, they may be surprised to find that they can love again, and live together happily, and maybe even "happily ever after" because, with God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)
I love to watch HGTV's House Hunters, but I am always appalled at the level of perfection people expect in their first homes, as well as the amount of money they are willing to spend on a house. So many people are unwilling to move into a house unless they can "make it their own." So, they often outspend their budgets in pursuit of perfect kitchens and bathrooms, and that all-important open concept. However, even the most beautiful home is just a house unless the family inside loves and respects one another, and spends time together.
People who want their first jobs to be perfect are unwilling to apply for any job that might be beneath them. Or they start a new job, only to quit after a few days or weeks, because something about that job doesn't meet their lofty expectations. If, like me, you've had several jobs over the years, you have probably found that your job satisfaction is likely to improve over the first few months, as you've learned new responsibilities and become comfortable in your work environment. No job produces immediate contentment. It takes time and commitment, and a lot of hard work.
It's easy to become discouraged when we see our friends' lives falling apart, whatever the reason. It can be hard to know what to say to someone who is struggling in life. It can be too easy to judge, and too hard to be supportive.
Those people I mentioned in the first paragraph, the ones having a hard time now, they all go to my church. They are not perfect people. None of us are. As Jesus said, in Mark 2:17, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
In spite of our obvious imperfections, I have been amazed to see the way the people in my church have come together to help each other. They've offered hugs and encouragement and listening ears, transportation, food, childcare, skilled labor, counselling, and prayers. No, these compassionate people are not perfect, either. None of us are. But, as 1 John 1:9 states, If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. God has wisely provided a perfect solution to our innate imperfections.
When a church is growing, like ours is, it isn't unusual for the devil to respond by attacking families. But, as Pastor Gary said in his sermon this morning, "The harder Satan fights against the preaching of the Gospel, the more that Christ is preached." Crisis brings people to Christ. And, sometimes, God's people pull together in difficult situations to demonstrate the love of God in action.
Some of this is inevitable. We all get sick sometimes. We will all die of something, sooner or later. We are blessed to live in a time when medical care can often prevent excessive suffering or early death. Yet, it is too easy to focus on our disrupted lives and our pain, instead of thanking God for prolonging our lives and easing our suffering.
Sometimes, people make their own misery. When we insist on perfection--when we feel entitled to a perfect life--we are doomed to fail. News flash: there is no such thing as a perfect house, a perfect spouse, perfect kids, perfect job, boss, or employee. People are not perfect. It isn't unusual for us to be so greedy and self-centered that we can't think of anything else besides our own sinful desires. It can be too easy to give in to the temptation to take the broad path that inevitably leads to destruction. Then, when we are willing to do almost anything to get what we want, we may find that we have a big sin problem.
So, if we want something we can't afford, we may be tempted to find some way to get it anyway--borrow it, steal it, rack up excessive credit card debt, trust in the lottery to provide what we think we need. "Where there's a will, there's a way." But we could take that a step or two further: If you are willing to live within your means, and trust God to provide everything you need, you may discover a way to do what's most important, and you might find much satisfaction and happiness along the way.
I've seen too many marriages fail because one spouse grows tired of the other, and seeks new love elsewhere. Or, when life gets hard, the spouse gets the blame, wedding vows are forgotten, and another marriage bites the dust. Sometimes, though, when both marriage partners are willing to seek counselling and actually work to preserve their marriage, they may be surprised to find that they can love again, and live together happily, and maybe even "happily ever after" because, with God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)
I love to watch HGTV's House Hunters, but I am always appalled at the level of perfection people expect in their first homes, as well as the amount of money they are willing to spend on a house. So many people are unwilling to move into a house unless they can "make it their own." So, they often outspend their budgets in pursuit of perfect kitchens and bathrooms, and that all-important open concept. However, even the most beautiful home is just a house unless the family inside loves and respects one another, and spends time together.
People who want their first jobs to be perfect are unwilling to apply for any job that might be beneath them. Or they start a new job, only to quit after a few days or weeks, because something about that job doesn't meet their lofty expectations. If, like me, you've had several jobs over the years, you have probably found that your job satisfaction is likely to improve over the first few months, as you've learned new responsibilities and become comfortable in your work environment. No job produces immediate contentment. It takes time and commitment, and a lot of hard work.
It's easy to become discouraged when we see our friends' lives falling apart, whatever the reason. It can be hard to know what to say to someone who is struggling in life. It can be too easy to judge, and too hard to be supportive.
Those people I mentioned in the first paragraph, the ones having a hard time now, they all go to my church. They are not perfect people. None of us are. As Jesus said, in Mark 2:17, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
In spite of our obvious imperfections, I have been amazed to see the way the people in my church have come together to help each other. They've offered hugs and encouragement and listening ears, transportation, food, childcare, skilled labor, counselling, and prayers. No, these compassionate people are not perfect, either. None of us are. But, as 1 John 1:9 states, If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. God has wisely provided a perfect solution to our innate imperfections.
When a church is growing, like ours is, it isn't unusual for the devil to respond by attacking families. But, as Pastor Gary said in his sermon this morning, "The harder Satan fights against the preaching of the Gospel, the more that Christ is preached." Crisis brings people to Christ. And, sometimes, God's people pull together in difficult situations to demonstrate the love of God in action.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
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