Drawn to the Foolish

"But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him

and consulted the young men

who had grown up with him

and were serving him."

2 Chronicles 10:8

Rehoboam, son and successor of king Solomon, stuck with his foolish young peers, preferring their irrational advice to that of his father's wise counselors.  Thus, he succeeded in breaking the kingdom in two.

I am similarly drawn to make foolish choices.  Why is that?

Appealing.  My sin nature is all about pleasing me and my desires.  In my flesh, I am lord.  Consequently, if I am to let my natural self lead me, influencing me in the hundreds of choices I make a day, I will find myself doing what is contrary to God's will for my life (Galatians 5:16-18).

When someone close to me causes pain, either intentionally or by accident, I will then seek revenge, actively looking for a way to get back at the person who hurt me.  Or when I taste success and receive attention for my achievements, I will use it as an opportunity to make much of my own talents and efforts, elevating myself in the process.  Or when I have some free time I will use it to catch up on the entertainment options that lead my heart away from Jesus.

I am drawn to foolish choices because they appeal to my sin nature.

Sounds Good.  I know in my heart what God wants me to do, give up or turn away from.  Inward struggle ensues as His holy conviction is not what I want to hear.  In order to appease my conscience, I then seek out advice from those who will say what sounds good to me (2 Timothy 4:3).

King Ahab, leader of Israel, had a similar problem with seeking advice.  He wanted to join with the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, in attacking the Syrians in order to regain a city that belonged to them.  Jehoshaphat wisely suggested seeking the Lord's direction so Ahab gathered 400 prophets who all advised him to carry out his plans.  One prophet, however, Ahab avoided because he "never prophesied anything good." (1 Kings 22:8)  Sure enough, God used Micaiah to warn Ahab against attacking Syria.  Still, Ahab went ahead with his plans and soon met his demise, just as Micaiah had predicted (1 Kings 22).

God warns me against relying on my own rationale, common sense or insight (Proverbs 3:5).  When I use my own standards and line of thinking as a guide, I will always choose what is contrary to God's will for my life.

I am drawn to foolish choices because they sound good to me.

Wrong Goal.  There are many reasons I do what I do, but if I examine my purpose or intended outcome, I will discover what drives me.  For instance, when I water my garden, it is my goal to provide life-giving water to my plants in a way that wastes as little as possible yet provides the maximum amount to the roots without wetting the leaves. As a result, I aim the end of the hose toward the base of the plants.  When my neighbor's toddler comes to help, however, her goal is to have fun and get wet.  As a result, she sprays the water up in the air and rarely provides much water to the vegetation that needs it.

It is the same with life.  If it is my goal to glorify God and make much of His name in every decision I make, my choices will tend to line up with His Word.  If it is my rights I intend to defend, or my agenda I mean to advance, or my feelings I aim to protect, then my choices will conflict with God's will for my life.

When faced with unfair treatment, godly ambition will lead me to keep quiet and pray but selfish objectives will end in my attempts to defend my entitlements and liberties.  When coming to a crossroads, a heart bent on lifting up God's name will lead me to submit to His plan for my life while a self-centered focus will result in making a choice that furthers my agenda.  When facing ill-treatment, if my goal is to glorify God then I will endure it for Jesus' sake but if I'd rather guard my sensitivities, I will find a way to get back at those who hurt me.

I am drawn to foolish choices because my goal is often wrong.

In the same way that Rehoboam stuck with his buddies who gave really bad advice, I am easily drawn to what is destructive or unwise.  The ungodly decisions tend to appeal to my sin nature, sound good to my way of thinking, and line up with the faulty goal I have set before me.  Therefore, I am naturally drawn to the foolish.  Now that I know this truth, it is up to me to stand firm against such folly.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will be aware of my tendency to choose the foolish way.

When do I mostly choose what sounds good to my way of thinking instead of seeking God?

How do I seek out my own goals instead of doing what glorifies God? 

Snare

"Gideon made the gold into an ephod,

which he placed in Ophrah, his town.

All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there,

and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Judges 8:27

The sight struck fear into the hearts of his men.  Three thousand enemy chariots, each armed with two fighting men.  A horde of soldiers too numerous to count blanketing the land before them.  Philistines armed to the teeth and bent on revenge.  

Saul could see the writing on the wall; his men were preparing to desert.  The time to attack was now.  Despite the fact that Samuel said he would be there within 7 days to make the obligatory sacrifice to God, he had not lived up to his word.  Saul would not go forth on such a mission without the favor of the Lord; it would be mass suicide.  He had no choice.  He must offer up the burnt offering himself (1 Samuel 13).

While Saul may have had good intentions, his actions amounted to disobedience in the eyes of a holy God.  Likewise, it probably seemed just as much of a good idea when Gideon, years before Saul, melted down some of the gold earrings his men had gathered as plunder.  The men, fresh from their victory on the battlefield, adoringly asked their commander to lead them as a nation.  Gideon rightly responded, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you.  The LORD will rule over you" (Judges 8:23).

Unfortunately, in his attempt to honor God by forming a golden ephod out of the jewelry, Gideon ended up dishonoring Him in his unintentional defiance.  What he had meant for good became a snare, tempting the people to turn their reverence and adoration to a mere object instead of to the Lord.

How often do I do the same?  While my intentions may be good, the result is my heart is turned away from God.

Good Works

Serving in church.

Responding in love.

Doing good.

Resisting temptation.

Forgiving those who hurt me.

The list of things I must do as a follower of Christ is long.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well.  The guilt from all the times I fall short weighs me down.  How much longer can I live this way?  

When Jesus came to earth to bear my sins upon Himself, it was for freedom's sake.  He made such a sacrifice so I could enjoy eternal life with Him, yes.  But His mission was so much greater.  He came to set me free from the heavy burden of trying to do right (Matthew 11:28-30). He came to offer abundant life.(John 10:10)  He came to save me from the futility of following the law.  (Romans 6:14)

Why, then, do I try so hard to do what I think a "good Christian" should do?  Why do I feel so heavily burdened by my failures?  If God no longer condemns me because of the precious blood of Jesus that covers my transgressions, why am I so quick to convict myself? (Romans 8:1)  Why am I always on edge, as if waiting for God to say, "You know what?  I said you were my child, but you just can't seem to get it right.  Forget it!"

It's because I don't understand the love of God. (1 John 4:18) God is love.  It is in His character to love me.  Unfortunately for me, it is also in His character to abhor sin. (Psalm 7:11, Isaiah 59:2) Thankfully, He sent His precious Son to make a way for me, a helpless sinner, to live in relationship with Him now and forevermore. (1 John 3:1, Romans 3:24)  

This unspeakable gift of redemption and restoration comes free for the taking, offered by grace.  It is not something I can earn. (Ephesians 2:8-9) In fact, I can never be good enough for God, which is why I need Jesus in the first place. (Romans 3:23) Why, then, am I so quick to slip into the habit of trying to earn favor with God?  Jesus already did all that was required.  My job is to submit to His lordship and follow Him wholeheartedly.  (Romans 8:3-4, Galatians 5:18)

My efforts to earn my own salvation, or even the favor of God, can become a snare that takes me away from the grace through which I find true freedom.

Good Habits

Psychologists say it takes three weeks to form a habit.  Theoretically, then, if I want to add exercise into my daily routine, I will simply need to stick with it for 21 days before it becomes second nature.  Or, if the doctor tells me to cut salt out of my diet, I'll only need to make an effort to stay away from the salt shaker for three weeks before I get used to eating that way.  Or, if I want to break my children of the habit of watching television after school, I'll need to hound them to go outside and play for nearly a month before it will become a normal part of their routine.  

What if I take this same principle and apply it to my relationship with God?  Since I know He wants me to read His Word, I can force myself to do it for three weeks until it becomes a healthy habit.  Or I try to make it my new custom to speak kindly to those around me, even if they're mean to me.  All I need to do is respond lovingly for 21 days and then it will be ingrained within me!  Or, I find I'm weak in the prayer department so I make it my intention to keep up a regular time of talking to the Lord for 3 weeks and then I've set a good pattern that will stick with me.

While it is not bad to take this approach, there is a danger that comes with "faking it till I make it."  I am at risk of becoming just like the Israelites whom God chastised through the prophet Isaiah when he said, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught."  (Isaiah 29:13)

I wouldn't like it if my husband only talked to me at the same time every day because he wanted to make it a habit.  I want to hear what's on my dearly beloved's heart.  If my husband only talked to me out of obligation instead of treasuring the time we have together, I would be hurt.  I want more than his actions; I want his heart.

It's the same with me and God.  He wants me to share my hurts, struggles and dreams with Him.  He loves it when I turn to Him at the lowest time of my day as well as when I'm on mountaintop.  He wants to share my life with me.  When I make spiritual disciplines simply that; disciplines, it falls short of God's desire for a relationship I can share with Him.

Therefore, let my study of His Word not become a daily ritual, but a meaningful time of searching for nuggets of wisdom He has left for me there. (Psalm 119:105) Let my weekly churchgoing not become an obligation to fulfill, but a rich time of exhortation, worship and fellowship with others who love the God I love. (Hebrews 10:25-27) Let my acts of righteousness not come as a result of my own effort, but as a wonderful outcome of my cooperation with His transforming power in my life. (Philippians 2:12-13)

My quest to form good spiritual habits can become a snare that takes my heart out of the equation.

Good Intentions

"God wants you to be happy!  He doesn't intend for you to live a life of poverty.   It's not His purpose for you to struggle.  He wants you to live a good life.  He wants you to reach for the stars, fulfilling the dreams you have in your heart."

Doesn't that just make you feel good?  This is the message I have heard from some followers of Christ.  While I don't think their intention was to steer me wrong, they simply took bits and pieces of advice they'd received and knowledge that came from their own understanding and fashioned it into a gospel that truly appeals to my sin nature: A message that is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but nonetheless is preached from the pulpit of many-a-church.

It is easy to get into the habit of encouraging others with what sounds good to me instead of sticking to the truth.  After all, the truth can sound harsh to my sinful nature.  If I truly want to point my sisters and brothers to Christ, I must stick to His Word.  Telling people what they want to hear will only lead them astray.  (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

While it may feel good to support my friend when she tells me she's leaving her husband in order to follow her heart, God's love instead burdens me to take the side of marital fidelity.  Other times I may have every good intention when I give another the advice to "let sleeping dogs lie," the God who rejoices in the truth would rather I recommend she bring all the details out into the open.  Even though it sounded good when I encouraged my husband to do what seemed best to him, a godly wife would help him to seek God's counsel.

My good intentions can turn into a snare that works to turn people away from God.

Just like Gideon's attempt to honor God in his own way ended up backfiring, my good works, habits and intentions can all work to create a snare in my spiritual life.  As a sinner whose natural tendency is to follow my own desires, it doesn't take much to drag my heart away from the Lord.  Therefore, I would be wise to avoid these traps that may seem like good ideas, but in the end can damage my relationship with the God who loves me so much.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my heart wholly devoted to the Lord.

When can even good habits become gods unto themselves?

How do I unintentionally lead others astray through the advice I give?  

Lukewarm

"I know all the things you do, 

that you are neither hot nor cold.

I wish that you were one or the other!

But since you are like lukewarm water,

neither hot nor cold,

I will spit you out of my mouth!

You say, 'I am rich.

I have everything I want.

I don't need a thing!'

And you don't realize that you are wretched

and miserable and poor and blind and naked!

So I advise you to buy gold from me--

gold that has bee purified by fire.

Then you will be rich.

Also buy white garments from me

so you will not be shamed by your nakedness,

and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.

I correct and discipline everyone I love.

So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

Look!  I stand at the door and knock.

If you hear my voice and open the door,

I will come in,

and we will share a meal together as friends.

Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne,

just as I was victorious

 and sat with my Father on his throne."

Revelation 3:15-21 NLT

The game was simple: choose one side and show allegiance to your team by trying with all your might to tag as many members of the other team as possible, freezing them in order to render them as helpless.  The first team to immobilize all members of the enemy team wins.

As the kids ran around the field, though, I soon noticed one girl who seemed to be tagging anyone she could get her hands on.  "Beverly, which team are you on?"  I asked, trying to get her back on track.  She replied, "Oh, I don't want to pick teams.  I'd rather just run around and freeze whoever I can."

Just as it is important while playing this version of freeze tag to choose a team, so it is vital to my walk with Christ to likewise pick a side.  Jesus hates the middle!  He wants me to stake my claim, choose my side, pick my team.  To stay neutral or in the center, between Him and Satan, angers Him.  Perhaps this is because sitting on the fence is really a choice against Jesus and for the Enemy. (Matthew 12:30)   

It is sobering to think that I may exhibit this kind of indifference in some ways I didn't realize.  Let me take an objective look at the way I live my life.

Blended

They believed a little bit of everything.  If it sounded good to them, they would incorporate it into their belief system.  The Samaritans gathered together idols like some collect tea cups or stamps.  To them, every religion was equal and more of the same.

For this reason, among many, the Jews abhorred the groups of people who inhabited an area in the northern kingdom of Israel.  As a people group who were always taught about purity and staying loyal to the One True God, this kind of openness was repulsive to the Israelites.  As much as I understand about God's jealous nature, I still tend to drift toward a similar kind of unfaithfulness as I live in a world not so different from that of the Samaritans.

Talk show hosts spout words of worldly wisdom which sound good to my itching ears and I take it in as truth. (2 Timothy 4:3)  Instead of using the spirit of discernment which comes from honing my relationship with my holy Father, I rely on my own understanding and believe everything that appeals to my flesh.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The moment a sickness rears it's ugly head, I begin researching possible causes and never think to go to the Great Physician and seek His healing.  When a new television show sounds intriguing, I get hooked with nary a thought toward the effect it may have on my heart.  (Proverbs 4:23)

I am lukewarm when I blend into the world around me instead of taking purposeful steps toward staying true to my God.

Independent

  I used to think one of the most important traits to instill in my daughters was a spirit of self-sufficiency.  When they were young, I looked forward to the day when they could do things for themselves; wash their own clothes, prepare their own food and drive themselves to where they wanted to go.  

Once the girls reached the teenage years, however, God impressed upon me the importance of teaching them dependence.  Not a reliance on me and my husband, but a complete trust in their heavenly Father as the One who is able to supply all their needs.

To take this lesson to heart for myself, I need to drop the modern idea of autonomy and individualism.  Instead of looking to my own abilities and resources to provide for myself, I would do well to picture myself as a little girl who lives without worry as she looks to her rich and powerful Daddy to lavishly adorn her with good things.  In this way, I will live in the kind of relationship my Father intended for me.

In the place of going after what I think I need, I can instead focus on God's kingdom and on living in a way that pleases Him.  As a result, the Lord who knows my needs better than I will perfectly shower me with goodness. (Matthew 6:31-33)

I am lukewarm when I exhibit an independent spirit instead of looking to my Father as the Source and Supplier of all I need.

Not Ready

My husband went to pick up the daughter of a friend of ours but she was not ready when he arrived.  He had to wait as she gathered up all her necessities for an overnight stay, making him precariously close to being late for a class he was scheduled to teach.  This young lady almost missed out on this planned time with our family because she had not been paying attention to the time and was not prepared for my husband's arrival.

I am not so different from this adolescent girl.  I get so caught up in my day-to-day activities that I forget that Jesus could come back at any time.  Am I ready?  Instead of watching for Him in eager anticipation, I tend to get comfortable in this world.  

When I settle in here, making this place my home, I become blinded to the work of God's hand all around me and instead focus on my own fitness.  Instead of seeing myself as the sinner in need of the grace of God that identifies me to Christ, I start comparing myself to others and judge myself as not so bad.  

Rationalization of my areas of sin soon follows and before I know it, I'm trapped in a stronghold of sin.  In order to stay in a state of readiness, I must always keep my sin before me, realizing my desperate need for Jesus.

I am lukewarm when I get comfortable with my sin instead of realizing my state of nakedness before a Holy God.

There is no doubt that Jesus hates the position in the middle of the road;  He'd rather I choose sides.  While I may think I've staked my claim, a thorough examination of my life may come up with a different conclusion.  My tendency to blend into this world, to live independently and my state of un-readiness reveals the truth:  I am in danger of being lukewarm.  Whose side will I choose this day?

As I begin this day may I intentionally choose Jesus.

When do I drift along instead of swimming purposefully toward my Lord and Savior?

How do I rely on my own resources instead of God's?