Fountain of Youth

"My son, do not forget my teaching,

but keep my commands in your heart,

for they will prolong your life many years

and bring you peace and prosperity."

Proverbs 3:1-2

As a culture, Americans are obsessed with youth and how to ward off the inevitable effects of aging.  We try creams, treatments and healthy regimens, but does it really matter?  Is the condition of our skin of earth-shattering importance?  

Another concern is our warped value system.  We place so much emphasis on wealth and status, sending the message that the state of our bank account will determine future survival.  But does money have the power to give us contentment? Or long life?  Or are we barking up the wrong proverbial tree?

There are many areas which seem so important to us.  We invest our time and effort in them, believing their importance is vital.  Yet often we neglect a more lasting source of goodness.  Let's dig in to Proverbs 3 to find the answers we need in today's misleading and deceptive world.

Good Reputation.  I tend to be a people pleaser.  I didn't think this was a problem for me until recently when God moved it onto my radar, as He tends to do (Psalm 139:24).  Now I'm hyper-aware of how much I hunger for affirmation from man, assurance of my worth from others, that little pat on the back that tells me I'm important and necessary.   It turns out I can enjoy a good reputation among man, but I'm going about it the wrong way.

Instead of trying to gain the favor of man through my efforts, God says I'll find this benefit if only I cling to love and faithfulness.  I can make it a priority to treat others with mercy and kindness while purposefully turning away from my natural inclination to focus on my own needs and wants, resisting the drift toward cold-heartedness that comes from living in this callous and uncaring world (Proverbs 3:3-4).  God's love and grace is already flowing in my veins through faith in Christ.  It is my duty, then, to let if pour out to others.  It's easy to hog it all up for myself, but His love and grace is meant for all.  When I let go of my stingy, selfish tendencies, God's mercy and kindness will gush forth like an internal spring (John 7:37-39, Psalm 23:6).

Making mercy and kindness my hallmark will result in a good reputation among man and favor from God.

Good Health.  There is an endless array of supplements claiming to contain the secret to longevity and wellness.  I can spend time and money on special juices and cleansing treatments, fasting weekly in order to rid my body of harmful toxins.  Dutifully, I put in my time in the gym, doing the required amount of exercise in order to ward off deterioration of many kinds.

There is a better way.  While there are many ways to seek good health, only one comes from my Maker.  If I want to know how to find healthiness, it makes sense to seek out the advice that comes from the One who carefully put me together (Psalm 139:13). So what does God, my Creator, say is the secret to health and good nourishment?  Trusting Him with all my heart.  Resisting the urge to rely on what makes sense to me, or to think I must understand it in order to believe it, or to put my own insight above my confidence in God as my only hope. To recognize His sovereignty.  Allowing God to choose what's best for me.  To worship Him in the way I live my life.  To shun evil, staying away from it in every form.  These are the secrets to good health (Proverbs 3:5-8).

The road to good health is found in my reverence of and faith in God, not in all the things I think I'm so smart to do for my own benefit.

Good Provision.  I always want more.  My eyes are often focused on the future; things will be better when I have ___________.  When my bank account is up to this level, life will be better.  When I've acquired this level of income, things will be easier.  When I pay off this debt, then I can give more.  Then I reach that goal and things aren't as good as I thought.  Instead, I'm focused on reaching the next level.

I will never find contentment in what God is currently providing until I honor God with my money (Proverbs 3:9-10).  Making it my priority to worship God by giving Him the best and first of all I have will result in a new heart attitude.  Suddenly, what I have will be more than enough as I find myself appreciating all the ways He has blessed me materially.  Instead of wanting more, I'll discover the wealth that is already mine.  While this is not some kind of formula where I give to God and I can expect Him to give even more back to me, I can trust Him to spoil me with His unlimited resources when I honor Him with my finances.  There is no greater indicator as to my true faith in God as my Provider than in how willing I am to tithe and give offerings.

I will find contentment when I honor God with my money as He opens my eyes to His generous nature.

There are many ways to go after what the culture says is important and will bring happiness.  If I want true joy, however, I need look no further than Jesus.  As I learn to walk with Him He teaches me to find wisdom in Scripture.  There I find that a good reputation comes when I honor the love and kindness He lavishes upon me by letting it flow out to others, that good health results in my willingness to trust in God alone, and that I will find contentment in the material blessings He gives me when I worship God through tithes and offerings.  God's Word is never wrong.  If I want to find the secrets that far surpass the fountain of youth, I need look no further than the wisdom of Scripture.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can pay attention to what God is teaching me through His Word.

When do I spend more time researching cures than I do in taking God's advice to heart?

How am I lacking in faith as evidenced by how little money I give back to Him?     

Worldly Wisdom

"He immediately consulted with his wise advisers,

who knew all the Persian laws and customs,

for he always asked their advice.

The names of these men were

Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,

Marsena, and Memucan--seven nobels of Persia and Media.

They met with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire."

Esther 1:13-14 NLT

Who is my go-to person?  From where do I gain wisdom for living?  How do I acquire understanding in tricky situations?  King Xerxes had a whole group of men who were well-versed in the laws of the land but also the ways of their culture.  They knew how certain actions might affect the people and thus the king's ability to reign, but they also possessed good insight into the mindset of the average person.  It's no wonder that the king met with them often.

The problem with such advice, however, is that it is based on faulty human reasoning.  When I follow suit and make man my source of wisdom, I will soon discover the difference between insight from God and that of man.

Reputation-focused.  How will this make me look?  People will talk.  They'll think I'm weak. . .or foolish. . .or just plain dumb.  Wisdom from the world is based on the influence my actions may have on others and their perception of me.  Since no one can predict perfectly how people will respond to certain news, this kind of advice is based on conjecture and assumption.  I'm guessing how my decisions will influence others and responding in a way that is most favorable to my reputation.

Politicians do this all the time.  Many base their professional decisions on the latest opinion poll instead of acting on convictions and beliefs.  When I live my life in such a way, I'll find myself like a wave, tossed around this way and that, pushed wherever the judgments of others dictate. 

Instead, I can ask God for wisdom, believing He is the true Source of good advice (James 1:5-8).  When I do so, I will find an Adviser who guides me in the way that is most excellent for me.  He has my best interests at heart so I can trust Him to lead me right.

God's wisdom is concerned with what is best for me while man's considers only how it looks to others.

Fear-based.  King Xerxes knew he had to do something in response to his wife's public display of disrespect.  If he let it go, he believed every wife would follow suit and they would have a revolt on their hands!  Therefore, he decided to send a strong message to the women of the land.  Your husband is king of your home and you should respect him always, or else!

Wisdom based on man's way of thinking often uses such tactics to obtain the desired results.  It's manipulative, influencing the behavior of others by holding something over their head.  If I don't do "this", then I will receive "that."  And the "that" is always something I want to avoid.  In this kind of advice, I don't willingly comply out of respect for the law or law-giver, but out of fear of the consequences for disobedience.  This kind of tactic is often found in countries ruled by dictators, or organizations led by the power-hungry, or families headed by the insecure.  

In contrast, God gives me free will to decide which path to take.  I will experience the natural consequences for my actions, but He does not strong-arm me into doing things His way.  He desires for me to obey Him because He knows it is what is best for me, but the choice is always mine to make.

God's wisdom is freely given while man's depends on coercion and intimidation.

Comfort-aimed.  The solution was simple:  Get rid of the problem.  Since Queen Vashti was rocking the boat, the king's advisers recommended that he dispose of the queen and find a new one.  Problem solved.

This is often the case with worldly advice.  It follows the path of least-resistance, that which causes the smallest fallout, or whatever gives a minimal amount of trouble.  In short, it's all about what is the easiest and least troublesome.

God does not avoid pain, and neither does He expect me to take such an easy way out. He does what is right, looking for the outcome that will bring about permanent healing, beauty out of ashes, and joy from the darkest night (Isaiah 61:1-3).  While man's brand of wisdom doesn't usually solve anything, God's brings about surprising goodness from the rubble.

It reminds me of an injury our cat Blacky sustained one day as he roamed the woods behind our house.  He sustained a puncture wound that required lancing for proper healing.  Any kind of similar injury must be healed from the inside out.  This meant that all the pus and putrid fluid had to be drained from the wound, a painful process.  In order for our cat to experience complete recovery, however, he had to go through this treatment.  Similarly, my healing may require that I face painful realities as I purge the ugly hurts from my heart.  

God's wisdom brings about health and wellness while man's is most focused on comfort and avoiding pain.

Advice is everywhere, free for the taking.  Trouble is, the kind of counsel I receive from the world is focused on preserving my reputation, manipulation using fear, and aims for my comfort as it's highest goal.  If I want true wisdom, I'll need to ask God who will give me His best, let me choose to follow or not, and results in wholeness.  When it comes to advice, I'll take God's over worldly wisdom any time!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can make God my go-to source for wisdom and advice.

When do I rely on what makes sense to me instead of following God's advice?

How do I prefer comfort over true wisdom?    

Justice is the Lord's

"It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong

done to me,

and that the LORD will repay me

with good for his cursing today."

2 Samuel 16:12 ESV

This is not the way a king should be treated.  David's men were ready to defend their friend and God-appointed ruler of Israel against this man who taunted him.  Wasn't it bad enough that his son Absolom was attempting to steal the throne away from him?  Now this man named Shimei was bold enough to curse the name of the rightful king as they fled Jerusalem, not even letting them escape in peace.  Instead, this bitter, angry man kept pace with them, throwing dirt in the air, hurling stones and giving David a piece of his mind.  Obviously, as a supporter of the former king Saul, Shimei would not let David forget his past. (2 Samuel 16:5-14)  Interestingly, instead of rising up in arms against Shimei, David lets it go, allowing the man to vent as they traveled. David decided to let God be the judge.  

Today, we live in a world driven by personal rights.  People will die fighting to defend their liberties and do whatever it take to protect their good name.  God, however, is the one true Judge.  Only He knows what is fair.  Therefore, I can have the same attitude as David did instead of being so easily offended, letting God decide who deserves what.

Heart

It seemed good enough to me.  I had never been to a powerlifting meet before entering my first competition, but I thought my squats were up to par.  Imagine my surprise, then, when the head judge scratched me from the competition, concluding that my lifts were not performed to standard.

It's easy for me to be my own judge and jury, using my own sense of right and wrong to form an opinion about my actions.  Only God knows the true state of my heart, separating the selfish ambition from the humble obedience, the decisions made out of fear from the acts of faith, the anxious spirit from the mind at rest.  If I rely on my own judgement, I'll give a poor assessment.

Therefore, I am wise to simply trust God instead of depending on my own faulty line of reasoning, submitting myself to Him in all areas of my life.  When I do so, the path He has marked out for me to travel will become clear.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

It is also important that I seek God's opinion of my motives and impulses, inviting Him to explore my heart thoroughly.  As I let Him examine my inner-most thoughts and desires, He will determine what is driven by fleshly desires, where I am self-centered and anxious or how I am offending Him.  Only then will I know the true state of my heart.  (Psalm 139:23-24)

Once I have a more godly perspective of myself, I can seek God's restoration.  Only He can redirect my desires, making them line up more closely to His.  Only He can generate a passion within me for pleasing Him instead of myself.  Only He can change my drive, replacing my craving for self-satisfaction with a longing to do His will. (Psalm 51:10)

While it may be easy for me to give myself a pass, only God can determine the true state of my heart.

Fairness

"It's not fair!"  If I've heard it once, I've heard this cry of so-called injustice a thousand times.  Children and youth have a way of seeing the world from a purely selfish point-of-view.  Unfortunately, the years have not necessarily made me any wiser than they when it comes to judging the world objectively.

Only God knows what His children truly need at any given time.  While I might think circumstances are too harsh, His wise perspective reveals the need for a sober wake-up call.  When I judge a period of one crisis after another to be too much, He determines it is exactly what I need to learn to depend upon Him for my strength.  Even if I think I can't wait another minute for relief, God's perfect sense of timing tells a different story.

Therefore, I can rely on my Father to give me exactly what I need just when I need it.  Keeping this truth in mind helps when I'm facing the harsh that seems so undeserved, or the difficult that I judge as too much, or the hurting that I've determined is beyond what is reasonable.  If I am to walk by faith, believing that God has my best interest at heart, I must trust Him enough to accept what He allows into my life, knowing that He will use it to transform me into the image of His Son.  (Romans 8:28-29)

This life, then, is not so much about getting what I think I deserve.  Instead, it is about receiving what I need.  In place of focusing on my own comfort and rights, I must realize God is constantly in the process of molding and purifying me.  While it is easy to get caught up with the worldly practice of defending my reputation, I can replace that pursuit with a quest for God's name to made well-known through the circumstances of my life. 

Living in a world that encourages me to defend my rights warps a godly perspective that let's God decide what is necessary.

Glory

"I can't tell God how to get His glory."  These words were all the more astounding considering out of whose mouth they were coming.  My friend had lost her daughter in a cruel and violent way.  In the midst of her suffering as she searched for answers, she came to the aforementioned conclusion:  God knows how to best get His glory.

When the Lord delivered His people out of the hands of harsh, Egyptian slave masters, He could have done it swiftly and surely, supernaturally providing a way out for the nation of Israel.  Instead, He chose to send Moses to appeal to the Pharaoh, performing signs and enacting plagues.  By the time the whole ordeal was over, all the people of the earth knew the might and sovereign power of the God of Israel.  (Romans 9:17)

In the same way, God chooses to work in ways mysterious to me in order to make much of His name.  I don't always appreciate His greatness when things go smoothly and cleanly.  When I'm at the end of my rope, however, out of options and at a loss as to how to proceed, I often discover the might of His hand as He delivers me through the storm.

If I were completely equipped and able to accomplish the impossible task set before me, how would God get the credit for my success?  Therefore, He often gives me much more than I can handle so I must rely on Him, setting Him up for gaining the credit for all He has done.   When people observe the outcome, they will be quite sure that such a feat could not be accomplished by mere human hands.

What if I enjoyed good health all the days of my life?  Most people would assume I took good care of my body and tired hard to avoid harmful substances.  Consequently, God might find it necessary to allow disease or chronic pain into my body, giving me a chance to rely on His strength.  When people observe the peace of my heart in the midst of the storm, they will know such serenity is not human-generated but can only come from the Lord. (Matthew 5:14-16)

People will know the Lord is my God and realize His greatness when they witness the fruit of His presence in my life.

I naturally am compelled to seek out my own best interest, especially when the going gets tough.  If I take a lesson from David, however, and give God the job of sitting as judge, I am acknowledging that only He knows my honest intentions, understands what is truly fair, and knows how best to get the credit for the good He generates.  Therefore, I would be wise to live my life as if true justice belongs to the Lord.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop trying to defend myself and instead let God choose what is right for my situation.

How do I spend so much time defending myself that I fail to see God's hand at work all around me?

When do I steal God's glory by trying to avoid suffering?

God's to Give

"They replied,'Let one of us sit

at your right and the other at your left in your glory.'

'You don't know what you are asking,' Jesus said.

'Can you drink the cup I drink

or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?'

'We can,' they answered.

Jesus said to them,'You will drink the cup I drink

and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,

but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant.

These places belong to those

for whom they have

been prepared.'"

Mark 10:37-40

There has been much talk lately that we are living in the age of entitlement.  The younger generation seems to think they deserve things their parents had to work years to earn.  Things like a car, a house, a good paying job with benefits and a diversified investment portfolio.

For reasons that have been analyzed to death, many young adults think these are things to be expected instead of understanding that there are sacrifices to be made and years of effort to be put forth before one gets to the point of securing a new car, a nice home or a position that provides medical and dental benefits.  Instead, many think these luxuries are things that are deserved.

In some way, James and John carried this same attitude.  They had grown close to Jesus and felt that, as the Messiah and rightful King, Jesus would need trusted advisers and confidantes.  They could think of no better people than themselves to fill these positions, so they went ahead and made their pitch, as it were.  How 'bout it Jesus?  Can we sit beside you when you take the throne?

The problem was, these two over-eager disciples didn't know what they were asking.  They knew very little about Jesus' true identity and even less about His mission.  They were about to find out, but for now, they didn't have a clue.  

Still, they asked.  

There are times when I expect things I have no business anticipating.  I try to put myself in charge of how God will bless me or how He'll use me.  My desire to control my own destiny gets in the way of God's plan for my life.  If only I knew what I was really asking. . .

Honor

There is an entire industry devoted to building a desirable name for those in the public spotlight.  The more likable someone is, the more product that person can sell and the money they can make.  Interestingly, basketball player and coach John Wooden said, "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."  It's not surprising, than, that many stars and popular icons have a hard time dealing with life.  They can't separate the image of themselves from the reality.  

I naturally desire a good name for myself.  I am not a celebrity who is out to make a profit from my name, but I do want good feelings associated with my name.  When people think of me, I want them to smile or be challenged, not to grimace or smirk.  I am concerned with my own sense of honor.

If I do carry a good reputation, I want it all to reflect well upon my Lord Jesus Christ.  If people think I'm pretty good in my own strength, then I'm stealing from His good name.  Instead, I want all the honor to go to God.

When I expect honor and a good reputation in my own right, I'm not paying attention to the consequences: I'm taking credit away from Jesus who deserves it all.

Position

Many children say they would like to be the President of the United States when they grow up without understanding all the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with that job.  Mostly, they just want the title and power that comes with the office.  

It may be that I hold this same attitude with positions in God's kingdom.  Maybe I like the idea of the job better than the job itself.  Leaderships positions may seem glamorous and powerful, but there is a lot of humbling and sacrifice that comes before a believer is ready to lead other Christians.

Bible teachers encourage and challenge others with their teaching, but there is a lot of preparation and wrestling over the Word that comes as they prepare the lesson God gives them each week.

It would seem meaningful to be able to help others sort through their problems, but only those who know how to point people to the Healer can truly be effective in a counseling ministry.  

I may fantasize about a particular position in ministry, but until God has called me, He won't equip me.  Just as James and John wanted the position of being at Jesus' side but had no idea what Jesus was about to go through and that soon they would abandon their Savior to carry out His Father's plan all alone, I am prone to desire a certain place for the wrong reasons.  I could want prestige, to further God's Kingdom, or simply to add some meaning to my life.  Whatever the reason, if I don't accept a position out of direct obedience to God's calling in my life, I am taking the job for the wrong reason.      

When I expect a position without understanding the sacrifices to be made, I am just plain foolish.

Glory

We've all seen it: the two-year-old throwing a temper tantrum in the grocery store aisle.   Most of the time, a tantrum occurs when the child grows frustrated with not getting what she wants.  As she screams and carries on, her hope is to manipulate her parent or caretaker into caving into her desires.  

As embarrassing as the tantrum is for the mother, it is not only used as a tool of manipulation.  Sometimes, a fit is a cry for help.  If a child does not receive adequate love and time from his parent, he may resort to desperate means to garner that attention: even if it's negative attention.

There are times when I, too, work hard to receive accolades from those I respect, to build prestige for myself, or to crave the spotlight.  It feels good for others to recognize my hard work, commitment and love for Christ.  The problem is, when I seek glory for myself, I am stealing it from God.

My life is not my own as a follower of Christ.  As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:20, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (KJV)  If my whole being belongs to Jesus, bought with His blood spilled on the cross, then I have no rights to myself.  As His chosen child, all the recognition for anything good in my life goes to God.

When I expect praise for all the things God is doing, I am forgetting that the glory is all God's to receive.

Even though I'm living in the age of entitlement, I don't want to carry this same attitude when it comes to God.  Instead, I want to guard against demanding notoriety when I don't know the consequences connected to that honor, expecting to hold a certain position when I haven't a clue to the sacrifices or responsibilities required, and thinking I should get at least some credit when God deserves it all.  Every good thing is God's alone to give.  My only job is to be humble enough to receive when the time is right.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will not expect things about which I have no clue.

When do I think I'm ready for a certain role instead of letting God lead me to it?

How do I desire attention that belongs to God alone?