Elgg http://www.churcheducation.net/elgg/pastorlamb/weblog/ http://www.churcheducation.net/elgg/pastorlamb/weblog/16.html http://www.churcheducation.net/elgg/pastorlamb/weblog/16.html Sun, 30 May 2010 19:08:54 GMT As I sit and listen to the rain pounding on the metal roof vent above my head, I relish the sense of warmth and safety that are mine to enjoy. Surrounded by my books and sitting in my favorite chair, the house in warm and dry. There are no sirens screaming down the street, no sounds of gunfire in the neighborhood, and no distant rumble of artillery fire from the edge of town.There is (currently) no fear of Secret Police crashing through my door to arrest my wife and me. We have running water and indoor plumbing for our other needs. There is an abundance of electricity, plenty of food, and lots of clothing for any season. We are truly comfortable and blessed.Oh, for sure we have our problems. My wife is disabled and has several physical challenges that make life difficult and painful for her on varying levels all of the time. And our children have lives of their own so we see them rarely. And the extended family has become extended to the point that we are virtually disconnected. However, these issues are minor in light of what the greater portion of the world faces as I sit and put these words on paper.Life really is about perspective, don’t you think? We grumble about the occasional noise from the neighbors in the condo above ours, but we don’t have the crying of hungry children for whom we have no food to deal with. We may grouse at the inconvenience of having to get out and put gas in the car in the pouring down rain, but we aren’t praying for the rain to stop pouring in through a dozen holes in the reclaimed metal sheeting we dragged home from the dump.And we may complain about the idiotic things done by some of the people we work with, but we haven’t spent the last dollar to our name, exhausted our unemployment benefits, and been turned down for publicly-funded food and living assistance.It may seem a bit cliché, but that old saw, “I complained that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet,” rings more true than we give it credit. What is it that we have to complain about—really? What is it that we lack that we really can’t live without? What is it that we wish we had that much of the world doesn’t even know exists? How much worse would things have to be for us before we would be thankful to be back where we are right now?It’s all a matter of perspective, don’t you think?Perhaps we could start to be grateful for where we are and what we do have.Perhaps we could start to be more aware of those around us who have greater needs than we do.Perhaps we could begin to do for others what we would hope someone would do for us if our situations were reversed.Now there’s a thought, isn’t there? It is so easy for us to focus on our lack that we fail to see what we have been blessed with and that we can use to bless others as we would hope they would bless us if we had the same needs.Perhaps the most valuable book in the Bible for practical Christian living is the book of James. Written by the eldest of Jesus’ half-brothers, this earliest leader of the Christian church wrote these words, “If you know someone who doesn't have any clothes or food, you shouldn't just say, ‘I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.’ What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!”(James 2:15-17, CEV) And then there is Paul, that ever-strong vanguard of both orthodoxy and orthopraxy (right thinking and right doing). In his letter to the Philippians, this soon-to-be-martyred father of the faith wrote these words,“Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought.” (Philippians 2:3-5, CEV) The next time I think I have something to complain about, I need to ask myself some questions. I need to ask myself:Could things be worse?Have things been worse?Who do I know that has it worse than I do?Am I grateful for what I do have and for how bad it is not?Am I looking at the situations and circumstances of those around me and being as much or more concerned for them as I am for myself?If not, am I willing to get on my face before God and get my heart and my mind right before Him?Am I willing to do whatever He prompts me to do about it?Am I willing to let go of what I do have and bless someone else who has a greater need than I have without judging or critiquing them or how they would use it?How can I keep things in perspective more consistently and Christ-like?The point of all of this is really two-fold.First, to make sure that I have the proper sense of gratitude for how the Lord has and does bless me; and,Second, to make sure that I am being the true Ambassador for Christ that He has bought me and made me for.So, as I sit and relish the comfort and safety of my home and my life, I thank God that He has blessed me with all that He has, and I recommit these blessings to be used to bless others, even when it costs me and makes life less comfortable and more difficult.At least I am not being asked to have spikes driven through my wrists, right?]]>