Source of Cynicism

This quote reminded me to look at the condition of my heart always first!

“While purporting to ‘see through’ others’ facades, cynics lack purity of heart. A significant source of cynicism is the fracture between my heart and my behavior. It goes something like this: My heart gets out of tune with God, but life goes on. So I continue to perform and say Christian things, but they are just words. I talk about Jesus without the presence of Jesus. There is a disconnect between what I present and who I am. My words sound phony, so other’s words sound phony too. In short, my empty religious performance leads me to think that everyone is phony. The very thing I am doing, I accuse others of doing. Adding judgment to hypocrisy breeds cynicism.”

- Paul Miller, A Praying Life, page 91

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Procrastination

[C.J. Mahaney writes about sin of procrastination]

Lazy? Not me. I’m busy. Up early, up late. My schedule is filled from beginning to end. I love what I do and I love getting stuff done. I attack a daily to-do list with the same intensity I play basketball. Me lazy? I don’t think so!

Or at least I didn’t think so. That is, until I read about the difference between busyness and fruitfulness, and realized just how often my busyness was an expression of laziness, not diligence.

I forget now who first brought these points to my attention. But the realization that I could be simultaneously busy and lazy, that I could be a hectic sluggard, that my busyness was no immunity from laziness, became a life-altering and work-altering insight. What I learned is that:

* Busyness does not mean I am diligent
* Busyness does not mean I am faithful
* Busyness does not mean I am fruitful

Recognizing the sin of procrastination, and broadening the definition to include busyness, has made a significant alteration in my life. The sluggard can be busy—busy neglecting the most important work, and busy knocking out a to-do list filled with tasks of secondary importance.

When considering our schedules, we have endless options. But there are a few clear priorities and projects, derived from my God-assigned roles, that should occupy the majority of my time during a given week. And there are a thousand tasks of secondary importance that tempt us to devote a disproportionate amount of time to completing an endless to-do list. And if we are lazy, we will neglect the important for the urgent.

Our Savior understood priorities. Although his public ministry was shorter than one presidential term, within that time he completed all the works give to him by the Father.

The Father evidently called him to heal a limited number of people from disease, raise a limited number of bodies from the dead, and preach a limited number of sermons. As Jesus stared into the cup of God’s wrath, he looked back on his life work as complete because he understood the calling of the Father. He was not called to heal everyone, raise everyone, preach copious sermons, or write volumes of books.

While we must always be extra careful when comparing our responsibilities with Christ’s messianic priorities, in the incarnation he entered into the limitations of human life on this earth.

So join me over the next few days as we discover the root and nature of laziness, so that we might devote ourselves to biblical priorities and join our Savior in one day praying to the Father, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do” (John 17:4, ESV).

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Evidence of Pride

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I have been reading through the Old Testament account of the Israelite journey in the wilderness.  One thing that I noticed was when the Israelites came out of Egypt and traveled through the wilderness, the majority of what they had to say were complaints. They complained about their circumstances even though they experienced great miracles of God. Here’s one of those complaining moments in Numbers 20:5 while in the wilderness.

“Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink.”

As I read these complaints, I can’t help but think to myself … “Come on … don’t complain! Why do you guys keep complaining and complaining? Didn’t God split the Red Sea right in front of your eyes?  Don’t you know by now that God has a special favor on you? He saved you from the Egyptians. How can you lack so much faith?!” And I have to admit, as I read these complaining accounts, it’s easy to read it with a prideful and righteous heart. I think to myself, “If I were an Israelite, I wouldn’t have complained.”

But the Holy Spirit convicted my heart and helped me to realize that I would have done exactly the same thing if I were part of this mass exodus, constantly on the move to an unknown place. The Israelites were not complaining about lacking “middle class” luxuries and comforts. Often, they were asking for the bare essentials – food and shelter. And if I were traveling with my family in this massive caravan through the wilderness, experiencing a certain measure of discomfort, I know that I would be in the front of line demanding food and shelter from Moses.

I realize something about reading the Bible. It’s very easy for me to have pride and think to myself, “I would have never done that.” “Don’t they see it?” “Come on … Don’t eat the apple!” It’s a sobering thought to me about the human condition. Pride is even evident in how we read Scripture.

One of the things that I appreciate about the Bible is that it’s a complete, unedited, honest depiction of the human condition. It tells it as it is. And the reason for this is not to make us feel good about ourselves, thinking that we could have changed the trajectory of humankind if only, the Bible story was about me – that in some way I am better than those people of the past.  No way! Rather, the Bible is like a mirror that reflects accurately our depravity as human beings.  Reading these Bible stories shouldn’t puff me up with pride, but rather humble me because I am susceptible to the same types of sin and disobedience against the Lord.

But the good news is always the gospel! We don’t have to stay in despair because of our condition. Rather, the gospel gives us hope and strength when we realize that our only hope is in the Christ righteousness and God’s amazing grace.

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Crooked Teeth

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During one of my discipleship meetings, I noticed that one of the guys sounded kind of funny as he was sharing about his week. Trying to focus on what he was saying, I noticed that he had a retainer on his teeth? I asked him, “Hey … when did you get a retainer?” And he, orthodontist by trade, went on to explain that his teeth were getting “a little crooked”. Now, I don’t stare at other people’s teeth and judge to see if they are straight or not … maybe you do. As far as I know, he has a nice set of pearly whites even without the retainer. But as a professional orthodontist, he is able to pick up on little nuances of teeth that regular folk like me can’t even detect.  Anyhow, he went on to explain that having straight teeth is crucial as he works with people that come to him with crooked teeth issues. That makes sense.  I mean what kind of reputation would this orthodontist have if he practiced his trade with crooked teeth!?!

As I reflect on that conversation, I was challenged and convicted in my “profession” & “calling” as a pastor. I thought about how on a regular basis I meet people struggling with a “crooked” life. And they come to me because I am their spiritual shepherd, and they sincerely seek help to “straighten” their lives. Having been in ministry for a number of years now, I have become “good” at diagnosing people’s problems and giving them plans for spiritual victory and renewal. But I wonder, is my life worthy to be imitated or desired (1 Corinthians 4:15-16)?  Or is my life “crooked?” Am I able to diagnose my own “crookedness” just like my orthodontist friend was able to diagnose his own crooked teeth? As I counsel, do I exhibit the life that Christ has saved me to? Is my life producing Christ-Character (i.e. “the straightened life”) that others can see and be inspired to follow Christ in a greater capacity? My life as a pastor has to be more than knowing the techniques of ministry. I need to remember to always look at myself first and diagnose the reality of my crookedness before the Lord.

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