Sharpen Your Focus

Do you feel a little stressed by the news? What about your budget and bills coming due? Sometimes I want to relax but it seems there’s always one more thing shouting for attention!

Outside pressure is a given, but sometimes we pressure ourselves by placing value on the wrong things. A good self-check needs to be done now and then, but only when we are not under pressure.

We each react to stress based on our values. Sometimes we immediately realize how we caused our stress, other times we squeak by and promise ourselves we’ll consider a better response later. But life gets busy and we forget.

You’ve probably heard don’t shop for groceries when you’re hungry. Having tried it, I’d agree. But the same idea could apply to making major decisions or having important discussions.

This week I was reminded of Esau’s lack of focus due to hunger. He came in from hunting and smelled Jacob’s tantalizing stew (Genesis 25:29-34).

Being the oldest, his was to be a great blessing and inheritance, but Jacob saw an opportunity and said he’d exchange some stew for Esau’s birthright.

Esau was hungry, but I don’t think he had ever given his birthright much thought because of his careless reply. “I’m so hungry I could die. What good is my birthright!”

In this way, Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34, BSB). Very little consideration is given to things we despise, scorn, or devalue.

Do we value our spiritual birthright? When we ask Jesus to take away our sins, the Holy Spirit comes to help us live a life pleasing to God. Paul describes it as walking in the Spirit, and not in the flesh (Romans 8:11-14).   

Don’t be misled . . . works of the flesh are not only sexual. Fleshly desires also include lying, stealing, slander, unforgiveness, and unwholesome talk (Ephesians 4:17-32).  

We despise our spiritual birthright by compromising our values. A lie is a lie, little or not. Spousal cheating is wrong, even one time. Causing someone to be hurt by withholding information you know would help them is walking in the flesh, not the Spirit.

This week, I’m challenged to sharpen my spiritual focus with David’s prayer: Psalm 51:10-12. I hope you’ll join me. 

All Scriptures Berean Standard Bible (BSB)

Pixabay: Lens, Focus, Clouds; Juno 1412

Me First

Do those two words bring negative thoughts to mind? They do me. Starting with toddlers whose favorite word is “Mine!” In other words, "Me first! No sharing with you!"

But as we grow, we learn that sharing can make the world a better place. Caring parents teach manners. Courtesy shows up as “you before me.”

I was surprised when my mind jumped to "me first" as a positive thing. In that sense, it meant, "Please allow me to let you go first." An example of that would be what we call "The Golden Rule." Does this ring a bell? Do to Others as You Would Have Them Do to You.

But other "Me Firsts" could include:

1. Refresh Others/Be Refreshed (Proverbs 11:25)
2. Cast Bread/It Returns (Ecclesiastes 11:1, Proverbs 19:17, Acts 10:1-8)
3. Sow/Reap (Galatians 6:7; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
4. God: The Example (Romans 5:8; John 3:16)

Let’s briefly explore these:

 1.       True refreshing gives careful consideration to other’s needs. They can turn up when least expected. When I fell and broke my femur, I was refreshed with three weeks of much-needed care (24/7) by friends and relatives.

 2.      Let’s consider “bread” as money. Many charities need bread cast their way; however, you can also cast your bread as kindness to people in your circle of acquaintances. God takes notice of those who give to the poor. In Acts, the story of a Roman Centurian illustrates this. He was a devout believer who gave to the poor and prayed daily. He was told God took notice and was answering his prayers.

3.       Sowing and reaping is such a basic illustration, who could miss it? Any gardener or farmer knows that sowing seeds sparingly results in a sparse harvest. But, little or much, it’s important also to be a cheerful giver.

4.       God set the “Me First” example. How? Paul said that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God didn’t wait for us to earn salvation. He lovingly sent His Son, and the Son loved the Father and obeyed His Father’s will.

Since “Me First” can be negative or positive, here’s the challenge. How many ways can you avoid "Me First" as a negative this week, and make it a positive?

All scriptures from BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

Pixabay Illustration: Selfishness, Egotistical, Self-Love, by RosZie. 

 

Sawdust and Two-by-Fours

I don’t know much about lumber, but my dad was quite a builder. Watching him at work I saw plenty of sawdust and two-by-fours. Lumber was never a problem, but I was aware that a speck of sawdust could blow up into my eye.

Jesus told parables to make His life lessons easy. *Matthew 7:1-5 is a kind of reminder to live and let live. Or, to put it another way, beware of judging others because you will also be judged.

The Apostle Paul said we live and die to the Lord. He made a specific point of asking, “Why, then, do you judge your brother? Why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat . . . (Romans 14:10).  

We humans all have flaws. While relating to one another, we do have to judge and make decisions. But what concerns me is the clouded superficial judgment illustrated by sawdust and two-by-fours whereby we try to correct one another, or sometimes cancel one another.

Do these sound familiar . . . anger, rage, malice, slander, or filthy language? They are to be put aside (Colossians 3:8). Today it seems people jump to conclusions, quickly responding with sarcastic or caustic comments (aiming to correct the speck in another’s eye). Then they move on, totally ignorant of their bad vision . . . a beam blocking good judgment (and perhaps even common sense).

When I was growing up, I had a children’s paperback with short character-building stories. I still remember the story of two sisters who constantly fought like **Kilkenny Cats. They were warned that if they kept it up, they would destroy each other.

Consider healthy solutions to avoiding problems with sawdust and two-by-fours: Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, forgiveness, love, and the peace of God (Colossians 3:12-14).

When it comes to social media, these apply to both sides of the coin: Writing and Response.

Let’s be honest. I’m not perfect, and neither are you, but we each impact our world. So, let’s try to recognize our blocking beam before rushing to remove specks of sawdust.     

*All scriptures are from the BSB (Berean Standard Bible) 

 **In the 19^th century, In Ireland, The Kilkenny Cats story is that they fought so ferociously only their tails remained. The Kilkenny Cats became a simile for any conflict that could ruin both combatants. (Wikipedia)

Photo on Pixabay: Woodworking, Carpentry by LazarCatt. 

Don't Be a Fool

People-watching is more interesting to me than birds. But each has identifying characteristics. For people, it’s actions and words. Let’s look at four human identifiers.

(1)    Fools reject discipline and unwisely refuse to heed correction. The “terrible two’s” are no joke. Even at young ages, children need to be guided with loving correction. A good guideline for parents is this: Avoid empty threats: Don’t say it unless you mean it. It will stand you in good stead for all your parenting years. (Proverbs 15:5, BSB)

(2)    A fool is quarrelsome and vents all his anger. Fools have no self-control. They are self-centered and short-sighted, not interested in resolving disputes or making amends. (Prov. 29:11; 20:3; 14:9)

(3)    A fool’s mouth invites a beating.  Guarding his mouth would protect his life. But that’s not all . . . by opening his lips a fool can bring strife, snare his soul, and ruin his life. (Prov. 18:6-7; 13:3)

(4)    Fools detest turning from evil. Their folly (foolishness and stupidity) deceives them. The prudent, or wise, see danger and take cover, but not fools. They keep going and pay the penalty.  (Prov. 13:19, 14:8 27:12)

Fools can be male or female, young or old. The good thing is that being a fool is not permanent.

Wisdom begins with a willingness to acknowledge there is a God Almighty. Proverbs 1:7 says that respect for God (the fear of the LORD) is “the beginning of wisdom.”  

It’s a good start, but St. Peter said we should grow in the “grace and knowledge” of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). An easy way to grow in Jesus is to read His words in a red-letter edition of the Bible. (Without that, just read the gospels and mark Jesus’ words your way.)

We need to “people-watch ourselves,” not just others. Don't be a fool. If any of the 4 items apply to you, ask God for forgiveness. Pray like David: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10). Then go, and grow!