Peripatetics: The Art of Walking
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
I like making decisions. I like being in control.
You know, I really do enjoy things like planning the Mexico trip. Even though it can be a real bear of a chore, it's pretty fun choosing what kind of grill to buy or what the menu will be like or picking the bus company...stuff like that. It's pretty cool being in charge of a major operation like that, especially when you get back and realize it went off without a hitch.
I like making decisions with my family, too. I like to make the call on where we go on vacation. I like to decide what restaurant we're going to eat in. I like to decide what movie we're going to see. I like being the one that decides what show we're going to watch. I mean, sure, you consult your family on all that, but I truly enjoy making those kinds of decisions.
I like making decisions for me personally, too. I like deciding whether or not I'm going to work on my doctorate. I like deciding if I'm going to stick with the diet or if it'll be another "blow it" day. I like deciding what kind of exercise program I'm going to be on. I like choosing what book to read. I really do like being in charge of my own self.
Which makes it very difficult when you're trying to follow God.
See, truth be told, I prefer running my own show spiritually, too. I really deep down don't like it when stuff I want to do gets shoved aside because I know what God wants me to do. Maybe it isn't watching that movie or show. Maybe it means spending more time with my wife when I really feel like being alone. Maybe it means that the doctoral work can wait until my kids get out of high school. It might mean none of those things, too...but the reality is that if I'm following God, all those decisions and more are subject to what He wants for my life rather than what I want for my life.
That comes from verse 7 of Proverbs 1: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Notice the very starting point of true knowledge: "Fear of the Lord." Now, that fear isn't a "shaking in your boots" kind of fear, but rather it is a proper understanding of Who God is and responding to that proper understanding. It's really more revering God because He is God. In other words:
GOD IS GOD; I AM NOT GOD.
That reality is staggering. It may sound simple, but it's really profound in the implications. It means that we don't get to be the boss of ourselves. God is our King...the One we revere because He IS...
And also note that there really are only two types of people in the world. There are people who follow Him and understand that growing in wisdom begins with that understanding. The rest are fools.
The word for "fools" in Hebrew describes someone who is "thick headed." You know, they just can't get anything through their thick skulls.
There's an obvious application right off the top in that are you being wise or foolish...but that isn't going to get a lot of thoughts in the "comments," is it? Nope, better find something else for that...but think that one through, too.
So, for today, why is it so hard for us to allow God to be God instead of us being our own God...trying to be in control of our own lives? What I'm getting at is this: Why is it that we know what God wants for us is truly best for us, but yet we're still so insistent on being in control of our own lives?
Brent 3:49 AM
Comments:
pride. foolishness. it's us still trying to hold onto the sinful nature to which we as christians have died. and laziness too-- it's "just so much easier" to do what we feel than to actually give our lives up to God. giving God the control means admitting we're not perfect, we make mistakes...so we really have to let go of our pride in order to be able to give our lives to Him.
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