A Good Read

I was reading Ecclesiastes this morning and, as is often the case, I was spiritually crushed under the weight of Biblical wisdom. As Solomon shares with the reader the knowledge and wisdom he gathered over his life, we are in the advantaged position to trust in Godly wisdom and flee from the "vanity" Solomon describes. The gathering and accumulation of money, possessions, food, alcohol, women/men, status, entertainment..."it's all vanity." Though, by reading the first five chapters we're left with a less than happy disposition, the remaining seven chapters stoke the spiritual fire to leave the earthly stuff behind and pursue righteousness and love with God almighty.
If you're lost, tired, burdened, haughty, empty, or just not feeling completely settled with the Lord, Ecclesiastes is a great pit stop to recharge and fill up and get back on the narrow road.

12:13-14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."

Fish or Cut Bait?

I am reminded of a story I heard during a message taught by Pastor Jack Hibbs (CC Chino Hills). He shared with the congregation a penetrating experience he had during the early years of his ministry. As he was struggling with his calling and the work God was doing in his life, he went to seek advice and guidance from L.E. Romaine (Assistant Pastor - CC Costa Mesa). For those of you who are unfamiliar with Romaine, he was a man gifted in being blunt and refusing to sugar-coat anything. As Pastor Jack went to lick his spiritual wounds with the sympathy of Pastor Romaine, he was shocked at what he actually received. As he related his feelings to Pastor Romaine, he was taken by the hand and led down the hallway, as if a boy, where Pastor Romaine opened each door of the long corridor, leading into the office of one Calvary Chapel pastor after another. With these words, Romaine shared with Pastor Jack the reality of the pastorate, "you see this idiot, he questions his calling every day and God is using him!" Then, being led by the hand, Pastor Jack followed Romaine as he opened the next door followed by, "you see this idiot, he questions his calling every day and God is using him!" Door after door was opened until Pastor Jack got the point. The "feelings" that naturally come with being abandoned to the Lord, overwhelmed with being out of control, or the illusion thereof, of your life, are a part of the progression of growing as a pastor. I might argue that it's a part of the process of sanctification in general. The world tells us that we have to have a five year plan to ensure success, to know where we're going and how we're going to get there. Today it's even beginning in elementary school where kids are getting ulcers from the pressure they are receiving from their parents to succeed. Then when we receive Christ we have to forget the embedded habits of pursuing "success" and replace it with this word "faithfulness." It's a life altering, and not always comfortable, shift.
This is all at the root of something my pastor and the Lord has been working into me...that's the concept of "going for it." I titled today's blog "Fish or Cut Bait" (which is better than the crass alternative) to relate what I've found to be the case in my own walk and ministry. I find that as the doldrums come and I realize that I'm going through the motions rather than pressing forward in my walk and ministry I'm wasting valuable time, which is something we're in short supply of. I'm reminded of Paul's exhortation in 2 Corinthians 6:2 when he says, "behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation." He also says in Ephesians 5:15-16, "see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, REDEEMING THE TIME, because the days are evil." People are dying and souls are going to hell every minute of every day and yet I find it acceptable to hold back when it comes to the ministry or my relationship with the Lord. How stupid can we be? The honored and privileged position in which I find myself obliges me to "go for it" and stop resisting, stop holding back, stop questioning and trust in God as I sprint toward the finish line.
As if it is not already obvious, the Lord's desire for me and my encouragement for us all is that we might live without inhibition, to worship like there's no tomorrow, to pray like we know we should, to invest in the word of God and receive all the promises therein. If we fall short in any of these we're wasting our time. Sure God will still use us, but only because His faithfulness will overcome our lack of faith. We have been called to the harvest field, to be "fishers of men." So the question is will we fish or cut bait? I am choosing to fish.