Archive for May, 2008

Business with an “End Game”

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

The Scriptures say, “Without revelation (or vision) people cast off restraint.” (Proverbs 29:18.) Vision may be defined as “a perceived worthy result.” It is something far off or future in nature that draws us on toward it, an “end game.”

For Christians, our end game is, or should be, to hear Jesus say, “Well done good and faithful servant!” Truly there can be no higher or better result of our lives than to hear those words. When our eye is clear, and our “end game” clearly in mind, it, in and of itself “restrains” us. It helps us focus on what Stephen Covey calls “First Things” as in “Keep First Things First.” First things are those that feed those things most important to us and help us accomplish our vision. They are strategies and tactics that support us and help us remain focused amid the noise and distractions that the world, the flesh, and the devil throw in our path.

Our end game is eternal, not to be realized in this life, but in eternal life with our Lord Jesus. He will be our judge and our effectiveness will be judged by His standards alone. Without “restraint” or focus distraction will cause diffusion of our efforts and diminution of our fruitfulness. Loss of focus will ultimately result in our eternal loss. So, what’s your vision? Is your business a means to an end, and is that end eternal? What “restrains” you?

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Take Aim At All the Right Targets

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

“AIM FOR PERFECTION”  (2 Cor. 13:11 )

The NIV 2 Corinthians 13:11 as “Aim for perfection”. The Greek word here is katartizo. However, that is the exact same word the NIV translates as “preparing” in Matthew 4:21 where Jesus found James and John “preparing their nets.” The ESV and NAS translate it “mending” their nets. In the Matthew 5:48 passage where Jesus calls us to be “perfect”.

Look at the Greek word “katartizo” translated “perfection” in 2 Corinthians 13:11 (”Aim for perfection”, NIV). A lexicon defines that word as “to render fit”. That means to “make functional”. James and John were making their nets “functional” so that they might be able to catch fish. That doesn’t mean they were making them “precisely exact”. I doubt that every knot was “precise” or “exact”. No one can really define a knot that is “precisely exact”. When I tie my shoe, I want to make it “functional” or make it the way it was intended, to restore. . When I do, it is “perfect” from this translation perspective. I can tie my shoe, smile and say “perfect” and go on about my business.

Now, if someone comes along and looks at my shoe laces and says, those shoes laces are not tied with “exactly precise” loops, then I can smile at them and say, “No, you’re right. They are merely perfect”.

Look at how this can make a difference in our understanding of the Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 1:10, we read the following from the NIV:

I have found five thoughts in the New Testament that will help us to take aim at the right targets. 1 Corinthians 9:26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

  • In your Christian walk, don’t run aimlessly. We need to Take aim at the right targets!
  • Many Christians live reactively. They are content to react, to respond, to life around them. Wise Christians live proactively. They take the initiative, rather than adopting a passive attitude, in their Christian walk.
  • The victorious Christian has purpose; he has objectives. And he stays focused on those purposes and objectives. He is careful to take aim at the right targets.
  • Take aim at some things in your Christian life. And be sure to take aim at meaningful targets. Set desirable, biblical goals, and deliberately structure your lives to press towards those goals.

Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

  • This is the origin of our proverbial expression in English – “the straight and narrow.”
  • The broad way appeals to many … and ends in destruction!
  • The narrow way does not appeal to the flesh as much. But it is God’s way, and it leads to life eternal!
  • You have to choose the narrow way. It seems less appealing. The broad way seems better:
  • “Sin is fun!” people declare.
  • Indulging my cravings is enjoyable.
  • More relaxed standards are easier to live up to.
  • But remember what’s at the end of that broad way – destruction for the many!
  • (1) So aim for the narrow road that leads to life.

2 Corinthians 5:8-10 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…

  • (2) Aim to please God in all that you do.
  • Jesus said, “I always do what pleases Him” (John 8:29).
  • This is an excellent standard for Christians to use in making decisions in their lives, conduct, thoughts, etc. Ask yourself: Will this please the Lord?

Acts 24:15-16 And I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

  • There will be a resurrection, and we will face the Lord.
  • (3) So aim now for a clear conscience before God and man.
  • We were taught a good thing in my early years in Roman Catholicism – that is, to “examine our conscience.”
  • How is your conscience before God? before man?
  • Take aim for a clear conscience. As Paul said, “Strive always” for a clear conscience. Target it; make it your objective and unrelenting desire.

1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

  • (4) Aim to be men and women who love the church.
  • Jesus said He would build His Church (Matthew 16:18). Jesus loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). Paul prayed: “To Him [to God] be glory in the church…” (Ephesians 3:21).
  • Aim to use your talents, gifts, and ministries to build up Jesus’ beloved Church.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection…

  • Why do modern Christians have such a hard time with this? Why is it so easy to offer the blameshifting excuse: “Well, nobody’s perfect.”
  • (5) “Aim for perfection!” – that’s the Word of God!
  • One day in the Lord’s presence we will become “the spirits of righteous men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23).
  • But here and now, in this life, Paul says (2 Corinthians 13:9), “our prayer is for your perfection.”

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Be Motivated!

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Being motivated truly seems to be a mystery. Some have it; some don’t. Without motivation, you can’t accomplish your God given goals or fulfill your God given potential for living.

  • Without motivation, you run carelessly and without enthusiasm.
  • Motivation determines your strength, your commitment, and your enthusiasm toward life.

Gas in the Tank

Motivation is what drives us. The word “motivate” means “a moving cause; an inner drive, impulse or intention that causes a person to do something or act in a certain way.”

  • Motivation is to a Christian what gas is to a tank; it gives the energy needed to reach the destination.
  • Motivation can’t be inherited. It’s not passed from parent to child. It doesn’t derive from family accomplishments.
  • Motivation differs with each person. You may be highly motivated, while other siblings may have no motivation at all.

Biblical Models of Motivation

The Bible contains many examples of men and women who were motivated to accomplish their God given goals.

  • God motivated Abraham by challenging him to trust in the vision that he – an old man – would become the Father of Many Nations.
  • God given dreams motivated Joseph, causing him to endure terrible trials, misunderstandings and disillusionment before the dreams ever came to pass.
  • The vision of the Promised Land motivated Joshua to fight for what was set before him.
  • Caleb was motivated to seeming impossible odds to go where others refused to venture.
  • Jesus, too, was motivated by a clear purpose and destiny: “Jesus…for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame…” Hebrews 12:2.
  • Paul was motivated by the prize of the upward call of God, by the knowledge that he had a mission to accomplish. “I count all things but loss for the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ…” Philippians 3:8.
  • Timothy was motivated by the apostolic influence of his spiritual father, Paul, and by an understanding of what it meant to live in the light of eternity.

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