Can FEAR be a good thing?
Ever wondered about the source of the expression “You can’t take it with you”? It might be rooted in this week’s Bible reading – Ecclesiastes 5:15: “We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.” So, if the meaning of life isn’t to be found in the "stuff" of life, where is it to be found? Psalm 111:10 says that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom, and that all who obey God’s commandments will grow in wisdom.
Intuitively, fear doesn’t seem like a great place to start a relationship with a loving God. Brad taught through the first seven verses of Ecclesiastes 5 this week – centering on the idea of a healthy fear of the Lord referenced in verse 7 – encouraging us to develop a dynamic reverence for God. I’m convinced that when my relationship with my Maker seems lackluster from time to time, it is due – in part – to having become too familiar or perhaps too comfortable in my friendship with Him. When I rightly fear God, I remember how vast He is, how powerful, how holy and perfectly good He is. This fear of the Lord serves as a reminder of how I am to love righteousness and hate evil, as He does. If I am fearing God and living in obedience, I will grow in wisdom and have the opportunity to live free of negative consequences my own disobedience would otherwise unleash. It’s as if the fear of the Lord is a gift that allows us to understand God in a way that leads us to freedom – if I am fully engaged in loving God and hating evil, I walk in Light and am compelled to move toward others in the love of God.
God is powerful. God is good. To know Him more fully, I must have a sense of respect, for immense He is.
How about you? Do you think your meaning in life could be impacted by a better understanding of what it means to fear and reverence God?
“Fear God and keep His commandments, this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 11:13)
Laura Mulliken serves as Associate Director for Leadership Development
Lessons I'm Learning
Maybe I’m just slow. Or maybe there’s just a lot to learn about leadership. Either way I feel like there are always new insights to pay attention to, things to correct, and principles to apply as a leader.
At CPC we’ve been working on a new kind of leadership retreat for leaders of small groups and teams across ministries (September 17/18 – mark your calendars NOW!). We’re setting the bar high and are super excited about the potential of this to energize, equip, and refresh leaders at the beginning of the school year.
The challenge is that this impacts a variety of ministry areas with subtle differences in needs – High School Ministry, The Table, and Adult Discipleship. And then there are the budgeting issues that require the wisdom of Solomon and the resources of Warren Bennett!
Here’s what I feel like I’ve been learning (that I’m trying to apply however imperfectly):
- You can’t please everyone, but if people feel listened to it goes a long way to building good will.
- Lack of communication builds distrust. Information in a timely manner is gold.
- It really is worth the hard work of multiple conversations and soliciting different perspectives in order to get a better product in the end.
- Unless it’s minor details, conversations in person are always more fruitful than emails. There’s just something about the give and take of a conversation that is catalytic and creative. And there’s less room for misunderstanding when you can hear the inflection in someone’s voice and see the expression on their face.
Those are just a few and I have so far to go. But right now I’m praying that in all the details we would truly be guided by the voice of God and create something that honors Him. What are YOU learning? I’d love to hear!
Laura Crosby serves as Director of Spiritual Formation for The Table at CPC
Identity
A number of years ago, I lost a job and I was astounded by the impact. I was disproportionately devastated. As hard as it is to admit, I realized that I had confused my role with my identity, confused my title with my purpose in life. The loss was more painful because I had allowed the job to become more significant than anything else.
In Ecclesiastes, over and over again Solomon seems to wrestle with this same confusion as he searches for meaning. In Ecclesiastes 4:8 he writes, “For whom am I toiling . . . this too is meaningless – a miserable business!”
Ironically, he writes with more certainty elsewhere in Proverbs: “A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree” (Proverbs 11:28 - The Message).
In my season of loss I needed to be reminded that jobs come and go, but nothing will change my identity as a beloved child of God, or my purpose – to glorify Him.
Psalm 62:5-6 became my refrain: “Find rest, my soul in God alone, my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
One of the disciplines of my life has been to do a periodic spirit check and ask myself, “Today, would you be ok without this job, or that possession, or that place? Or would you feel destroyed without it?”
What about you? If you were meeting someone for the first time without any job title, degree, accomplishments, awards, clothing label, car, or home to define you, how would you feel? What would your family and friends say is the driving force of your life? What would you like it to be?
Paul gives us a good reminder in Colossians: “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible . . . everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him" (Colossians 1:16 - The Message).
Laura Crosby serves as Director of Spiritual Formation for The Table at CPC
I Am Not a Good Servant
We hear the term servant leadership a lot, but it’s not my favorite thing to talk about.
I am not a good servant. I try, but I recognize this is a growing edge. I am embarrassed to say it out loud – I’m selfish and addicted to comfort.
So the other day was a test.
My husband, John and I both love to mow the lawn. I know, a little unusual, but it’s true. However, I love to mow the back yard, which is flat and manageable. I’ve claimed that as MY job, leaving the front yard which is basically one steeeeep hill, for John.
One day recently, in an uncharacteristic rush of servant spirit, I mowed part of the front lawn (the easy small flat square at the top) in addition to my backyard. I felt kind of proud of myself. I had gone above and beyond! (and it really didn’t inconvenience me).
Then again last week I mowed the back and started on the front thinking I’d do a little more of the easy part. But as I mowed I was convicted. A little argument went on in my head:
Me: “John serves you in so many ways and you can’t do this one hill for him? This is bogus serving if you just do the easy part.”
Me: “Yes, but it’s really hard and I might pull my shoulder on the hill and then I wouldn’t be able to play golf with him and that wouldn’t make him happy.”
Me: “Serving is Jesus-y. How can you say you follow Him and not do this little thing?”
Me: “Yes, but John might not even notice and then I won’t get credit!”
Jesus: “Whatever you do for the least of these you do for Me.”
Me: “Yea, whatever . . .” (I didn’t mean to be rude to Jesus but I was hot and uncomfortable – just what I try to avoid.)
Anyway, I’ve been thinking about this and wondering if there was ever a time when Jesus served others when it wasn’t uncomfortable or inconvenient.
What does servant leadership look like in your context? Talking less? Noticing and doing things that others don’t or won’t? Affirming others?
I’ve been wondering about what Jesus desires to do in us . . . form in me, through the discipline of serving in ways that often make me feel crabby. I’ve been thinking too about the value of secret service when no one knows, or notices, and you don’t get any attention or “Atta girl!” And I’m wondering if it’s in those moments that all of heaven cheers the loudest.
Laura Crosby serves as Director of Spiritual Formation for The Table at CPC
A Time for Everything
I have always loved Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes. He is just so human, so open about his diverse feelings and unabashedly confessional. While he believes in God and in His way, he also sees how humanity and sin have messed up God’s plans. And he is affected by it. When I first discovered Ecclesiastes, I considered it my go-to biblical book whenever I needed to sit in the confusion of life. Do you know what I mean? When things aren’t going all that well and you just need someone to commiserate with? Solomon is that guy for me.
Last September, The Table introduced a Discipleship Map to help us grow as Jesus’ disciples. I was most intrigued by the question, “Where Am I Now?” What about you? Are you . . .
- Exploring? (Do you feel drawn to God, but unsure what or if you believe?)
- Embarking? (Do you have a desire to take some first steps beyond coming to worship on Sunday?)
- Re-orienting? (Have you taken a detour from following Christ and desire to get back on track or are you entering a new season of life that affects your faith journey?)
- Resting? (Do you need healing, encouragement, or restoration?)
- Trail-blazing? (Do you desire to stretched - to allow God to use you in positions of leadership, open to stewarding your gifts, talents and resources in new ways for the kingdom?)
I feel like these are “Ecclesiastes” questions, questions that Solomon wouldn’t be afraid to ask. Just as he understands the need to heal after being torn down (3:3) and the desire to feel a sense of joy after having grieved (3:4), some of us may need rest, while others should try something new. In the first verse of chapter three, Solomon tells us that, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” For those of us searching for God, this may just mean that these are times when we are unsure about life; passionate about serving; confused about God’s plan; tired of searching; excited to explore the Bible. And each and every one of these feelings is okay.
What season are you in? CLICK HERE to explore.
Jennifer Boardman serves as Publications Coordinator at CPC
Small Things
Yesterday was a “day of small things.”
I love big hairy audacious goals (BHAGs). I love inspiring vision and a sense of being part of a kingdom movement. So were God’s people in the Old Testament.
Zechariah was a priest born in exile. As a young man he was allowed, along with others, to return from Babylon to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. The Israelites started out tackling this BHAG with great enthusiasm, but soon encountered obstacles. Those rebuilding the temple became totally discouraged and felt like their best efforts were insignificant and unappreciated. Can you relate?
Zechariah offers spiritual strength and encouragement: "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel" (Zechariah 4:10).
Zerubbabel is the governor of Jerusalem who is leading this disheartened group of builders. In verse 6 it says, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.”
There it is again! Sometimes we get addicted to flash when substance may be found in the quieter, “smaller” moments.
In America we’re trained to think bigger is better, but we also need to recognize and acknowledge the small things . . . small things that may represent spiritual breakthrough or a marking moment.
Many days I can get down on myself and “despise the day of small things.” I feel like I’m not aiming high enough, not seeing God-sized dreams realized.
However, yesterday I experienced a tiny victory . . . a “small thing.” I was able to share a word of relational caution with someone I care about and it was received in love and with appreciation. That may be meaningless to you, but in my world it was a moment to be marked and celebrated. A small thing that was a reminder that God isn’t finished with me yet.
Do you have trouble celebrating the days of “small things”? Is there someone around you who needs to be reminded that his or her efforts are not insignificant in the economy of God?
Laura Crosby serves as Director of Spiritual Formation for The Table at CPC
Secure in Your Skin
We talk a lot around leadership circles about needing to have a tough skin but a soft heart (and not the other way around!). My friend Heather Zempel wrote a great blog post on this called "This One's for the Girls" (http://www.discipleshipgroups.blogspot.com/).
But it’s got me thinking about a related issue. We all get criticized. Justly and unjustly. We all make mistakes. We all have seasons when it just feels like nothing’s going right.
One of the things my husband John and I have been talking about is the need in those times not only to have a tough skin, but maybe more importantly, a secure skin - an identity rooted in Christ - not in our role, our title, or our circumstances . . .
Often when I feel attacked or experience loss or failure my impulse is to become fearful or anxious. Without this title, or that possession or the next accomplishment maybe I’m not really ok, not valuable at all. I fear that maybe I’m “less than.” You ever struggle with those feelings? That’s when I need to hold my fears up to the truth of Scripture (2 Cor. 10:5)
“The courage to face unpleasant aspects of our inner self comes from feeling deeply loved. It also comes from the assurance that we are safe. Our gaze needs to go back and forth between divine love and our fears” (David Benner).
When criticized, are you able to listen, learn, and respond with the confidence that you’re God’s beloved child, secure in Him?
Laura Crosby serves as Director of Spiritual Formation for The Table at CPC
Do You Like Your Job?
Think of being at a party full of people you’re meeting for the first time. After your name, what’s the most common question you’ll hear?
“What do you do for a living?”
What would you say? How much does your job title define you? How much does it affect your self-image? If you don’t have a “title,” how does it feel when people ask you that question? If you had your title taken away today, how would you feel?
From Ecclesiastes 2 we can infer that if Solomon had been at the party he might have answered, “Well, I’m king! And by the way I’m also rich and accomplished and have a lot of women fulfilling my every fantasy.”
However, even if he put up a good front at the party, we know from Ecclesiastes that his job and accomplishments left him feeling empty and like life was meaningless. Why? Perhaps it was because he was looking to his work to supply his identity . . . an identity that can only come from God.
This is something the apostle Paul learned. Although he had tons of credentials which he listed in Philippians 3:5-6, in verses 7 and 10 he writes, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ . . . I want to know Christ”
Peter says it like this, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
With our identity firmly rooted in Christ we have nothing to prove and nothing to lose. However, we may want to add some to our job description as we live out our identity in our workplace – whether you are washing dishes, teaching kids how to read, or arguing a court case. Things like . . .
- value people above things
- do my work with excellence as for God
- serve others, putting their interest before my own
- bring kingdom values to my cubicle
LAURA CROSBY serves as Director of Spiritual Formation for The Table at CPC
Leadership and Prayer
The other day I was reminded of a leadership lesson from my mom. She told me that their church has an interim pastor and he had emailed her and my dad recently. He said he had set aside a day a month to pray for people in the church and he would be praying for them on this day, this month. He asked if there was anything he could pray about for them and if not he would still be lifting them up before God. My mom said that in over 50 years of membership in their church this was the first time a pastor had told them he was praying for them. It was so meaningful to her that not only would he do this, but that he would care to ask how he could pray.
It reminded me of another ministry couple who used to save the Christmas cards they received, pick one out of the pile each morning, pray for them and write a note. What a powerful ministry!
As God brings people to mind, or the Holy Spirit prompts us, my husband John and I pray for people in our community and often write a note, but I was struck by the power of commitment, intentionality, and discipline in the modeling of these other folks. I’ve decided to make a list of leaders and put them on days of my calendar to pray for. Are you praying for the people you lead? Praying for those who lead you? Do you do it regularly and systematically?
-LAURA CROSBY serves as Director of Spiritual Formation for The Table at CPC
Thoughts on Ecclesiastes 1
After the service Sunday night, I was stopped by someone who had actually read the whole book of Ecclesiastes that afternoon! As we talked, we agreed that the book can be a bit of a downer at times. There is this ongoing theme that Solomon thinks that everything -- and I mean everything -- is truly meaningless (hebel). My goal in this series is not to get everyone depressed but for us to name those places in our lives where we think things are meaningless -- and have them actually point and guide us to the gospel.
I believe with all of my heart that Solomon’s main issue is a problem with misplaced priorities. He is staring at everything that he deems meaningless through the lens of that very thing (e.g. work, family, etc.). But the beauty of the gospel is that if we look at our lives through the lens of Jesus things become full of meaning.
Here are some of the questions and statements I threw out Sunday night. I would love to hear your feedback around them:
- How am I responding to the people in my life? Am I being short with them? Am I overly anxious about the circumstances in my life? Have they become more important to me than Jesus? Am I looking at them through a lens of wanting them to complete me...?
- What brings meaning to my work, family, fun, etc.?
The resolution is this: Jesus is the King that wants to lead our lives. He wants to infuse all the stuff of our life with meaning. It’s not okay to live in Ecclesiastes; God is calling us to something new and fresh – the love of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
I encourage you to read Ecclesiastes 2 this week, and join us Sunday night as we continue our summer series in Ecclesiastes.
Peace,
Brad Jackson
-BRAD JACKSON serves as Pastor for The Table at CPC
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