Word of the Week - "Life that is truly Life"

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

How are you living? – I love this short 10 minute graduation speech by Rick Rigsby https://youtu.be/Bg_Q7KYWG1g , a black man that I believe has a sound and godly perspective on what truly matters and how we overcome many of the challenges we are facing as a country during this time.  I would highly encourage you to watch this short video for a dose of healthy perspective.  I love the fact that he points out principals of what we can do to produce life giving results from a life well lived day by day.  Let’s focus on what we can do to make a positive contribution to our community by living and advocating for good healthy life principals of unity vs. focusing on what we are against and planting seeds of disunity.  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (satan - the enemy of our soul).” Ephesians 6:12The following are a few simple but profound truths that Rick highlights in his talk titled “How are you living”:Seek Knowledge and Wisdom:  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:7  Rick talks about the knowledge and wisdom imparted to him by his dad who was a cook and had a third grade education.  The truth is that God is the giver of knowledge and wisdom if we have a heart to seek truth and pray for wisdom.  We must be seekers of the truth so we can be informed to gain knowledge that gives us a basis for action to affect change.  If we simply operate from emotion without knowledge then we become foolish and this can cause chaos and destruction which we are witnessing around our country today.  There is a way to impact healthy change and reform but it requires godly knowledge and wisdom not simple emotional rebellion against authority.Take Responsibility:  “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us .  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.  We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it.  On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.  For even when we were with you, we gave this rule;  “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10  Rick points out the example his father made in his life by deciding to be a man and taking on the responsibility of life to be a provider, protector and parent to his family.  This was not a question about his circumstance it was a decision to make the most of his life by taking on responsibility for his life and family.  We need to be careful that our motivation is not about entitlement, which as history demonstrates leads to the downfall of a healthy society.  God put every person on earth with a purpose to contribute humanity by using their talents and gifts to add and create value.Be a Servant : “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45 Rick talks about having a servants heart and the story about Coach Wooden sweeping the floor each day and that we should all “find our broom”.  The key is that we have an understanding that we have been put on this earth for something bigger than ourselves and as demonstrated by the life of Jesus, we are here to use our lives to serve others.  If we have a united heart to Love and serve God by loving and serving His people, we will thrive as a community and nation but if we take on a victim mentality and demand that others serve us to our liking, then we will never be satisfied because no one will ever be able to live up to our expectations because the motivation is not in order.  We cannot dictate or mandate service, we must encourage and incent it with the right values, examples and incentives.Rick had many other great life giving principals he shared in lessons from his father that all have a biblical premise to include:

• Don’t judge others
• Be the best you that you can be
• If you believe you can then you can
• If you are going to do something then do it right with excellence
• Be tough minded but always kind hearted
• Pride is the demise of the foolish
• Failure is part of the process of life – fail forward and learn from your mistakes

In closing Rick talked about the low that he and his boys experienced when his wife passed away from cancer.  He said that his faith in God and his father’s wisdom are what got him through this very dark and trying time of his life.  His dad told him that no matter what happened and how painful the circumstance that he needed to “stand” in faith and continue standing.  I love this and it points to God’s word in Ephesians 6:12 “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand”. In the midst of this trying time, I hope Rick’s message and this word inspires you with biblical life principals that are true and have stood the test of time.  Each of us has the opportunity to make a difference by the way we live and how we treat all of our brothers and sisters regardless of their skin color, race or ethnicity.Blessings,-Duane