I hate when USC’s football
team loses. I recognize that, among the manifold major issues plaguing
our world, whether or not a bunch of 18 to 22 year olds win a football game
doesn’t rank highly enough in importance to even reach unimportant. But I
had to at least say it …
As I read through the blogs
and Instagram posts after the game to share in pain with the many other Trojan
alumni (trying to look past the profanity that proliferates not only in the
football culture but seemingly our whole culture), there was a common theme
that struck a chord with me, and ironically it fit a scripture verse that I
felt had a lot of applicability to many of us.
One of the criticisms of
USC’s defense in years past (and it was mentioned about last night's loss)
is this notion of “bend, but don’t break.” Meaning, allow the
offense to make little gains here and there, but don’t allow them to make big
gains. To me, little gains eventually add up to big ones. It seems
that being conservative in that way ultimately fails … you just prolong the
eventual. Now obviously many, many people way more expert in football
than me will argue against my point, and probably aptly. Perhaps it’s my
competitive and black-and-white nature. But it still seems to me that
“bend, but don’t break” ultimately becomes, “bend, and eventually, break.”
The same holds true in life
and in our personal behaviors. What we allow, we avow … speaking of our
personal actions, not those of others. I’ll clarify my point in a
minute. But during my reading through Micah 2 – 7, Psalms 101 – 107,
Jeremiah 2 – 8, and Nahum 1, this week, I came across Psalm 101, and some
crucial reminders of the need for vigilance in our behavior. Psalm 101
(NLT), written by king David, reads …
I
will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs.
I will be careful to live a blameless life — when will you come to help
me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will
refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal
crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject
perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate
people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride.
I will search for faithful people to be my companions.
Only those who are
above reproach will be allowed to serve me. I will not allow deceivers to
serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence. My daily task
will be to ferret out the wicked and free the city of the Lord from their grip.
Now let me be categorical in
saying … nothing in this passage is suggested to give us license to go around
and poke others in the eye about the wicked things they’re doing. Too
often, we as Christians spend too much of our time pointing our fingers at
others and speaking down our noses at their wickedness … all the while missing
our own. We should never forget that while God abhors all sin, that
includes our personal sin, which is the only sin over which we are accountable.
Anyhow, what I love about
this psalm is how explicit it is … and how driven to personal responsibility it
is. Poignantly, David writes about struggles and sinfulness that no doubt
he must have battled with, because frankly we all do.
He starts off by identifying
the best way to equip ourselves of success on the balance of the admonitions in
the psalm … by reminding us to recognize God’s goodness and power … the very
power to which we have access through the Holy Spirit to set the goals that
follow throughout the rest of the psalm. Let’s face it, we are … when left
to our own devices … utterly incapable of behaving in a God-honoring way.
The Bible says that ALL have sinned (Romans 3:23) and that there are NONE that
are righteous (Romans 3:10), but that we can have Christ’s righteousness
because God laid upon Him all our sin. So, if we’re going to achieve any
positive behavior, we have to give God the glory and credit up front.
After this proper
recognition, David begins by acknowledging his responsibility for the type of
personal accountability for which we all should strive. Note that
he doesn’t say, “I will try to,” or “I will do my best to,” or “So long as
other people do what they’re supposed to, I will …” He hits the nail on the
head, by being specific, to the point, and unambiguous … he says, “I will
lead a life of integrity in my own home,” and “I will refused to
look at anything vile or vulgar,” and “I will have nothing to do
with all those who deal crookedly.” The rest of the psalm is equally
plain, and demonstrative.
Take a second to read the
psalm again, this time out loud. If you’re like me, you almost take this
as a bit of a pledge or covenant. I challenge you (us) to accept it as
such. Any or all of those statements are challenging in our daily life,
but pivotal not only if we’re to live the life that God wants us to (most
importantly) but also if we’re to have successful lives. It goes without
saying that these types of behaviors, and commitments to exhibit them
consistently, are the only way we as Christians, business and community
leaders, parents, friends, colleagues, etc., are ever to gain and maintain the
trust and relationship that we seek for our fulfillment, and that others need
if we’re ever to point them to Jesus.
Equally important, though, is
how unequivocal the standard is as David lays it out. It’s clear from
scripture that ANY deviation, however minor, from God’s holy standard is
sin. So, with respect to the types of behaviors David talks about we must
be absolute. Again, not in pointing out in a condemning way the shortfalls
of others, but in laying upon ourselves the standards of expectations.
That is, we must never bend, lest we break.
The Bible teaches that a
little sin invades and pervades us (1 Corinthians 5:6) … that is, when we allow
even a little bit of sin in our life, it’s far easier to allow more and
more. Thus, we have to take a very hard line on the standard we expect of
ourselves. It’s not that we’ll ever achieve that standard, but our
attitude MUST be unrelenting and uncompromising. That’s the only way
we’ll ever have a chance to live a life that is pleasing to God and likely to
result in the type of fulfillment we seek (which can only come from Him).
It’s certainly not a guarantee, but it’s a crucial element.
That’s also the only way we
can live a life that is attractive to others; the only way we can show people
the validity and value of a life lived for God’s glory; the only way to
demonstrate why someone would want to know Jesus.
This week, let’s prayerfully
ask the Lord to reveal to us any of the areas in Psalms 101 where we might not
be attaining the standard to the degree we ought. Let’s also pray that
He’ll help us to be open to the truth and feedback with which He responds in
His grace. Either way, let’s commit … don’t bend … don’t break.
Doing neither …
MR
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