The month of February, just concluded was Black History month. This year’s celebrations saw many companies continue their quest for diversity, equity and inclusion with a degree of urgency not seen before the death of George Floyd. What is it? How to do it in a sustainable manner? What is the return on investment? Who benefits?
A quick check of the literature reveals that this trending topic is largely being defined and considered through a secular lens. In this blog, I explore more closely the concept of inclusivity through a Biblical lens.
Inclusivity is commonly defined as the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or intellectual disabilities or belonging to other minority groups.[1]
Is there a theological basis for inclusivity? Certainly. God demonstrates inclusivity throughout scripture through myriad stories: the rescue of Rahab, a Canaanite, from one of the hated enemy groups of Israel; the redemption of Ruth, a pagan Moabitess, and member of an accursed race; and the saving of the people of Nineveh in spite of Jonah’s unwillingness to warn them about impending destruction.
In the New Testament, Jesus, our Saviour, is born, not in a palace in Jerusalem, but near a cattle trough in the small town of Bethlehem. Angels announced his birth, not to the powerful or rich, but to humble shepherds, who were not even permitted as witnesses in a court of law.
For his inner circle, Jesus chose people who were so diverse they would have struggled to be in the same room together under normal circumstances. There was Peter, impulsive, ambitious, self-assertive, and quick to commit without fully understanding the meaning of Jesus’ words or actions; and James and John, nick-named the “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus because they wanted to burn up a city when the people refused to welcome Jesus; Simon from the Zealots, a group that fought against Roman rule; and Matthew, who collected taxes on Rome’s behalf.
In a society where the witness of a woman was not admitted in court, Jesus first directly acknowledged his title of Messiah to a Samaritan woman of questionable reputation, who promptly spread the news to her community (John 4:25-42). He was compassionate towards social outcasts. He noticed people that others ignored or rejected. He stopped to hear the cries of those excluded from Jewish society—the blind, the lame, the mentally ill, and lepers. He honoured the despised by eating at their table (Luke19:5).
At his resurrection, he chose to appear to Mary Magdalene first, and asked her to carry the joyful news to the rest of his disciples (John 20:17,18).
We can see from these examples that during his ministry, Jesus was radically inclusive. He didn’t just let people of all kinds tag along, he involved them and moved them from a place where they were of no value, to places of importance.
Though God requires it, and Jesus demonstrated it, being inclusive does not come naturally to human beings. We tend to compete rather than to work together, and we struggle to empathize with people who are not like us.
The Book of Acts clearly shows how difficult this could be. Having witnessed their radical inclusion as believers, Peter still needed both a vision from God and the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit to persuade him that Gentiles were to be included in the family of God, without them needing to become Jews (Acts 10).
There were similar problems in Corinth where divisions ran deep along many lines, including the following of different leaders, divisions over meat offered to idols, and some members being seen as more important than others. The Apostle Paul publicly lectured Peter for eating separately from Gentiles, due to peer pressure from visiting Jews (Galatians 2:11-14).
For many, the requirement to be more inclusive was asking them to change deeply-ingrained habits of a lifetime but Paul, tackles these issues one by one and argues for a united body of believers. In 1 Corinthians 8:11, he says the church is “one body” and each member is important, “for whom Christ died”.
Do you find yourself struggling to be generous towards people who are different from you, or who aren’t part of your family or friendship group? Are you guilty of unfair treatment such as name-calling, work discrimination, gender stereo-typing, bullying, and harassment? Is your attention often attracted to popular people, rather than those who are alone or have problems? Are you introverted, and struggle to relate to people who are usually part of a noisy, extroverted group?
Let’s think about how you can be more open to connection with others, and more closely follow Jesus’ example of radical inclusivity. It takes thought, intentionality, practice, and Holy Ghost power.
[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=inclusivity+definition&oq=inclusivity+&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0i433i512j0i131i433i512j0i512l7.6426j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” This phrase is reminiscent of school recess when you didn’t want others to know how hurtful their words truly were. Words possess an energy that can heal, help, hurt, or destroy. A single word contains various hidden messages. It could leave us stunned for a moment or forever. No matter what anyone tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
Scientific studies actually show that positive and negative words not only affect us on a deep psychological level, they also have a significant impact on the outcome of our lives. In their neuroscience experiment, “Do words hurt”, Maria Richter and collaborating scientists monitored subjects’ brain responses to auditory and imagined negative words. Their study found that negative words release stress and anxiety-inducing hormones in subjects. Words matter.
How many of us have thoughtful flashbacks over the negative words and taunts that were uttered to us in our lifetime? Why then as Christians, do we sometimes find humour in voicing negative words to someone else? Why is it so commonplace to insult someone and take no thought of what was said?
I remember, not too long after I met Roderick, I got mad one day and told somebody off. I did not use bad words. I don’t use them but my tone was measured and the pace of words so deliberate that the person knew not to mess with me again. I remember Roderick saying, “Yes, what you said was factual but you must always pass your words through three gates. Gate One:” Is it true? Gate Two: “Is it kind? Gate Three: “Is it necessary? I have never forgotten that counsel.
Every encounter we have with another human is an opportunity to witness about the goodness of God. You can do so with positive words. The words you speak can shift the atmosphere around someone’s day and possibly their life. Do you know you can compliment someone and change the trajectory of their day positively?
The Bible says in Proverbs 12:18 says, the words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Our words should bring healing to a soul in turmoil, to someone going through a tough time, to someone needing a friend. How about speaking positivity into those you meet everyday, and especially at Christmastime this year!
- It is an innate tendency of nature and of life to manifest, grow, and become more; to produce more, and create more of everything. Scientists say that the Universe is always expanding and growing an endless number of stars and galaxies, and discovery of new sources of energy. This is bountifulness on a cosmic level.
- Bountifulness means abundance. There is abundance everywhere. The Universe is creating new things constantly which means constant growth and expansion. There is no limit to this expansion. In the physical environment, there are always new trees, new plants, animals, and various forms of life. In the production environment, manufacturers produce new cars, carpenters build new houses, and entrepreneurs create new businesses, and jobs. There is an abundance of stuff.
- Abundance can also appear in your personal life. You are living in a world where plenitude of everything is a fact: money, wealth, possessions as most people think, though not for everyone. But abundance also manifests in many other ways. It can manifest as opulence of love, friendship, knowledge, and health – as a great number of opportunities and plenty of fun and food, and good deeds.
- Thinking kinetically, it is also possible to possess plenty of energy, and you can create for yourself an abundance of time to do what you want; to have plenty of spirituality in your life, and there could be an abundance of caution, thinking, doing, or caring.
- Biblically, abundance is frequently mentioned as something God offers to those who trust in Him. Scripture says that God will provide an abundant life to those who “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Abundance in this sense means a life full of everything you need to sustain yourself in joy and purpose in Christ.
- There is abundance of everything on this planet. You might not have access to it right now, but I want to encourage you to move forward with confidence. Stop living from a place of lack and walk in the abundance that God has promised.
- Imagine that abundance is already manifesting in some area of your life. Feel it and enjoy the feeling. For the blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Matthew 13:12).
- In unbearable suffering, refrain from injuring others vengefully with unrighteous retaliation.
- In righteous boasting, refrain from senseless evil and strong drink.
- In utter happiness, refrain from comparing past and future moments with the present.
- In exuberance, refrain from comparing one friend’s body weight with another’s.
- In inconsolable sadness, refrain from violence of tongue.
- In anger, refrain from both speech and action.
- In betrayal by a spouse, refrain from dealing a whipcrack to their back with your hand.
- In dissonance, refrain from the fusion of melodious, harmonious notes.
- In failure, refrain from repetition of silly mistakes and frequent self-blame.
- In slights and putdowns, refrain from shouting and hollering. A soft answer will often do the trick.
- In adversity and failure, refrain from quitting ‘cold turkey’.
- In trials and struggles, refrain from complaining and blaming.
- In intemperance, refrain from excessive indulgence of habit.
- In deep fear and uncertainty, refrain from holding yourself back.
- In times of misunderstanding, refrain from cruel criticism and fault-finding.
Friendship is truly one of the greatest gifts in life. The Bible says:
- “One who has unreliable friendssoon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).
- “A friendloves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).
- “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel” (Proverbs 27:9).
Friendship, one of the oldest parts of our culture and our humanity, is a very powerful meaningful relationship, that binds people together into a strong emotional bond. A lot of friendly people form bonds with their closest friends early in life, be it in high school, grade school, or pre-school. My oldest friendship is over four decades long and started when I entered high school. This underscores one of the most important core facts about friendship: real friends stick around and have a powerful impact on your life.
David and Jonathan
Of all the friendships in the Bible, that of David and Jonathan stands out the most to me. 1 Samuel 18 describes their friendship: “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”
While this is the essence of friendship, to love another as you love yourself, three other elements—displayed love, loyalty, and emotional openness – are essential traits that psychologists deem necessary for friendships to thrive.
Jonathan sacrificed for David, stripping himself of the items which represented his power and position, and giving them to him. Jonathan was also unwaveringly loyal to David, warning him of King Saul, his own father’s treachery and desire to kill him. The two friends also shared a close emotional bond as well, and were unafraid of sharing their feelings: Jonathan wept when it became clear to him that David had to leave.
As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on for many of us, making and maintaining friendships has become even more important. Even if you’re quarantining or in isolation for a recent infection, it’s important that you find ways of reaching out to others, strengthening your sense of connection, and alleviating loneliness and isolation.
What are the benefits of friendships?
- Good friends are good for your health. They can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times.
- Friends prevent loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too. They can also increase your sense of belonging and purpose; boost your happiness and reduce your stress; improve your self-confidence and self-worth; and help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one
- Friends also play a significant role in promoting your overall health. Adults with strong social support have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression and high blood pressure.
- Studies have even found that older adults with a rich social life are likely to live longer than their peers with fewer connections.
What’s a healthy number of friends?
Quality counts more than quantity but I have heard that it is difficult to nourish and maintain more than ten friends at a time. While it’s good to cultivate a diverse network of friends and acquaintances, you also want to nurture a few truly close friends who will be there for you through thick and thin.
Focus on the way a friendship feels, not what it looks like.
The most important quality in a friendship is the way the relationship makes you feel—not how it looks on paper, how alike you seem on the surface, or what others think. Ask yourself:
- Do I feel better after spending time with this person?
- Am I myself around this person?
- Do I feel secure, or do I feel like I have to watch what I say and do?
- Is the person supportive and am I treated with respect?
- Is this a person I can trust?
The bottom line: if the friendship feels good, it is good, but if a person tries to control you, criticizes you, abuses your generosity, or brings unwanted drama or negative influences into your life, it’s time to re-evaluate the friendship. A good friend does not require you to compromise your values, always agree with them, or disregard your own needs.
Why is it sometimes hard to make friends or maintain friendships?
Developing and maintaining good friendships takes effort. The enjoyment and comfort friendship can provide, however, makes the investment worthwhile. However, many adults (including me) find it hard to develop new friendships or keep up existing friendships. Friendships may take a back seat to other priorities, such as work or caring for children or aging parents. You and your friends may have grown apart due to changes in your lifestyles or interests. Or maybe you’ve moved to a new community and haven’t yet found a way to meet people.
How can I nurture my friendships?
Making a new friend is just the beginning of teh journey. Cultivating friendships takes time so you need to nurture that new connection. To do this consider the following useful steps:
Be the friend that you would like to have. Use the golden rule and treat your friend just as you want them to treat you. Be reliable, thoughtful, trustworthy, and willing to share yourself and your time.
Be a good listener. Be prepared to listen to and support friends just as you want them to listen to and support you.
Give your friend space. Don’t be too clingy, or needy, or try to monopolize your friend. Everyone needs space to be alone or spend time with other people as well.
Don’t set too many rules and expectations. Instead, allow your friendship to evolve naturally. You are unique individuals so your friendship probably won’t develop exactly as you expect.
Be forgiving. No one is perfect and every friend will make mistakes. No friendship develops smoothly so when there’s a bump in the road, try to find a way to overcome the problem and move on. It will often deepen the bond between you.
The Promise of the GPS
One of the biggest technological improvements in my lifetime is the Global positioning System (GPS). It has a been a long time since I printed out paper maps and turn-by-turn directions to get me places. Now, all I have to do is to plug in the address in either my handheld GPS or the one in my car and do what it says. I do not have to worry because my GPS knows the way.
The GPS is a United States-owned navigation system that offers land, sea, and airborne users positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services to determine their exact location, velocity, and time 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions, anywhere in the world.[1] The system comprises three segments:
- The space segment of satellites that act like the stars in constellations helping us know where they are supposed to be at any given time;
- The control segment or ground stations that use radar to make sure they are actually where we think they are; and
- The user segment, or receivers, like you might find in your phone or car, are constantly listening for the satellite signals to figure out how far away they are from some of them. Incredibly, a receiver on the ground can calculate its distance from four or more satellites that are miles up in space, and once that happens, it can tell exactly where you are.
The GPS knows which way is most efficient and lays out the best route, anticipating traffic and other roadblocks to help me get to my destination quickly and safely. This is especially true if it is somewhere I never visited. My GPS sees the big picture, and even if I make a mistake and miss a turn, it redirects me, with that well-known advisory “re-calculating”, and sets me on a new course.
The Holy Spirit is Our GPS
Just like the faith I put in my GPS, I need to choose God’s guidance and to trust His directions. God sees the big picture of our plans and gives guidance. He knows best, even when I think there’s a better way, or try to figure out my own way in life. Since I can’t always anticipate life’s roadblocks, I end up taking a detour, but God knows everything, and my journey is always smoother when I rely on His guidance. When I do mess up and take a wrong turn, He is faithful to redirect me with the assurance found in Isaiah, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV).
Like the GPS, the Holy Spirit does not require the user to transmit any data to prepare a new route for me, and to lead the way on the journey to heaven. Prayer, Bible study, and witnessing will help us see which route to take, but the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. Jesus asks us to listen to His voice because He still speaks. He still guides. He still protects. However, we must quiet ourselves and listen carefully so He can get us where we need to go. Only when we are still can we hear the directions He gives. He is truly the Great Navigator. May we learn to rely on the Holy Spirit the same way we rely on our GPS.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System
As the two-plus year pandemic wanes, many are wondering about getting back to normal. We look back on the past, what we once had or did with nostalgia and imagine it better than it actually was. So, we once again start to yearn for exotic places, long-haul flights, and place names that evoke romance and adventure. Others yearn to welcome back the familiarity of protests, riots, and poverty marches that give their lives a sense of purpose.
The newly freed Israelites also faced this longing for the familiar as they gathered around Mount Sinai, waiting for their beloved leader Moses to descend. Although the Lord had been revealing to Moses how Israel should worship, the Bible records a shameful story of worship gone amuck. As Moses was on Mt. Sinai for an extended time, the Israelites asked Aaron to “make gods” to lead them. Aaron complied with this request, gathering gold from the people and moulding a calf-like image, mounting it on an altar so the people could offer sacrifices and celebrate feasting, drinking, and “pagan revelry” (Exodus 32:1-6).
In violating the second commandment, the Israelites were re-shaping their relationship with God in light of that which was familiar to them, namely, idolatry and revelry. They wanted to worship the LORD through means of a visual symbol that might well have been used for worship in Egypt or other pagan nations in the Ancient Near East. This is why Aaron could describe their pagan celebration as “a festival to the LORD” (Exodus 32:5).
As I begin to reflect upon this sad story in Exodus 32, I find it easy to turn up my nose at the Israelites, thinking of them as idolatrous and even foolish. But then I think of how we often do the same thing in our walk of faith. The old life we left and its temptations lure us and invite us back and sometimes we succumb. We forget that the lure of the familiar is powerful, a deadly thief, robbing us of our new life in Christ of its grace, joy, and victory.
God’s people must not fall prey to the same thing. the same thing. Paul asks in Galatians 4:9, “But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?” Our answer must be that we won’t do that. We won’t go back and mix idolatry with the worship of the true God like Israel of old did. We must not go back to old religious views that say we can earn our salvation based on the righteous works that we do. Why, because “all our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).”
Very soon life as we know will become very unfamiliar for good. There will be strife, pestilences, persecution and a time of trouble such as never has been since there was a nation till that time” (Daniel 12:1). Nothing will be as we remember it to be. Are you ready for this time? As trouble approaches let’s get ready because it’s but a prelude to the future joy in heaven that is beyond our wildest imagination.
Growing up, I frequently experienced corporal punishment. It was fairly common for parents to establish their power and authority over what they called ‘disobedient or insolent children’ with whippings to the butt, hands, or feet. I also had the misfortune of getting double doses as I was also whipped by my school teachers. I want to say at the outset that my goal is not to discuss either the legality or rightness of spanking children though I confess that many times it felt like an unjust exhibition of ego.
Permit me to draw your attention to the subject of this blog: a familiar Bible story where someone also used the whip but in a very different way. Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Travelling by foot, they go to the city on Monday and headed straight for the temple. As they navigated the streets in Jerusalem, they passed thousands of worshippers from Palestine and other distant lands who had gathered for this important feast.
Unlike previous visits, Jesus saw a very disturbing sight upon entering the temple. Merchants and moneychangers were exchanging foreign currency and selling animal sacrifices to worshippers (pigeons, doves, sheep, goats, and oxen), overcharging them for the two essential things that were needed to participate in worship: temple coins and an animal to sacrifice.
Jesus’ heart ached at the lack of pity and compassion of the priests who claimed to be guardians of the poor, the blind and the lame but who rendered no assistance to get them humblest of offerings to offer to the Lord. He hated the noise and commotion in the temple court that made it impossible for the worshippers to pray. He was angry at the moneychangers’ greed and desecration of his house that he took some cords and wove them together into a whip.
Then he began to knock over the tables of the moneychangers, spilling coins on the ground. No one dared stop him as he declared “My house shall be called a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13, ESV). All at once, sheep, oxen, brokers, and cattle rushed from the temple to escape Jesus’ condemnation. The regular people were impressed by Jesus who once again brought peace out of commotion but the priests and rulers began to plot to destroy him.
What lessons can we learn from this story of Jesus cleansing the temple? I have a few important ones that I would like to share with you.
- We must take a stand against injustice.
Do you ever use others in order to advance your own purposes? Do you speak up when you see someone acting unjustly? Where is your whip when you see someone taking advantage of another in the workplace, at school, and even at church? Jesus took a stand and spoke up in no uncertain terms. Perhaps, we should get a whip and do the same.
- Anger can be a good thing.
God gave us the emotion of anger and he expects us to use it without sinning. Jesus was angry because people in authority were merchandising his grace and perverting the use of His Father’s house of worship but he did not sin. Does child abuse make you angry? What emotions are awakened when you hear about domestic violence, human trafficking, racism, and discrimination? Your anger can be a catalyst for getting involved in these causes that would otherwise be ignored. So, if anger is nowhere on your radar, you might want to ask yourself why not.
- We must be a magnet for change.
Soon after Jesus dealt with opportunists, he became a magnet for the disadvantaged. The Bible tells us that the blind and the lame came to him, and children acknowledged him and praised him with “Hosanna to the son of David” (Matthew 21:14, ESV). It may be that when we take a courageous stand for the right that someone will recognize and appreciate us for doing that. The world is full of downtrodden people who are looking for someone to stand up for them. Get your proverbial whip and make a difference.
- Church is for worship, not merchandising.
Jesus clearly stated the purpose for coming to his house – prayer. Wherever God manifests His presence, the place is holy as when God descended upon Mt. Sinai and consecrated it by his presence. When we enter his house, God expects us to commune with him in prayer and to not let our actions prevent others from doing the same. There must be no merchandising – buying and selling – of stuff, including religious stuff because it defiles his house.
The Apostle Paul also reminds us that our body is the temple for the indwelling Christ, and a witness to the world. We must, therefore ensure that we put nothing in it that defiles. “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy which temple you are” (1 Corinthians 3:17, NKJV).
Jesus’ cleansing of the temple is emblematic of the cleansing work he wants to do in our hearts. However, this work is not done with a whip. Christ stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, and if we choose to open the door, he will come in and dine with us. I did, and I encourage you to open your heart to him today. Will you?
“Dear Mr. X or Dear Ms. Y: Thank you for your proposal, but we are unable to consider it at this time.”
I am sure that many of you heard ‘no’ at some time in your life. When you are a businessperson and sales attendant, you hear that word a lot. A rejection letter to a job or university applicant is also a ‘no’. Hearing ‘no’ raises two important questions: How do you deal with ‘no’ and how do you turn ‘no’ into ‘yes’.
From my personal experience, there are many ways of dealing with rejection. One option is to curl up, sulk and be miserable, thinking about how bad are the world and people. This often leads to massive discouragement and a sense of being beaten down. A second and perhaps more healthy option is to accept it focus on how to turn it into a positive. The issue is how to do this.
In this blog, I want to share with you a few steps to take if you want to change ‘no’ into ‘yes’, if you so choose.
- Use ‘no’ as a temperature check. This is a way of ascertaining whether ‘no’ is a final answer or the respondent’s way of buying time before making a final decision. I remember the time when I was trying to get a cost reduction on the price for building and servicing this website. The company I sourced was interested but the front desk representative said ‘no’. She was certain that the company would not flex with the published price offer. I knew they were interested in my business so I pressed to speak with the Manager about other options. About 5 minutes into the conversation, the Manager decided to offer me a customized package of services. Today, they are still supporting my website.
Recently, I was able to get my credit card company to adjust their interest rate policy on purchases made after securing a balance transfer. Credit card companies usually charge interest in a manner that is advantageous to the companies. I had done a balanced transfer at a 0% interest rate for 10 months with a card company. Subsequently, I made a purchase on the card that I knew would attract interest at the regular rate of about 22%. I enquired how I could pay off the latter purchase without incurring interest payments over the remainder of the balance transfer period. The advice I received was to pay twice the amount of the second purchase because the company applied bill payments on a 50:50 basis. When I realized the distribution applied was more like 90:10, I called the company. After some back and forth and my pressing the issue, they relented and ‘no’ was turned to ‘yes’. They decided to apply the 0% interest rate to the entire purchase to keep me as a client. At times, it is beneficial to do that temperature check. It works.
- Do some intense self-examination. Whenever you hear ‘no’, it is a good chance to assess whether you are doing anything badly. Sometimes, it is you and not the other party. Your sales pitch may be off, too long or not detailed or focused enough. Maybe, your response was mediocre and not well thought out. You need to find out where you went wrong but do not try to do the self-examination on your own. It is hard to critically asses your own work and identify flaws. Moreover, your process did not yield a desirable outcome the first time. A better way to do your self-examination it is to share what you did with a trusted friend or family member and ask for an honest opinion. At other times, you may ask the naysayer to give you a reason for the decision. This latter approach will allow you to get some constructive criticism, to help you learn from the experience, and to make improvements or outright changes so you can regain confidence and get back out there.
In addition, it is also useful to assess why you got the ‘no’. Did it stem from?
- Wrong information. Maybe you did not clearly why a ‘yes’ decision clearly was a good decision for the other party. Here, provision of the correct information could change the outcome.
- A wrong circumstance. If the other party is facing obstacles over which they have no control, they cannot say ‘yes’. If you can work together overcome the block, a ‘yes’ may be possible.
- Wrong timing. The other party needs some time to brood over the matter and is stalling. Be patient and check in again. Do a second check in. Maybe the second time will be the charm.
- Don’t take ‘no’ too seriously. Having the right attitude about a ‘no’ can go a long way to getting to ‘yes’. A negative response is not the end of the road. Instead, it can build resilience and strength of character. I remember may last ‘no’ very clearly as it was done to my face. I simply smiled to myself. I knew the evaluation process was hurried and flawed, and the proposal was not fairly considered. In fact, I fully expect there will be some groveling and back peddling in the near future. I am not taking the first ‘no’ seriously at all. I view it as a precursor to hitting that all-important home run. So, keep trying. Keep getting better. Your next ‘yes’ is on the way.
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).
I am sure you have heard the term” have a cutting edge” or “be at the cutting edge”. It refers to the “most modern stage of development in a particular type of work or activity” or “the most recent stage in the development of something” that usually gives an advantage.[1] So, you often hear of companies at the cutting edge of communication technology or scientific evidence; or organizations wanting employees with skills that put the company at the cutting edge of product design or innovation.
Yesterday, as I was chatting with a friend who I admire in many ways, I was reminded of this term when she shared that she feared she has lost her spiritual cutting edge. She used to care about ministry and being involved in ministry but feels as if she has lost her effectiveness and enthusiasm for doing the Lord’s work. As this can happen to any one of us, I want to share some of my thoughts on recovering your spiritual cutting edge from 2 Kings 6:1-7.
The “sons of the prophets” (today, we might refer to them as a class of theology students) were studying under the Prophet Elisha. Many young men had joined the seminary but soon they ran out of space to accommodate everyone. So, they came up with an idea to build a new dormitory. With Elisha, the trainer’s permission, and his encouraging and inspiring presence, they went down to the Jordan river to start cutting down trees, to build their new accommodations.
Like many students, the one in this passage, did not have all the resources he needed and resorted to borrowing to fulfil his lack. He borrowed an axe so he could do his part and help with the building project. Pretty soon a problem arose. One day, while cutting down a tree, his axe head flew off the handle, landed in the Jordan river and sank to the bottom. In one mighty swing, he lost his cutting edge, and the power tool that made him effective.
Ever felt like this, spiritually? I have, at least a few times, but the question is, “What should you do when you think you’ve lost your spiritual cutting edge?”
Here are a few suggestions for recovering your spiritual cutting edge:
- Accept responsibility for losing your spiritual edge. This young man lost his cutting edge and his effectiveness in doing the work he set out to do. He suffered the loss while he was cutting trees. He didn’t blame anyone else for what had happened! No, He took full responsibility for what had happened. Maybe, he had neglected to maintain his power tool and to ensure it was in good working order. Such neglect may also be true of your spiritual life. When you lose your “spiritual edge”, you must accept personal responsibility for it. You can point a finger at the Pastor or Elder and say “I lost my spiritual edge” because the sermons you guys preach are boring and I don’t feel engaged; or you can say “I lost my spiritual edge because the church’s programs do not meet my needs” or “I am working too hard doing church assignments and I lost my spiritual edge”. The truth is the blame lies with you and you must take responsibility for the loss. To prevent this from happening, you must constantly ensure that your spiritual connection with God is tight and firm to prevent slippage and loss.
- Stop chopping as soon as you recognize you’ve lost your edge. When the young prophet lost his cutting edge, he stopped swinging as soon as he realized it was missing. He took a break. Think about it. If he continued trying to cut down trees, he would only be swinging at the tree bark, making noise, wasting time, and losing energy without making any real progress. He stopped chopping and so should you. If you sense that you have lost your spiritual edge, stop. Take a break. Rest. Pray. Study. Reconnect with God and meditate on His greatness. Reflect on who you are, what you do, and why you do it to better understand your divine purpose.
- Consider your accountability to the resource owner. Having lost his cutting edge, the young prophet cried out for help. “Alas, my master! It was borrowed” (2 Kings 6:5). He lamented the loss of the borrowed axe head. It did not belong to him, and he would have to return it to the rightful owner who lent it to him. Likewise, your gifts, talents, and any ministries or opportunities you have, are not yours. They belong to God, the owner of everything in heaven and earth. 1 Corinthians 6: 19, 20 says “You are not your own and what you have does not belong to you. You are a manager, a steward, a trustee of what belongs to the Lord, and you will have to answer to Him for all that he has entrusted to you to manage. Always consider that.
- Seek help. The cry of the young student was also an immediate call for help. “Alas, my master!” he said to Elisha because there was nothing he could do about the situation on his own. He needed help. I do not think he expected Elisha, the man of God, to perform a miracle, but he recognized he needed his help. You too need help. You cannot recover your spiritual cutting edge on your own. Call on the Lord, and ask Him to do for you that which you cannot do for yourself. Seek help from spiritual leaders the Lord has placed in your life for fellowship, encouragement, and support. Once you have done this, God will act to help you restore your spiritual edge.
- Examine the problem closely. Elisha responded to the young man’s cry for help with a question, “Where did it fall?” This question required the young man to reflect on what happened, to retrace his steps, to examine his situation. So should you. Take the time and trouble to examine the problem. Where and when did you lose your spiritual edge? Was it through neglect of Bible study and prayer? When you fell back into some old sinful habit? When you stopped regular church attendance, or after some controversy with a fellow believer? Our tendency is to sink into despair, or to keep trying to work through the problem on our own without identifying where the missing ‘axe head’ is located so you could retrieve it.
- Expect God to provide help, then retrieve your cutting edge. The story about the sunken axe head ends with a miracle. Elisha, the man of God, threw a stick into the water, and the axe head floated to surface of the water. Yes, the iron axe head floated. Then the young student retrieved it himself. God miraculously intervened to restore what the young prophet lost. Similarly, when you lose your spiritual edge, it is important to wait for God’s response, and to and to make every effort personally to retrieve your spiritual edge. Notice, although God performs the miracle of restoration, you have to retrieve your cutting edge yourself. So, if you have neglected Bible study, prayer, and regular church attendance you must recommit yourself to doing these things again to restore what was lost. Remember, only with God’s help, can you recover your spiritual edge. He assures you that when you seek him, you will find him, when you search for him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
Have you lost your spiritual edge? Take action today, and experience the miracle God as for you.
[1] https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cutting-edge
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