On Knowing the Future
Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog residing in Young Township near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who is the central figure in Punxsutawney’s annual Groundhog Day celebration. He is credited with having correctly forecasted whether there will be an early spring or six more weeks of weather. This year he is predicting an early spring. It is a novel approach to mankind’s unending search for knowledge of the future. It is lighthearted, but illustrative of a desire to know the future. This adrenal thirst for knowledge of the future is unending.
In Greek mythology Croesus King of Lydia visited the oracle of Delphi and sought her wisdom regarding the outcome of his forthcoming battle with the Persians. She said, “If you make war on the Persians, you will destroy a great empire.”
Confidently he went forth to conquer only to be badly defeated. Later he returned and reminded the oracle she had foretold a great victory. She said she didn’t predict who would win, only that a great empire would be destroyed and his was.
Croesus’ story provides a warning on how not to interpret oracular statements. It shows the importance of careful consideration of the divine word and the dangers of arrogant assumptions.
Fortune tellers, soothsayers, card readers, and the like most often leave themselves wiggle room in making predictions.
In the Bible Saul improperly sought the wisdom of a witch. Jesus advised against improperly seeking to know the future. In a Scripture passage normally considered caution regarding worry wisdom is found in not seeking to know the future. He concluded, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6: 34).
Some modern day preachers make a lot of money presuming to know details of the future based on general prophetic principles.
“…when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” Deuteronomy 18:21-22
Such a person, even if he has a big TV or radio ministry, is not to be trusted.
There is a fine line between seeking to know the future and properly planning for the future. Proper planning for your future is wise. Preoccupation with details of the future indicate a lack of trust of the Lord. He is already there waiting to bless.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3
Envy: The Green-Eyed Monster
There is so much in the Bible regarding envy it is expedient to consider it.
“It was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him” Mark 15:10.
Thus it is directly attributed to being a sin leading Jesus to the cross. Of all possible sins it is identified as being a primary cause of His crucifixion.
Shakespeare dubbed it, “the green-eyed monster.” Chaucer called it a: “foul sin… the worst of sins” because it is “against all virtues and against every manner of goodness.”
Envy is one bad sin, so we need to take a closer look at it.
Jealousy and envy are opposite sides of the same coin.
The obverse side, envy, is wanting what someone else has.
The reverse side, jealousy, is wishing they didn’t have it.
Envy is the act of counting the blessings of others rather than your own. It comes from a lack of appreciation for your own blessings.
From Bible time it sometimes manifested itself even in ministry. “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill” Philippians 1: 15.
Love is often corrupted by envy. However, “ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud” I Corinthians 13:4.
Envy is even indirect criticism of God. It portends you know better than God as to what you need and another has.
Can you rejoice over the accomplishments and possessions of others? Are you given to complimenting the accomplishments of others? It is a shield against envy.
Essayist Gore Vidal once confessed, “Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.” Is his confession characteristic of you to any degree?
Find your contentment in what God has provided. It is good to have ambition and strive for greater accomplishments as a workman that needs not to be ashamed. Do it without envying others accomplishments. We often feel envy in spite of ourselves, even though we don’t want to. It’s the great unsought sin which reveals itself often by curt, cryptic, crass, catty and terse comments. Replace them with praise. If you are prone to envy or even engage in a single act of it, acknowledge it to God and ask His forgiveness. Like any unconfessed sin it estranges us from God. That makes us vulnerable to even more varied sins.
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind” I Peter 2: 1.
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another” Galatians 5: 25, 26.
Words of Wisdom
Raphael’s fresco “The School of Athens” is the marriage of art, philosophy, and science that was a hallmark of the Italian Renaissance. Painted between 1509 and 1511, it is located in the first of the four rooms designed by Raphael, the Stanza della Segnatura.
But just what does this famous painting mean? Let’s look at what the iconic The School of Athens meant for Raphael as an artist and how it’s become such a symbol of the Renaissance. The stellar work was commissioned by the Pope. An elderly Plato stands at the left, pointing his finger to the sky. Beside him is his student Aristotle. In a display of superb foreshortening, Aristotle reaches his right arm directly out toward the viewer. Each man holds a copy of their books in their left hand—Timaeus for Plato and Nicomachean Ethics for Aristotle.
In the masterpiece Plato’s gesture toward the sky is thought to indicate his Theory of Forms. This philosophy argues that the “real” world is not the physical one, but instead a spiritual realm of ideas filled with abstract concepts and ideas. The physical realm, for Plato, is merely the material, imperfect things we see and interact with on a daily basis.
By contrast Aristotle’s hand is a visual representation of his belief that knowledge comes from experience. Empiricism, as it is known, theorizes that humans must have concrete evidence to support their ideas and is very much grounded in the physical world.
Historically the combined theories represented by two iconoclastic scholars leaves many wondering what is the hidden meaning.
By way of contrast there is another historical figure who exceeded the two combined in understandable thought.
The officials reporting to the chief priest said of Jesus, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” John 7: 46.
The words of Plato and Aristotle like those of all wise men of all ages were informative. Jesus’ words were transformative. Their words were worldly, Jesus’ words were other worldly.
Jesus has been described as the “Orator of the Universe.” However it was not how He spoke that was most important, but what He spoke. His teachings are the gold standard of truth. His words cut to the heart of the matter with penetrating psychology.
It is critically important that we be able to truthfully say, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. (Psalm 119: 10, 11).
Knowing a truth and not applying it is little better than not knowing the truth. Study and memorize the words of Jesus to be wise. Apply them and be blessed.
It’s off to Work We Go
In every relationship, whether a working environment or simply a group relation, there are three groups. Following the listing of them, before you judge others by them, evaluate how others might judge you by them. They are:
1) People who get it. 2) People who don’t get it. 3) People who never will get it.
When there is something to be done some people “get it” right away. Others “don’t get it” without detailed instruction, and continual supervision. The third group is people “who will never get it.”
If you are a supervisor, after a time of instruction you realize there are people who will never get it. You have to decide if that is the type of people you want to be associated with socially or working for you. If it is a working relationship the only alternative is to gracefully and tactfully explain to them you need a person with a different skill set in the position and replace them, or gradually part company with them if it is a social relationship.
We are not only called to work, but to work well, as if we are working for God Himself (Colossians 3:23-24). God is the One who gives us the ability to work (Exodus 31:2-6), and we honor Him by living up to the limit of those gifts (Matthew 25:14-30).
Before considering those three categories in a working relationship consider them in a social relationship, an interpersonal relationship. Some people are a desert when it comes to having social skills. That is. they have none.
Socially it is virtually impossible to try to improve a person’s social skills. The best way is to model such skills. Addressing them otherwise can engender hostility. Every person has faults, you just have to decide whose faults you are willing to tolerate and make those persons your friends.
Applying the three classifications in a professional working relationship is in itself a stewardship. After constructively observing a person’s performance in a job it can be decided if they “don’t get it’ or if they “never will get it.” Work with the first person of the two long enough to ascertain if they will “never get it.” It is poor stewardship on behalf of the supervisor who allows a person who will “never get it” in a professional position to continue in the position. Releasing such a person is when a supervisor earns their money by performing such a task. Professionally it is expedient to document warnings and training given a person and ultimately the reason for the release of the person.
The person “who gets it” becomes a valuable employee deserving of advancement. If you are an employee don’t simply dream of success, work for it.
I commend my life long theme text: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men… (Colossians 3: 23).
He’ll Make a Way Through
“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” Isaiah 43: 19.
Often when God makes a promise that applies to us we immediately begin to think of things that make it impossible for the promise to be fulfilled.
When God promised His people who were in captivity in Babylon regarding their return to their home land they doubted how it could happen because of the deserts they must cross, and the dry regions without access to water.
In effect God said, “Don’t worry, I will make a road through the desert and lead you to sources of water in the barren land.”
The same God who fulfilled those promises is the same God who will provide for you, that is, make a road and provide water in your desert times. Believe it and act accordingly.
There is an often sung song by Don Moen entitled “God Will Make a Way.” Let its words play on your heart strings and your mind ruminate on your thoughts.
“God will make a way
Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.
By a roadway in the wilderness, He’ll lead me
Rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade but His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today.
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.
May reflecting on that theme give you holy boldness resulting in confidence in not only His promise, but assurance in His ability to see you through your dry arid days. Trust Him and act accordingly. He’ll see you through.