Warning: The outlook on choosing a career depicted in this cartoon, may only work in a video game.
Yea, I know, your mom and dad told you that if you put your mind to it, you could do anything you wanted to in life. Well, I wanted to be a pro football player, then a pro basketball player, then a pro tennis player, I practiced hard, but, guess what? I’m still waiting for the NBA to call. Sometimes it’s true, sometimes if you work hard enough you really can live your dream. But the reality for most of us is that we’ll probably have to settle for something less than our dream. And that’s OK. The important thing is to not despise the day of the small thing. (Zechariah 4:10) Jesus said,
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…
Luke 16:10
The scriptures are full of examples of people working faithfully in the day of the small thing, usually for a very long time, I’m talking years and years, but then ultimately they receive their reward. So whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. (Colossians 3:23)
If you can be trusted with very little, if you do well in the day of the small thing, who knows what might happen down the line.
The young man asked: “Why? Why am I going through this?”
The old man answered: “You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.”
We’ve been studying the life of Jacob for the last few weeks. Jacob, whose father and grandfather were great men of God. But whatever Jacob’s ancestors, including his grandfather Abraham might have accomplished, Jacob has to do his own growing. Jacob was threatened with murder by Esau; exiled from his home town and family; he had to travel through the desert for 450 miles; he was tricked into working an extra 7 years by Laban; he thought he was marrying the woman of his dreams but was tricked into marrying her older, probably unattractive, sister, so he marries both and now lives with constant bickering between the two.
And the really tough part hasn’t come yet.
There’s an old Irish proverb that goes like this:
You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.
How true that is.
Why are you going through this?
Take a look around. Find a man or a woman without trials and tribulations, and you’ll find a person without growth. The really great ones have gone through tough times.
So take heart. Don’t give up. Hang in. Move forward — in Christ’s name.
There are better days ahead. For…
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
The other day someone close to me commented that a friend of hers attended a Christian wedding where she noticed that many of the women in attendance wore diamonds. She asked me if it were true that most believers have an affinity for these gems. While I’m sure that there are plenty of Christians who like diamonds I don’t happen to be one of them. While I don’t believe that there’s anything wrong with wearing the hardest naturally occurring stones found on earth, my wife assures me that when it comes to diamonds, and jewelry in general, I am mentally handicapped, that is to say that my disability is an inability to perceive any value in jewelry. Although there was no intent to do so, the question about diamonds along with much of what I’m seeing on television and on the internet makes me think that many hold the perception that Christians are rich. That strikes me as funny because right now, most of the Christians I’m close to happen to be unemployed.
These thoughts along with what I’m seeing and hearing about the Occupy Wall Street movement remind me of a story Jesus tells:
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.”
Luke 16:19-25
Or to quote Gayle Erwin, author of the book The Jesus Style.
The Pharisees loved money and were rich. They despised the poor and thought they were cursed by God.
I think some people believe that God’s doing a miracle and will take Tim Tebow and the Broncos all the way, as in all the way to a Super Bowl victory. But like all of God’s children, Tim Tebow will be allowed to win some and lose some. God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45) We all get to take our lumps. God has created a world that’s governed by laws of nature and probabilities. If you’re thrown out of a tenth story window you’re probably going to die. If your quarterback rating is 28th out of 34 NFL quarterbacks, like Tim Tebow’s is, you’re probably not going to win the Super Bowl. That’s not to say that God can’t decide to disregard these probabilities. Mr. Hashimoto, a thirty-seven year old who lives in Tokyo, Japan, is under psychiatric evlauation because on December 16, 2011 he threw a toddler out of his tenth floor apartment window. Miraculously, the toddler was found alive, conscious, and crying. He suffered only one minor injury to his face. The LORD, in His mercy, provided a shrub for the baby to land in. (See ABC News and The Free Fall Research Page) God can decide to disregard His own framework of probabilities any time He likes — He’s God. But for the most part, you and I have to live with those probabilities.
Most likely, Tim Tebow will too.
2) Tim Tebow’s young
With respect to how Tim Tebow handles himself in the media, I think that some people’s expectations are a bit high. When we see sports figures on TV who are multi-millionaires, well spoken, and accomplished, it’s easy to forget that they’re barely out of college. Given the amount of controversy and criticism he’s endured, I’d say that he’s handling himself pretty well for a 24 year old.
3) Tim Tebow is a project
Many fans want Tebow to be successful and to be successful right now. Some quarterbacks come into the NFL with guns blazing. Dan Marino is one example of an NFL quarterback who had a fast start in the NFL. Ranked #1 on ESPN’s list of best rookie quarterbacks is Greg Cook, a Cincinnati Bengals QB whose career was ended by injury after one year. This year rookie QBs Cam Newton and Andy Dalton had good starts.
But it’s not at all uncommon for great NFL quarterbacks to struggle early in their careers. In Terry Bradshaw’s rookie season he completed only 38.1% of his passes. He had three times as many interceptions as he had touchdowns and his record was 3-5. John Elway also had a terrible first season throwing twice as many interceptions as touchdowns leading the Broncos to a 4-6 record as a starter. (see Many QBs Struggle by Adam Stites )
Even though Tim Tebow has a winning record I don’t think anyone would argue that he fits better in the second category. He’s definitely struggling in some areas but there’s still the potential for him to become a great quarterback. He’s probably good enough that the Broncos should continue to invest in him. Can you imagine if the Steelers or the Broncos had given up on Bradshaw or Elway?
4) Tim Tebow’s genuine
Some say that Tim Tebow is over the top in his public displays of religion. Jesus taught us that we’re not to pray in order to be seen by others. (Matthew 6:5) But this teaching is in the context of a rebuke to the Pharisees, the established religious authority of the day, of whom Jesus said, “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.” (Matthew 23:5-7)
In my observation of Tebow I haven’t seen one shred of Pharisetical spirit in the man. As near as I can tell Tim Tebow’s displays aren’t public displays of religion at all but they’re public displays of affection — for his Savior. Remember that Jesus also taught: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)
As an example of this watch the video of this year’s Broncos game against the Bears where Tebow was mic’d up. He was heard praying for a wall of protection around he and his teammates, during warm-up he sang the refrain from Michael W. Smith’s song, Awesome God (BTW keep your day job Tim), and he was genuine in his interaction with everyone on the field — teammates, fans, coaches, even opposing players.
Whatever else you may think of him. He’s genuine.
5) Tim Tebow’s going to disappoint you
If you put your faith in Tim Tebow he’ll disappoint you. In fact if you put your faith in any celebrity sports figure, in any celebrity at all for that matter, they’ll fail you, they’ll disappoint you, they’ll let you down. Think about this year alone: Charlie Sheen’s melt down, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s indiscretions, Anthony Weiner’s Tweets, Lindsay Lohan’s shoplifting and need for rehab — the list goes on and on. I’m not saying that Tebow will wind up in a scandal, I’m just saying that putting your faith in any human being will disappoint in the end every time. And it’s not just celebrities. If you get to know anyone well enough or if you wait around and watch long enough everyone will let you down. With one exception. That exception is the person who already proved his love for you when he died for you so you could be reconciled to God. Put your faith in Him. You won’t be disappointed. (see Join Christ’s Family)
The day after Christmas I drove up to Portland to visit my son Nate, daughter (in-law) Anastasia, and their friend Steve. On the way up I listened to the audio version of the book Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. It’s the story of a four year old who nearly died on the operating table but survived to tell of his vivid recollections of what it was like in heaven. It was a great read/listen. Do I believe that four year old Colton Burpo’s descriptions of heaven are just the imaginings of a four year old? Or do I believe they’re a factual account of his visit to heaven? There’s no way to know for sure, but I have to admit the book definitely made me think.
Interestingly, a few days after I arrived in Portland I found out that the same day I finished the book Heaven is for Real a family member, my Aunt Alice, died.
In case you’re interested, a Today show interview with Colton and Todd Burpo is below.
