Last Sunday, our pastor gave one of those, “Now you’ve gone from preachin’ to meddlin” sermons. After the service, I approached him saying, “Craig, I have a complaint, would you mind removing the hidden microphones from our house!” You seem to know everything about the week I had last week, according to your sermon!”
The passage of Scripture he used was John 3:30, “I must decrease that He might increase.” He asked how we would feel if a friend left our church for the church that was really growing fast. How would we feel if a friend left our tennis group to play with players that were better than we were so that he could improve his game? John’s disciples approached him saying Jesus, the man you were testifying about, was baptizing people in the Jordan and that everyone was going to him. John responded, “A man can only receive what is given to him from heaven… I must decrease that He might increase.”
I have experienced this with my men’s group that I have facilitated over the years. Some of the men have left the group because they needed something different in order for them to grow spiritually. At times, my pride got in the way of my accepting their decision to leave as gracefully and humbly as John the Baptist did.
Our pastor gave us six challenges to consider this week:
Yikes! Talk about going from “preachin’ to meddlin’.
1. Give up having to have the last word.
2. Surrender the right to be right
3. Entrust the outcomes to the work of the Holy Spirit.
4. Pursue “ downward mobility”. (He humbled Himself and took the form of a servant)
5. View, hold, and steward everything (everyone) you have “as given from Heaven above.”
6. From Henri Nouwen, “We must die to needing those we serve in order to survive.”
Anyway, the sermon once again hit home. Boy, do I fight the feeling of needing to be right and to have the last word! Do I steward my marriage as given from Heaven above at all times? Do I seek the highest good for Peggy no matter the cost to me and my foolish pride?
Then, our pastor even went further when he quoted James 1:20,
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Last week, Peggy and I engaged in some “intense fellowship” (Christian term for a strong argument) Oh, I know you are shocked that a couple who has been married for fifty years has arguments! Yes, it is true we did and do. I think, most of the time, I am ashamed to say, I do the opposite. I am slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry!
I pray that I may learn, to listen to the Holy Spirit for His promptings, checks and teachings more often. I am thankful for the way the Holy Spirit worked this week in my life. I hope this may help others of you, my dear friends.
Blessings and Love
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