The only way out of the mess we're in

A challenge

We find ourselves in crazy times. And every day there’s plenty of hand-wringing and theorizing about what can be done.

But, I believe the starting point is pretty clear:

You and I are going to have to strive to be the best we can be in every way.

I shared this meme* to FB the other day with this caption: “Whether you get there in the end or not, what good reason is there against making it your goal and working toward it every day?”

It’s a short post with a clear enough point, but I also think it’s worth expanding on.

I noticed something years ago that truly bugs me. Every single day I see people sharing self-deprecating posts on social media. I even started saving examples knowing some day I’d want to write a post like this about my problem with them.

Now anybody who knows me knows I’m not above a joke at my own expense, but when our own weakness, laziness, and lack of discipline is a constant butt of our jokes, shouldn’t that embarrass us?

It’s bad enough to waste away every day watching Netflix, eating junk food, or playing video games, but it’s even worse to get on Facebook and brag about it.

It’s almost as if we’re being given every incentive possible to wallow in laziness and not attempt to fulfill our potential.

The solution? Aim for greatness.

“But,” one may ask, “What do we do with Christ’s teaching that greatness comes through humble service?”

“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matt 23:11-12 LSB).

This is not in any way incompatible with the idea of striving for greatness. If Jesus didn’t want us to pursue greatness, why did He give us a road map for doing so? It’s not the path the world would expect, but it is a path nonetheless.

So, in order to be great we must serve. And, in order to be able to serve, we have to bring a certain competence and confidence to the table.

A firefighter knows if they’re going to carry people out of burning buildings, it will take a lot of physical training to offer this service. A surgeon knows if he is going to perform life-saving operations he is going to have to study hard and gain the knowledge and technical skill to offer this service.

What about you?

What skills and abilities do you need to serve your family? Your church? Your community? Your workplace?

Answer those questions and you’ll start charting your path toward greatness.

Throughout the Bible we see glimpses of the kind of competence God intended man to achieve both to fulfill the potential He has given and to bless others.

It’s becoming who Adam was supposed to be, submitting to God to care for those under your authority by exercising dominion for their good.

It’s becoming the wise son of Proverbs, pursuing wisdom, controlling our desires, working diligently, upholding truth.

It’s growing in wisdom and stature and favor with God and men.

It’s having self under control to have the moral credibility to lead others - what David had and lost.

Undisciplined, lazy people can’t do any of those things.

And as we find ourselves at a cultural crossroads brought on by rapid moral decay, the only way to fix the problem is for fiercely disciplined people (and especially men) of God to rise up and be everything they can be in His service.

Weakness and incompetence got us in this mess… it won’t get us out.

How are you pursuing greatness? What are you doing with the things God has deposited in your account? Have you even tabulated what God has placed in your account? Have you considered how to maximize those things to His glory?

There’s no time like the present to get started. He’s going to be back to collect what’s His.

---

*Whoever made it likely meant “has ever seen,” but that’s ok. Everybody on the path to greatness makes a few mistakes here and there.