|
We had a great Gospel Meeting with Barry Hudson last week.
As I think about the lessons, I can't get four major points
out of my mind, that I want to share with you in this article.
Don't Be Afraid To Fail
The word fail means "to fall short of success or achievement
in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved"
(Dictionary.com).
Using this simple definition, we must admit we all fail.
John says, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving
ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn. 1:8).
Since everyone fails, we shouldn't be afraid to fail.
As a matter of fact, we should realize we'll make mistakes
and seek to learn from their them, rather than cowering
from the fear of failure.
Parable of the Talents
The fear of failure is the reason many people fail. Some
don't try at all, and some only halfheartedly try, because
they're afraid to fail. The thinking is, "If I don't try,
I won't fail; therefore, I'll succeed."
In the parable of the talents, the one talent man had
this attitude. He was afraid to try, so he hid his talent
in the ground, expecting his master to accept his excuses.
But when his master returned, he was punished as a lazy
and wicked slave (Matt. 25:18, 24-29).
If we allow ourselves to be paralyzed by fear, we guarantee
failure in the form of eternal damnation. But if we rise
above fear and obey God, serving Him to the best of our
ability by risking failure to gain success, the Lord will
mercifully grant us a home in heaven.
Failure Doesn't Necessarily Result In Damnation
Paul says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God" (Rom. 3:23).
If failure automatically resulted in damnation, we could
never be saved. But the opposite is actually true --- since
we failed, we need salvation.
We shouldn't be afraid to fail, because everyone fails.
As failures, we'll either obey God resulting in eternal
life, or continue disobeying Him resulting in eternal damnation.
Either way, we all make mistakes and fail at some point
in life.
Don't Be Afraid To Act
At first, Esther was afraid to fail. If she approached the
king and he didn't hold out his golden scepter, she would
die.
But Mordecai counseled her, saying, "Do not imagine that
you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the
Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and
deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and
you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether
you have not attained royalty for such a time as this" (Es.
4:13-14)?
Esther responded by instituting a three day fast before
going in to the king, revealing her attitude, saying, "If
I perish, I perish" (Es. 4:16).
Like Esther, we can't be afraid to fail. If we perish
doing God's will, then we perish. It's better to die serving
God, than to live, and spend eternity in hell.
Don't Be Afraid To Show Kindness
It's very popular to be unkind in our culture, and bully
other people. It's recently become such an epidemic over
the Internet, TV commercials attempt to reverse the trend
by showing the devastating affects it has on children.
One way Christians are different from the world is kindness.
And rightly so, since we experience God's kindness in our
lives (Eph. 2:7). Therefore, God commands us to put on compassion
and kindness, which is a component of the fruit of the Spirit
(Col. 3:12; Gal. 5:22).
Don't Be Afraid To Give
The story of the rich man and Lazarus tells of a man who
was afraid to let go of his worldly goods. He may have been
selfish, wanting to keep them for himself; or he may have
been hardhearted and uncaring.
For whatever reason the rich man refused to help a child
of God, we can learn from his life, the end of which is
eternity in torment. We can't be afraid to step out and
do the benevolent work God has ordained, kindly giving to
those who are in need, especially to those of the household
of faith (Gal. 6:10).
God blesses us materially to share with those who have
need (2 Cor. 8-9). If we obey God, we'll store up treasure
of a good foundation for the future, so that we may take
hold of that which is life indeed (1 Tim. 6:19). But if
we're like the rich man, and keep all our wealth for ourselves,
we'll be tormented for eternity.
Conclusion
As James says, "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight
of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows
in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the
world" (Jas. 1:27).
We can't be afraid to fail, spiritually or materially.
We must step out as God's children and do His work, showing
kindness to everyone around us, willing to give of ourselves
to help those in need.
When we do, we're blessed. But most of all, we'll live
in the Paradise of God for eternity (Rev. 2:7).
|
