Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday July 1, 2008

For the benefit of the newer readers of these daily offerings; I do not write on the same subject each day, but on whatever happens to be on my mind or heart. This way I stay balanced rather than twist ideas, even verses of scripture fit my favorite hobby horse. And I think this approach helps regular readers, I started to use "normal" but I’m not sure I have enough such readers to address.

I recently read "Five Things Graduates Need To Know" by Bill Gates. One of his gems to the gathered class is this pearl of practical wisdom:

"In life you don't get summers off, and few employers are interested in helping you find yourself."

For years I had the blessing/curse of having several employees under my ever watchful eye. I do not recall ever coming upon an employee who was concentrating on his navel hoping to find the answer to the riddles of life. Had I experienced this sight I would have suggested that he/she look elsewhere for answers and also employment.

Mr. Gates is right in giving the above advice. If you have reached any level of maturity you already understand that most people are never going to find themselves. Actually most people never bother, but just drift through life bouncing from this to that and never giving thought to the higher things of life and living.

As a pastor whose church has always been much larger than four walls, I have observed that most people who liked to be typed as religious, really don't have a clue about just where they fit into God's plan, but bounce around like a basketball filled with Vodka and are never at peace with themselves. This affliction is thus blamed on the wife and the person continues his goofy way along the path, without the foggiest idea where he is supposed to be heading.

Billions of dollars are made each year as this or that guru attempts to cause his listeners, or readers to follow his teaching and thus land on the highest plane, the discovery of self. I know I have bought thousands of bucks worth of such "literature." I will not quote what a close friend said about me when he found out about my collection of this world revealing literature. What he said was true but not fit to print.

A book that teaches you "How To Close More Sales" will probably help your check book balance, but it is unlikely to help your marriage. The only book or books that will help your marriage are books that point you out to you in unmistakable terms. In my opinion the book that does this best is the Bible. It claims to be a mirror, at least this is what the Apostle James says:

James 1:25 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

A long intense look at your image in the Bible gives you a picture of yourself that drives you to a true self image based on God's evaluation of you according to His word. Like Bill Gates said, "Few employers are interested in helping you find yourself."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit

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