Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 1264 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Five Treasures of the Christian Life – Meditation Monday
Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.
Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1264 of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy.
For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God’s Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you, too, will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.
In our meditation today, let us consider…
Five Treasures of the Christian Life
The Christian life is multi-faceted. At any given moment, I find there are a number of different things going on at the same time. In the passages for today, we see five of these aspects, which all begin with the letter “t.” Over 30 years ago, Paula cross-stitched Psalm 127:1-5, and it continues to hang on our bathroom wall to this day. I read it often.
1. Trust
The Christian life is not meant to be one of self-dependent toil, but of dependent trust. With trust comes peace and sleep. Listen to verses 1-2.
Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.
As Victor Hugo wrote, “When you have… accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace; God is awake.”
It is easy to get caught up with our own plans for our lives, families, and ministries. This psalm is a wonderful reminder that ultimately you are totally dependent on the Lord.
This is a message of great comfort, but it is also a challenge. Is God part of everything you do? Are there any areas of your life where you are going it alone, and therefore “anxiously working for food to eat?”
God wants to be involved in every area of your life. If you want your work to have lasting value, you need to make sure you are partnering with the Lord and not going it alone. Trust God with your children as well. Children are a blessing (verses 3–5), and you have to trust God for them and for their future.
Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
The next treasure is…
2. Trials
One of the things that you have in common with all Christians everywhere, is that we all face trials. The letter of James is written to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations (that is, to all Christians everywhere) found in James 1:2-5.
In one of the strangest verses of the New Testament is James 1:2, where James writes, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” Rejoice in difficult situations? This turns the world’s view upside-down. James continues with verses 3-4, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
As has been said, “Every storm is a school. Every trial is a test. Every experience is an education. Every difficulty is for your development.”
In the midst of your trials, you need wisdom. James tells us in verse 5, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
There are two ways to handle a problem. One is to go it alone – that is the natural way. The other is to ask God for divine wisdom to help you to know what to do.
The next treasure is…
3. Temptation
Somebody else said, “Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.” Temptation is when we feel like doing the wrong thing. Temptation itself is not a sin. Rather, it is a call to battle.
Where does temptation come from? Certainly not from God found in James 1:13, “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.”
Often, in the Bible, temptation is seen as coming from the devil. Jesus was tempted by the devil. Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent. Job was attacked by Satan.
However, the devil works on our own evil desires. James 1:14-15 reads, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
Sin is always a deception, whatever is truly good comes from God. James 1:16-17 says, “So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
The next treasure is…
4. Tongue
One of the tests of your character is your tongue. James 1:26 reads, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.”
Prior to that verse, James elaborates even more in James 1:19-21,“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”
The word of God has the power to transform you. You need to allow time for God’s word to be planted firmly in you, to hear it, and then do what it says. Rather than speaking too much, listen to God’s word and get rid of all the bad stuff in your life.
Listening in itself, though, is not enough. James continues in James 1:22-25, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”
The final treasure is…
5. Turn
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:4 that God “wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”
The word “turn” or “turns” appears seven times in Ezekiel, chapter 33. God appointed Ezekiel as a watchman. He was to be held accountable to carry out God’s commands. In Ezekiel 33:9 he was to tell Israel, “But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.”
Just like Ezekiel, provided you speak the message God gives you, you are not responsible for the results. Ezekiel was only responsible if he failed to give the warning.
This is an important reminder about family, friends, and those you know who are not followers of Jesus. Your responsibility is to love them, encourage them and give them the opportunity to hear the gospel. It is hugely disappointing when they do not respond positively. However, do not take the burden of their decisions on your own shoulders.
As Paul wrote to Timothy, God says in Ezekiel 33:11, “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?”
God wants everyone to repent of their sins and start living a righteous and just life. We have the message; each person must make their own choice to follow God, or not.
That is a wrap for today’s meditation. Next week, we will continue our trek on Meditation Monday as we take time to reflect on what is most important in creating our living legacy. On tomorrow’s trek, we will explore another wisdom quote. This 3-minute wisdom supplement will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy, and wise each day. Thank you for joining me on this trek called life. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.
If you would like to listen to any of the past 1263 daily treks or read the daily journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player, so each day will be downloaded to you automatically.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.
As we take this trek together, let us always:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow!