Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 1238 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Overcoming Being Shortsighted – Ask Gramps
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 1238 of our trek and time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, you are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas.
We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com.
So the question for this week is…
“Hey Gramps, I struggle with the daily grind and problems that I continue to face each day. It seems like I have a lot of trials. I know I should be more proactive with long term thinking and planning, but how can I deal with today’s problems, but still consider what I need to do long term? Would you please share some wise tips that will help?”
Overcoming Being Shortsighted
One of the main reasons that most people never rise above the daily grind and problems that all of us face each day is that they do not think long term. You must be willing to sacrifice what you desire now, for what your desire most. Too many times people settle for today’s trinkets, which prevents them from obtaining tomorrow’s treasures. In order to overcome being shortsighted you must be willing to sacrifice. The immediate shiny objects become too attractive, and before you know it, you succumb to the temptation. While there are trials that we face over which we have little or no control, many trials that we face are self-induced.
Purchasing things that you don’t really need with money that you don’t really have can cause financial trials. Eating the wrong foods and not being disciplined in your exercising can cause health trials. Not working to your best ability for God rather than man can cause employment trials. Not focusing on your family and being attentive to them can cause family and marriage trials. Not consuming God’s Word and investing time in prayer can cause spiritual trials.
If you find yourself in the midst of various types of trials, take time to pause and reflect. Determine if the trials that you are experiencing are self-induced. If they are in part or in whole, start making short and long term plans to correct those issues. Even if your trials are completely out of your control and are not caused by your actions, never give up in your quest to rise above your current situation. Give God the glory for the lessons that you are learning and then continue on. The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
We may not have to face the severe trials that Paul did (although it may seem like it), but just the same, we can begin to lose hope as the accumulation of dozens of small trials takes its toll, and our lives become wearisome.
By God’s grace, Paul was able to view his trials as temporary, which they were (just like yours), and as such they are not that big of deal compared with eternity. This perspective certainly didn’t come to Paul easily or automatically. Like us, Paul needed to learn and value the things of God so highly, to give them such weight, that everything else paled by comparison. How about you? What can you do to overcome today’s trials (whether self-imposed or not) so that you can then focus on what is most important? We all need to focus on our impact on the lives of others for eternity.
Yes, we all will have trials, and they may be God’s tool for maturing us and preparing us for building His kingdom. We need to avoid self-imposed trials by making wise long term choices. Don’t fall prey to the shiny objects or tasty foods that are not healthy. Invest time in learning the wise principles found in God’s Word. When you do face trials, consider those trials that you must go through as an opportunity for great joy as we are told in James 1:2-4, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 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.”
That is a wrap for today’s question. Join us again next Friday for another question on our “Ask Gramps” episode. Our next trek is Mediation Monday, where we will help you reflect on what is most important in life. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.
If you would like to listen to any of the past 1237 daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all 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 of all, your friend as I serve you through the 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 on Monday!