I wanted to take a picture of a trophy to use for this blog entry. When I went into my kids' rooms to find one, there were none. I guess they get it. They probably don't see the reason to display a symbol of participation, as opposed to one of achievement. We began our discussion last night on this note. Is it good to give trophies to everyone, or just to those who deserve one. Does this contribute to kids healthy self-esteem, or does it rob them of one. Do we want our kids to have healthy self-esteem, or not? One point that came up is that when everyone is rewarded and no one is singled out for achievement it gives kids a false view of reality. The real world is not going to give everyone a trophy just for participating.
My daughter was telling me today how C.S. Lewis and the other Inklings used to disagree much of the time and were highly critical of each others' works. Yet, they laughed together, enjoyed each other and were great friends. Is this possible today? Or have too many of us been coddled, told that we were wonderful and everything we do is wonderful and thus we are highly sensitive....breakable. We got the trophies and the certificates and the pats on the back. We got the "I'm okay and you're okay" and the "just be yourself and love yourself, so that you can love others." Now, if someone disagrees with us or is critical, we break. As Karen pointed out on page 144, the author says, "In contrast to today's emphasis on self-esteem, the biblical message is that contentment only comes from not being ourselves. That is, we find peace and joy from being conformed to the image of Christ." At this point, it would be good to ask ourselves how these worldly philosophies have shaped us, and robbed us of our contentment.
So, conformity to Christ is the key. As the night went on we specifically discussed ways that we can be conformed. As Karen pointed out, we need to put on and put off. As we looked at Colossians 3, we saw that those things we are to put on are complete opposites of those which we are to put off. Then we moved on to Philippians 2:3-4:
To illustrate Karen shared with us about someone that really lived this sacrificial life: John Calvin. He was not well, yet he served God with all that he had, sleeping about 4 hours a night and dying at 55, essentially burnt out. But, as we are well aware, he left behind quite a legacy. Here is a quote that Karen shared with us:
In summary, the author says, "...the key to the Christian life, and to achieving godly contentment, is dying to self. Indeed, our biggest enemy is self. We are created to glorify God and to live for him. But in our rebellion we live not for God but for self." As Karen said, we should be inspired to be more conformed by thinking less of ourselves and more of others. Let's serve one another, and find contentment in the process! Let's not strive for self-esteem, but instead, esteem others!
My daughter was telling me today how C.S. Lewis and the other Inklings used to disagree much of the time and were highly critical of each others' works. Yet, they laughed together, enjoyed each other and were great friends. Is this possible today? Or have too many of us been coddled, told that we were wonderful and everything we do is wonderful and thus we are highly sensitive....breakable. We got the trophies and the certificates and the pats on the back. We got the "I'm okay and you're okay" and the "just be yourself and love yourself, so that you can love others." Now, if someone disagrees with us or is critical, we break. As Karen pointed out on page 144, the author says, "In contrast to today's emphasis on self-esteem, the biblical message is that contentment only comes from not being ourselves. That is, we find peace and joy from being conformed to the image of Christ." At this point, it would be good to ask ourselves how these worldly philosophies have shaped us, and robbed us of our contentment.
So, conformity to Christ is the key. As the night went on we specifically discussed ways that we can be conformed. As Karen pointed out, we need to put on and put off. As we looked at Colossians 3, we saw that those things we are to put on are complete opposites of those which we are to put off. Then we moved on to Philippians 2:3-4:
As it says in this verse, one of the ways that we need to be conformed to the image of Christ is to humble ourselves as He humbled Himself. Karen shared with us some of Matthew Henry's words on this verse:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
"He proposes some means to promote it. (1.) Do nothing through strife and vain glory, Philippians 2:3. There is no greater enemy to Christian love than pride and passion. If we do things in contradiction to our brethren, this is doing them through strife; if we do them through ostentation of ourselves, this is doing them through vain-glory: both are destructive of Christian love and kindle unchristian heats. Christ came to slay all enmities; therefore let there not be among Christians a spirit of opposition. Christ came to humble us, and therefore let there not be among us a spirit of pride. (2.) We must esteem others in lowliness of mind better than ourselves, be severe upon our own faults and charitable in our judgments of others, be quick in observing our own defects and infirmities, but ready to overlook and make favourable allowances for the defects of others. We must esteem the good which is in others above that which is in ourselves; for we best know our own unworthiness and imperfections."In someone else's words, lets take the plank out of our eyes before trying to get specks out of others'. One way that we need to humble ourselves is to serve one another. As Karen said, "no man is an island". We need to be part of the body and actively so.
To illustrate Karen shared with us about someone that really lived this sacrificial life: John Calvin. He was not well, yet he served God with all that he had, sleeping about 4 hours a night and dying at 55, essentially burnt out. But, as we are well aware, he left behind quite a legacy. Here is a quote that Karen shared with us:
"Later on when his body was wrecked with numerous diseases, his doctor urged him to ease up. Calvin replied: 'Would you have my Master come and find me loitering?'”Then we turned our focus to walking in unity. The author says, "...from a Biblical perspective, peace with God, peace with others and peace within ourselves are all tied together." He goes on to give four reasons for this:
- The Bible commands it
- God created this unity in us, but we need to maintain it in order to maintain peace in our hearts
- to be made in the image of God is to be made to dwell together with His people in unity
- lack of unity hinders our growth in grace
In summary, the author says, "...the key to the Christian life, and to achieving godly contentment, is dying to self. Indeed, our biggest enemy is self. We are created to glorify God and to live for him. But in our rebellion we live not for God but for self." As Karen said, we should be inspired to be more conformed by thinking less of ourselves and more of others. Let's serve one another, and find contentment in the process! Let's not strive for self-esteem, but instead, esteem others!
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