Yesterday morning, while riding the subway to work, I read a small portion of scripture that I reflected upon for the greater part of the day. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” As I considered the implications of this little verse, I thought about relationships and commitment. Consider the words of Jesus in John 10:11 when he said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” The good shepherd stands in contrast to the hireling who abandons his commitment to others when trouble strikes. In his lecture, The Hireling and the True Shepherd Robert Murray McCheyne explains how this counterfeit shepherd is motivated by his own honor, ease, fame, and love of self. The physical or spiritual safety of those for whom he is responsible is the last thing on his mind. Here, in this scripture, is a picture of the kind of resolute and steadfast loyalty that only true biblical commitment can offer. It is the unwavering and unshakeable devotion of a faithful God who has entered covenant with an unfaithful people in ages past, and who has sworn, on His own Holy name, that He will never change His mind. “Great is thy Faithfulness” is the saints sweetest praise and the inevitable testimony of any true child of God.
Apply now this thinking to our interpersonal relations. We all have those relationships that seem to carry with them more trouble than they are worth. Months, sometimes years go by and it would seem as if all of our investments and sacrifices are in vain. The temptation to throw our hands in the air and just move on to a more worthwhile endeavor is ever before us. Yet, if you are a Christian, you know that your life is not your own. Not only do we belong to Christ, but we belong to each other. We are, in a very deep and real way, bound to those relationships that God has providentially put in our lives. In a sense, we are all shepherds.
Now, just to be clear, I am by no means talking about remaining steadfast to something that God has rejected in His revealed Word. There are situations that, should we remain (physically or emotionally), we can be sure God will not bless. Even if there were some buried virtue in that, apart from faith in Christ, it is destined to be burned up. But, I am not talking about that. I think John MacArthur hit the nail on the head when he said, “Love apart from truth is hypocritical sentimentality.” What I am specifically referring to is how we treat other earthen vessels of clay who, like us, are fragile works of God in the making. How do we respond when someone fails to live up to our expectations? How do we treat them when they stumble and sin, and as a consequence invite troubles of all kinds into their world — and even ours? How do we respond when they, to put it bluntly, do stupid things that prove to be an added burden and even expense to others around them? How about when they do it not just once or twice, but Lord have mercy, over and over and over and over? Lately, I have come to see that some folks really are like the horse or the mule, who with bit and bridle, have to be controlled (Psalms 32:9). In light of this, I ask, how would our relationships within the body be different if we, quietly but relentlessly, extended unyielding grace and stubborn faithfulness to people who appear to be failures? How would our churches be different? How about our marriages? Our children?
My husband shared with me this morning the miracle of the five loaves and the two fish from the Gospel of John this morning. I hate to sound cliché-ish but it is true: “Little is much in God’s hand.” Even if we end up bringing God nothing — save our faith in God, as it relates to these trouble laden and seemingly hopeless situations, would God not perform a miracle and be glorified?
The ultimate friend is Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:3). There are people who cannot see this, but the truth is nevertheless the truth: The greatest adversity that anyone will ever face, is an eternity without Christ. Trouble? Please. We don’t even know what trouble is! One glimpse of the hell-fire that is the sure destiny of anyone who rejects the atoning blood of Jesus will make any earthly trouble, no matter how great or weighty, pale in comparison. Beyond having been rescued from this terrible, but no less justified wrath, no Christian can ever say that God saved them and then walked away. On the contrary, every blood washed saint knows the comforting presence and assuring whispers of God in the blackest night seasons of the soul. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” “Fear not for I have redeemed you.” Our good shepherd carries us through thorny and treacherous country, leaving tokens of goodness and mercy every place these weary feet travel.
With this model of faithfulness before us may we, by faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit, remain resolute and faithful to those in our lives who disappoint us, bring us heartache, and are, for all intents and purposes, in big trouble. I believe this kind of sacrifice and worship will be acceptable and pleasing to Him.
Amen. Lots to think about, right?
I always like to consider what our relationships look like at the light of the Scriptures, of the Creeds we profess… that is where we must wear our doctrine.
¡Mucho cariño para ti hoy!
Amen! I pray that I could show the faithfulness to others that my Lord has shown to me.
Wow… Christina! This is so good. Thank you.
This is totally off-topic, buttttt….
I would like to be able to say that I road the subway to work. seriously. 🙂
Christina thank you for writing this and sharing your thoughts so beautifully. I really needed to read this today, it was a great help to me. God Bless you!
Christina I have to second what D. said, I really really needed to read this today. Both of you girls often are on the same wavelength as me, as are many of our Christian Sisters and blogger’s. No matter where we live or what we do, we are not that different. It’s strange but I was thinking about several relationships with friends. D. knows what I am talking about…:-) but in one instance some fellow Christians Sisters had very little patience with me and in other instances I have felt so stressed or aggravated with dealing with a fellow Sister that if I had only my own mind and heart to rely on, not Christ’s I would have probably abandoned ship long ago with her. That’s not how we are to treat each other in light of scripture. I understand why the Gospel is the “light” indeed. It leaves very little in the dark, including my own problems in these areas.
Christina we are called to labor long and suffer long and your wonderful piece here says all that and more. I was talking to D. today and we both discussed about Christ telling the disciples that they might do the sowing and another one brings in the harvest. No matter if we see a pleasant outcome or not, we have to live our lives as God would have us. Wonderful, thought provoking post!
You know my husband and I were discussing this evening how Moses and Aaron never saw the promised land, I didn’t think about it at the time but it goes right along with what we discussed today Teresa.
Yes D…that’s such a great comparison. Thanks for sharing that.
“Even if we end up bringing God nothing – save our faith in God, as it relates to these trouble laden and seemingly hopeless situations, would God not perform a miracle and be glorified?” Bringing God nothing — save my faith is all I have been able to do lately. Otherwise, I feel like throwing my hands up, I feel like screaming, but I keep bringing God nothing — save my faith! And would God not perform a miracle and be glorified? That IS my faith!
Thank you for the encouragement and the reminder not to give up or in! Love and blessings and prayers!
I love that Petra! It’s exactly what I have been going through lately…I can see you throwing up your hands, just like me! (I usually do it in secret in my office) I find that that I do that a lot less if I spend more time on my knees. Bringing God my faith…so aptly put! Your comments blessed me this morning.
Luke 18:1-8, God Himself telling us not to give up! Love and blessings!
Thank you so much. It is amazing, how timely this message was for me. I just came home frustrated out of my mind with a woman who calls herself a Christian, but she acts like a trouble maker, and I honestly wished I never had to see her again. But after reading this I feel convicted and I will remember what I read tonight. Thank you and God bless.
Victoria I think I know that same woman…:-)
“Our good shepherd carries us through thorny and treacherous country, leaving tokens of goodness and mercy every place these weary feet travel.” I love these words, Christina! Such encouragement and so perfectly descriptive of what I think of our Savior! Every day He humbles me in showing me His goodness and mercy, making it a bit easier to embrace those most difficult relationships He’s set before me.
“What I am specifically referring to is how we treat other earthen vessels of clay who, like us, are fragile works of God in the making. ”
This was such a good post Christina. How clear is the teaching that the world will know us by the love we have for one another. And yet how often we ignore it.
Thank you for this my dear friend.