Dealing with the What-If's of Life (part 2)
by Marsha Iddings
Luke 14:28-33 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Here, Jesus is telling the people to count the cost of following Him. In a sense He is telling them to think about the "what-if's". The last time I wrote about the "what-if's" of life, I wrote about the negative aspect. Focusing on the "what-if's" can cause worry, discouragement and fear. They can actually paralyze us to where we are not much good for anything. If we allow the "what-if's" of life to affect us this way, then it's best to not go there.
There is another aspect of dealing with the "what-if's" of life that I began to think about recently, however. Positively, the "what-if's" of life can motivate us into action. In the verses above, Jesus says the man who builds a tower is wise to think of the "what-if's". What if I don't have enough money to finish this tower? I will be mocked by those who see it half finished. He has two choices, he can either let this "what-if" paralyze him into not doing anything, or he can get busy, and see how much the whole project will cost him, and find ways to make up any shortfall so he can accomplish the task.
Now, bringing this closer to home for me, I have tendonitis in both arms and an appointment set up with the orthopedic surgeon the end of the month for a second opinion. In thinking about the "what-if's" of my situation, I could sit around and worry and stew that I might have to be incapacitated further either by immobilization or surgery in order for this situation to resolve or I can think of ways I can make my life easier now as well as in the future if that happens and start preparing for it.
One way I am letting the "what-if's" spur me into action is by setting up permanent weekly menus, with master shopping lists and recipes all together in one binder. This will make life much easier on me in the future and if my "what-if's" come to pass, someone else can easily take over in the kitchen.
I have also set up daily cleaning/chore lists for my children and am training them on it now. This is making my life easier and less painful now and should the "what-if's" happen, the general basics of household cleaning and laundry will be covered.
Do you have a situation that has you thinking about the "what-if's". Is there anything you can do now that will make your life easier whether or not the "what-if's" happen? It is important to distinguish between preparation for the "what-if's" that will benefit you even if the "what-if" doesn't happen and activity that is panic driven and won't have any real benefit to you in the long run. We can easily waste our time with panic driven activity that just wears us out instead of helping us to cope.
How can we make spiritual application to all of this? Jesus said, "...whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." Many people look at the "what-if's" of being a follower of Jesus and let it paralyze them into not taking any action. They are afraid of what they might have to give up. They fear that their family or friends will reject them if they follow Jesus. Other people think of the "what-if's" of the after life, and instead of following Jesus, they substitute good works for the sacrifice He already made for their sin on the cross. They think that all their good works will earn them God's "Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord." All of their activity will not benefit them at the end if they have not first come to Christ as a humble sinner accepting His payment in full for their sins on the cross. Paul's epistle to the Ephesians talks about how to face the "what-if's" of the after life:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;...For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 1:7;Ephesians 2:8-10)
We must come to Christ for redemption through his shed blood to receive forgiveness of our sins. It is all of God's grace. It is God's gift to us. He doesn't allow us to work to earn it. If we must work to earn God's grace, then it is not grace. Another reason he doesn't allow us to work to earn it is that man has a tendency to boast about his accomplishments and we would become prideful about all that we have done to earn favor with God.
When God saves us, we are changed. We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. We are created to do good works after God's grace has saved us. He creates in us a desire to do good in gratitude for all that He has done and to show our love for Him. There's a big difference between good works to earn favor with God and good works in gratitude for God's grace. The first kind is a chore and doesn't benefit you in the end while the second kind is a joy and God is pleased.
How are you facing the "what-if's" of your life? What about the "what-if's" of eternity? Are you doing what counts and will benefit you in the end or are you wasting your time on useless activity that just wears you out and won't help you in the future?
Books by Marsha
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