Playing vs. Wisdom
This week has been an interesting one. I've been reading through Proverbs in the Message version of the bible, asking God to bring me back to living more consistently with that way of life. It really is hard to be a part of this world, to be influenced by those around us who may not, and usually don't share what we believe to be true, and yet to be primarily influenced by the wisdom that God gives us through His word.
At work, I have over the last year or so, allowed the part of my personality to come out that is full of joking and having fun. There is nothing wrong with that, especially when it doesn't get in the way of what needs to get done. However, it isn't wise when it is a way to get attention, laughs, or whatever it may be, and when playing has little balance with being mature then this is an area to be looked at and addressed according to wisdom.
So, I've been working on this area of my life specifically the how and when of playing at work. It seems that when we joke around, kindness can easily find it's way out the door. Words reflect what's going on inside, and I want to reflect the Lord. I want to be wise in my speech, in my communication and actions with others, and I want to reflect Ephesians 4:29 which says:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
AND
Psalm 19:14
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
The week has been interesting in trying to live these verses, because when you have lived in a manner that has been different, more comical and less edifying, it's hard to change when people expect and provoke you to respond in a particular way. When they know you as one thing, but you are trying to be different, and wiser in this case, than you have been then those who know you don't know how to respond or just think that something's wrong.
By Friday I was so tired from the week, and from working on this that by the end of the night, I just put in ear plugs. They went in my ears because I needed to refocus on what was important, and did so because I found it increasingly frustrating to work on this part of my life after being worn down from the week and the people around. It wasn't at all that I didn't care about those around me. Quite the opposite is true! I care deeply about my co-workers.
Perhaps as time goes by, the expectations of people will change and though I can still have fun, I will have, LORD willing, more kindness and words that encourage and build up, with grace for the moment and what is at hand in the mix of everything. Or, there is always the possibility of opting back to old behavioral patterns. I pray that the latter is not true!
I love to laugh, I really do. In fact I have a flower on a chain that sits around my neck always. It's the Plumeria flower, a flower which in Hawaii means happiness. As humans, and probably more specifically as Americans, we tend to live for the goal of happiness, of being happy, of doing what will create that in our lives and help us experience that. God, as a loving father, delights in us being happy, but not when it means living according to our own will rather than in wisdom. When He disciplines it's because we were created to be something that we have walked away from, and so out of His love he teaches us the way that we should go. Sometimes, often perhaps, we say, "screw you, Lord" (figuratively speaking of course), and we go our own way, even if this is a subconscious decision. We end up finding ourselves in darkness. God still is lovingly pursuing us, and though we may find consequences to our actions that are unpleasing to us, it is a result of what we have sown. He would never turn away a soul that sought him, that sought life and forgiveness. Even with that said, He is loving, and wants us to be who we were called to be. If we choose to live in our nature that is contrary to what He'd have, he may still pursue us, but He gives us the freedom to make the choice, whatever choice that may be.
Oswald Chambers said this in regard to this passage of the Bible:
"That you may know the hope to which He has called you...."
Ephesians 1:18
"Remember what you are saved for - that the Son of God might be manifested in your mortal flesh. Bend the whole energy of your powers to realize your election as a child of God; rise to the occasion every time."
That is exactly my aim in trying to work on being wise, which will only come from God's grace poured into my life. The goal is that Jesus would be manifested in me, and that I might reflect Him. Oh, how I need His grace, and love in my life!
At work, I have over the last year or so, allowed the part of my personality to come out that is full of joking and having fun. There is nothing wrong with that, especially when it doesn't get in the way of what needs to get done. However, it isn't wise when it is a way to get attention, laughs, or whatever it may be, and when playing has little balance with being mature then this is an area to be looked at and addressed according to wisdom.
So, I've been working on this area of my life specifically the how and when of playing at work. It seems that when we joke around, kindness can easily find it's way out the door. Words reflect what's going on inside, and I want to reflect the Lord. I want to be wise in my speech, in my communication and actions with others, and I want to reflect Ephesians 4:29 which says:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
AND
Psalm 19:14
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
The week has been interesting in trying to live these verses, because when you have lived in a manner that has been different, more comical and less edifying, it's hard to change when people expect and provoke you to respond in a particular way. When they know you as one thing, but you are trying to be different, and wiser in this case, than you have been then those who know you don't know how to respond or just think that something's wrong.
By Friday I was so tired from the week, and from working on this that by the end of the night, I just put in ear plugs. They went in my ears because I needed to refocus on what was important, and did so because I found it increasingly frustrating to work on this part of my life after being worn down from the week and the people around. It wasn't at all that I didn't care about those around me. Quite the opposite is true! I care deeply about my co-workers.
Perhaps as time goes by, the expectations of people will change and though I can still have fun, I will have, LORD willing, more kindness and words that encourage and build up, with grace for the moment and what is at hand in the mix of everything. Or, there is always the possibility of opting back to old behavioral patterns. I pray that the latter is not true!
I love to laugh, I really do. In fact I have a flower on a chain that sits around my neck always. It's the Plumeria flower, a flower which in Hawaii means happiness. As humans, and probably more specifically as Americans, we tend to live for the goal of happiness, of being happy, of doing what will create that in our lives and help us experience that. God, as a loving father, delights in us being happy, but not when it means living according to our own will rather than in wisdom. When He disciplines it's because we were created to be something that we have walked away from, and so out of His love he teaches us the way that we should go. Sometimes, often perhaps, we say, "screw you, Lord" (figuratively speaking of course), and we go our own way, even if this is a subconscious decision. We end up finding ourselves in darkness. God still is lovingly pursuing us, and though we may find consequences to our actions that are unpleasing to us, it is a result of what we have sown. He would never turn away a soul that sought him, that sought life and forgiveness. Even with that said, He is loving, and wants us to be who we were called to be. If we choose to live in our nature that is contrary to what He'd have, he may still pursue us, but He gives us the freedom to make the choice, whatever choice that may be.
Oswald Chambers said this in regard to this passage of the Bible:
"That you may know the hope to which He has called you...."
Ephesians 1:18
"Remember what you are saved for - that the Son of God might be manifested in your mortal flesh. Bend the whole energy of your powers to realize your election as a child of God; rise to the occasion every time."
That is exactly my aim in trying to work on being wise, which will only come from God's grace poured into my life. The goal is that Jesus would be manifested in me, and that I might reflect Him. Oh, how I need His grace, and love in my life!
posted by Bethany @ 9:18 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Beautiful post. A good reminder of the tension we live in between being easy-going & light-hearted and being intentionally uplifting. It's a good struggle that I'm glad you're having. It reminds me to keep searching for that balance. I think I agree with what you're "saying" (read: implying), that humor ought always be sacrifed at the alter of encouragement & edification. - Ken
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