As a kid, and I’m not sure when exactly that was, I used to read the Dear Abby and Ann Landers columns. Daily. Why? It was interesting to see the kind of problems people face and what might be appropriate advice to share. Of course, an advice column is not up to the task of solving all woes. Life is complicated, and it’s difficult to know the in’s and out’s of every situation. In fact, from this mindset, I’ve coined my own phrase:
There are 40 sides to every story.
A single column cannot possibly tell any of us what to do to repair the breach or respond to Aunt Gertie. Anyone good at sharing solutions must listen, ask particularly pointed questions, and reach a bottom line. A common denominator, if you are a mathematician. Only then can you build up to an appropriate solution.
Recently, and this person will know I’m talking about them, a computer problem gives them fits. Nothing was working. Well, in today’s internet world, you must have a good internet connection before you can download problems. My call took about 10 minutes of attempting some solutions, and when a particular situation did not happen, I finally asked about the internet connectivity. Voila! Saboteur! The internet was spotty!
Lessons Learned
I’ve learned not to give advice. Keep the trap shut. When asked for input, think about what is needed and not what “you” would do and tell them how to do it. Why? Well, I’m a “fixer,” and “if I were in charge, “I’d handle the problem like this.
I can share how I look at things and what my response may be in the situation, but not worry about whether a particular path was followed.
One Instagram account I follow is famous for giving “lists”: 5 Tips by Warren Buffett”, “Life Lessons From an 80-year Old Man”, “7 Brain Hacks to Boost Productivity.” Of course, I learn from these bulleted points, but another Instagram account gave me some insight to his “10 Lessons From 19 Years of Marriage.” They were extremely valuable. He backed up his bulleted points with insights.
Whether I agree with any other’s viewpoint, researching tells me I’ve solved many of my own problems by developing my own advice to myself and my own backstory that reminds me where I learned this from.
- Well, let’s not do “that” again! (Laurel and Hardy)
- If we are headed in the same direction, all things being equal, I’d just as soon be in front. (I don’t like your brake lights in my face!)
- Don’t leave the house without kissing the spouse. (Solves any hard feelings!)
- Let sleeping dogs lie. (Don’t stir the pot!)
- Let’s let it perc a while. (J.R. B.)
- Somewhere down the road. (We’ll see this situation again.
- Pat me on the back! (Eureka! I got it!)
Get the drift? Mine may not be as salient to an audience, but to me they speak very loudly in my mind’s ear!
Can This Be Spiritual?
You should be able to apply any of life’s lessons to your spiritual walk. After all, many of our lessons are learned on the battlefield of spiritual warfare. What we learn in the Spirit will apply in the natural. Hmmm… Maybe I should add that to my list???!!!
Though Solomon may be famous for his one-liners (much like T.F. Tenney or Will Rogers), I prefer to look to the Author and Finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). The words he spoke were spirit and life (John 6:63). He was thought to be a great Rabbi because no one had ever heard words like his before (Mark 1:22). His examples produced followers that turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). What we learn from him will take us to the end (Revelations 22:12-13,16)
In other words, the example of Jesus and the words he shared are probably the strongest character-building words around!
For today, consider this one point that comes from the first recorded words of Jesus.
The Wisdom of Jesus
Jesus is twelve years old, and the family goes to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When it was time to leave, his family thought he was with others, but Jesus stayed behind. A day into their journey, he is not found. So they return to Jerusalem.
Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
So when they saw Him, they were amazed;
and His mother said to Him,
“Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
(Luke 2:46-52 NKJV)
Jesus knew his path, but there were also maturing years to grow through. Instead of flaunting his privilege, he returned with them and was under their tutelage. He increased in wisdom, stature, favor with God and men.
He Became Like Us, So We Could Become Like Him
The Bible tells us he was tempted and tried in all points but was sinless (Hebrews 4:15). Obedient unto death (Philippians 2:8), the author of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9), for me, he died unto sin (Romans 6:10)… This is a lengthy list.
Maybe we cannot give specific advice to everyone because we do not know their side of life’s story. Yet, I can give some general advice as we began to investigate the story that keeps you from becoming like him.
Learn the language and life of Jesus.
He has the words of Eternal Life. (John 6:68)
Search the Scriptures (John 5:39) and learn of him
Apply appropriately to your own life.
Become his disciple, friend, and love as He did.
All will then know you belong to him.
But don’t stop there. Every day you will need to invest in yourself to take action to “stay like Jesus.” The story of Jesus does not end in the Gospels. It moves forward through Acts, where we learn how the Church lived. Their struggles are our struggles. On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), the church was born. The Spirit filled them, they spoke with new tongues, and it was a testimony to others that day. Peter tells them what to do when they asked, and it was not advice. It was a command. (Act 2:38)
Our lives are not just for ourselves to live, but to reach others with that Spirit that fills us. (Matthew 28:19-20)
That’s good advice!