Getting older? Or Getting better?

How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. (Proverbs 6:9–15)

This is a discouraging passage for a person who has always been industrious and is now aging and wants to nap more than be busy. But there is a difference between the sluggard and the octogenarian. The older person is tired, not lazy, still wants to be doing things, is not trying to trick others into doing everything for him.

Yet those sluggard ideas pop up. My old nature would shirk responsibilities and complain about the work anyone else did for me. I’d never be satisfied and never take on hard challenges.

It is a challenging season. I had an older friend who used to say, “I don’t know how to be ninety.” At the time, I didn’t understand, but now realize the conflict. My body and my mind do not agree with each other. Had I been a sluggard all my life, this would not be an issue. 

New friends are helpful. One of my neighbors is ninety and going strong. Her mind is sharp and she is busy with family and happy all the time. It is possible to know how to be ninety. I’m not there yet, but should the Lord grant me that many birthdays, He has already given me a few role-models, but most of all, Himself:

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:1–8)

This is such a far cry from being a sluggard who stirs up trouble and cares for no one but herself. 

Lord Jesus, it is okay to have a nap, but not to avoid responsibilities. Sleep is okay for those who are tired from labor. You bless those who think good thoughts, and who are not always stirring up trouble. Your goal for me is even better than being “a sweet little old lady” — You want me to be to be like You.

Vows and to-do lists . . .

 

2 Samuel 10; Psalms 60–61; Ezekiel 17; 2 Corinthians 3

While not exactly vows, most of my life I’ve been making decisions to do certain things. Some have become good habits; others have not worked out. I was encouraged yesterday as I went through a collection of ‘tips’ for making life easier. Some of those clippings were nearly thirty years old. The delight came as I realized I could have written many of them because these time or money saving ideas are now part of my life.

As I read and tossed them, I did find a few that seemed important to keep. Realizing new habits are not as easy to establish as they used to be, I’ve been wondering how to best incorporate these tips into daily life. This morning one of David’s psalms gave me another tip:

“So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.” (Psalm 61:8)

What a good idea! One of those clippings contained the following tip for making the day go well: “I put Christian music on and it keeps me in good spirits all day.” Another one said, “I read my Bible every day.”

Even though this is great, the above quote suggests the reality: carrying out good intentions is not always easy. When days go well, getting things done seems easy. When troubles come or even unexpected events, sticking to a vow or even an ordinary plan is not as easy. Another psalm says this:

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:14–15)

Those bad days call for thanksgiving — which always reminds me of the power of God to use even troubles for my good. In them, I can be shaped into the image of Christ, His goal for all His people. That is a far more important to-do item than anything I can put on a daily list. The Lord’s purpose for all of life, whether He delivers me quickly or not, is that I glorify Him.

In the New Testament, vows were like the OT promises signified by certain actions, such as shaving one’s head. However, whatever shows up externally, a vow is a solemn promise to give one’s self to the Lord and serve Him only. This is also expressed in this verse:

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

APPLY: As I think about today’s tasks, they easily fall into this “whatever you do” description and therefore become possible ways to glorify God. Even if others are not around to see what I do in carrying out and completing those plans, I can still sing praises to the Lord and be thankful, giving Him glory.