Will Davis Jr.'s Blog, page 81
August 24, 2012
August 22, 2012
Breaking News: This Isn’t Really Breaking News
A Huffington Post article two days ago caught my eye with the headline: Breaking News! Now I don’t know about you, but when I see the phrase breaking news I expect what follows to be, well, breaking news. You know, something groundbreaking or revolutionary or relatively new. But in this case, the breaking news was anything but.
The article cited a recent study by two major universities that indicated that people actually felt better after giving generously than when they were given something. Bottom line: giving is better than receiving. (READ THE ARTICLE HERE)
Now I know that those findings are counter-intuitive, as we are bombarded with messages that tell us to get, grab, hold and accumulate. But the study’s findings aren’t exactly groundbreaking. The “giving is better than receiving” wisdom is at least 3000 years old. King Solomon, the collector and editor of the Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible wrote:
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Proverbs 11:24
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. Proverbs 25:21
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. Proverbs 28:27
Two millennia later Jesus weighed in on the subject:
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
So when I read that there’s a bombshell university study proposing something that I’ve known since I was nine, please forgive me if my default response is “Duh!” I’ve been a giver all of my adult life–I mean that Susie and I give 10% or more of our income–and I know first hand just how true Solomon’s and Jesus’ words are. Giving refreshes you; giving gives you perspective; and, God honors giving.
So with the combination of 3000 year old wisdom and university studies saying the same thing–giving is better than getting–one would think that more people would do it. But the tragic and curious reality is that even with all of the wealth of our country, we’re still not a particularly giving people. The average Christian in the US gives only 1-2 % of his or her resources away. 1-2 %. Pardon me, but that’s downright shameful.
I won’t list them here, but the Bible has another set of verses that talk about the dangers of holding onto wealth, not sharing and not giving generously. Rather than gaining more, you run the real risk of losing what you have. God will not honor those who keep his blessings to themselves.
Friends, we need to wise-up. We’ve got age-old and now study-supported wisdom telling us that if you want to really be rich–full, joyful, blessed and refreshed–then give. And I, along with millions of others of givers, will continue to put our money where are mouths are and be living proof that it really is better to give than receive.Why don’t you join us? You won’t be sorry.
Want to read more about the power of giving? Click here.
August 21, 2012
The End of a Season–Our Last Child is Off to College
Today we move our youngest child out of her home and into her college housing. It’s the third time Susie and I have done this, so I hope we’re ready. But the knot in my stomach tells me I’m not.
When Sara walks out of our door in a few hours, it will be the tangible, definable, clear point in time that our role as parents will forever be different. I know that countless of you have already done this and are wanting right now to tell me to get over it, but this is new for me so please indulge me for a moment.
Last night we sat down with Sara and shared the final thoughts and instructions we wanted her to know before she left:
Remember who you are
Read your Bible and pray
Listen to you instincts. When your internal alarm goes off, walk away.
Get ready to know yourself better
Don’t forget to go to class
Make good choices
Know that you can call us any time
Always love Jesus
Sara and me sharing a “planking moment” at Chasm Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
And all the while that we’re saying these things to her, my brain is going wild:
Is she really ready?
Have we set her up to win?
Does she know how to change a tire?
Does she know where to kick a guy if she needs to?
Does she know how to balance her checkbook?
Etc, etc, etc
But, even though my mind was out of control, somewhere in my gut I heard the Spirit’s voice: She’s mine Will. She never has been yours. You and Susie have done your job. Now it’s time for her to move on. I have plans for her you know nothing about.
James Dobson said that parenting is the only human relationship where the goal is separation. If your kid leaves well, you’ve succeeded. Wow.
Here’s to parenting success. It’s a mixed blessing.
Parents, pray every day with and for your kids. Your faith in Jesus is the best gift you can give them and the best way to prepare them for whatever lies ahead.
Now, off to the dorm . . . . .
Wan to read more about preparing kids for separation? Click here.
August 20, 2012
Monday Devotional: Are You the Answer to Someone’s Prayers?
When God’s people, cry out for God’s, help God’s answer, is God’s people. (Let me break that down some.) When God’s people, cry out for God’s help . . . . God’s answer, is God’s people. (OK, let me break it down a little more.) When God’s people . . . . cry out for God’s help . . . . God’s answer . . . . is God’s people. Got it yet? Think about this:
So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God. Haggai 1:14
Great things for God never happen without God. If you see a person doing great things for God, be certain that God is behind it. He is the point of origin for all matters eternal.
When Abraham left Ur to lands uncharted and became the father of the Jewish nation, God was behind it. When Moses, the eventual rescuer of Israel, was raised under the protection of Pharaoh’s house, God was behind it. It was God who raised up Samuel the prophet and each of the righteous judges of Israel. It was God who anointed the great kings David and Solomon. It was God who protected Israel while in exile. And when a virgin gave birth to a baby, the same baby who would die as a sinless substitute 33 years later, God was behind it. Wherever great things are happening for God, you can be sure that God is at work there.
BUT: In every case, God stirred up the spirit of a human instrument to help in His work. In the verses above, God moved in Zerubbabel, Joshua and many other returning exiles to rebuild his temple. Whenever God looks to do great things, he looks for willing human agents to do great things through. Name anyone of the heroes of our faith. They are not so much known for their natural abilities as for their availability. God stirred, they answered, and the Kingdom was expanded.
God’s people had a need. God’s people sought his help. They needed deliverance, leadership, instruction, guidance, and provision. And how did God answer? Through people–just like you and me.
Today, God is moving all over the world. I see him working in my hometown of Austin in unprecedented ways. He’s moving in other US cities and around the globe in equally powerful and tangible ways. And in every case, he’s using people.
So here’s the question of the day: What is God stirring in you? He is still doing great things. All over our world great works are being done by God through willing human agents. He’s still stirring, still seeking those through whom he can accomplish his will. Are you available? People right now are crying out for God’s help. You may well be part of his answer. Do you have the courage to step out and obey him? Are you willing to set aside your comfort and convenience to be a part of God’s great work? Pray right now that you’ll be sensitive to God’s great stirrings. There is work to be done. People are praying. All God wants is willing volunteers.
August 17, 2012
August 16, 2012
What Did You Feel When You Met Jesus?
My friend Steve Shaver (@sdshaver) shared a great devotional this week in our staff meeting. Reading from Colossians 2 he said: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, Colossians 2:6. He then asked us to think about the moment we first believed in Jesus. What did we feel? What was the experience like? Some of us were very young, some were adults. Some of us were raised in church, others not. But regardless of our backgrounds, the results were the same. Our experiences with Jesus had been profound.
Steve asked us to list four words that described what or how we felt. Here’s some of what our staff shared:
safe
saved
pure
loud
peaceful
emotional
relief
powerful
profound
pure
joy
forgiven
included
known
loved
transformational
fear/awe
trusting
submitted
free
surrendered
worth
reverence
new
calm
care
It was a beautiful time hearing my friends and colleagues sharing what their salvation experience had meant to them. So in honor of the Lord Jesus and in praise for what he has done for us, let’s keep it going. What did you feel when Jesus saved you? What words describe what he did for you, how he changed you?
List as many words as you like here. Praise his name!
August 15, 2012
The Real Danger of Discontentment
We all deal with it–discontentment. It’s that universal pull to want what you don’t have. Some see it as a great driver for capitalism. It moves us to spend, to grow, to expand and thus stimulate our economy. Maybe.
But there is a dark and insidious side to discontentment, and we need to shed light on it lest it destroy us. Consider this familiar scene:
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Genesis 3:1-6)
The first thing the serpent did was to call into the question the goodness of God and his provision for Adam and Eve. It’s the oldest trick in the book, literally. Never mind that God had created an entire heavenly playground just for them, he was still mean. He was keeping something from them. He was withholding. Why would God do that? Didn’t he want them to be happy? Why would he keep such a beautiful tree from people he claimed to love?
At the heart of this Satanic attack on God’s character was also an attack on the nature of his provision for Adam and Eve. Satan attacked their contentment. Now get this: Satan lured these first two humans by tempting them to take their eyes off of what God had given them and to focus on what he hadn’t. That’s the root of discontentment. You stop focusing on what God has done and start looking at what he hasn’t done (or, at what you think he hasn’t done). And when you do, when you start longing for what you don’t have, you run the risk of losing everything.
It’s this age-old temptation that causes a man or woman to betray his or her spouse and have an affair. It’s this same temptation that entices couples to uproot from family, friends, church and community and move across the country, all in the name of making more money. And, it’s this same lie of the devil that leads men and women to work a ridiculous number of hours a week in the pursuit of something that, once they get it, only sets them up to want something else. It never ends. Satisfaction never comes.
When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, not only did they not get what Satan promised (remember, all he does is lie), they lost what they had. They lost the Garden and their unique status with God—all in the name of having more.
So, what have you lost, or what do you risk losing, in the name of getting that next thing? Have you bought the lie that it’s not what you have, but what you don’t have, that will really satisfy you? Discontentedness calls into question the very character and provision of God. It’s basically open rebellion before God. Don’t fall for it. If you do, not only will you have more, you’ll lose what you have.
Want to read more? Click Here.
August 14, 2012
If you Have to Intimidate to Make Your Point, Maybe Your Point isn’t Valid
Several events in recent weeks got me to thinking about how we communicate and specifically, how we try to influence others. In a true debate, where winners and losers are decided by a judge, all you have at your disposal is the validity of your argument, the weight of evidence that supports it, and perhaps the skill with which you make your points.
But in the arena of religion, relationships, social issues and even politics, no such limits exist. We get to use our own judgement when determining how we want to make our points and seek to influence others. And sadly, reason and the validity of our arguments are often replaced by exaggeration, dishonesty, intimidation and even thuggery.
Take for example the Chick-Fil-A brouhaha of a few weeks ago. I certainly don’t question the right of people to disagree with Mr. Cathy’s comments and point-of-view, but I lost respect for them when their tactics left the realm of discussion and degraded into black-balling and intimidation.
Now lest I be accused of hypocrisy here, I must quickly point out that just about all of us (including Christians) have the potential to use equally bad methods when trying to influence others. Let me offer some examples:
A pastor tells his church that if they don’t give to their church’s building fund, they don’t really love God
Terrorist kidnappers force their kidnapping victim to denounce his homeland on video and broadcast it to the world, and then celebrate as if his comments are legitimate
Constantine told his soldiers that they could either get baptized or die, and then claimed a true spiritual awakening when his entire army suddenly converted to Christianity
Black Panthers stand imposingly outside of a polling place to ensure a “fair outcome” in an election
A religious zealot blows up a busload of innocent people in an effort to show that his god is better than everyone else’s
I’m sure you could list your own examples. The point is that when we resort to such methods when trying to either make our point or sway others to see things our way, rather than strengthening our cause, we actually hurt it.
If you have to threaten or intimidate to get people to align with your cause, then maybe your own point isn’t all that valid. Or least you’re not secure enough in what you believe to let the truth of your convictions stand on their own merit. Manipulation, loud voices and flexed muscles do not necessarily speak to the truth of one’s beliefs.
If you’re god is real, let people find him on their own, not through your threats and thuggery
If you have to browbeat people into giving money to your cause, then maybe your cause isn’t really worth giving to
If your political or social cause has truth behind it, then you won’t need to resort to scare tactics to advance it. We have Wilberforce and MLK as two great examples who stayed above-board while fighting major social injustice and prevailed.
But if you have to slash tires, throw bricks through windows, burn down churches, assassinate leaders, publicly slander or name-call, protest the funerals of soldiers or hold a “kiss-in” at the business of those you disagree with, then be aware that you are hurting your cause, no matter how right it may be.
Consider the message of Jesus. His strategy for change included turning the other cheek, letting people draw the wrong conclusions about him, washing the feet of his enemies and even dying under trumped-up charges for those he knew would reject him. That’s a far cry from today’s “I will overpower you if you don’t agree with me” mindset.
Do you have strong convictions? Good for you. Are you working for social change? Go for it. Are you passionate about certain subjects? You should be. But remember this–in leading people, especially in the high arenas of religion, politics, cultural reform and personal relationships, how you get there is everything. Ends never justify means. If you take the low road in trying to influence others, you run the risk of disqualifying yourself and your message in the process.
August 13, 2012
Why Movement Matters
Movement:
A change of place or position or posture
A trend or tendency
A discernible, measurable and lasting stirring of God’s Spirit in a life, a church, a city or a country
If you follow these kinds of things, you may know by now that there is a genuine movement of God stirring in many cities in the US. This movement is very much still in the early stages, but its presence is undeniable. Here’s what it looks like.
There are multiple cities with:
Increased unity among churches across denominational, racial and theological lines
Churches are coming together to address needs in their cities and using their massive volunteer bases to address problems that have previously been unaddressed
Attendance in churches is increasing in cities that have previously been known for being largely unchurched
There is significant increased activity by Christians and churches in the social justice arena
Stated more directly, what many of us have been praying for over the past 30-40 years–a third great awakening in the US–is showing encouraging signs on being well on its way.
And that means three very important things for you:
1. Living for Jesus is going to get easier. With movement comes momentum, and momentum means that we will all have an easier time living lives that honor Jesus. Think of it like running with the wind at your back. When movement comes, the wind of God blows to such a degree that crime drops, violence decreases, fidelity and faithfulness increase and morality actually becomes cool. That’s we can look forward to.
2. There has never been a better time to talk to people about Jesus. Depending on where you live, you may find unprecedented levels of receptiveness on the part of people who previously showed no real interest in hearing about Jesus. Movement means that the hard soil of people’s hearts is going to get softer, that they are going to be more open to talking about Jesus, and that countless numbers of them–millions and millions, are going to embrace Christ.
3. Hostility toward Christians and the Church is also going to hit unprecedented levels. Movement produces friction, and friction always comes with true spiritual awakening. As God’s Spirit continues to move across our land, you can expect that the enemies of God will become more vocal and emboldened in their resistance to his movement. Satan will see that his strongholds are being threatened, and he will pull out all the stops to resist the advancement of God’s Kingdom. This is one of the main reasons I believe that true awakening is coming–because those who really are hostile to God are fighting tooth and nail to hold their ground.
Followers of Jesus, take courage. Our best days in this country we love are still ahead. That’s not a political statement, it’s a theological one.
