Click here to return to Blog Post Intro
False Spirituality
She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.” Proverbs 7:13-14
One of the worst types of deceit used today is spiritual deception—or using God to get our own way. We encounter many possibilities throughout our lives to be spiritually deceptive…instead of living for God with integrity.
True spirituality, on the other hand, is motivated and controlled by the Spirit of Christ. It is authentic because Almighty God is the initiator.
True spirituality grows over time. It is forged on the anvil of adversity, taught at the hearth of humility (see Andrew Kerr’s The Humility Imperative; Andrew Murray’s Humility, or Jeffrey Krames’ Lead with Humility: 12 Leadership Lessons from Pope Francis), and received at the gate of God’s grace.
You know your religion is real when you prioritize love for others above your own needs and you care for the poor and needy. True spirituality inspires others to love God and obey His commands.
Living with Purity
A few weeks ago, Tanner and I had a one-on-one weekend, where we explored Family Life’s Passport to Purity. It’s a great program that I highly recommend for parents of pre-teens!
Ever since the Fall, we have struggled with sexual purity. The problem is catastrophic in modern society, where there is immediate access to a variety of movies and pictures that invite lust and twist God’s plan for sexual purity.
Consider the life of Samson—Israel’s last Judge (adapted from the NIV Leadership Bible’s commentary).
No doubt about it, Samson was special. Before he had even been conceived, an angel of the Lord set the stage for his life (Judges 13:3-5). The writer of Judges tells us that “the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him” (Judges 14:6,19).
In spite of all Samson had going for him, he had a fatal flaw. His first recorded words, spoken to his parents, reveal his problem, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife” (Judges 14:2). Samson’s parents tried to persuade him to reconsider, but Samson refused. This episode, and other liaisons outlined in Judges 14-16, reveal his problem with lust. His weakness for women eventually prompted Samson to compromise his commitment to God. Without the presence and power of God’s Spirit, this champion of Israel was easily overpowered by the Philistines (Judges 16:21). The great warrior became the laughingstock of the enemy.
Every leader can learn from Samson’s example the importance of identifying personal weaknesses and protecting oneself from them. Regardless of a leader’s personal talent, strategic opportunities of God’s original blessing, an unguarded weakness can destroy everything a leader has built.
Temptations of Travel
My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon. Proverbs 7:19-20
Distance can make the heart grow fonder and more faithful, but it can also fan the flames of lust and infidelity. Proverbs warns us to be careful not to drift into travel temptations that become divisive and deteriorate your marriage.
A righteous routine on the road gets the right results. Marriage is a team effort, and travel temptations are terminated on both ends through trust in the Lord and trust in each other.
Leaders Learn
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.” Proverbs 7:4
Leaders are learners. When they stop learning, they cease to lead wisely.
Leaders who learn to ask the right questions get the most accurate answers and are able to make the wisest decisions. That’s the focus of John Maxwell’s Good Leaders Ask Great Questions.
Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord” (1 Kings 22:5). What great advice! Leaders learn by listening to the Lord and to the wisdom found in His Word. Learning is not a one-time event but the ongoing purging of pride, pretense, and prayerlessness.
Wisdom becomes a beloved sister to whom you go for counsel.
Humility grows into a trusted friend with whom you can confide.
My you be humble and wise, as you shoot for the stars!