#firstworldproblem

I drive an older, high-mileage car.  In spite of the fact that I won’t win any “cool points” for having a fancy ride, there are a lot of advantages to driving this car – the main one being that I don’t have a car payment.  However, driving an older car has its downside as well.  Right now, as we are easing into the warm humid days of summer in NC, I am frustrated by the fact that the air conditioner in my car is only working intermittently.  It works great on cool, dry days.  But, let the temperature go above 75 and the humidity start to climb, and you can count on the fact that the air conditioner will stop working about 5 minutes after you turn it on.  We’ve had it in the shop multiple times, but they can’t seem to find the problem.

So, as I was driving to work one day this week and the warm, humid air started to pour out of the vents in my car, I was complaining in my head and thought, “If I post my frustration with this problem on facebook, I’ll have to tag it with #firstworldproblem.”   I mean, there are people all over the world who would be thankful just to have a car – with or without air conditioning.  There are people who walk to work every day in the blazing heat and the pouring rain.  Some of those people don’t even have shoes.  And, here I am, complaining because the a/c in my car isn’t working right…

But, here’s the challenge that comes from labeling things as a #firstworldproblem.  Most of the time, that kind of thinking leads to guilt.  We start to compare ourselves to the rest of the world and begin to feel guilty when we think about what we have and what they don’t have.  And, I’m not sure that’s the right response.  Feeling guilty for what I have isn’t going to help solve the problems of the world around me.

So, as I was rolling down the road in my hot, steamy car, I started thinking – If guilt is not the right response, what should our response be?  Because, poverty and sickness and war and human trafficking are real problems, and they require a real response.  As a Christian, I believe that I am required to do more than just recognize that those problems exist.  But, instead of responding with guilt – which is an inward focused emotion – I believe that the right response is compassion, which is an outward focused emotion.

Guilt says, “Wow – look at what I have.  People are going to think that I’m terrible because I have so much when others have so little.  Maybe I should hide what I have.  Maybe I am a terrible person…”  Guilt may ultimately lead to action, but the action is born out of an inward need to redeem yourself rather than an outward desire to serve others.

Compassion says, “Look at those people who are hurting and dying.  My heart aches for them.  I have so much.  How can I use what I have to meet their needs?  How can I show love to the least of these?”  Compassion leads to action that is born out of an outward concern for the world around you.

If you have been blessed with wealth, you don’t need to feel guilty.  You need to recognize the true source of your wealth.  You need to understand that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights (James 1:16-17), and He has given this wealth to you for a reason.  He expects you to be a good steward of His resources.  When faced with others in need, compassion should compel you to ask how you can use your resources to help meet the need.   And, if your bank account is looking a little low, that doesn’t excuse you from responding with compassion as well.  You can pray.  You can partner with others to combine your resources for a bigger impact.  Get creative!  We all have a part to play. 

So, when you recognize that you have a #firstworldproblem – stop and take a moment to be thankful for what you do have.  I am truly thankful for “Bessy” – my old Subaru – even without air conditioning.  But, don’t fall into the trap of feeling guilty.  Instead, look at the world around you through eyes of compassion and ask what you can do to help…

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed!

Have you ever used a word in casual conversation without really thinking about its meaning?  And, has that same word ever come back to “smack you in the face” later on when you were faced with it in a different context and forced to consider its real meaning?  That happens to me sometimes.  In fact, it just happened to me this past weekend.

Consider the word “blessed.”  How many times have you heard someone on an awards show or at a ball game or in a contest say something like, “I’m just so blessed to be here.”  Or, how often have you said to someone “be blessed” as you were saying goodbye? 

That word – blessed – is thrown around a lot without really thinking about its true meaning. Many times, it’s used to convey a general sense of well-being. In fact, it’s often used as a Christian substitute for the word “lucky.”  If someone wins the lottery, you might say to them, “Wow!  You’re so blessed!” when what you’re really thinking is “You are one lucky dog!”  You know it’s the truth!

This past Sunday, our pastor preached from Matthew 5.  There’s so much good stuff in that passage of scripture, but the thing that has stuck with me – the truth that I just can’t get away from – is the definition that he gave for the word “blessed.”  Blessed means “to be utterly and completely approved of by God.”  Full stop.  That concept just blows me away…

Think about that in the context of Matthew 5:3-10:

The poor in spirit are utterly and completely approved of by God - theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Those who mourn are utterly and completely approved of by God - they will be comforted.
The meek are utterly and completely approved of by God - they will inherit the earth.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are utterly and completely approved of by God - they will be filled.
The merciful are utterly and completely approved of by God – they will be shown mercy.
The pure in heart are utterly and completely approved of by God – they will see Him face to face.
The peacemakers are utterly and completely approved of by God – they will be called sons of God.
Those who are persecuted because of righteousness are utterly and completely approved of by God - theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Understanding what it means to be blessed – truly blessed – to be utterly and completely approved of by God - is powerful.  This kind of blessing is an outward sign of the perfect, unconditional love of God – the kind of love that casts out fear – the kind of love that produces perfect peace – the kind of love that brings comfort and offers contentment.

Now that I understand what it means to be blessed, I’m not going to be so casual in my use of the word.  I want to use it intentionally so that its true meaning can be understood and not watered down.  I want to use it in such a way that the people around me who are crying out in desperation – longing for love and acceptance and forgiveness – will understand that they too can be blessed…

Learned, earned, or born with it?

Here’s a question that’s been on my mind a lot recently.  Is leadership something you learn – or something you earn – or are some people just born with it?  I imagine that it’s probably a combination of all three, but it’s interesting to watch as people are faced with a leadership opportunity.  Some people run from it.  Some people face it head on with a little bit of fear and a good dose of determination.  And, some people go after it aggressively, intent on grabbing the opportunity no matter what the cost.

As someone who has been in a leadership role for a while, I’m now having to take that to a new level as I have been tasked with leading a new leader…  I’m finding that it’s a challenge to mentor a leader who has a leadership style that is vastly different from my own.  And, it’s made me take a hard look at myself as a leader and has caused me to think about what I really value in a leader.

There are a lot of different leadership models out there, but the one that I try to follow is the example of the servant-leader that was illustrated so beautifully in the life of Jesus.  I still have a long way to go, but these are the leadership qualities that I try to emulate:

·         Compassion – This quality was illustrated over and over again in Jesus’ life and ministry.  He would look on His followers with compassion and that would motivate Him to care for them or provide for them or teach them.  As a leader, it is so important to value those whom you have been entrusted to lead.  They are important.  They are the reason that you have been placed in a position of authority.  A great leader carefully shepherds his followers and treats them with the respect that he also desires to receive from them.

·         Integrity – A leader is only as good as his word.  It’s impossible to succeed as a leader without the trust of your followers.  Trust is born out of integrity.  Jesus was the embodiment of integrity.   Isaiah 53:9 says that there was “no deceit in His mouth.”  He spoke the truth.  Period.  As leaders, we should, too.

·         No compromise – A leader must remain true to his core values at all costs.  He may be required to cooperate with others to find a creative solution to a problem, but cooperation and “finding the middle ground” cannot lead to moral compromise.  Taking the “narrow road” may not make you the most popular leader, but it does insure that you’ll be able to sleep at night – and in most cases, people respect a leader who refuses to compromise even when they don’t agree with his choices.  Jesus was the perfect example of a leader who refused to compromise even when the cost of standing firm was ultimately his very life.  Don’t let fear force you to compromise.

·         Clear direction – Jesus provided clear direction to His followers.  They knew what was required of them.  When Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?,” He clearly replied, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:5-7) He laid the plan out before them so that they could understand what was required of them.  Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  As a leader, you have to clearly communicate the vision so that your followers can run with it. 

·         Lead by example – A leader cannot expect his followers to go where he is not willing to go himself.  Modeling the behavior that you expect from your followers is one of the most effective ways to teach them, and it will ultimately earn you their respect, devotion, and loyalty as well.  The most beautiful example of Jesus as a servant-leader is given in John 13 when He washes His disciples’ feet.  After He is done, He says, “Do you understand what I was doing?  You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am.  And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example to follow.  Do as I have done to you.” – John13:12-15.  Jesus eventually laid down his life for these men, but many of them later gave their lives in service to Him as well.  They had seen His life and His example, and they were willing to follow no matter the cost.

Thinking back to my original question, I never desired a position of leadership – I was placed into it.  I’ve had to learn to be a leader as I’ve faced new challenges and opportunities every day.  As leaders, we will have seasons of success and seasons of failure, but through it all, if we can anchor ourselves to a few guiding principles, we can learn to lead with a steady hand. 

I’ve chosen to anchor myself to the principles outlined above.  What are the leadership principles that help to guide you?