Before reading this Sip, please take a moment to read I Peter 5:5-7 and meditate on those words for a few moments.
This past Sunday, we spoke about guilt during the sermon. Guilt is one of the many things that cause us anxiety. If we stop to think about all that is going on around us, we might be too anxious to even move. On an international scale, there is the incredible unrest in the Middle East with revolution on everyone's lips, there are Somali pirates attacking and killing innocent victims, there is the growing power of China looming as a giant economic force and the list goes on. On the national scale, we have massive debt, governments at all levels are broke, gas is heading quickly towards four dollars a gallon, and the hits keep right on coming. There is such anxiety that the drug industry cannot keep up with the demand for more powerful and "effective" tranquilizers. One a personal scale, we all have our own struggles. Each of us have individuals struggles and anxieties tailored to our own personal experience. Anxiety is a universal experience, even though as Christians we tried to hide our anxiety.
This passage is I Peter gives a powerful antidote to anxiety: Humility. That doesn't sound right, but it is. Notice,t he passage begins by telling younger men in the church to submit to the elders of the church. The only way we can really submit is with an attitude of humility. However, humility is hard to come by today. We see athletes preening for cameras, thumping their chests and do dances over making a routine play. We see stars in Hollywood strutting around with a self-importance that makes them feel qualified to speak on every subject as if they were experts. We see politicians ripping each other and telling the world how smart they are and how ignorant those who oppose them are. Yes, in America, humility is in short supply.
Humility basically says this, "I don't have all the answers and I need to learn from others." The passage in I Peter reminds us to learn from those older and more experienced than us. When we are facing a stressful situations, we can never go wrong by talking with an older brother or sister in Christ - Sharing our fears and struggles with them. Chances are, they have been through much worse and have come out on the other side with a renewed faith and joy. Humility makes the most of the opportunity God gives us when He puts these elders into our path. That's why the church should always show honor and respect to those who have been in the faith for a long time. Their experience, wisdom and peace can bring us back to our senses and calm out nerves as we trust God to do what only He can do.
When we were in Hawaii, the church was planning to build a building without incurring any debt. The first thing the state required us to do was to pay for our own fire hydrant, which was going to take up all of our reserves. So that meant, we still had a $200,000 building to build with no money - Not the best way to approach a construction job. After sharing with the church what we needed to do and probably venting a little more than I should have, I was worn out. Before leaving the church, Margaret Sanders pulled me aside to talk with me. She was a Godly woman we all called "Tutu", which is the Hawaiian word for grandmother. She took both of my hands in her hands and said, "Kahu, is God leading us in the building?" I gave a rather meek affirmative response to that question. Her response was stern and yet filled with joy, "Then He will provide what we need when we need it". With that, she hugged me and walked away. This marvelous saint had seen God move in so many majestic ways in her life that she was not fazed by $200,000. At just the right time, I heard the voice of God speaking through an elder to my soul. For those of you who may not know the rest of the story: It took two more years to complete that building, but it was finished debt-free and God always provided what we needed at just the right time.
What is causing you anxiety. Would you allow the Holy Spirit to take you by the hand and remind you that God will provide just what you need at just the right time. Then find an elder who is walking with the Lord to be your prayer partner in this endeavor. When the anxiety begins to rise, call and pray. See if you cannot learn the lessons from those who have gone of before you. If you will take a sip from their well, you will be refreshed!
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