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We Take Great Pains
05/05/2008 - By Dr. Ken Lovelace
Website: http://www.kenlovelaceministries.com/ken_devot.html#this
Dr. Ken Lovelace of Ken Lovelace Ministries is a preacher and speaker. He's available for revivals, crusades, and conferences. Find out more at www.kenlovelaceministries.com.
F a i t h M a t t e r s
with Dr. Ken Lovelace
Emphasis: Doing What is Right
We Take Great Pains
Karl Wallenda was the patriarch of the most daring family in tightrope history. He trained every child in the family to walk the wire without a net, and to live out his motto: “Walking the wire is living; everything else is waiting.” His goal of developing a feat that could never be duplicated was fulfilled when “The Seven” was perfected. Seven members of the family created a pyramid on the wire with one of his granddaughters seated in a chair at the top. The Wallendas performed this act for sixteen years without a mishap, and without a net. Then tragedy struck.
One grandson lost his balance and the whole family fell. Two were killed and several were permanently injured. The incident changed Wallenda. His wife said, “All Karl thought about for months was not falling. He put his focus on not falling instead of walking the wire.” He still walked the wire and he still pushed the limits, but his focus was blurred. This lack of focus no doubt contributed to his final demise in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
He stretched a wire between two ten-story buildings in downtown San Juan. With thousands watching, this seventy-year-old performer took to the wire. Unfortunately, the day would not end with success. The great Wallenda lost his focus and fell to his death. As Wallenda’s widow suggested, we must focus on what we want to happen rather than what we fear will happen.1
Paul would agree. In 2 Corinthians 8, he wrote: “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men” (v21). Paul was writing to the Corinthians to remind them that they had promised to take up an offering for the struggling church in Jerusalem and to inform them that Titus and another dear brother would be arriving in Corinth to assist with the collection.
He focused on what he wanted to happen and was concerned that it all be done rightly and with integrity. Specifically, he was concerned that the receiving of the offering be done without incident. Generally, he gave us a principle that was important in his life for all situations: to take pains to do what is right no matter what the cost. He was concerned about this on two levels.
First, he knew God was watching all he did and wanted to receive even the offering in a way that pleased the Lord. Why was that important? Obviously, it’s important to do what is right because God is watching and, ultimately, we answer to Him.
Second, he knew that “the eyes of men” would be upon this whole process and he wanted to do rightly for their sake as well. This was imperative for reasons of accountability. Paul knew he would be held accountable by the church and, therefore, knew it was important to do the right thing. We as believers are accountable to each member of the body of Christ to which we belong. We are each walking a tightrope, as it were, with all eyes upon us. It's accountability that keeps us on our toes and our right focus that keeps our "acts" from coming crashing down.
We should also be in the habit of checking up on others and holding them accountable before the Lord. Asking those absent why they were and letting them know we missed them is a great example of this principle.
Next, Paul felt it was important to do right in the eyes of men as an example to believers and as a witness to unbelievers. It was one of the chief priorities of his life; is it for us? Do we care that others are watching? We should! Again, we will be held accountable by God for the way we behave before others.
So what should we do with this passage? We should take it before the Lord. We can ask God to open our eyes today to “see” how He wants us to bring our lives in line with His Word based on this passage. Are we really mindful that He’s always watching? Do we live in a way that reflects that we know He’s always watching? If we don’t know, we should ask Him; He’ll surely tell us.
And then we pray that the Lord will give us courage to live in such a way as to be an example to insiders and a witness to outsiders. In practical terms, we are to seek His strength to do what is right in His eyes and in the eyes of others. We do this by seeking first His Kingdom and by loving “our neighbors” as ourselves. We look for opportunities to be both an example and a witness. And we depend solely on the Lord to enable us to maintain our balance.
Won’t you go before Him now? He’s waiting!
_____________________
1Better Families, May 1997, p. 2.
Copyright © 2008. Faith Matters by Dr. Ken Lovelace. All rights reserved.
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