About a year ago I heard a quote, "An unguarded strength is a double weakness." It's something that makes a lot of sense, and I think it's something many are guilty of. Our strong areas are the things we probably don't focus on as much. We're confident in those areas of our lives, and so we tend not to worry about them. But I think the tendency is to become over confident.
It's at the point of over confidence that we drop our guard and become vulnerable. Too often we think we're too strong, that we don't have to worry about one aspect or another, and too often that's where we fail. Not where we are weak, but where we feel the strongest and most secure.
The first time I heard that quote it was accompanied with an example. A pastor who was famous for his work on marriage and family studies was asked, "If you were to fail in ministry, where do you think it would be?" His answer, "I don't know, but it would not be in the area of marriage." Some time after that he became involved in an affair. His strength was left unguarded, and he was attacked.
It's crucial that we don't drop our guard. 1 Peter 5.8 reminds us, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
We have a real enemy that seeks to destroy us. Those in ministry voluntarily put a huge target on their backs. Those who are followers of Christ, who have been transformed by Christ and are living like Christ, likewise have a target on their back. It is crucial that we don't drop our guard.
Let's think back to the Olympics in Beijing. Michael Phelps set an incredible record of eight gold medals in a single Olympic games. One of his races was won by .01 seconds. That race was the 100m butterfly, and it was for his seventh gold medal of the games. The butterfly has been a stroke that he's pretty much dominated in for a decade. It's the leg he swam of the men's 4x100m medley relay. But that race was one he couldn't drop his guard in. If he had, he would have had seven gold medals and a silver, an impressive feat, but not as impressive as the eight gold medals he won.
Earlier this week I read an article about another athlete, Oscar Pistorius, a South African sprinter who is a double leg amputee. He competed in London, and also competes in the Paralympics. In one of the events at the Paralympics he finished second by .07 seconds. One journalist commented that he appeared to be surprised to be challenged so late in the race, and was unable to match the kick of his opponent. The announcer said that no one ever gets near him in the last stages of the race.
I don't know if he dropped his guard, but I do know that life is like that. Things sneak up on us and we lose races that we never have before. We cannot afford to drop any guards, even on the areas where we are strongest.
The reason for this post is that this week I have been reminded of the fact that an unguarded strength is a double weakness. I am not going into details, but a friend has talked to me about a situation they can't be believe they ended up in. As we talked I shared this quote as a lesson to take from it. "An unguarded strength is a double weakness."
To all in ministry, take this to heart, even your strongest areas must still be guarded. The enemy would love nothing more than to take a pastor out, don't give him that chance. Don't lower your guard for even a minute. Don't compromise years of Kingdom work, past, present, and future, for anything. Don't sacrifice your family or integrity for momentary gain or pleasure.
Keep your guard up at all times in all areas. We have a real enemy who is just waiting for it to drop so he can strike, don't give him the chance.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
No comments:
Post a Comment