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Living a fully functional life
Some make good use of each day’s time and opportunities of love, friendship and for productive ventures.
Others waste time and tide and throw away many opportunities. Many others are hindered in their special efforts to be productive. They can’t add value to your staff when you employ them. Why is this so?
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First, it is because we are really not, “the master of our souls and the captain of our ship.” No. The man of wisdom counsels, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5&6 NLT).
Second, we bring up the following strong statement the Lord Jesus makes: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NLT).
And so if you want to live a vital fruitful life and achieve enduring results, you better get connected properly to Jesus Christ and remain consistently connected to Him.
We may compare this radical saying of Jesus to the following statement of the Psalmist: “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats” (Psalm 115:3-7 NIV). And the Psalmist adds: “And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them” (Psalm 115:8 NLT).
That is to say, there are people who “have mouths but cannot speak”; “ears but cannot hear” and “feet but cannot walk”. So how can they be able to function and be productive?
Worship and trust in man-made gods or idols are real snares. The Psalmist thinks they are completely untenable. Their rewards are not attractive at all; and must not be embraced.
Thirdly, the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ offers the greatest option for living a fully functional life. The Lord Jesus cautions: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10a NIV). And He offers the best option: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” ((John 10:10b NIV).
The Lord Jesus says, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life”. We can live fully functional life through the grace and enabling power of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.
Does that mean or imply that the true believer in Christ lives a trouble-free life throughout his entire life? No. In the Good Shepherd hymn of Psalm 23, the Psalmist declares: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want”, or “The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need” (Psalm 23:1).
And yet in verse 4 he says “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NLT). But He is certain that ultimately, he will live a fully fulfilling life: “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings” (Psalm 23:5 NLT).
The Apostle Paul was not thinking of a trouble-free life but a fully functional and victorious Christian life when he says “Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.
Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:9-10; 14-15; 18). And the Psalmist concludes with a firm hope in experiencing the fully functional life: “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6 NLT).
It is in union with Christ and His grace and enabling power that we are able to live fully functional and fulfilling life.
