Midweek Encouragement - "Don’t Allow the Few to Affect Your Joy”

"Don’t Allow the Few to Affect Your Joy”

    ^{The number of times I’ve thought about this and even done this over the past few months has prompted me to put hand to keyboard. If you’re a regular reader of PD’s Mid-Week Encouragement, you already know the inner workings of my brain, but I just had to share this.}

         ^{Here’s the question that I’ve been wrestling with lately . . . Why do I allow the actions of a few people to affect my attitude toward all people? Last week’s Mid-Week Encouragement may have been a direct result of that question, too. Let’s admit it. Not everyone is stupid. So why do I allow the stupidity of a few to affect my level of joy? Whether I’m driving or interacting with people, why do I allow the attitudes and actions of a few to rob my joy?}

         ^{One thing is certain. There will always be selfish, self-centered people in our sin-filled world, in our communities, in our schools, at our workplaces, and yes, even in our churches. There will always be people who want to do what THEY want to do, regardless of what anyone else wants. Obviously, this is nothing new. Way back in Judges 21:25 we read this, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” I get it. Human nature hasn’t changed. Even today, everyone seems to do as they see fit. Part of me wants to say, “Let’s chalk up the selfishness of the few to their sin nature and love them nonetheless.” Isn’t that what Jesus would do? But if each of us did what we saw fit to do, wouldn’t we have chaos in our world? You bet we would!}

         ^{I think I have an answer or two to my dilemma. First, let me speak to you who are the few who are doing as you see fit, regardless of what anyone else says or does. If you’re of sane mind, try putting yourself in the place of “the many” for a minute, to see how you would feel if the tables were reversed. How would you feel if other people disregarded your advice, your admonition, your leadership, or your wishes. You’d feel very small and insignificant, wouldn’t you?}

         ^{Now I need to speak to me (and this might be the best solution to this issue for all of us). From this moment forward, I refuse to allow the selfish few to rob my joy. I refuse to allow bad drivers to ruin my day. I refuse to allow the self-centered few to suck me into their egocentric worlds. I refuse to allow the voices of the negative, egocentric few to overshadow the collective voice of the many. I refuse to let others rob my joy!}

         ^{Thirty-four years ago, one of my seminary professors required me to read Viktor E. Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. Viktor was a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps. In his book he wrote, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” When I recall that statement, my life can turn around completely. I confess that I don’t always keep that statement before me (I probably should print it out and tape it to the wall in front of my desk). I confess that in my people-pleasing nature I have a tendency to allow other selfish people to rob my joy. No more! I refuse to give up my last human freedom. I refuse to allow the few to rob the joy I get from serving the many.}

         ^{What about you? Is there someone, or a few people, who, because of their selfish, self-centered obnoxiousness are threatening to rob your joy? DON’T LET THEM! You have the freedom to choose your attitude! You have the freedom to choose joy! I leave you with the words of the apostle Paul from Philippians 2:5, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Don’t allow the few to affect your joy!}

^

^{PS: Anyone want a long-sleeved shirt that says, “You can’t fix stupid”?}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.