Joy — Philippians 1 –Friday
TODAY’S VERSE
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)
I have two faults. (Actually, I have countless faults, but we only have time for two today.) The first is that I tend to believe I can handle anything I set my mind to. The second is that I usually think I don’t need help doing it. Keep those two things in mind, because they become important later.
A few years ago, my wife and I bought some land out in the country. Then last summer, we started the process of building a house on that property. We began working through plans and setting a budget, and from the very beginning, we learned two things.
First, our land was going to take a tremendous amount of work to get “house ready.” (A noteworthy detail: my wife refers to our property as “the mountain.”)
Second, I was going to do the majority of the work myself to save money.
My job was essentially to take one side of “the mountain” and flatten out a large section for the house, driveway, and water runoff. To give you an idea of what that involved, the back corner of our future house had to be excavated down nearly 16 feet.
Once the plans were finalized and the permits were approved, I got to work.
I still remember the first day I climbed into my skid steer and started digging. I was excited. This dream we had talked about for years was finally becoming real. I felt prepared. I thought I knew what I was doing. I had the equipment, the plan, and the confidence to make it happen.
Four weeks and roughly thirty hours of digging later, I stepped back to look at my progress.
Honestly, it looked like I had accomplished almost nothing.
At best, it looked like I had just been playing around in the dirt. My equipment was severely undersized for the job, and despite my confidence, I really didn’t know what I was doing. Bottom line: I needed help.
So I called my friend Brett and asked if I could take him to lunch. Brett lives in the world of construction, and I needed advice. I had figuratively (and literally) hit rock bottom with my excavation project.
Fast forward to today. As I write this, there are three large machines working on my land with operators who have decades of experience and knowledge. They accomplished more in the first four hours than I had managed to do in the first four weeks.
My pride and inflated view of what I could accomplish on my own took a pretty big hit. And if I’m being honest, my stubbornness will probably cause me to make the same mistake again someday.
But letting pride interfere with your spiritual battles is an entirely different issue.
Other than a sore back, wasted time and money, and a bruised ego, my excavation mistakes didn’t cause any lasting damage. But trying to fight spiritual battles on your own can lead to devastating consequences.
Leaning on other people isn’t just a good idea spiritually; it’s necessary.
That’s why groups at Southland Christian Church are so important. Groups are much more than just “doing life together.” The people in your group become your family, your support system, your brotherhood/sisterhood, and your lifeline. They help carry you when you’re struggling to stand on your own. They pick you up when you fall. They tell you the truth you may not want to hear, but desperately need to hear. They walk with you through life’s highs and lows.
Or you can let your pride win and try to do it all alone.
APPLICATION
Pride will convince you that you’re fine on your own, but God never intended for us to fight life’s battles alone. If you’re not connected to a group at Southland Christian Church, take a step and get connected. And if you already have a group, don’t just attend. Be honest, be available, and let people walk through life with you. Real strength is found in being willing to lean on others when you need help.
PRAYER
Father, forgive me for the pride that keeps me from asking for help and leaning on others. Remind me that You created us to live in community, not isolation. Give me the humility to let others speak into my life, encourage me, and help carry my burdens. Thank You for the people You place around me to strengthen and support me. In Jesus’ name, amen.