The Wrong Way to a Lofty Goal
11/21/07 09:24 AM Filed in: Daily
Devotionals | Strength
For The Journey
The following
devotional was taken from
"Strength for
the Journey" and written by David
Deffenbaugh.
April 1
Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 38-39; Proverbs 8:12-21
The Wrong Way to a Lofty Goal
Devotional Text: Psalm 39:1-2
“Shoot for the moon…’cause even if you miss you’ll end up in the stars” (Les Brown). In other words, set your sights high, because even if you don’t quite achieve it, you will have accomplished more than you otherwise could have. If we only do that which we already know we can successfully achieve, we’ll never grow beyond where we are right now. As Christians, our sights are to be set on “the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). That’s mighty high; but anything less is too low.
So this Psalm begins with a stated goal of not sinning with one’s tongue. That is a noble and appropriate goal and as challenging a one as a person can have. The tongue is a “restless evil and full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). Great challenge notwithstanding, any less of a goal is too little.
The Psalm, though, talks about the wrong way to pursue that goal; that was to say nothing. In the presence of wicked, nothing was said. True, that prevented sin from being committed by saying something wrong, but it also prevented good from being done too. God’s intent is that we control our tongues. We do that by refraining from saying the wrong things, but not by refraining from saying anything.
The very next Psalm says, “I will not restrain my lips” (40:9). But what if with those lips one falters and sins? That’s possible; but this time they are not restrained so that God is praised. “I have not hidden Your righteousness…I have spoken of your faithfulness…I have not concealed Your lovingkindness” (40:10).
You cannot reach a goal by doing nothing. A ship is safe while it’s in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are made for. We won’t say the wrong thing if we say nothing, but that’s not what our tongues were made for. Striving to not sin with your tongue and failing to praise God in the process, is not moving positively toward the goal.
Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 38-39; Proverbs 8:12-21
The Wrong Way to a Lofty Goal
Devotional Text: Psalm 39:1-2
“Shoot for the moon…’cause even if you miss you’ll end up in the stars” (Les Brown). In other words, set your sights high, because even if you don’t quite achieve it, you will have accomplished more than you otherwise could have. If we only do that which we already know we can successfully achieve, we’ll never grow beyond where we are right now. As Christians, our sights are to be set on “the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). That’s mighty high; but anything less is too low.
So this Psalm begins with a stated goal of not sinning with one’s tongue. That is a noble and appropriate goal and as challenging a one as a person can have. The tongue is a “restless evil and full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). Great challenge notwithstanding, any less of a goal is too little.
The Psalm, though, talks about the wrong way to pursue that goal; that was to say nothing. In the presence of wicked, nothing was said. True, that prevented sin from being committed by saying something wrong, but it also prevented good from being done too. God’s intent is that we control our tongues. We do that by refraining from saying the wrong things, but not by refraining from saying anything.
The very next Psalm says, “I will not restrain my lips” (40:9). But what if with those lips one falters and sins? That’s possible; but this time they are not restrained so that God is praised. “I have not hidden Your righteousness…I have spoken of your faithfulness…I have not concealed Your lovingkindness” (40:10).
You cannot reach a goal by doing nothing. A ship is safe while it’s in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are made for. We won’t say the wrong thing if we say nothing, but that’s not what our tongues were made for. Striving to not sin with your tongue and failing to praise God in the process, is not moving positively toward the goal.
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