Someone Needs You

Of all the schisms in the world, me-ism has to be the most selfish, arrogant, godless, self-centered, one person cult there is. Black Friday has been conjured up by big business as the day they will attempt to make enough sales through sheer volume to bring their bottom line into the black before the end of the year. This year competition among the top retailers has broadened the 24 hour dollar feeding frenzy to 36 and 48 hours with each retailer attempting to start their sales first, thus getting customers into their establishment first. Black Friday has, in actuality, brought out the deepest darkest side of some consumers - greed! This year the serious gluttons came prepared to fight for what they felt was theirs. People introduced knives and guns and body guards as persuasive tools against formidable foes in the electronics aisle. A person would think they were fighting over the last loaf of bread on the planet. I waited two days to buy a new TV and got a better deal than if I had gone to fight the crowds on Black Friday.
Several years ago, Charles “Chuck” Swindoll had this to say about “Attitude”. “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, then failures, than successes than, what other people think, or say, or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company …a church …a home. The remarkable thing is, we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past …we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you …we are in charge of our attitudes.”
[Luke 5: 27-32] It was a crisp, sunny afternoon in early December when a family had gone to the Christmas tree farm in hopes of finding a suitable tree for their home. It was an outing they relished, with family members combing the entire farm for the perfect tree. It had to be just right, not too tall, not too thin, just the right shape, and of course, a straight trunk. While searching through the pines, they came upon another family they knew and stopped to visit. They commented, “This place is filled with beautiful trees. It’s going to be hard to pick one”. Their friends replied, “Not for us. We never look for perfect trees! We’re looking for a tree that needs us! Then we’ll make it beautiful!” When it comes to picking disciples, God operates on the same principle. He can take Peter, an impulsive, erratic fisherman and make him into a powerful spokesman. He can take John, a fiery hothead and turn him into the apostle of love. God doesn’t look for perfection in deciding who can carry out his work. I’m glad of this, because that means even an unlikely type like me has possibilities in his hands. Instead of perfection, he’s looking for folks who need him! He’s looking for someone whose heart can be broken! When we realize this, then God can make something beautiful of our lives. Paul wrote to Timothy about ones attitude among people who do not know God and it’s good advise to all who profess to be of God. (2 Timothy 2: 14-26) Read it. To be of God, I must show that God is with me and that I’m willing to share my joy of life. There is someone you know who needs you. Beautify them with God.