the benefits of failure…

we also need to recognize the benefits of failure. are there any? we usually think of failure as a negative experience. but wise people (like the kind in proverbs) learn from failure. wise people use failure to their advantage. wise people make the most of failure. they learn from it, they grow from it. they use it as a stepping stone.

did you know that one of GOD’s primary tools in making you the kind of person HE wants you to be is failure. failure is one of the primary tools GOD uses in your life to mold you, shape you, develop your character. we rarely learn anything from success. rarely. when we succeed we immediately think, “it’s just because of my sheer natural talent.” we don’t figure out why we succeeded. we seem to feel, "i just instantly knew how to do it.” we rarely learn from our successes.

but we can learn from our failures. and GOD uses those in our lives for multiple benefits.

how? there are many ways, but one way that GOD uses failure is to educate you. mistakes are a learning process. you figure out what doesn’t work and eventually when you figure out enough things that don’t work you’re going to figure out what does. some things we only learn through failure. it’s just trial and error. eventually we find something that works and we run with it.

psalm 119.71 (mes), my troubles turned out all for the best. they forced me to learn from GOD’s textbook. GOD’s textbook is the bible.

isn’t it typical that often our bible sets on our desk gathering dust but when the crisis comes, when the heat’s on, when the winds arise, we get out the bible and start looking for truth and instruction and comfort and support and encouragement. GOD says, “sometimes I have to use failure to get you into this book so you’ll start looking and seeing that it’s a textbook that I want to teach you.”

just a thought from the front porch…

why be kind?

in luke 10.34b-35 (nlt), it says, then the man put the man on his own donkey and he took him to an inn where he took care of him. the next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and he told him to take care of the man. “if his bill runs higher than that,” he said, “i’ll pay the difference the next time i’m here.”

this guy, the good samaritan, did all he could to take care of a total stranger. first, he ministers to him, administers first aid at the scene of the crime. he then takes him to a motel. he puts him on his donkey, which by the way means that he walked. so he had to walk the 20 miles to jericho because he put a hurting man on his donkey. he gets him to a motel. he checks him in. he nurses him through the night. he provides for his care. and then he pays the bill. then he says, by the way, i'll be back this way in a little while, put it on my tab and we’ll put it on my american express. this guy did whatever he could to help, whatever it takes.

what did he gain from this? nothing. he didn’t even know this guy. he’s a total stranger. he gains nothing back from him.

kindness is when you do something for somebody without expecting anything back. so why be kind? why should i be kind if people aren’t always going to repay me?

there are many, many reasons why the bible says you should be kind and the benefits of it. i should be kind because...

• GOD has been kind to me. and, by the way, it wasn’t some miniature favor, some casual favor. it was extravagant kindness that GOD has shone you.
  
• the bible says kindness is an act of worship.
  
• the bible says kindness honors GOD.
  
• the bible says kindness makes you happy.
  in fact, the bible says kindness makes you attractive. proverbs 19.22 (living bible), kindness makes a man attractive. there’s hope for us guys! you could be a spiritual brad pitt! just start being kind.
  
• the bible says kindness makes other people want to be kind to you.
  
• the bible says GOD blesses kindness. in fact, over and over again in scripture, GOD says, i will repay you for any kindness you do to others.
  
  

just a thought from the front porch…