While Laughing, Keep Your Balance! (Part II)

Life is our challenge. In the last section we discussed the role that Christ plays in our minds. Now we will examine how all that works its way out in our lives. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, discusses the importance of keeping ourselves balanced as we take on the challenges of life. Charles Swindoll gives us three areas we must deal with.

1. Balancing purpose and power (Phil: 2:12-13)
2. Balancing attitude and action (Phil: 2:14-16)
3. Balancing seriousness and joy (Phil: 2:17-18)

Balancing Purpose and Power

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Phil:212-13)

In his letter to the Philippians, it is important to understand that Paul was not writting to try to convert the people. The subjects of his letter were already Christians. Therefore the idea of working out one's salvation must be referring to living out one's faith- carryig it out correctly. We are God's people. We are charged with the importance of obedience just as Jesus was our example and was "obedient to the point of death" (2:8), so we are to carry out our purpose with equal diligence.

The word "work out" was the same Greek term propularly used for "working a mine" or "working a field." Each had their own benefits that came from being faithful to its work. The mind would yeild valuable elements or ore and the field would yeld its crops. Paul was clear in his point: "By working out our salvation, we bring the whole purpose to completion . . . we carry out our reason for existence."

I think we sometimes get confused on what is our ultimate goal or purpose in our life. Spiritually speaking, it is "His good pleasure." We are to live our lives for God's greater glory - not our own selfish desires. The great thing is that we are not left alone to do this. God is at work in us! He gives us his power and strength to empower us to do his purpose. "Take special note that His pleasure (not our), His will (not ours), His glory (not ours) are what make life meaningful." This being said, this brings us to the potential conflict. We prefer to have things go our way. And, this brings us to that word again, ATTITUDE.

Balancing Attitude and Action

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain." (Phil: 2:14-16)

This verse shows us the balance of the negative and the positive. The first part speaks of the negative and the last part speaks of the positive. Therein lies the balance. Negatively - we need to watch our attitude! A bad attitude reveals itself from two sides: something we do alone - "grumbling" - and something we do when we are with others - "disputing." Both of these are joy stealers.

"What exactly is grumbling? It is not loud, boisterous grousing but rather low-toned, discontented muttering. It is negative, muted comments, complaining and whining. Disputing, however is vocal, Ill-natured argumentation . . . verbal expressions of disagreement that stir up suspiciion and distrubst, doubt and other disturbing feelings in others."

Swindoll poses the question if you've ever been around a "sourpuss"? I would have to say we all have. Notice how you can be having a great day - sun is shining, birds are singing, flowers blooming, and the world feels right. Then, WHAM! you run smack dab into a bad attitude person. Who is most likely to rub off on who? In very few cases does the good attitude influence the bad. Most of the time after spending a few minutes with this negative attitude in your midst, you start to "go over to the dark side". The sun doesn't shine as bright; all those birds that were singing are there just to poop on your windshield, and those flowers are just going to make you sneeze! Bad attitudes will steal our joy!

If you hope to laugh again you must learn to "do all things without grumbling or disputing." Verbal pollution takes a heavy toll on everyone. Furthermore who gave anyone the right to pollute the air with such pessimism. Someone once said "We have not more right to put our discordant states of mind into the lives of those around us and rob them of their sunshine and brightness thatn we have to enter their houses and steal their silverware."

In life we are all going to face circumstances that make us want to grumble and take a negative mindset. However, we must prove that we are different. Philippians 2:15-16 states, "... prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain."

There is no arguement that today we live in a world of crooks and perverts. Since we know this to be true; we, more than ever, must model lives that are not liek the majority. A positive attitude will make a major statement in this generation.

There are four major differences in those who know Christ and those who don't. As a child of God we are to be:

1. "Blameless. This suggest a purity of life that is both undeniable and unhypocritical . . . free of defect.
2. Innocent. This means unixed and unadulterated . . . inexperienced in evil . . . untainted in motive . . . possessing integrity.
3. Above reproach. This descrition is used of sacrificial lambs offered on altars and means free of blemish.
4. Lights. Acutally the term used her means 'luminaries,' meaning we are to shien like stars surrounded by darkness."

Paul goes on to tell us that we are to shine like stars, we are "holding fast the word of life." We are stars. Bold, blazing, light-giving stars! While the world turns in darkness and confusion, without light. So, Star, let your light shine! Why? "Jesus answers that question in the sermon He delivered on the mountain: Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven." Matthew 5:16. We don't need to stand up, shout, scream, or make a fuss. JUST SHINE!

Balancing Seriousness and Joy

"But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me." (Phil: 2:17-18)

Paul used the term of "being poured out as a drink offering." This was a picture from the practice of pagans that would pur out a chalice of wine before or after their meals in honor of their gods. It was called a libation and was poured out either to gain the favor of or soften the anger of their gods. Paul had gotten serious. He did know know whether he would live or die in his current situation. If it was God's will that his life be pured out as a libation, and ment the end of his life; he knew it was worth every moment. Even if this imprisonment was his last; he would rejoice.

You see, Paul lived a balanced life. While living in what could be his last days (a point that would make most of us so serious) Paul still rejoiced. He refused to focus on the dark side. He would not even let the possiblity of sure death steal his joy. He even encouraged others to do the same. Throught this whole letter that Paul wrote, you cannot escape the themes of joy, rejoicing and laughter.

If we remain serious all the time, we will fill our minds with only the harsh and painful realities of live that keeps our perspective too tight and tunnel our hope for too long. In everything you do, I know you can find something every day to laugh about. "Experts tell us that laughter not only makes our serious lives lighter, but laughter also helps control pain in at least four ways: (1) by distracting our attention, (2) by reducing the tension we are living with, (3) by changing our expectations, and (4) by increasing the production of endorphins, the body's natural pinkillers. Laughter, strang as it may seem, turns our minds fro our seriousness and pain and actually creates a degree of anesthesia. By diverting our attention from our situation, laughter enables us to take a brief excursion away from the pain. Sometimes it is not literal pain but a too-serious mind-set." We need those moments away from our too-serious lives. We need to give ourselves persission to enjoy various moments in life - even when life it not perfect. This takes practice.

WARNING: All of this is not easy. Old habits are hard to break. Deep down inside of you is a voice that continues to nage you as you read this. It is saying, "'No, no, no No, NO!'" As soon as you attempt to bring some necessary balance into your life, you are going to have a fight on your hands. After all, self has had its way for years. Giving your freedomt to laugh aing and bring some needed joy into your life is not on self's agenda."

Regardless, this "invisible master" needs to be brought back under the authority of Christ if you ever hope to laugh again. "A life lived under the dominion of self is both unsatisfying and unproductive." Two ways to get started on a life in balance:

1. "Control self's urges to take the credit." When you let self rule, it lives for moments of personal gratification. Wean it away. Once you are able to see how out of balance you've become,you will have a fresh strength to control its urges. Self needs to be taken off it's "high horse." John Wooden, former coach of the UCLA Bruins basketball teams gives this helpful advise: "Talent is God-given, be humble; Fame is man-given, be thankful; and Conceit is self-given, be careful."
2. "Conquer self's tendency to take charge." The longer you live the more you will realize the value of having Chirst call the shots in your life. Self wants to call the shots in your life. "Self wants to gain the mastery and convince you that it is a reusalbe source of energy. It is not. Self cannot be trusted."

"But if we hope to bring things back into balance -- if we hope to change our habits of negative thinking, which leads to grumbling and a too-serious mentality -- we'll have to dethrone this master and give the right Master His rightful place over our lives. Not until we do, I remind you, will we begin to laugh again."