“Oooooh! Oh no, it' going to fall!”
We
excitedly exclaimed as my daring young daughter stealthily removed the wooden game block from the tottering tower and placed it at the
top.
There
was a collective and audible sigh as the tower, still rocking from her
move and its ever diminishing foundation finally
stilled.
This
simple children's game reminds me of how we tend to lift and revere
certain people up in our lives.
“He speaks so passionately. He is just amazing... I would follow him and his preaching where-ever he goes.”
“This author's writing is breathtakingly brilliant. If only I could write like that...”
“She
is so real, with her talks about dirt on the floors and crazy kid
moments. She's so pretty and fun... I wish I could be like
her.”
And
there they are...
Our
tendencies to lift these people up.
Polishing
them with a cloth and placing them high for all to see on a
beautifully gilded pedestal of our own design...
And
then I hear the shocking words of a good friend of mine pop into my
head,
“I
think I need to spit on you now and just get this over with.”
She
was responding to a woman gushing over her and praising her talents
as a Bible teacher and speaker.
She
noted the sincere woman's words went far beyond encouragement and
were trickling into a lofty ideal she knew she couldn't possibly live
up to.
Isn't
it true though?
Eventually
people will let you down. Sometimes in direct proportion to how high
the pedestal is in which we set them on...
Is
it any wonder God had to utter this reminder to His people again and
again?
Exodus
20:2-4
“I
am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land
of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not
make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or
on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”
Lifting them up on this pedestal is making them our idol.
Like
my sweet children's game of wooden blocks, we detract from our foundation in
Christ in an effort to place these people ever higher on tottering
towers.
We
become as the Israelites, choosing to stumble down into the ever
welcoming trap of slavery yet again.
Willingly,
we shackle ourselves to the binding chains of comparison.
Our
outlooks imprisoned to strive for an image we never can, nor ever
should, try to be.
And
when our lovely idols spit on us?
When
their dirty laundry is exposed for all to see and their tottering
tower leans too far from the weight of our expectations?
When
it breaks and crumbles to the ground?
We
discover we are stumbling in a downward spiral with them...
Feeling
betrayed and broken.
Haven't we all been there at some point or another?
Let us remember,
Haven't we all been there at some point or another?
Let us remember,
Galatians
5:1
"It
is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do
not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Who are you lifting high today?
Linking with these fabulous places... Inspire Me Mondays, Soli Deo Gloria Party, Playdates With God, Wednesday's Word
Heather--beautifully stated! When we look to others to satisfy our needs, or to emulate, we find ourselves disappointed. Thanks for the reminder to worship and emulate Christ!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement Elizabeth. :) I am looking forward to more Winnie the Pooh wisdom from you. I really enjoy your blog! I am glad God had us sit next to each other in Brooklyn's session.
DeleteAh yes. Beautiful! Such a wonderful reminder of how we treat people.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Stacey. Sometimes I am just like the Israelites and need this reminder yet again.
DeleteThank you for this reminder to allow others their places yet remember that they are human and have their limitations as well. Reminders too that the Israelites needed to be told again and again...How many times? And how many times have I needed a message repeated over and over again?
ReplyDeleteWe are free in Christ and I thank Him for all He did for me to make me free. Amen.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
I second you Linda! Amen! :)
DeleteI loved your post - Some do get carried away with their exagerated praise of people.
ReplyDeleteEncouragement when it is due is nice, but not over and above the call of duty. However, please don't spit on me. :-) Unless it is Jesus with some mud he has spit on and he wants to anoint my eyes with it - that would be okay.
I love how you phrased that. Encouragement is something we all need, but not over the call of duty... I think I will write that down somewhere. Awesome! And then you have me cracking up with the spit angle. Jesus' spit is a much better option. ;)
DeleteOops. I meant to say , write it down and "post it somewhere in my home." ;)
DeleteBeautifully written. I will never look at Jenga the same again.
ReplyDeleteFallen ideas, fallen desires, fallen hopes - but with God as our firm foundation we will not be shaken.
Love the title of your blog - Awakened.
Blessings,
Janis www.janiscox.com
If you haven't seen Wednesday's Word please think of linking up on Wednesday. And if you do link already - many thanks for building a community.
"but with God as our firm foundation we will not be shaken!" amen Janis! I will make sure to come hang out with you all at Wednesday's Word. I enjoy the mid-week encouragements from you.
DeleteMy Bible study friends and I were just discussing this last week! I like the Jenga simile. Well said. Thank you for sharing this. You linked up near me at Playdates with God. Grace and peace to you in Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI love when God has a "theme" going in our lives whether it's through Bible Studies, sermons, blogs, etc. Grace and peace to you too.
DeleteI found your link on Inspire Me Monday and your blog is awesome! I am a brand new blogger and hope you can stop by and follow me at http://mybutterflyhaus.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogging!
Hi Elizabeth! I am glad you enjoyed your visit here and I will definitely visit your blog. I am not brand new, but I also have not been blogging all that long either. ;) Yay for more people sharing their stories. :)
DeleteSuch a good post. So many times we have been lifted up because we are missionaries, pastor do it, church goers do it, even lost people do it. It wonderful when someone gets to know me and says, you really are a real person. My husband and I on purpose strive to lift up the Lord and not ourselves. Blessings
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful you stopped by to share your experience with this. We are all just fellow travelers on this world and want people to just see us for us and nothing more. Thank you for your example of lifting up the Lord first and foremost. God Bless you lots Betty!
DeleteDear Heather
ReplyDeleteI have built a few wobbling Jenga Towers myself! Oh, I love that spitting part ! Priceless. How does the saying go? The grass is always greener on the other side!! Visiting via Wednesday Word. Yes, we do need to make sure that we stay free for I Lord has paid a dear price for our freedom from religion and host of other nasties as well!
Blessings
Mia