"If you had one wish, as of right now in life, what would you wish for? In other words, what's one of the things you want the most right now?"
Most people's answers might be similar to one another's, might include pretty legitimate yet typical desires such as:
More financial stability/wealth
The perfect match/life partner
Get my career going
To feel loved
World peace (give me a break)
Be a "good person"
Travel the world
Make a difference
Give or take a few, the answer varies greatly depending on the person obviously. But you'd be surprised at how often the plethora of answers can all boil down to one root issue/want in the end. But back to my friend's answer. It is a response that I would have never expected, a reply that I think a very small percentage of people (if any) would answer, and an extremely wise answer at that. And the answer is this:
"To be above reproach."
Reproach by definition means: "to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame; censure; to be a cause of blame or discredit to
If you think about it, being above reproach is an incredibly empowering and rewarding place to be. To have the security and confidence of knowing that you are exonerated from any blame-it's a good feeling. Now you might wonder...ok so how do you do that? How do you get there?
1 Timothy chapter 3 goes on to talk all about it; both men and women that are above reproach and what that entails. Some of the characteristics include:
"temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
"Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things."
Philippians 2: 14-16 reveals, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will 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 will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain."
All summed up into one main vein...being above reproach ultimately means being Christ-like. As Christ like as we can possibly be with the power of the Holy Spirit as our Counselor, Teacher, and Conviction. Being Christ-like is more often than not, going to go against the grain of our human nature. It will be difficult not to get defensive when others hurl insults at you. It will be difficult to be slow to speak, slow to be angry...when someone is accusing you of falsities. It will be difficult to love someone when they do not treat you with respect at all. But that is what we are called to. That is what comes with the beautiful package that we accepted when we said "yes" to God's precious free gift of salvation and the luxury of even being above reproach as He was (even while in His human form, temptations and all).
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; ...For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5: 38-48
What this is saying here is that Christ's ways operate contrary to the world's ways. It is saying that vengeance and spite is not fit for God's children. Punishment and consequences lie with the Lord, He will have His way with everyone. "Getting back" at people is not having a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4) which means always having the other person's best interest in mind, not proving them wrong.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
Philippians 2:3-4
"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"
Isaiah 55: 8-9
Following Christ is not the comfortable, easy route. But it is assuredly the most rewarding in the long run-which we will all get to someday sooner than we think. The long run-so why don't more of us invest in the long run instead of the short run? It really only makes sense.
"For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-slaves of God. honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."
1 Peter 2: 15-17
AMEN-so clearly from this previous verse, by striving to be above reproach as is fit for the sons and daughters of the king, we will silence the ignorantly foolish. They will have nothing against us if our way is blameless. Nothing rational at least.
So next time you have the impulse to strike back, become defensive or sarcastic in a useless argument, lose your patience for just a split second, ask yourself...is what I'm about to do going to help me become above reproach? Striving to be above reproach for Christ's sake is striving to be Christlike which, in the end, is the reason that we are all here.
"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God."
James 1:19-20
As a short add on that tied in perfectly with this topic, my daily devotion for today titled "Handling Loneliness".
"1. Loneliness caused by isolating ourselves
2. Loneliness caused by circumstances beyond our control
3. Loneliness caused by spiritual or psychological isolation,
This third loneliness is the aspect that that I want to hone in on. It goes on to say:
"You've probably heard the saying, 'It's lonely at the top.' This type of loneliness often attacks those in positions of spiritual leadership. Loneliness always seems to intensify when we can't find others who share our beliefs."
It occurred to me after reading this that many people who value and strive to be above reproach most likely experience this type of loneliness.
"For the eye of the Lord move eto and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."
2 Chronicles 16: 9
We should embrace this kind of loneliness for God's glory-the kind of loneliness of being one of the few followers of Christ whose heart is completely His.
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