“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.” (Proverbs 4:18-19 NIV)
Recently I attended the funeral service for a man I’d never met. His son and daughter-in-law have been friends of ours for years, so when this 86 year-old passed away just before Christmas, we went to the funeral to honor our friendship with the son and wife. Attending a funeral for someone you’ve never met is an interesting experience, and this one was a sweet time to honor this faithful man who had contributed so much to his family and the Christian community. He had been active in his church for decades and worked vigorously with other Christian businessmen to raise funds for area addiction recovery and youth outreach ministries. Several of the speakers mentioned this man’s gratitude, character, and encouragement that he showered on those around him. In fact, parts of the funeral were more like a pep talk than a funeral service.
His son shared with us some of his maxims:
“A goal is a dream with a timeline.”
“Love people and use things. Don’t get those two mixed up.”
“Doing well enough was a long time ago. How much more do you want to be?”
“Don’t let anyone outwork you, and be the kindest person in the room.”
“Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”
“To be an encourager costs you nothing.”
“Attitude determines altitude.”*
There’s a lot of wisdom in these ideas.
Two of this man’s favorite Bible verses – chosen from among many in a well worn, well marked, well loved Bible – were also shared.
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13 NIV)
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.” (Titus 3:14 NIV)
As we enter into the unfulfilled chapters of 2024, let us devote ourselves to doing good, provide for urgent needs in the world, live productive lives, and seek Holy Spirit’s guidance, wisdom, and discernment for the paths we travel. May our lives be characterized by those whose confessions have led to mercy, and whose lights shine ever-brighter. AMEN.
*(The last one was attributed to author Zig Ziglar; I do not know the sources for the other phrases.).