Faith is the Only Practical Decision
May 31st, 2007 | Michael Pink
We want to know the outcome before it comes. We tell ourselves it’s so we can plan accordingly, but really we want to avoid the unknown. We don’t want to live by faith. We prefer to talk about it, read about it, listen to the stories of others who live by it, but we are truly uncomfortable when it comes to our time to step out of the boat. We are, for the most part, the other disciples. Peter makes us uncomfortable. Being like him scares us.
But we must. That is, if we are ever going to learn what it means to live by faith. We think faith is impractical, immeasurable, full of uncertainty and risk and therefore, only done when there are no other options. My friend Eric Beck says, “Faith is the only practical decision.” All other choices are impractical.
Consider Jericho: (Joshua 6) how practical was it to march around the city for seven days, blow a trumpet and see what happens? That seemed ludicrous. Consider the alternative, build a siege mound, build ladders and scale the high, thick city walls and hopefully have enough of your poorly equipped army survive to actually do battle. Marching around the city seven times (obedience by faith) was the most practical. The same is true of Gideon and Abraham and every hero of faith in the Bible.
Want to be truly practical? Step out in faithful obedience to God’s leading.
May 31st, 2007 at 6:23 pm
This is so very, very true. Too many people today lead unhappy, unfulfilled lives because their eyes are focused on personal desires, personal goals and personal ambitions rather than being focused on Jesus! As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on the water. Only when he allowed the storm and waves (symbolic of life’s cares) to distract his focus did he sink. As wild as it may seem to our traditional, inside-the-box thinking — walking by faith is truly the only practical approach to life.
May 31st, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Yours is one of the few blog subscriptions I look forward to with great anticipation. It seems that almost every one of them is a confirmation to me that I’m on the right path. Keep them coming!
Gerry
May 31st, 2007 at 10:37 pm
AMEN!
Walking by faith is not the easy way, but the only way. As a student of Eric, we have discovered what the true meaning of walking by faith is. It is dying to self daily. It is to ignore what is going on around you and believe with all your being that God is in complete control. I can attest to this because my wife and I are going through a major faith test at the moment.
To share our story to a non-believer and even some believers is to be laughed at and thought of as crazy. We run a business that in a moment we can create $10k - $100k in a very short time, but for a while we have not been able to do so. Actually for the past few months we have generated less than $10k. Our overhead runs between $35-$55k/month.
God placed an amazing vision in our hearts that with Eric’s help we have recently completed and are introducing to some investors. The investors, who have 20 years experience seeking investments, were blown away by our presentation. It almost seemed unreal of their delight in the work we presented. This presentation did not come easy, it came at a price.
My wife and I locked ourselves at home for over 3 months to complete this work; while our business was struggling. As much as we felt we needed to be at the office, we stayed focused and faithful that God would keep everything going while we were away.
We are currently in negotiations with the investors and at the same time trusting God to keep the power and the phones on. Everyday we are grateful when we walk out our door and see that our car has not been repossesed. We are almost done paying for it and now we are behind.
Our staff has been amazing atleast those that have stuck around. They are going on 7 weeks without a paycheck. They are not all believers but they see that our faith has not waivered and they believe in the vision that God has helped us create.
It’s amazing to sit back and look at it all unfold. On the one hand we haven’t got two nickles to rub together and on the other hand with God’s help we have created a vision statement and business plan that these investors believe will shortly become a billion dollar business. We are excited at the opportunity before us not because of what the money will bring us, but the good we will be able to do for God’s Kingdom on earth.
It’s amazing how God works. We met Eric at a “Christians in Business” conference in Ft. Lauderdale three years ago. The theme was “Taking Back the Gates of Commerce”. It was an amazing conference and one that has changed my life forever. That theme is one that I live by. Like Michael Pink said in an earlier blog, “make all the money you can”. We intend to. It has not been easy, but I thank God that He has not given up on me. In the midst of it all He has also blessed us with a son to be born in December. That’s another story.
I share this story not for pity, but that it may encourage other business leaders who maybe facing a similar challenge and wondering what it is going on. There are days that I have my doubts but when I remember to reach out to God, He makes it all worthwhile. I have to remember that I am committed to death for Jesus and that what we are facing is merely a battle and that the VICTORY is His! God calls us to press in and press on.
Nothing good comes easy and nothing great must be even harder. We were created for greatness, keep the faith and press on.
June 6th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Thanks for the encouraging words.
This response is a petition for prayer.
We have been through severe trials for 7 years including my wife surviving breast cancer and all the associated surgeries, chemo, etc.
We are facing $200,000 of debt and I just recently lost my job of 6 months after being out of work for 8 months.
My biggest challenge is demonstrating faith and proclaiming God’s faithfulness as my wife and 4 kids look to me and the Lord to bring us through this impossible situation. We face unpaid bills piled all over the desk and family and friends are tapped out from trying to help us stay afloat. I struggle with a lack of vision that we will ever be on the other side of the suffering phase and move into victory and God’s purposes for this family.
We are committed to God and desire for Jesus to be glorified through all of this. We desperately need strength, vision, support and encouragement from the Body of Christ.
Thank you for your prayers.
We live in Charlotte, NC.
David & Betty White
DavidII, Bethany, Micah and Joshua.
June 6th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
David, will keep you in my prayers. what is your email address? God must have something big for you.