Just the other day, I was sitting at dinner with my family. The entire family was together, which is a big deal with teenagers! My wife had prepared a fantastic meal for us and I was really enjoying myself – except for one thing. There were vegetables on my plate!
Not A Vegetable Guy
See, I am NOT a vegetable guy. I am sorry, but I just do not like them. I know they are good for me, but I simply do not like their texture or the way they taste. I could go into details as to what I mean by that, but I will spare you the details.
Instead, I will just say that I do not care if I ever have another vegetable in my life! When I do get them, I am constantly trying to figure out how to get by without finishing them!
Wife Loves Vegetables!
Unfortunately, my wife loves them. She thinks (logically for her) that everyone else should feel the same way just because she does. She argues that I will eventually feel the same way if I will just continue to eat them. As a result, she insists on giving me a small serving of whatever vegetables she has prepared – every time she cooks.
I don’t know if this is true for you as much as it is for me, but I feel this is just dispels another myth I believed when I was a kid. I used to believe that once I grew up and became an adult, I would be able to eat anything I wanted! Now I know the truth!
Now, as an adult (physically, not yet emotionally), I find out that this is not true. The truth is that I have to eat what I am given. Sure, I could rebel and go get my own food, but we all know how THAT would end…not good!
Application to Christian Business
Having said all of that, let me come to my point as it relates to us as Christian business owners and leaders.
Think through all of the above, but this time substitute life in general for my meal and trials and struggles for the vegetables. And put God in place of my wife (she will love that part!).
Now, let’s relook at this. When we look at life from this perspective, many of us can identify with an otherwise odd-sounding statement – “My life is full of vegetables!”
Vegetables (And Trials) Are Good For Us
Folks, God tells us directly several times in Scripture that, like vegetables, trials and struggles are good for us. While they are not fun to go through, they make us better when we do. Just look at the following verses to validate this:
* James 1:12
* 1 Peter 1:6-7
* Acts 14:21-22
He indirectly tells us the same thing throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. Consider the stories of Joseph, Ester, Ruth, Peter, and Paul. In every case, God highlights challenges they face and how they are stronger as a result!
Trials Serve A Purpose
As our Christian lives reflect the process of being conformed to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29), trials and struggles serve a vital purpose. Just like vegetables, they are not always welcomed into our lives.
We certainly do not ask for them even though we know they are good for us. Even when they come, we are constantly trying to figure out how to shortcut them without having to endure the whole process.
Short-Cuts Miss The Point
The problem with this way of thinking, though it is certainly natural, is that we often miss the lesson God is trying to teach us. When we short cut the process, we may avoid some short-term pain. At the same time, we may find that it only means we will have to repeat the whole process again later!
The answer to this problem?
First of all, the answer is NOT found in the book of Daniel (1:12)! If you remember, Daniel and his friends committed to ONLY eating vegetables and water for an extended period of time! I am not advocating this.
Joy In Trials
No, I believe the answer is found in James 1:2-4. Here we are told to consider it joy when we experience trials. Notice that we are not told to ask for them. Nor are we told to pray for them.
However, when they come (and they will!), we are to consider them joy. We are to be thankful for the fact that we are going to grow stronger as a result of them. We are to thank God that He will walk through them with us.
Prayer In Trials
We are not to pray for them to be shortened or to try to escape them on our own (note v.4). We are not to complain to anyone that will listen. No, we are to praise God that He is still in control and will bring us through.
Remember Your Vegetables
When the election does not go your way or when the month-end results disappoint you, remember they are just vegetables. If you get bad news at the doctor’s office or an annoying co-worker is relocated to sit beside you, understand it is just a side of squash!
The next time you are tempted to say, “My life is full of vegetables,” remember that those vegetables are good for you! My wife says so!
