Text:
2 Corinthians 5:14-19
August 19, 2012.
INTRODUCTON:
1) This is how people feel: Most people hate changes,
or so I¡¯ve heard. But the changes we generally resist are the kind we think
will make our life condition worse rather than better. We usually are eager to
change of jobs when it means higher pay, more prestige or power. We happily
move to a bigger house in a better location and love to drive a new car. So, we
don¡¯t hate all changes; we just hate changes that may involve loss physical,
emotional or psychological.
2) This was how Paul felt: Paul had the most dramatic
change of life anyone may imagine. He was changed from a hater of the new
doctrine of salvation by faith through Jesus Christ to a martyr of the gospel.
He was changed from a persecutor of the faith to a faithful and true disciple
of that faith. He was changed from trying to earn salvation by his good work to
an advocate of the free gift of salvation by the grace of God. He was changed
from arresting Christians to making people Christians. He was joyful of the
Change God has done on him, he wanted to make more people to have the same
change he had.
CHANGES WE RESIST:
1) We love our comfort zone: Building a comfort zone is
like building a nest of the birds or a castle of the nobles, it took so much
time, resource, energy and hard work to get it done. We even love to shop in a
store we have shopped with for years because everything is so familiar: where
to find things we need. This is also true about routines of life, when to do
what and how to do it. We are comfortable of the familiar environment even
though it may not be the most efficient or the best way to live. That is why
people keep junk for years that are blocking their hallway, piling up in their
bedroom or taking all the space in their garage.
2) We are afraid of the
unknown:
Most changes involve some elements of unknown and facing the unknown is never
easy: like going to a new school, move to a strange place, taking a new job in
an unfamiliar working environment. Many times unknown means strange, taking
risks, stress or even worry. In this economic down turn, some have lost their
job but are reluctant to look for jobs that involves relocation, particularly those
who have children because they feel more secured to stay in a familiar
environment.
3) We don¡¯t see the needs to
change:
This is true particularly on change of life style, way of doing things, value
system, habit or other everyday life routines. It took much time to build a
habit, some values of life and ways of doing things. So, any change is deemed
as a threat to our way of life. This is true to all people, particularly the
older ones.
4) We don¡¯t want to spend
efforts:
All changes involve degrees of effort on our side and some are not willing to
pay for that. This includes mindset change, value change, routines change,
purpose or goal change. There is a saying that tells us all: if it isn¡¯t
broken, why change?
CHANGES WE EMBRACE:
1) If that change is in my way: I put this first because
we all have that inner longing to have all things go my way, and if they are
not my way in the first place, then change them to fit my way. Ever since we
were small, we love to have all people do things our way, prepare food we like,
get dressed with clothes we want and make everyone else act the way we want
them to act. We are so used to put ¡°I, me, mine¡± in front of everyone else¡¯
while we grow up, so, if things need to change, change to my way seems logical.
But if all things must go your way what about me and my life and my way? Many
human conflicts arise because everyone wants things go his way leaving every
one else behind.
2) If that change benefits me: This is another common
trait of self-centeredness: good for me. We love changes that promote our well
being, elevate our position or power, add to our personal gain of self esteem.
Be it at home, in school or at work, we all want to see changes that bring us
some benefits. In almost all cases, we love changes if we can receive the
benefits of them.
3) If that change helps me grow: This is a more positive
way to see changes: we love to grow, to further our ability, potential and
contribution to whatever we do. No one wants to get stuck in a situation that
has little or no hope to grow or to advance. We all desire to grow, to advance,
to promote and to achieve more, higher, better. Particularly when we are in a
stationary situation, we look for changes.
4) If that change benefit
others:
This is a higher level of un-selfish goal of change: we look for changes not to
benefit us but to benefit others. We see this benevolent attitude in many
people such as parents, teachers, social workers, preachers, missionaries,
people who volunteer for the well being of others. There is an army of these people
in our churches and in the society who work tirelessly for benefits of others
to change their lives, their future, their personal value and potential. This
is the best purpose to seek change for the good of others. On this point, we
have many good people in our church.