She had given it to him three years ago today. The palm-held organizer was the perfect gift that Father's Day. He checked it this morning to look at his schedule, appointments, reminders, and of course, for her ball games. His wife had typed a message saying "I love you" on the screen today. He still felt a little ashamed that his eleven year old daughter had been the one to come up with the idea for such a gift, but he also had never been more proud of her. Things had become quite rocky around their house. Being a fireman on a rotating schedule, he never really had weekends. His week virtually never ended as work took him away most of every day. Allocating his efforts to his part-time business, he just knew that it would eventually pay off and his wife could quit her work. Turns out, she had already quit. He remembered pulling into the driveway after a long tour of duty. Greeted by his daughter in tears she cried, "Daddy, do you love Mommy anymore?". Then he saw the suitcases.
The Rat Race is defined as "the hopeless pursuit of a good life always just out of reach". Unfortunately, this pursuit leaves a trail of debris in broken relationships, anxiety, and an unexplained depression. The trade off is this: more money, less family; more family, less money. Ecclesiastes 5: 10 says, "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.".
Our minds' eyes are constantly riddled with a secular humanist persuasion from the media. This influence creates desires for wealth, status, and the ever-increasing "new and improved". These ploys are contrary to living in the spiritual nature. Galatians 5: 7,8 says, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.". In a world where we are encouraged to be our own man, self-determine our own will, and be the master of our own fate, God is calling us to protect our minds from these daily barrages. First Corinthians 6: 12 says, "'Everything is permissible for me', - but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me', - but I will not be mastered by anything.". We are to be responsible by being careful as we are free to indulge in the activities equally available to all.
The Rat Race is not a strange, uncommon issue in the Bible. Its relevance is supported by the fact that it is frequently mentioned. Hebrews 12: 1 states, " Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.". Isaiah 40: 29-31 tells, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.". Romans 12: 2 encourages, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will.". I John 2: 15-17 challenges, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.".
Our old job consisted of us living in the sinful nature without hope. Let's take on the new job of turning the "rat race" into an "about face", and let's win the "good race". Second Corinthians 5:17 describes, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!". To God be the glory!
Next week: "Leading an Unexamined Life".