Category: Faith

Honoring God With Your Money: Frivolity of Trusting in Wealth

Many people put more faith in their bank balance than in God to provide for their needs.  The recent economic crisis has proven God’s Word to be correct when it tells us not to trust in wealth.  The average American saw 40% of their wealth evaporate when the stock market crashed and home values plunged in 2008 and 2009.  Of course , we are to save and to plan for our retirement years, but our trust needs to be in God.

It is tempting to think that wealthier Christians are ‘more’ spiritual than poorer Christians.  However, an examination of God’s Word shows that wealth, or lack thereof, is no indication of one’s spiritual condition.  It may be a matter of trust, however.  God does impart wealth to those who can be trusted to use it according to His purposes and He withhold wealth from Christians for whom wealth would create problems.

 

What does the Bible say about wealth and poverty.

1)  God determines who is wealthy and who is poor.      “The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.” 1 Sam. 2:7

2)  There is no shame in being poor . “The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.  For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom fails and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.” James 1:9-11

3) There is no glory in being rich. “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.” Psalm 49:16,17

4) Righteousness is more desirable than riches.   “Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.” Prov. 28:6

 

1 Tim. 6:17-19 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

This verse tells us that the role of the wealthy is to do good deeds and to be generous and bless others.  If  the rich use their money as God commanded, they will build treasure in Heaven.  Our goal should be to build eternal treasure which will last forever.  Earthly riches are fleeting and will not do us any good in Heaven.

 

James 2:5-6 “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?  But you have insulted the poor.  Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?”

This verse reminds us that God has promised blessings to the poor.  The poor will be rich in faith and will inherit the kingdom of God.

 

If God has blessed you with financial resources beyond what you need to provide for your family, please remember His command to share with those less fortunate than yourself. Pray and ask God to direct your giving to the needs He would have you meet. In this way, you will be a blessing and you will store up treasure in Heaven.

If your family is struggling financially, please remember that there is no shame in being poor and no shame in asking for help.  Ask God to meet your needs and then allow Him to do so by sharing your needs with others.

Honoring God With Our Money, Lesson 3

Week 3: Frivolity of Trusting in Wealth

 Opening Discussion:

  • Why are some Christians financially comfortable while others struggle financially?
  • Are wealthy Christians more ‘spiritual’ than poor Christians?
  • Is there a connection between your spiritual condition and your bank balance?

Let’s look at what the Bible says about wealth and poverty.

1 Sam. 2:7  The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.

Point 1:  ___________________________________________________

James 1:9-11 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.  For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom fails and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

Point 2:  ___________________________________________________

Psalm 49:16,17 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.

Point 3:  ___________________________________________________

Prov. 28:6 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

 

Point 4:  __________________________________________________

 

 Read 1 Tim. 6:17-19

What is the role of the wealth? _____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

 

Read  James 2:5-6

What blessings does God promise the poor?  _________________________________________

____________________________________________

Read the Parable of the Rich Fool  Luke 12:13-21

What lessons can we learn from this parable?

  1.  
  2. __________________________________________
  3. __________________________________________
  4. __________________________________________
  5. __________________________________________

 

 

 Additional Verses on the Frivolity of Wealth

 

Prov. 15:16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.

Prov. 13:8 A man’s riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat.

Prov. 11:4  Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

Eccl. 5:13-14 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun; wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.

Prov. 27:24  Riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.

Life Application:

Prov. 23: 4, 5 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Honoring God With Our Money: Warnings to the Rich

In the final part of Lesson 2, we will look at God’s warnings to the rich.

The story of the Rich Young Ruler is told in Matthew 19:16-30.  Jesus used this story to demonstrate how difficult it is for those who love money to be saved.  To recap, the young ruler asked Jesus what he had to do to earn eternal life.  Jesus replied that he should keep God’s commandments.  He responded that he had kept that commandments and asked what he lacked.  Jesus then told him to sell all that he had and give the money to the poor.  In verse 22, we read, “When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth”

Jesus then told his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  Matt. 19:23-24 

 

Think About:  Why do you think it is so hard for the rich to be saved?  Their riches make them feel self-sufficient, so they have a harder time realizing their need for God.

 Why was the rich ruler sad?  He wasn’t willing to give up earthly treasure for true riches in Heaven.

 

The Bible provides many additional warnings to the rich.  Read the following verses and allow God to show dangers of seeking riches for riches sake.

 

1 Tim. 6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation, and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

 

Job 36:18-19 Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.  Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?

 

Luke 6:24 Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

 

Luke 1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

 

James 5:1-5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you…Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  Your gold and silver have corroded…You have hoarded wealth in the last days…You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.

 

 Think About:  After reading these verses, why might you still desire to be rich?  Riches allow us to be debt-free and live in financial freedom.  They also give us the ability to help others.  Being rich is not a sin, but loving money above others is a sin.

 

Life Application:

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Honoring God With Our Money: Fears of the Super-Rich

Despite having an abundance of wealth that most of us cannot imagine, the super wealthy are generally plagued with anxieties about love, work, and family and do not feel financially secure.  These conclusions were drawn by Graeme Wood in an article entitled “Secret Fears of the Super-Rich”.  This article was published in The Atlantic magazine 2011.

 Mr. Wood reviewed the finding s of a survey of 165 households with average net worth of $78 million.  His conclusions show that not only does money not buy happiness, but that at some point an overabundance of money becomes a burden.

Here are some of the conclusions Mr. Wood drew from the survey:

1)      People don’t know how to deal with excess money and will desire more long after wealth has become a burden rather than a comfort

2)      Constant luxury is, in a sense, no luxury at all.

3)      Being extremely wealthy is no more fulfilling than merely being prosperous.

4)      The very wealthy believe they have lost their right to complain for fear of sounding, or being, ungrateful.

5)      The very wealthy worry about their children:  Will the money spoil them?  Will they lead meaningful lives?  Will someone love them for themselves and not their money?

6)      Money interferes with their relationships—do people like them just for their money; always expected to pay

7)      Extreme wealth takes away some of the basic joys of living, such as holidays—the wealthy are always expected to give extravagant gifts; gifts received aren’t so meaningful when you can buy whatever you want.

8)      Those who inherited their wealth question their self-worth.

9)      The wealthy have a difficult time with work.  Those who do work in our present economy may be viewed as having taken a job someone else needs.  Also, it is easy for the wealthy to quit a job as soon as a situation arises that they don’t like.

10)   The happiest wealthy people are usually heavily involved in philanthropy. 

Many of these conclusions mirror truths found in God’s word. For example, the respondents felt they would be secure if they only had 25% more money.   That sounds a lot like what God’s word teaches us in Ecclesiastes 5:10,   “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.”   God’s word also teaches us that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)  Those super wealthy individuals who engage in philanthropy have learned this for themselves.

While we may dream of one day becoming super wealthy, we need to realize that having excess money above what we truly need will not make us happy.  Happiness and true contentment can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells the story of workers in a vineyard.  In the parable a landowner goes out to the marketplace to find workers for his vineyard.  Those he chooses agree to work all day for a fair day’s wage.  Later the landowner goes out and finds others who have not been hired.  He sends them to work, promising to pay what is fair. Three more times throughout the day, the landowners returns to the marketplace and hires additional workers.  At the end of the day, he pays them each the same amount–a fair day’s wage.  Those who had worked the longest grumbled that they should have been paid more than those who had worked only a portion of the day.  The landowner responds that he is not being unfair, as he paid them the agreed-upon wage.

Many scholars interpret this parable as having to do with salvation.  Eternal life is promised to those who accept Jesus as their Savior, regardless of whether they make that decision early in their life, later in life, or at the very end of their life.  As a parable reflecting salvation, I am thrilled that Jesus continues to offer the free gift of salvation to people throughout their lives, particularly as I don’t find ‘laboring’ for Jesus to be hard work.  I find that living for Jesus makes my daily life rewarding, fulfilling, and more meaningful. I am glad that Jesus allows people to make the decision to follow him even up till the time they take their dying breaths.

Taken literally, however, I would be equally bothered as the first workers were.  This parable violates our sense of fairness.  If I’d been toiling hard for many hours, I would feel that I deserve more pay than someone who only worked for a few hours and particularly those who only worked one hour.

Yet, as Jesus pointed out, all the workers got the pay they agreed to accept when they were hired.  The owner of the vineyard paid those who worked all day a fair day’s wage.  He simply chose to be more generous with those hired later. Of course, this wouldn’t be permitted in our society today, unless the employer did it clandestinely.  Those workers who had labored all day would file a lawsuit and the landowner would be forced to pay them more or those hired later less. 

As I read this story this week, God opened my heart and I envisioned this story in the present day with the workers as unemployed people (and perhaps homeless) who have been waiting all day for an opportunity to work as day laborers. My attitude toward the workers changed. Many day laborers wait all day hoping and praying for the opportunity to work. Their need to provide for their families and pay their bills is no less great than the laborers who get hired.  These men and women want to work and they want to meet their obligations. 

So, how can I feel indigent if a kind employer shows mercy to them by paying them for more time than they worked? 

Jesus demonstrated once again that God’s thoughts are higher than ours and that He cares deeply for each individual. I pray that as I study God’s word and spend time in prayer that I will come to see people through Jesus’s eyes.  The world would be a much better place if we all worried less about what is “fair” in our own eyes and considered how we could show Christ’s love and compassion to our neighbors.

A Life Verse for 2013

A number of years ago while teaching at a Christian high school, I was introduced to the concept of ‘life verses’.  Basically, life verses are verses of Scripture that speak so powerfully to a person that the person’s life is impacted.  The verses may supply encouragement, provoke a change of heart, bring correction, or provide instruction.  I was already aware of Scripture verses that had impacted me in these ways, and I had written several of those verses in my journal.  I had not, however, identified these verses as my ‘life verses.’ 

Since my introduction to the idea of life verses, I have made a habit of keeping my life verses close at hand.  I write them on index cards and carry them in my purse, so they are handy when I need them.  I read and ponder them frequently.  One such verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”  This verse sustained me during a difficult time several years ago as Steve and I considered a major change in our life.  We were certain that God was leading us to make this change, yet nothing was working out.  When I would become discouraged, I would recite this verse many times throughout each day.  Eventually  God set things in motion for us with results that were far better than if our earlier attempts had succeeded.  God was teaching us to be patient and wait for His plan to be fulfilled.

Five years ago, God revealed to me that I should write a Christian novel.  This idea seemed very foreign to me, given my background is in math and finance.  Yet, God assured me that He would help me to accomplish the task if I would rely on Him.  Two verses gave me the courage to step out in faith and undertake this task.  I wrote them on index cards which I kept by my computer as I wrote.  One was John 15:16, “You did not choose me; I chose you and gave you this work and I gave you this work to produce fruit.”  This verse not only reminded me that writing a novel was God’s idea, but it also promised me that people would come to know God through reading the novel.  The second verse was  “If you see that the job is too big for you, that it’s something only God can do, and you trust Him to do it–you could never to it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked–well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God.  Sheer gift.” (Romans 4:5, The Message)  This verse encouraged me to continue to rely on God for the words to write.  I was well aware that I was not up to the task on my own, and I needed to be reminded to trust God to do it in me and through me.

For the past few weeks, I have been pondering a word to choose as my ‘One Word’ for 2013.  The One Word campaign encourages people to choose a word to focus on for the year, rather than making resolutions which are quickly broken.  Last year my Word was ‘intentional’ and in 2011 I selected ‘delight’ as my word.  This year I have not selected a word, but rather a new life verse. The verse that God keeps bringing to my mind is “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labors on what does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2) 

This single verse encompasses important principles of money management and time management.  We should spend our money on things that sustain and improve our life, and we should be our time in tasks that bring joy and satisfaction.  I believe that if this verse is foremost in my thoughts this year,  I will be less likely to waste my money or my time.  I will not clutter my life with possessions I will discard in a few weeks or months and I won’t fritter away my time in meaningless activity.  So rather than making resolutions or even choosing a word to focus on this year, I have chosen a verse that I believe will impact me and the way I live my life in 2013 in very positive ways.

What Scripture verses have most impacted your life?  Do you have a verse you will focus on during this year?

My Take on Proselytizing

I grew up in a Christian home and have attended church regularly all my life, yet I was not familiar with the term ‘proselytizing’ until I was in my thirties and then I only heard it used on rare occasions.  In recent years I have heard the term used more and more frequently, often as a criticism.  The term is bandied about so negatively that I found it hard to believe it was an action I could be guilty of committing, so I looked up its meaning.  Webster defines proselytize as ‘the attempt to convert’.

Christians are instructed by Christ to ‘go and make disciples of all nations’ (Matthew 28:19), which certainly results in an attempt to convert those who don’t know Jesus Christ as their Savior to Christianity.  We don’t use the term ‘proselytizing’, however.  Rather we ‘share the gospel’ and ‘evangelize.’  In Christian circles, these are viewed as positive actions.  We are attempting to lead people into a relationship with Jesus Christ, because we are convinced that salvation through Jesus Christ is the only access to eternal life.

Of course, many people have a different and negative opinion of evangelism. The Atheist Revolution recently published an article entitle ‘The Condescending Nature of Proselytizing.’  The unidentified author discusses his disdain for those of any religion who proselytize.  He quotes Rick Levy who finds this practice “rude and condescending because of its implication that the adherent’s beliefs are superior to those of other people’s and thus they need to be saved from the error of their ways.”

Interesting.  I make no apologies for Christians believing that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.  Christ himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:60)  In Acts 4:12, Peter preached “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  There are no alternative beliefs for anyone who truly is a disciple of Christ.

What I object to is the assertion that sharing our faith makes Christians condescending.  We are not trying to present ourselves as superior, but rather as sinners saved by grace who want to give others the opportunity to share in this wonderful gift.  We desire that everyone would experience the peace and joy that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Recently quotes from an interview given by Penn Jillette in 2008 have been making the rounds on the Internet.  Jillette, of Penn and Teller fame, is a very vocal atheist, yet he states “I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize…How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?”  When I saw the video of this interview, it reminded me of the Seinfeld episode in which Elaine discovers that her boyfriend Putty is a Christian.  She gets upset that he would let her go to hell rather than try to convert her.

Proselytizing, from a Christian’s point of view, is the attempt to share the most precious, valuable gift ever given to man–the gift of eternal life.  Christianity is so wonderful that not sharing this good news is not an option.

If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, I urge you to examine your heart.  Do you have true peace?  Do you know your sins are forgiven?  Are you confident that you will spend eternity in Heaven?  If not, you might want to open your heart and your mind the next time a Christian wants to share the gospel with you.  You have nothing to lose and eternity to gain.

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men

At Christmastime particularly, we pray for peace on Earth and we do our part to promote peace by showing goodwill not only to our loved ones and our neighbors but also to those in need.  We put change in the Salvation Army kettles, drop off new toys at collection centers, pack shoe boxes with gifts for Operation Christmas Child, donate food to our local food banks, and try to spread love and good cheer to those we encounter.  We pray that wars will end and the heroic men and women who defend our nation will soon return home and be reunited with their families.

Yet, as we look around us, we do not find a world at peace.  Wars rage around the world from Africa to Asia to Latin and South America.  Violence is escalating.  Our news has been filled in the last few weeks with the tragic stories of the senseless murders of innocent children and holiday shoppers.  We wonder what has gone wrong with our world.

The wish for peace on earth is nothing new.  For as long as mankind has existed, there has been strife on earth.  The first murder is recorded in fourth chapter of Genesis when jealously provoked Cain to kill his brother Abel.  In Psalm 120:6 and 7, the psalmist writes, “Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.  I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.”   The poet Henry Longfellow addressed these themes in his poem, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”  He recognized that God is still in control of this world and that one day He will set all things right.

God did not abandon mankind after creating us.  However, He has given us free will and, unfortunately, many people exercise their free will in ways that lead to violence.  God has promised that Jesus will return to Earth one day to rule and reign over it in peace.  Until that time, however, we will only experience true peace on Earth when we turn our lives over to God and allow Him to give us the ‘peace that passes understanding.’

In these last few days before Christmas, I urge you to remember the true reason for the season, to celebrate the birth of the Son of God, who would die for our sins.  Invite Him into your heart and allow Him to give you inner peace and true joy.  Merry Christmas and may God bless you.

 

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Lyrics by Henry W. Longfellow
Music by  J. Baptiste Calkin
 
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
 
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
 
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
 
Then peeled the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead: nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
 
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!

“How Can I Help?”

“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us.  Strength is for service, not status.  Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”  Romans 15:1-2 (The Message)

I came across this verse in my devotions yesterday.  In the New King James Version the verse read, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.”

Of course, I’ve read this verse many times before as I’ve studied the book of Romans, but yesterday it really grabbed my attention.  I think it was “scruples” that popped out at me.  It seemed an odd word to be in the Bible, and in fact, the King James uses the word “infirmities.”  At any rate, my curiosity was piqued and I pulled out a few other translations to see how they put it.

These verses were a reminder to me that God commands His people to look around them to see how they can help their neighbors.  From the story of the Good Samaritan, I know that my neighbor is any person God puts in my path.  I need to be watchful for others who need a hand and offer mine.  The needs may be spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial.  God doesn’t expect me to solve everyone’s problems, but He does expect me to offer service to those He brings to my attention.

The popular Bible teacher Bruce Wilkinson (author of The Prayer of Jabez and The Dream Giver) personalizes this question to open doors of opportunity to help others without interferring where he is not wanted.  When he feels the Holy Spirit impressing upon him to offer assistance to someone, he approaches them and simply asks “How may I help you?”  It is direct and to the point.  Often the person’s first reaction is to deny needing his help.  When Bruce persists, they open up and share their problems.  Sometimes God directs Bruce to meet the need immediately by giving the person money; other times God direct Bruce to provide godly counsel; and occasionally Bruce simply prays for the person.  Bruce based his approach on the example of Elisha the prophet in the story of the Widow’s Oil (2 Kings 4:1 – 7).

The key to being of service to others is to be open to the nudge of the Holy Spirit that a person in your vicinity is in need and God is going to use you to help in the situation.   I urge you to pray that your heart will be attuned to the nudging of the Holy Spirit to assist someone in need today.  As you look around, ask “How can I help?”

If  God has directed you through the nudging of the Holy Spirit to recognize and assist to a person in need, please consider sharing your story as a means of encouraging others.

Lessons Learned from a Former POW

This week I had the opportunity to hear former POW Paul Galanti speak about his experiences during nearly 7 years of confinement in North Vietnam’s Hanoi Hilton.  It’s hard to imagine a tougher situation to find one’s self in, yet Commander Galanti began by saying that there were positive aspects of his confinement.  Although he mentioned some of the extreme hardships, he focused his remarks on those positive experiences. 

The men who were confined together, some for as long as 9 years, formed bonds that are strong nearly 40 years after their release.  They keep in touch and hold periodic reunions.  No one complains if the service isn’t perfect at the reunions–they know what hardship is and it is not having a meal that is less than perfect.

Although Commander Galanti did not reference God or faith in his remarks, it was evident that the men were sustained by faith.  They had faith that they would survive the ordeal.  They had faith that the government and their loved ones were doing all they could do affect their release.  They also had faith in the human will to overcome the darkest of situations.

The most fascinating  part was when he described how strong his memory was during the days of solitary confinement.  All the lessons from his college courses came back to him in minute details.  Later, when he was reunited with a larger group of men, the college-educated among them taught what they had learned to the others.  Upon release, former prisoners were awarded up to 120 credit hours for materials taught to them by their fellow captives.

So, what lessons can we learn from Commander Galanti and his imprisonment.

1)  The mind needs periods of silence. Commander Galanti was able to recall his college lessons clearly only because he was in solitary confinement and spending long periods in silence.   The Bible teaches us  to ” Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)  We need periods of silence and solitude to reflect on God’s Word and to hear his voice.

2) We can survive whatever life throws our way.  Commander Galanti and the other men in the Hanoi Hilton faced hardships that most of us cannot even fathom.  Yet, they not only survived but they rose above their circumstances.  God promises that He will be with us in all circumstances and “He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”  (1 Corinthians 10:13)  There must have been many times when the prisoners were tempted to give up, but they remained strong and determined to survive their terrible circumstance.

3) Being connected with others is important.  For the prisoners of war, communication with each other was their life blood, despite the extreme punishment they endured if caught.  Through their clandestine communications they got to know one other and encouraged each other in the darkest times. The Bible teaches Christians that they should “not give up meeting together” but should “encourage one another.”  (Hebrews 10:25)  We need the support and encouragement of our Christian brothers and sisters.

4) It is important to be optimistic and have hope.  The prisoners were confident that their confinement would end one day.  They were sure that the end was in sight and would come within six months or a year.  They continued to be optimistic as the months  stretched to years.  They looked forward to the day they would be released and returned to their families.  God wants us to have hope, too.  He has promised good to us, even though we may be going through a dark period.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

5) Good can come out of terrible circumstances.  The men who were held captive in the Hanoi Hilton could have become bitter and angry about their circumstances.  But they didn’t.  They chose to redeem their time to help one another and to better themselves.  Several of the former prisoners, including Senator John McCain, have served in prominent positions in our government.  The Bible teaches us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)

We often face difficult circumstances, but most of us will never face the hardships that compare to those of the American servicemen imprisoned in Vietnam.  We should strive to follow their example of rising above our circumstances to look for the good in life and be all that God has intended us to be.

It was an honor and a privilege to hear Commander Gilanti speak.  I was uplifted by his message of optimism.  Nearly 40 years after his release, he continues to spread his message and improve the lives of others through his work.  He serves as an inspiration to all of us.

What hardships are you facing today?  Will you strive to rise above your circumstances and face the world with hope and optimism, striving to be the man or woman God created you to be?  Will you allow God to give you hope for a better future?