August 17, 2022

Galatians 4: 16 (NIV)

Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Nothing is so fickle and uncertain as popularity.*

Years ago, I worked as a bank teller. One day, the head teller asked if one of us would like to take on some added responsibility. No promotion, no title, and no more money except when the longer hours led to a little overtime. The only interested party was the newest girl on the line - who was not well-liked by her co-workers. When the others started to whine and gripe behind her back about, “who does she think she is,” I, who did not like her either, defended her. I said, “None of us wanted that job so we have nothing to complain about.” I was oblivious to the animosity this provoked in my fellow tellers until one of them came to me and said something along the lines of, “I don’t care what they all say; you were right.”

The Apostle Paul was not one to keep silent when a truth needed to be expressed. We may love his words today but my guess is there was a lot of grumbling among his fellow Christians. Unlike me, Paul seems to be aware of his unpopularity. He, like the young lady in my story, was the new kid – and he came with a bloody past. How many of us could preach and teach with such confidence and authority if we were toting his baggage?  We want people to like us. We know that shooting the messenger never goes out of style. How did Paul overcome his insecurities - and will it work for us?

Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus was dramatic and abrupt but I don’t think the rest of his spiritual development occurred overnight. What we read about him mostly reveals the finished product, but he gives us clues that reveal that his struggles weren’t all that different from ours. This means that we, too, have the potential to be spiritual giants. We just have to be willing to suffer (Acts 9: 16) and surrender (Romans 12: 1) and trust God to supply all our needs (Philippians 4: 19). And to love Jesus more than our own comfort and convenience (II Corinthians 5: 14).

Peace if possible, but truth at any rate.*