Shortly after graduating from university, I took a trip with my new boss to a conference. He was about to give an important presentation, but over dinner he remarked that he hadn’t had a haircut for a long time. He wished he looked more presentable. I offered to cut his hair for him. He asked how good I was. I replied, “I’ve never had a complaint.”
I had never had a complaint because I had never cut anybody’s hair. Not even once. But I had worked in a barbershop as a kid, and I watched thousands of haircuts. I thought I knew enough. And I did. My boss loved the haircut, and I continued to cut his hair the next couple of years.
Twenty years later, though, I looked back on that decision, and I thought, “What a fool I was.” I should have at least let my boss make an informed decision.
While I could see the foolishness in me of twenty years before, I was now forty, and I felt pretty confident about my ability to wisely balance co-owning a software company with a wholesome family life and a healthy spiritual life.
Today I look back on my misplaced confidence—thinking I could manage a company, family, and spiritual life—and I think, “What a fool I was.” I made more (and bigger) mistakes in that “successful” season of life than I ever had before.
And I wonder: Twenty years from now, what kind of fool will I see I am today?
Admitting Our Foolishness
Last week, I read the story of King Jehoshaphat. He is one of the “good” kings. Scripture says, “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the ways of David (2 Chron. 17:3). He was also a powerful king, and for most of his reign, neighboring kingdoms paid him tribute.
In his later years, though, three enemy kingdoms formed a coalition to destroy him. He is told that a “multitude is coming against you.” And he turns to the Lord. Jehoshaphat is at the pinnacle of his career: he is stronger than he’s ever been; his kingdom is at it richest under his rule; and his wisdom is just peaking. He prays:
Lord … we do not know what to do. (2 Chron. 20:12)
I wonder if the epitome of wisdom—the meaning of my gray hair—is to admit, “Lord, in all my wisdom, I finally realize, I do not know what to do. And I probably never did.”
The Battle Belongs to the Lord
I have a friend who I believe is making a mistake in his life. I think my discernment may actually be from the Lord. I wanted to tell my friend what he’s doing wrong. But a couple weeks ago I read this quote from Oswald Chambers:
Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, becoming so burdened with people and problems that we don’t worship God, and we fail to intercede.
God is calling me simply to pray for my friend. It feels weird. As though prayer isn’t enough, as though my friend needs my wise words more than God. Which is stupid of me. Foolish even.
When King Jehoshaphat seeks God’s word for this upcoming battle, God speaks: “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”
As I get older, and hopefully wiser, and as my hair turns gray, I am coming to realize that all the battles are the Lord’s, not mine. There are times God may ask me to raise a sword, but even then, the battle belongs to the Lord, not me.
God is saying to this graybeard, “Get off of my throne!” (And step away from the barber stool.)
Sam
P. S. Sometimes in the middle of our lives we wonder, “Is this all there is?” It isn’t. God wants more riches for us in our lives.
God is the good Father who wants to enter into a divine dialogue with each one of his kids. To grow in that divine dialogue, please watch the video bel0w (Is this all there is?), and buy a copy of Hearing God in Conversation.
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Codependent Kids
Great and humbling post, Sam. Thank you! I kept hearing the song from the 60’s run through my head while I was reading. “What Kind of Fool Do You Think I AM?” 😀 Sharing on my FB personal and business pages!
I don’t think you are a fool at all 🙂
I (on the other hand) … have been a fool in so many ways.
Mostly, though, I’ve been a fool to take on burdens that God doesn’t want me to carry.
Sam
Hi Sam. What a great and humble reminder not to run ahead of God. I can so easily do that and I think I am doing his will! Thank you. Susan
It’s funny, well it’s SAD, how much I think I need to “do” over I need to pray.
God doesn’t need me to do anything; he is just gracious and loves my partnership.
You know, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain.”
Good job (again), Sam. I particularly liked the Oswald chambers quote…often I go on “auto pilot” in assuming that I immediately know what action I am supposed to take in serving the Lord before even coming before him in prayer.
I often need to just slow down, pray before I act…in doing that I find my life more peaceful and in order…and also I often don’t need to do the things I thought I should do before praying for wisdom and direction.
FYI- my wife is now reading Hearing God in Conversation, and the Lord is really speaking to her through your book. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us!
God bless,
John
Hi John,
That’s why we are such good friends: we’re partners in foolishness!
Thanks for letting me know about your wife’s reading of my book. That is very encouraging. (And that is a real gift of yours, the gift of encouragement!)
Sam
Spot on. Thank you, Sam for this reminder, because sometimes we arrogantly think God needs our help. We offer ‘prayers’, often no more than suggestions (or demands!) to God on how He should handle our situations, then get impatient if He doesn’t answer as we expect. Intercession done His way…”not my will, but thine”, is far more productive!!!
Hi Sharon,
You are absolutely right. We “arrogantly” think God needs our help; when the reality is that he graciously invites us to comradeship with him in service. He is the sun and we are the moon; we shine only when we reflect him.
Thanks
Thanks, Sam!
Thank you Sam! God bless you. Your blog is really a blessing!
And Amy, you are always so encouraging!
Hey Sam, I’m getting kind of shaggy. Do you think you could take a road trip to Alabama with your scissors and clippers? Great post!
I would LOVE a road trip to Alabama. This has been a very late spring here in Ann Arbor.
And it would be great fun to give you a beautiful Mohawk! Your wife would laugh so hard.
Sam
This was very good. A lesson I need, too:)
One graybeard to another…Amen…waiting on the Lord is a lost art in these days of instant gratification. Love your stuff, you always hit home with a great observation that sticks me in the ribs…in a good way!
Keep Fighting the Good Fight!
Tim McNamara
Vice President
Co-founder
New 4rmations
Hi Tim,
Thanks for your kind comments! I checked out your site, and I like what I see you doing.
Here is it for other readers who might be interested: http://new4rmations.com/
Sam