I’ve often thought that life would be easier if life’s temptations came as clear as Disney’s villains. Take Ursula from the Little Mermaid as an example. She’s clearly evil. Yet Ariel ignores the evil villainess vibe and, for her own selfish reasons, makes a deal with the devil.
Here’s something worth thinking about: if my life were made into a Disney movie — who are the evil villains that I’m blind to?
Of course, in real life, the decisions that destroy us are never as clear to us as they are in the movies. It’s usually carefully disguised as something awesome.
That was the case for King Rehoboam in 1st Kings. Soon after Solomon’s son Rehoboam became king, the workers sent representatives begging him to lighten the load of their work.
Rehoboam sent them away for 3 days to consider his options. His dad’s advisors suggested he scratch their back so they’ll scratch his. They said that a favorable answer would earn him a lifetime of loyalty.
Rehoboam’s friends, drunk with power, said he should give them even more work. That he should tell them: “My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!”
Rehoboam listened to his friends and shortly thereafter civil war erupts splitting the country into two permanently. Way to go, Rehoboam!
I look back on my life and all the times when I picked what I wanted to be true rather than what I knew to be true.
- I thought it was true that I was in control … but I’m not.
- I thought it was true that it wouldn’t hurt anybody … but I hurt myself most.
- I thought it was true that no one was paying attention … but they were.
- I thought it was true that my happiness is most important … but making a difference is.
- I thought it was true that life is all about me … but life is all about Jesus.