A Framework for Life
May 30, 2004
Dear Friends,
The world has made many rich who seek to sell us answers to life’s many questions. These purveyors of formulas and maxims seek to convince us that if we only follow their plan, we can achieve happiness, success and riches. If we simply scan the best seller list on any given day, we typically find several of these tomes listed in the nonfiction section. Unfortunately, most of them have been misplaced by being put in nonfiction.
We would suggest that the only formula for life is found in the Holy Scriptures. All of the other self-help books are only so much rubbish unless they have lifted their ideas from the Bible itself. Even if that is the case, why not go to the original source? This all-time best seller, the Holy Bible, can be the most effective, life changing tool if it is only used effectively. Few seek to use it in this fashion. It is more than likely to be used like a ceramic bowl as a nice coffee table decoration. For those who even venture to pick it up on occasion, they typically bring so many preconceived notions about what they are reading that the effectiveness is greatly diminished.
We would contend that the Bible has practical solutions to real life problems. It provides us with a framework in which we can conduct our lives. The truths of the Bible transcend time and place such that the message is as pertinent today to a person living in the modern world as it was to those of ancient Greece or medieval Europe.
I am personally so convinced that the Bible has the answers that I made a bold move the other day. I have a longtime friend whose marriage is falling apart. Over lunch the other day, he related to me his marital problems. The good news is that despite working now on dividing assets and preparing for signing the divorce papers, they are still on reasonably good terms. They are not arguing any longer and are not dating other people. They just don’t like each other any more to the extent that they no longer wish to remain married. Both are Christians, but of the kind that is prevalent around here; namely, they go to church on occasion and have little idea what the Scriptures contain.
The two of them have been to marriage counselors. Like a lot of arbitrators, the counselor tried to get him to be more like her and for her to be more like him. The problem is that he doesn’t like her any more, so why would he want to be more like her? The same goes for her. Needless to say, the counseling ended with the decision that they needed to divorce as they had “irreconcilable differences.” When viewed from the framework for life that they have constructed for themselves, they truly do have irreconcilable differences with no apparent solution. It was then that I made my bold move and suggested to my friend that I may have a solution to their problem.
I am not a marriage counselor. I have never had any training in marriage counseling. So for me to suggest I may have a solution to their marriage problem was, in my opinion, fairly bold. My qualifications in this regard is that I am a Bible student and I care for my friends very much. With the unwavering belief that the Bible contains the answers, I offered my friend to have a Bible class with he and his wife. The fundamental idea is that if they change their framework for life and ultimately change themselves through their new framework, they can save their marriage. The Bible class would not be about marriage initially, but about what the Bible has to say about life and its many challenges. It would be about a new way of thinking.
Next week, Lord willing, we will start to explain the ideas behind a framework for life.
Have a great week!
