Good Until Now

I have recently become acquainted with a textbook case of the difference between good and great. Like the "rich young ruler" in Jesus' day, this young man has kept the law from his youth. He started his own business a number of years ago, and has been relatively successful, because he has done things "God's way." He has tithed, he has not stolen from anyone-always keeping his bills paid-he has done good work, and he has not been miserly with his employees.

For some little time, now, however, his business has not grown. Progress has been non-existent; he's at a stand-still. During this time of no progress, he has become increasingly aware that he has-brace yourself-a Weakness. (I know. Shocking, isn't it?) Don't misunderstand me; he's previously been aware that there are certain things he is not proficient in, and he leaves those things to other people. In that sense, he's been aware of "weaknesses" for a long time. This is perhaps more along the line of what you might think of as a Flaw. (Bowls and plates are designed for different things, and while the weakness of a plate is that you cannot put soup in it, that is not a flaw. On the other hand, if a bowl has a hole in the bottom of it, you can't put soup in it, either, and that is a flaw.) This is something in his character that is preventing him from reaching that next level of productivity, prosperity, and influence.

That's a pretty big deal.

He is now faced with a situation that the law does not address. After all, it isn't as though it could be truly classified as "wrong" for his business to remain the size it is. In fact, some people may suggest that this flaw in his character may be an indication that the Lord doesn't want his business to grow. I am not one of those people.

This character flaw is preventing a good man from becoming great. That is not unique. Every one of us who qualifies as a good person (by means of not being a bad person) has a character flaw (or two or three) preventing us from becoming great. Does that mean the Lord doesn't want us to become great? By no means! I believe His desire for every one of us is greatness.

Between good and great lies death. This young man has arrived at his present situation entirely in his own strength. He's become good on his own. Becoming great will require God's grace. He doesn't know anything about God's grace, though, because he's never really needed it before. He's never faced a problem he can't overcome on his own, by working hard and doing what is right. Receiving God's grace will require humility. He'll have to recognize that he needs and wants something that he doesn't have and cannot acquire on his own.

He'll have to depend on God.

That's death.

And that's Life.

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