BENTONVILLE — I am often drawn to reread Romans 7 because I believe this chapter is very accurate in its description of human nature - most certainly it is with mine.
You remember the gist of the passage, don't you?
Paul was saying that he often did the things he should not do and, on top of that, he didn't do the things he should do. We all know how true this is. The exact scripts may vary with each of us, but the stories of our lives are closely similar.
The real question to answer is, "Why?" Why do we do stuff we shouldn't and not do the stuff we should?
Many learned authors have written about the problem of human nature, but Ihave recently come across a couple who may help us further understand human nature.
The first came from Rick Warren: He said to imagine that you're in a speedboat with an automatic pilot.
It is set to go west. If you want to reverse directions, you have some options - you could grab the steering wheel and physically force the boat to head in the opposite direction. By sheer willpower, you could overcome the autopilot but would have constantresistance. Eventually, you would grow tired and let go of the wheel, and the boat would instantly head back west.
Warren wrote: "This is what happens when you try to change your life with willpower: You say, "I'll force myself to eat less, exercise more, quit being disorganized and late. Yes, willpower can produce short-term change, but it creates constant internal stress because you haven't dealt with the root cause.
The change doesn't feel natural, so eventually you give up and quickly revert to your old patterns.
"There is a better and easier way: Change your autopilot - the way you think."
The Bible says, "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2 NLT).
The other story is from Max Lucado. He spoke about an airplane trip during which he was sitting next to a 14-year-old special-needs youngster named Billy Jack. It seemed that every time an attendant came by, Billy would say, "Don't forget to look after me."
Lucado said he couldn't remember any time that Billy didn't remind the crew that he needed attention. "The rest of us didn't.
We never asked for help.
We were grownups - sophisticated, self-reliant, seasoned travelers.
Confession of need is somehow an admission of weakness to us."
Not Billy Jack, Lucado said. He had placed himself in the care of someone stronger. Then Lucado asked the question: "Have you?"
Lucado's point, I think, is to remind us that even with all our knowledge and sophistication - no matter how self-reliant we have become - we still need God's guidance to keep us focused, and his grace when we falter.
Well, my answer is that I'm still trying to let God steer my life's boat and to admit that I am in need of attention. The problem is that I often get confused and think my choice of adecision to act is the right course and just take over the steering, even though it is not what I should do.
Maybe I need to be more like Billy Jack.
I'd be much better off if I said to God: "Don't forget about me. I get confused sometimes." If I did, I would know that my life would be much easier and the course adjustments less necessary. I could then concentrate on the things that are for good.
"Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2 NLT).
Just a thought.
Shalom.
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Bob Haynes' column appears on Mondays.
News, Pages 2 on 09/21/2009