Christian Living Articles
HOW BIG IS YOUR RUG?
John R. Cionca
Originally printed in Power for Living, February 2, 1992
John's life was tragically ended when a bullet ripped into his brain. He
had been going thorough a period of depression, and one evening he
climbed between his box spring and mattress and shot himself with a
rifle. The bible affirms, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death
of His saints" (Ps. 116.15), but this death seemed a complete denial of
a Savior who offers peace and joy.
How is it that a young adult who had once been active in his faith
could fall to such a level of despair that he would take his own life?
One day John's brother gave me a cassette tape which contained
John's diary. The entries focused on two concerns: his desire for a new
job, and his desire for Cindy. At this stage in his life all he wanted was
to become an emergency medical technician, and to marry Cindy.
John's despair overwhelmed him when he learned he could become an
EMT, and that his girlfriend had been seeing one of his friends. He was
devastated! He described on the tape how he would take his life, and
two days later he carried out his plan.
Over time I began to realize what took place in John's life. He had
been standing on a rug and, when it was yanked out from under him,
he fell. The rug on which john was standing was a job and his
relationship with his girlfriend. His self-esteem, his meaning in life, and
his future hope all rested on those two goals. When those dreams
died, so did john.
As I thought about this tragedy, I reflected on another individual who
experienced many disappointments in life, but still was successful. The
Apostle Paul faced misunderstandings, hardships, setbacks, and
persecution. Yet he never fatally fell from the rug on which he was
standing. What was the difference? I believe it was the size of Paul's
rug.
His life goals were so big that individual disappointments never
destroyed his stability. In fact, he could make the amazing statement:
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know
what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have
learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether
well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do
everything through Him who gives me strength" (Phil. 4:11-13, NIV).
Paul's desire was to make Christ known, so it didn't matter whether he
preached Christ in the Areopagus or Agrippa's court, in Jerusalem or in
Joppa, in Philemon's home or in prison. Paul's rug was to preach
Christ, and no matter how much rug was pulled out from under him,
there was infinitely more on which to stand. Even when his adversaries
pulled and pulled, there was still more rug remaining.
For some people, the hope of marriage is their rug. They think: If I
could just be married, then I'd be happy. Others want to finish school,
or complete an advanced degree. Some desire a job change, or are
counting on a promotion. For newly marrieds, it might be owning their
first home; for others, a larger home or a cabin at the lake. Some
people stand on the rug of their friendships. As long as they have their
friends, they are happy, but, when they are left by themselves, they
are lonely.
While specific goals are not wrong, a Christian's over-all purpose for
living must be broadly significant. If the rugs upon which we stand are
as limited and conditional as the example above, there is a good
change that someday we too will end up flat on our backs in despair.
Our rug should be so large that the demons of hell can yank forever,
yet still not loosen our stability.
Some of these large rugs include knowing Christ (Phil. 3:10), glorifying
God (1 Cor. 10:31), becoming a vessel of praise (1 Thess. 5:18), and
conforming to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29), to name just a few.
Nothing can happen to us, good or bad that can render these goals
meaningless. But my favorite rug is the privilege of serving others.
I remember as a child playing musical chairs, and for the first time of
my life receiving a prize. It was a record. I was so excited that I could
hardly wait to get home to play it. When we finally pulled into the
driveway, I realized that I been sitting on the record and, like the disc,
I was crushed. Later the record was replaced, and to this day I can
remember its lyrics:
If I can help somebody as I pass along;
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song;
If I can show somebody that he's traveling wrong;
Then my living will not be in vain.
Now that's a great rug! Helping others is an over-arching purpose that
gives meaning to life' particulars. Inner joy is realized when we adopt
the daily practice of Jesus, "For even the Son of Man did not come to
be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many"
(Mark 10:45, NIV). We can stand on the rug of service whether we're
single or married, self-employed or working for another, living in an
efficiency apartment or a dream home!
How big is your rug? Is it like John's, or is it like Paul's? God has
provided an all-sufficient rug on which the believer can stand. The
choice is ours. We can stand on rugs that will let us down, or we can
stand on the wall-to-wall carpet of Christ's eternal purposes.