Biblical Keys to Winning at Life

Sermon by Neil Earle

For years one of my favorite scriptures was 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (KJV).

That was back in 1965 when I first absorbed these words, two years after President Kennedy’s death and three years after the harum-scarum Cuban Missile Crisis. There have been plenty of fears and scares since then but today’s steady drum-beat of disturbing news from kettle-bombs in New York to slasher attacks in Minnesota doesn’t exactly engender confidence.

Then there are daily, more personal “debt bombs” and family issues to worry about – aging parents, out-of-work children, political correctness running amok in schools, traffic. Yes, lots to worry about as we face our daily commutes but – be encouraged – there is plenty of help and counsel available from God’s word.

Good Health Contagious

Good mental health is contagious. We can stay sane in this world of confusion. Life is worth living and living well. Needed are good psycho-spiritual strategies to cope with this world's steady drip-drip-drip of frustrations. Negative thoughts stress the body. Depending on the intensity of these emotions the physical reaction can result in everything from a lump in the throat to something far more severe. As Christians interacting with the world, we are told we can live sanely and confidently. St. Paul said in Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This from a man who was beaten with rods three times, faced a cat-o-nine tails five times, stoned with ricks three times, ship-wrecked three times.

How did he do it?

He tells us more in 2 Timothy 1:6-7: "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Power? Who doesn’t need more personal dynamism and energy to face the daily barrage? Love? Godly love allows us to triumph over the daily stressors life throws at us – we don’t fret about people we see where they’re coming from in amore God-oriented perspective. This is key to a sound mind, no matter how rare it seems today.

“The Fab Five”

In St. Paul and his Lord and Example Jesus Christ we have two of the greatest examples of handling life’s pressures even to the point of death. Keeping their examples before us, the Holy Spirit inside us can help us live by what doctors and counselors see as five essential traits of mental health. Here they are – 5 traits of mentally healthy people:

1. Mentally healthy people have a workable realistic perspective on life. That enables them to rise above all the tumult going on around them. Jesus said I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Mentally healthy people know most fears don’t happen, that the worst is not always the reality, and that we can learn to face our trials and keep on going. Let’s face it, you meet people like that almost every day. It is possible.

Paul lived that kind of victorious life. He told an ancient King who had him on the dias on trial: “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains."

2. The mentally healthy person feels worthwhile and respects himself. He or she loves himself, but not too much. He accepts what he is and feels significant to his loved ones and to other important people in his life. It matters that he is alive and people are depending on him. He has a mission in life and that makes every day a potential for accomplishment and achievement.

3. The mentally healthy person has a solid grip on reality. She recognizes strengths and weaknesses accordingly. She sees others for what they are. She is wise enough to spot danger and complications ahead of time. She knows the world in which she lives well enough to avoid its dangers and to make wise decisions. In another culture the Wise Woman of Proverbs “she is not afraid of snow” for her household is adequately clothed (Proverbs 31:21). She uses this world and enjoys its resources and opportunities (verse 24).

Again, Paul sets an example of healthy realism in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Another way to spell success is W-O-R-K. Well-adjusted people know this.

4. A mentally healthy person faces life's demands and is not too big to ask for help. This includes others' help when necessary. Even Jesus wanted friends near him to help him face his worst hour. Notice Luke 22:39-46: "Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation.' And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.' Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him…”

That’s spiritual help and physical help working together.

5. Mentally healthy people handle their feelings effectively. They are honest about their feelings but don’t let them dominate in life. They know that feelings follow actions. They don’t let fear and doubt push them around. They have learned that there is usually a way around trouble no matter how intimidating problems seem at the time. They recognize their feelings honestly, including the bad ones.

They know God has made a promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

Millions know this to be true. They know that Biblical examples and Biblical keys can help and stabilize us as we go through this thing called life with its twists and turns.

Let’s end off with a text that some see as a good motto to face the day, every day, Philippians 2:12-15: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

God wants us to win at this thing called life.

(Sermon notes prepared by local Glendora church member Charlie Schreiner. KJV throughout. Sources: Van Woek, On Becoming an Educated Person, also Mental Health for Teachers. See also Pat Williams, Extreme Winning.)