Obeying God

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Obeying God

by Calia Russell

Have you ever avoided a situation due to the opinions along. I had an immediate change in mood. I knew it didn’t of others? This can be a good or bad thing. Most of feel right, but I continued. My mom noticed and mouthed, us carry a trait to stay away from things we know “I’m gonna get you.” If you don’t know what that means, it are wrong. Personally, I like to stay within the boundaries of means I’m going to get in serious trouble. good, but most of the time, my flesh and spirit fight. I have a After she said that, we went to children’s church. We did story I’d like to share with you so you can better understand our normal service, but at the end, we prayed. Out of fear, I why I believe this so strongly. asked to pray. I prayed that I wouldn’t get a spanking. My

My church, Eleven 22, is where the story begins. niece took advantage of this and told my mom everything We started going there on March 10, 2019. I had a great to get on her better side. Thankfully she did, or I wouldn’t relationship with the Lord, but I always felt something was have learned this lesson. She gave me a long talk explaining missing. Now that I’m older, I know what that is, but that that it wasn’t about anyone else: just me and God. I didn’t will come later. Our church has an amazing choir. My mom completely understand what that meant, but when she is in that choir. Back then, I thought she finished, I didn’t get in serious trouble. bugged me to clap my hands for the The following Sunday, I had to go to the front again. entertainment of the church. I had This time, I listened to the better suggestion and put further thought into this, and praised. And after that, not once did I think about it seemed like my mind had two anyone else but the Lord. I felt closer to Him than I sides. One was that you can just ever had before. I felt the need to cry. But my flesh praise the Lord and clap. Another took over, and I didn’t. Writing this now brings side was ignorantly thinking, “Don’t pain to the things I’ve missed because of that. But clap; just stare.” And of course, that without it, I might have made the mistake later in Wednesday, that’s exactly what I did. life, so I’m thankful.

At church, before praise and To conclude, never let your flesh take worship, our worship leader said, over your relationship with the Lord, “Everyone, please come to the like I did, because it feels amazing front.” Back then, I used to to be connected with everlasting value the opinions of others, love unlike anyone else’s. He will and this was one of those always be there for you in your situations when my flesh and toughest times; no matter how spirit were having a debate. much hatred you put toward My friend Ma’Ryah and Him, He still loves you. Talk to my mom encouraged me Him, read His Word, and feel to come to the front. We the love and strength He puts started praise and worship. over your life. And of course, being a child, I had forgotten about my plan not to praise for the first song, but then the second song came About The Author Calia Russell is a fifth-grader at Black Fox Elementary. She attends Eleven22 Church. She loves to write and sing. 8 // July 2020

Proximity— Be There

MONEY MATTERS WITH DR. ANDREW LEE

Ken Coleman, a regular on the Dave Ramsey radio show, authored a book last year titled The Proximity Principle which emphasizes the importance of putting yourself in close proximity to others who are working in the career field where you would like to work, with an eye toward landing a fulfilling career. While Coleman’s book is aimed toward those seeking a more rewarding career, the proximity principle—as a concept—is applicable to financial success, as well as numerous other aspects of life. For example, those wishing to lose weight and get fit need to be in the presence of other fit people to watch and learn and ask questions. I’ve talked with numerous people who were unhappily single, yet they never put themselves in situations (i.e.—singles groups at church) to meet potential life partners but rather sat home night after night hoping Mister or Miss Right would appear magically at their doorstep. The proximity principle dictates that we greatly increase our chances of success by intentionally putting ourselves in a position to meet those whom we want to emulate, or those who can help us achieve our goals.

Woody Allen once quipped, “Eighty percent of life is just showing up,” and while this may sound glib, there is some truth to it. By simply showing up and putting yourself in the right place (even if it’s not necessarily the “right time”), you enhance your chances for success. Once you know what your financial goals are, look around for people whom it would be advantageous to meet and pick their brain regarding how they handle their finances, how they balance risks and rewards, and what lessons they have learned along the way. Be sure to choose wisely those people from whom you solicit financial advice. On various financial podcasts lately, I’ve 10 // July 2020

Dr. Andrew Lee is professor of English at Lee University. He also serves as a coordinator for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. He and his wife Esmerelda have three children.

heard this adage repeated: “Never take advice from someone you wouldn’t want to trade places with.” Or, to put my spin on it, “Never take financial advice from someone whose net worth is less than yours.” Beware of smoke and mirrors when ascertaining whether someone is a financial success. That luxury SUV and designer clothes may be signs of financial success—or they may be signs of excessive consumer debt and no real wealth.

Once you have identified those with whom you wish to network, don’t waste time. Life is too short. Put yourself out there and meet as many people as you can; tell them your financial goals and plans, and then listen to their feedback. Don’t get discouraged, and ask God to give you wisdom and discernment to understand and to evaluate their feedback. Consider the difference between sharing your financial goals with someone who is more successful than you, as opposed to telling these goals to those who are less financially successful. Often, the latter group (usually family and friends) respond with discouragement rather than encouragement. After all, they are likely unknowledgeable about how to achieve financial success, and may even resent your ambitions. But those who have achieved what you hope to achieve will more than likely offer words of encouraging, practical advice. The key is to put yourself in close proximity to these people. Then, once you have networked with them, be sure not only to listen to what they have to say, but also to show that you are a person who is willing to take some action to improve your financial situation. James 1:22 reminds us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only,” and we should likewise act on wise counsel.