Lessons for Life

Life has many lessons to teach the observant student. Some are understood through instruction. Most, however, are engrafted into our understanding along the path of experience.

Growing older has certain advantages when it comes to wisdom and understanding. Age alone means little, but the lessons gained through longevity are priceless.

Proverbs 23:10 says, “Remove not the old landmark…”

One such lesson learned over time is this: Don’t remove a marker, monument, or rule until you understand why it was placed there in the first place.

I once thought my grandparents were strange—quirky even—because they would not throw anything away: bread bags, paper sacks, old bent and rusty nails. Nothing. Absolutely nothing was wasted.

It was only after I learned about the Great Depression that it dawned on me—they had experienced firsthand what true need feels like. Scarcity had shaped them. Hardship had molded their habits. Their experiences were not merely memories; they became part of who they were and how they lived.

First Corinthians 8:13 says, “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble,
I will never eat meat again, lest I make my brother stumble.”

As a follower of Christ, you will encounter fellow believers with a variety of habits and convictions—many of which are not essential to salvation. Before attempting to lead them into what you consider “truth,” pause and ask yourself why they hold that belief. More often than not, you will discover their conviction is rooted in personal experience.

Like the Apostle Paul, I have discovered that fellowship with my brother is far more valuable than proving my point. This is a life lesson Paul learned through experience. This is a lesson countless others have learned the same way as Paul. At the end of the day, the joy of fellowship is more valuable than my point of view.

With Gratitude, Pastor Jesse