We all need a Guide in life

If Virat Kohli is the man of the moment in Indian cricket, then Sachin Tendulkar is not far behind - perhaps, he is even miles ahead of this new batting sensation.

Obviously, the wait for the 100th century was long for Sachin - much more to his liking, and the cricket fans around the world.
Though, not open about it, he surely felt the pressure when he went in to bat every single time - "would this be the moment?"
But sadly, it was not to be - for a while at least.
And no wonder, after he scored that century, with a huge sigh of relief he said like it felt he was 50 kgs. lighter after scoring that century.

Two days later, the man who has seen it all, even went to the extent of saying "I wish there was someone to guide me, about how to deal with this. I am not complaining but it happened for the first time", after he scored that elusive 100th Int'l century against Bangladesh during the Asia Cup in Dhaka.
Times of India put that on the headlines on Sunday's newspaper on 18th March '12.

While indeed there was no one who had ever scored 100 hundreds in Int'l cricket - the question to ask is:
"Was there really no one, who could have guided him?"
"Did he look around as to who he could possibly turn to?"

It seems like he was caught up with his own burden, and clearly thought or failed to see that there was no one out there who had trudged along similar terrain.
Sadly he missed out on being guided during the most strenuous time in his career, when he could have gained momentum and strength.

Much alike Tendulkar, Roger Federer too, had to wait for six long years since becoming No. 1 to win the French Open, a title that made critics agree he was the greatest ever. When Sachin was asked to compare the two situations, the Master paused, "I am sure what Federer went through was tough. I would not compare the 100th hundred with the French Open, rather it would be the World Cup. I had to wait 22 years and that wait was much longer (than Federer's)".

Again, we see a justification that his was a much longer wait than any body else.
Sachin had known Federer personally - so, he could have possibly sought his help or at least discussed things with him.
There are a number of others who have scaled such heights, whom he could have turned to.
But it was not to be!!

When we rationalize our viewpoint, we are in danger of missing out on learning a vital truth in life, which God wants us to learn.

- Do we miss a trick or two, because we feel that we are going through something which no one else has ever gone through?
- Do we feel over-confident that we can do things on our own without anyone's help?
- Do we think that no one else will ever understand, because they have just not gone through this themselves?

These are warning signals that we need to pay heed to. A sign that we are aloof and clearly not interested in the 'common good' & to learn from others.

The fact is, we all need A GUIDE IN LIFE.
In John 14;16, Jesus said, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever" - the word Counsellor (or) Comforter in some translations is the word 'parakletos' (or) 'parakleet' in Greek.
Though it doesn't have a one word meaning in our language today, it literally means ~ someone who comes alongside us and puts his hand over our shoulders and walks with us.

Jesus felt it was important that we have a guide in our spiritual journey and has given us the gift in the Holy Spirit, who is with us at all times.

And practically speaking, we all need A GUIDE / A MENTOR / A LEADER - to whom we are accountable and relating to on a regular basis - so we can maximize our learning experiences along the way.

Why do we need a Guide?
This is an extract from Pr. E.D. Chelladurai's message at the "Good Shepherd Community Church" in OM, Bangalore last week.

1) To save our soul
- Acts 8:31 - The Ethiopian Eunuch, needed Stephen to come alongside and explain to him the truth from the Scriptures.

2) To oversee our soul
- I Peter 2:25 / Hebrews 13:17 - Leaders are watchers over us
Primarily, Jesus is - but we need people around us too!

3) To help receive the anointing for our soul
- Elisha received the double portion of the anointing from his master Elijah

A friend when in dire straits

Have we heard of people betraying the other person, when one person trusted the other?
It happens all the time in the world around us. Why, it happens within the church as well.

It's a nasty feeling when we hear of someone who was betrayed by his/her friend - let alone, when we are involved.
How about this?
- Have we ever felt betrayed by someone, whom we trusted?
- Have we done that to people close to us?


We are going to look at a story from the Bible, where a person trusted his friend, even when things didn't look like it - and he was rewarded for that act.
In fact, both of them were rewarded - because it takes 2 to come together to form that kind of trust.

I Samuel 20:1,2 (NIV) - Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?”
“Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!”

Leading to this conversation was Saul's rage and raving madness in wanting David killed.

In the early verses of chp.18, we see that even before Saul contemplated killing David, Saul's son Jonathan 'became one in spirit with David' and established a covenant of friendship.

And in chp.19 opening verses, its pretty obvious that Saul didn't like David's growing popularity among his citizens that he gathered his inner circle and conveyed his plans to kill David - Jonathan was present too!

Now that Saul went in search of David to Naioth to kill him, David turns to Jonathan for help .. and at first glance Jonathan's reply seems flattering.

Imagine ourself in David's shoes and consider the response given by Jonathan - we would think that Jonathan is playing the game with Saul in betraying the 'covenant friendship'.
What is so open and obvious is seemingly covered up by Jonathan or at least it looks like it at face value.

- Is Jonathan trying to protect his father, Saul's image?
- Is Jonathan not concerned about his covenant with David (cf. I Sam. 18:1-4)

An old proverb is quoted very often: "A friend in need, is a friend indeed"!

The test of true friendship will reveal its true colours - ie: when things are not going well.

But take a close look at the following verses in chp.19 (vs.4-6) ... "Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly.
5 He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?”
⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.”

Jonathan had every right to believe that Saul was genuine in this .. in fact, he even comes and tells David everything that happened there - which is probably why David trusted his friend even when Saul was full-on after his life notwithstanding the travel he undertakes in order to find David, forgetting all about the oath he had taken a few days ago.

Jonathan's response in the Hebrew text (in vs.2) is emphatic, as he insists vehemently and denies that David's life is in danger.
Surely, he (Jonathan) was convinced, as a result of that conversation he'd had with his father and the vow that Saul had taken - hence he must be safe!

Jonathan, a true friend is faithful not just to David, but also to his dad - not wanting to betray either one.

And at the center of that belief was his conviction that his father would always confide in him - though Saul's action were proving otherwise.

How many of us can say that of us in our life?
- Do we care enough to not smear the reputation of those around us, when we have an opportunity?
- Do we care enough to stick our neck out in the cutting block, when our friends need us?
- Do we care for the overall good of others, even if it means letting go of things, which we could enjoy otherwise?

Jonathan, because he valued his own words and commitment, was expecting those around him to do the same as well or at least gave them the opportunity to do so.
When we do well, it spurs others to good works.

I'd rather be proved wrong in believing the best about others than live in a state of cynical suspicion, where I'm just waiting for them to do their worst.
One of the greatest gifts we can be given is the confidence of others, and the knowledge that they really do believe in us.

A prayer:
Lord, save me (us) from cynicism. Help me (us) to trust and risk disappointment, rather than believe that others will fail me. Help me (us) to be a friend to those in need of my friendship. Amen.