6: Five Traps to Avoid
When I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith.
THE CONTEXT FOR THIS verse is that Paul wants to encourage the believers in Thessalonica, who are experiencing challenging times. He is so concerned with how they’re holding up under pressure that he sends Timothy to find out how they’re doing.
When we’re under pressure, there are five traps that can easily ensnare us. Our faith can suffer. These traps come from a more extensive list in the book Spiritual Leadership by Henry and Richard Blackaby.[1] I believe these five are the most pertinent for this devotional and our demographic. I trust they’ll speak to you as they do to me.
The Trap of Cynicism
When we receive unfair criticism or are overloaded with ministry efforts, it’s easy to focus on the church’s problems and weaknesses. This causes us to lose our zeal and optimism. As a result we become cynical. This is especially true as we age and our experiences shape our outlook. We can become cynical of those younger than us who are serving in the church.
The Trap of Mental Laziness
In this stage of life, we must strive to be creative and inspire others to think. We need to seek the counsel of wise people. Watch out for mental laziness.
The Trap of Becoming Oversensitive
Some say that if you can’t handle criticism, you shouldn’t be in leadership. You will be criticized, second-guessed, and have your motives questioned. If you receive ten words of praise and one word of criticism, which will seem the loudest? Watch out for being oversensitive.
The Trap of Spiritual Lethargy
Most of us would list our relationship with God as the number one thing in our lives. Yet, with so much on our plates, time with God gets pushed aside. Watch out for spiritual lethargy. This is also particularly true of the 55+ age group. We tend to think, “I’ve paid my dues; it’s time to allow those who are younger to lead.” While there is truth to this statement, Jesus desires to continue using you and, through His Spirit, to empower and equip you, regardless of age. Your greatest impact can be ahead of you.
The Trap of Life/Work Balance
Balancing your leadership at work and home is a challenge. Yet it’s absolutely crucial. There is no age limit on this. I have seen far too many good men and women buckle under the strain of a heavy workload, and their families and marriages have been the victims.
May we listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading and be proactive as we watch out for these traps. May we have greater understanding about our faith as we walk daily with the Lord.
Questions
- Which of the five traps do you tend to fall into? Why?
- What negative patterns of thought and behavior are your go-tos when you experience stress?
- What triggers cause you to fall into these patterns of thought and behavior?
- As the years have passed, have you found that you respond to stress differently than when you were younger? Or have you found that negative patterns have become more ingrained as you’ve grown older?
- What action steps do you need to take to escape these traps?