Have I got a story for you. This past Tuesday, our Associate Pastor, Greg Upperman, and I drove to Camden to pick up some chairs for our Sunday School classes. After we finished loading them into the trailer, we decided to stop for an early lunch. Now, I should confess something. I'm trying to lose a little weight. I explained to my good friend that I really didn't need to eat. But because I haven't yet fully developed that particular fruit of the Spirit called selfcontrol, I was willing to make the sacrifice and eat with him so he wouldn't have to eat alone. That's just the kind of sacrificial friend I am. Greg and I have known each other for more than twentyfi ve years. He's not just our Associate Pastor at Hampton First Baptist Church; he's also one of my closest friends. He's my ride-or-die, my brother from another mother. On the way to the restaurant, Greg began sharing his wisdom about losing weight. He talked about portion control, healthier choices, and the importance of self-discipline. One piece of advice stood out above all the others: 'Just eat half of what you order and save the rest for tomorrow.' After a couple of miles of this, I had heard all I wanted to hear. I pulled the truck over to the side of the road. Greg looked over and asked, 'What are you doing?' I looked him square in the eye and said, 'Get out.' We both laughed, and I pulled back onto the highway. When we arrived at the restaurant, I was curious to see if Greg would follow his own advice. I ordered a junior burger meal from the kids' menu. Pastor Greg, our nutrition expert, ordered a double cheeseburger and fries. I quietly ate my little burger and a few fries while keeping one eye on Greg's plate. Did he eat only half of that double cheeseburger like he had just told me to do? Not even close. He ate the whole thing. When I reminded him of his own advice, he quickly defended himself. 'Well... I didn't eat all the bread.' 'Oh really?' I asked. 'Why not?' 'Because it fell apart.'
On the drive home, I found myself thinking less about Greg's cheeseburger and more about my own attitude. The truth is, I didn't want to hear what he was saying. I already knew I should eat less. I already knew I needed more self-control. His advice wasn't wrong; it was simply inconvenient. Instead of appreciating it, I wanted him to stop talking. Then it hit me: I sometimes treat God the same way. God tells us what we need to hear, but not always what we want to hear. He tells us to forgive when we'd rather hold a grudge, not to worry when we'd rather stay anxious, to trust Him when we'd rather stay in control, and to love difficult people when we'd rather avoid them. Most of us don't struggle because we don't know what God has said. We struggle because what He says often challenges what we want. Thankfully, God loves us enough to keep telling us the truth. Through His Word and by His Spirit, He patiently reminds us, corrects us, and calls us to trust and obey Him. Even when we don't want to hear it, His guidance is always for our good. Looking back, I'm glad Greg didn't get out of the truck. Honestly, I didn't want him to. And I'm even more grateful that God doesn't give up on stubborn people like me.
