Central Truth

Trusting in anyone or anything other than Christ is always a recipe for disaster. Authentic people living for God will remain standing in the midst of life's rubble. He honors even their feeble attempts to love and serve Him. They will overcome enemies through God's power and strength by faith. 

Reflections

As I sat in my office early one morning a decade ago, God gave me these verses: "There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man." (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15)  After 15 years in corporate, God sobered me that morning, saying, "You're going to do great things here. But you won't be remembered."

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (MSDW), our parent company, was the largest World Trade Center (WTC) tenant, leasing 25 of 110 South Tower floors. Approximately 3,700 of the 50,000 "mini-city-within-a-city" complex employees worked for MSDW.

1993: Six WTC employees killed by six terrorists; businesses displaced for six months.  
2001: Six MSDW employees killed among thousands; Twin Towers displaced indefinitely. 

On September 11, emergency plans (re-engineered since the 1993 attack) guided MSDW's successful business recovery. This was one of many projects my team was working on with MSDW in New York when God gave me those verses. Little did we know the glory-less "great things" we were part of.      

The Twin Towers' architecture was unique and impressive. Built without internal columns, views across each floor remained unobstructed. Complemented by an "impenetrable" exterior, they wouldn't succumb to attack. But if you crack an exterior when the core is hollow, catastrophic rapid collapse is inevitable. 

So it is with our own wisdom. When we trust in external things to save us, once the facade is penetrated our inner worlds lie vulnerable. Human wisdom and plans fall short. In contrast, Psalm 20 is a "royal psalm" about praying to God before battle for strength and victory.  

As I sit writing this on 9/11/09, God speaks again. I'm reminded the banner of Red, White, and Blue was raised that day from Ground Zero because God's plan is wisest and His hand strongest of all. May we be grateful God's in the recovery business!

Discussion Questions

1. "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good." (Ecclesiastes 9:17-18) 
--How can we hear/apply God’s Wisdom? 

2. "But wise and good men must often content themselves with the satisfaction of having done good, or, at least, endeavored to do it, when they cannot do the good they would, nor have the praise they should." (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible, commenting on Ecclesiastes 9:13-18) 
--Are you satisfied "settling" for God's Plan and Glory instead of basking in man's credit and praise?

3. "In Christ's salvation let us rejoice; and set up our banners in the name of the Lord our God, assured that by the saving strength of his right hand we shall be conquerors over every enemy." (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible, commenting on Psalm 20)
--What is your response to God's Promises in light of your battles?