With So Many "Fish in the Sea", How Many Should Someone be Baiting at Once?

[Hungry]

The Parable of Talents is a good example of God’s dispense and expectations. We’re all guilty of forgetting the challenges others face in areas of excellence or activities we do with ease. We assume they can do the same and that’s rarely the case.

I’m aware of the social conditions both face and the extremes that have arisen in turn. I don’t think abdication or emasculation is the solution. But in the same vain, it’s necessary to grasp the realities our decisions have wrought.

The remedy is uncomfortable. Christian men are best suited to walk it out. But they can’t do it alone. Women must be willing to pour liberally in their companions and reaffirm what society mocks. And men must cease to listen and operate from a heavenly perspective. Not the ideals they’ve embraced.

All believers have been given an area of influence. Labels have a habit of emphasizing differences and pecking orders. We forget the necessity of variance in His mission. If all were alphas, there would be few to serve others. The bigger jobs offering greater visibility would be more appealing than those with less glamour.

In the spirit world, higher levels bring greater hardships and warfare. We must hold the largest and least in the same esteem. The bible is filled with many men of God. All weren’t like David, Paul, or Moses. Nevertheless, He used them each according to their abilities and purpose.

One of the hallmarks of sanctification is developing contentment in our place within the structure. Labels can encourage us to seek accolades and experiences which fall outside of the parameters He has in mind.

While I acknowledge exceptional capabilities. I view them as attributes meant for kingdom work. And that doesn’t always entail being in front, a large platform, or leading the weak. Sometimes He uses them to reach others who’ve attained the same or more.

Relatability is an important concept in ministry that’s rarely addressed. We must be willing to go where He sends. Whether we’re well endowed or holding a mustard seed. The challenge for people with alpha personalities is the necessity of lowering, being last, and serving others in the manner He ordains.

When you’ve peeled back the layers and glimpse your core in its beauty and nakedness. Labels are meaningless. You grasp the canvas. See the Potter’s hands. And realize it was all a mirage. It was never on account to anything we’ve said or done. But how He forged us.

We’re less likely to take credit undeservedly. He receives it all.

Extremely well stated and I agree fully. However, man (and women) are a dichotomy. What you clearly illustrated is a spiritual perspective, as it should be. The reality is that, the flesh has been programmed for survival as individuals and as a species. Our desires for reproduction, sustenance and acceptance are as much part of our design as our connectivity to Almighty God. It is intentionally instinctive. It is the sole function of the endocrine system, which is hardwired into our brain. Understanding it’s function will give discernment to your desire but it won’t extinguish it. The scent of a woman and the shape of her curves will always cause the heart to beat faster for a man. As well, the healthy build of man and his confidence will always cause a woman to blush when he gazes into her eyes. It is when we seek to satisfy the calling of flesh over the calling of the Lord, that we are vulnerable to temptation into sin.

 

[Princesse]

Extremely well stated and I agree fully. However, man (and women) are a dichotomy. What you clearly illustrated is a spiritual perspective, as it should be. The reality is that, the flesh has been programmed for survival as individuals and as a species. Our desires for reproduction, sustenance and acceptance are as much part of our design as our connectivity to Almighty God. It is intentionally instinctive. It is the sole function of the endocrine system, which is hardwired into our brain. Understanding it’s function will give discernment to your desire but it won’t extinguish it. The scent of a woman and the shape of her curves will always cause the heart to beat faster for a man. As well, the healthy build of man and his confidence will always cause a woman to blush when he gazes into her eyes. It is when we seek to satisfy the calling of flesh over the calling of the Lord, that we are vulnerable to temptation into sin.

We must consider the template of our design in light of our encounters in the matrix. Those that honor our makeup will move us closer to its display than experiences which contradict or refute its truths. We can’t set aside the nuances of personality and weaknesses which leave us subject to failings and temptations in some areas more than most.

Nature and nurture have equal weight. Those with a higher propensity for self-control and denial fare better in subjugating some challenges more than others. But they fall prey to other difficulties which may not befall the rest.

Thus, a person may have the tools to accomplish great feats of success but struggle with pride and greed as a result of their aptitude. Another may find lust is a stronghold but never succumbs to idolatry.

It isn’t a question of satisfying the calling of flesh. It’s the necessity of playing offense against your weaknesses and environment. Obedience is easy when your default is yes and you aren’t swimming upstream. It is another matter when your mind and heart lean in a different direction from the one He set.

Believers will always have both in play. We’ll see victory in areas of agreement and the necessity of effort and self-denial in others. Astute persons will notice a pattern in their challenges and attacks. These represent chinks in our armor that must be fortified.

Paul uses military verbiage for a reason. The war is waged through tactical means. It’s never haphazard. Reducing everything to the flesh prevents the person from reading the signs and taking appropriate measures for their defense.

 

[Hungry]

We must consider the template of our design in light of our encounters in the matrix. Those that honor our makeup will move us closer to its display than experiences which contradict or refute its truths. We can’t set aside the nuances of personality and weaknesses which leave us subject to failings and temptations in some areas more than most.

Nature and nurture have equal weight. Those with a higher propensity for self-control and denial fare better in subjugating some challenges more than others. But they fall prey to other difficulties which may not befall the rest.

Thus, a person may have the tools to accomplish great feats of success but struggle with pride and greed as a result of their aptitude. Another may find lust is a stronghold but never succumbs to idolatry.

It isn’t a question of satisfying the calling of flesh. It’s the necessity of playing offense against your weaknesses and environment. Obedience is easy when your default is yes and you aren’t swimming upstream. It is another matter when your mind and heart lean in a different direction from the one He set.

Believers will always have both in play. We’ll see victory in areas of agreement and the necessity of effort and self-denial in others. Astute persons will notice a pattern in their challenges and attacks. These represent chinks in our armor that must be fortified.

Paul uses military verbiage for a reason. The war is waged through tactical means. It’s never haphazard. Reducing everything to the flesh prevents the person from reading the signs and taking appropriate measures for their defense.

Again there is much truth in what you are writing. Keeping in line with your military analogy, may I offer a passage from “The Art of War”? “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” -Sun Tzu.

You are absolutely correct, nature and nurture. I very much see how God created us. I liken our minds to be extremely similar to a laptop computer. When you unpackaged a new device it comes preprogrammed with an operating system. Then we decide what to download. Each new app can effect the overall performance of the device. If we were not Christian this would be all there is. Since we are you can understand the significant feature we possess, wifi capability. This enables us to go beyond the box, beyond the screen, into the internet, all over the world. We are connected with other devices and the One that connects us all. Because of this we have availability to limitless upgrade potential. However, you must download the upgrades. That’s just an analogy of my own.

That being my premise, we have control. Understanding that, yes, we are preprogrammed, and yes, we probably downloaded some malware effecting function, but yes, we also have a means to restore factory settings and have the ultimate IT specialist.

Returning to the battle front...it is a war. Knowing that the mind and the body are programable is a huge weapon in the arsenal. Everything is connected, the mind, the body and the spirit. Knowing your enemy, is knowing yourself. Understanding why you crave, lust or attack, is key to fixing the problem.

 

[Belka]

@seoulsearch

Hey sister,

This is such an interesting thread, thanks for creating it! I love the way your mind works and how you word things.

This is also a really tough topic, because there are so many different ways one could about it all (as you know).

I myself am questioning things, and pondering, because I have heard people say it's best to wait on the Lord and just do ministry and the right person will come along at the right time, without our doing anything (but serving the Lord in some way). But then there are people saying that we DO need to do something, and that there's nothing wrong with dating, and even that it's a good thing. Because, like you said, it seems that for some people, who choose to "wait on the Lord", the waiting never ends, and they end up old and single and never marry... So, what are we to do?

Honestly, at this point, it's really hard for me to take a side. I can see why people date / register on dating websites, etc. Because, if you don't have an active social life, how are you going to meet someone...? Unless one goes to a very big church, or does mission trips, and even then... Realistically speaking, we see the same people every day of our life (or almost). Unless we move or travel a lot.

On the other hand... "dating" doesn't seem very biblical at all. So it's a really tough one.

Personally, I don't like the aspect of "dating" and especially online dating (you never really know someone until you've met them). But as I am also growing older and trying to navigate this thing called life, I cannot say with certainty that I'll never do it. Because there are only so many people around me who could "fit the bill", so to speak, and perhaps there's someone out there for me who lives in an entirely different area. (I've always had the impression that I would end up with a foreigner, anyway.)

I don't like this idea of "shopping" for a potential partner / spouse, but I can also see how without that, it becomes difficult to meet new people and potentially the right person.

All this to say... I can see both sides of the coin and it's hard to choose one side or the other at this point in my life.

May the Lord help us with all this.

 

[Princesse]

Again there is much truth in what you are writing. Keeping in line with your military analogy, may I offer a passage from “The Art of War”? “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” -Sun Tzu.

You are absolutely correct, nature and nurture. I very much see how God created us. I liken our minds to be extremely similar to a laptop computer. When you unpackaged a new device it comes preprogrammed with an operating system. Then we decide what to download. Each new app can effect the overall performance of the device. If we were not Christian this would be all there is. Since we are you can understand the significant feature we possess, wifi capability. This enables us to go beyond the box, beyond the screen, into the internet, all over the world. We are connected with other devices and the One that connects us all. Because of this we have availability to limitless upgrade potential. However, you must download the upgrades. That’s just an analogy of my own.

That being my premise, we have control. Understanding that, yes, we are preprogrammed, and yes, we probably downloaded some malware effecting function, but yes, we also have a means to restore factory settings and have the ultimate IT specialist.

Returning to the battle front...it is a war. Knowing that the mind and the body are programable is a huge weapon in the arsenal. Everything is connected, the mind, the body and the spirit. Knowing your enemy, is knowing yourself. Understanding why you crave, lust or attack, is key to fixing the problem.

Nice analogy.

No two systems are the same. Once a person wraps their mind around the truth they’ll cease to judge their neighbor or covet things they lack. You learn to stay in your lane and thrive in the place you’ve been planted. Discontent is borne from ignorance and a mind ruled by scarcity. God’s best always exceeds our imagination. Surrendering to His idea of best is key.

In respect to this subject and relating with the opposite sex, I’ll share my mantra. The words were spoken by Queen Mary to her daughter and they resonated deeply. So much so, I had to write them down. This in my mindset on matters of the heart.

“I have seen three great monarchies brought down from their failure to separate their personal indulgences from duty… While you mourn your father, you must also mourn someone else: Elizabeth Mountbatten, for she has now been replaced by another person, Elizabeth Regina. The two Elizabeths will frequently be in conflict with one another. The fact is, the crown must win — must always win.”

Queen Mary wisely articulated the challenge of duty in relation to personal connections and I share the conclusion she’s drawn. In my life, God is first and my calling is the crown. It must never be forsaken, threatened, or cast aside in deference to heart strings.

It’s impossible to find a complement if you’re oblivious to who you are, what’s lacking, and why their presence would make a difference.