Life Lessons From My Pastor

I learn best by way of analogy.  My former pastor, Paul Bufford, was a master at conveying abstract ideas through concrete images. I am thankful for the wisdom he shared.

1. Respect your load limit.

I have a hard time saying “no,” especially to something I want to do. Pastor Paul explained that as you approach a bridge, you see a sign before it that reads “Load Limit: ____ lbs.” You can fill in the blank with the weight that particular bridge can safely hold before it starts to collapse.

Some bridges are stronger and bigger than others and can tolerate a heavier load. The important thing, he stressed, is that I recognize my personal “load limit” in life and respect it.

2.  Focus on the task before you.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am easily overwhelmed when I have many things to do. Pastor Paul gave me the example of a teller working in a bank. Back before ATM machines, people had to do their banking in person. I still remember as a child going to the bank with my father on a Saturday morning. The line would stretch across the lobby and out the door.

Pastor Paul said that what the teller had to do was to keep her head down and not look at the long line of impatient customers. All she needed to focus on was the one person standing directly in front of her. This is how you keep from becoming overwhelmed and discouraged.

3.  Grow into an oak.

I once lamented to Pastor Paul that it was taking my husband and me forever to get to the field where we could serve overseas. He said that some things, like a squash plant, grow quickly.  But if you step on them, you discover that they squash easily. Other things, like oak trees, take a long, long time to grow and mature.  But the wood of an oak tree is strong and durable, lasting centuries.

Pastor Paul advised that I be patient with the process of growth. God in His perfect timing knows when I am ready for the next season of service. Rather than hurrying like the squash, I ought to wait calmly like an oak.

4.  Recognize counterfeits.

At one point in my Christian walk, I began to study the false teachings of various cults and learn about occult practices. I thought this would help me distinguish truth from error. Instead, Pastor Paul, gave me another illustration from the world of banking. It is vitally important, of course, that a bank teller be able to recognize counterfeit bills. But how does she learn this? Not by studying various imitations, but by handling real money day after day after day.

Likewise, Pastor Paul recommended that I spend my time studying the Word of God. After handling the truth daily, I would then be able to spot a lie immediately. Besides, why give any unnecessary attention to the work of Satan? Instead, fix my eyes solely on Jesus.

5.  Keep evil in context.

The age-old problem, with which believers wrestle and unbelievers protest, is this: if God is good and all-powerful, then why does He allow evil to exist in the world? Why are there wars and famines, disease and death, child-molesters and rapists?

Of course, the world as we know it is not the way God designed it. Life in the Garden of Eden was idyllic. But when the Lord created the first man and woman in His image, He endowed them with free-will. He didn’t want a couple of robots serving him unthinkingly. God allowed Adam and Eve to choose whether or not to obey Him. Unfortunately for them and for us, they chose poorly. Human beings are the ones who messed up—and continue to mess up—the world. Sin and death were the consequences. Only when Jesus returns will the curse be reversed. Until then, we live in a fallen world—which really sucks.

Pastor Paul would be the first to tell you that he doesn’t understand everything in the Bible.  But he once shared with me an analogy that has helped him make peace with the age-old problem. When you go inside a jewelry store to buy a diamond ring, how is it displayed—against a dark background or against a light one? Of course, a precious jewel is always presented on dark velvet because the contrast highlights the beauty of the gemstone. So too, God’s priceless gift of salvation and His work of redemption through Jesus look radiant when set against the chaos and despair of our corrupt world.

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