Me Quit?
Albert Einstein is supposed to have said, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” Whatever you may think of Dr. Einstein’s self-evaluation, his emphasis on staying in the midst of challenges and difficulties is a good focus for each of us.
Two godly men had such sharp disagreements that they parted ways, picked teammates, and went to separate ministries, but you may be surprised that these two guys were among the first missionaries in the New Testament. Paul and his good friend, Barnabas, had such strong disagreement over the readiness of young John Mark to serve with them, that Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways. Maybe you can take heart when you realize that Acts chapter 15 speaks so candidly of these differences. But Paul did not quit, nor did Barnabas, and in later writings of the New Testament, we find that they came together again in unity of purpose and effort. Even John Mark, who later wrote the gospel bearing his name, obviously redeemed himself from the reputation of “quitter” which concerned Paul so much.
Do you have a reputation of giving up? Do you quit when you should keep on? The great baseball slugger, affectionately known as Babe Ruth said, “You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.” While he was known for his homeruns, he also was known for his great many strikeouts. Don’t quit on your marriage. Don’t quit on your education. Don’t quit on your rebellious teenager. Don’t quit on your job. Be sure that before you give up on anything that is good you know that God has shown you a new direction.
Jesus gave us the Great Commission to go to the whole world with his message and with that great challenge, he gave this great promise, “I am with you always to the end of the age.” The problems will not be bigger than the presence of Jesus with us can bear.
Even if it is the temptation to give up on overcoming bad habits, (Christians often call these “hidden sins”) or the horrible pain of conquering an addiction, we have promises that are reliable. “God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. But will with the temptation make a way of escape so that you may bear up under it.”
It was Sir Winston Churchill who said to the boys at that private school, “never give up, never give up, never, never, never.” Happy “not quitting!