James 3.13
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.”
The Lord calls us to be wise in the way we live and work, thereby displaying our “good conduct” and our “works.” The wisdom that scripture calls for, which is emphasized in this passage in James, includes “meekness” (Greek prautes), which means being calm, self-controlled, and focused, especially in response to challenging and difficult situations.
That is a powerful way to live your life: Calm, self-controlled, focused, and wise. It is the way of the kingdom of God. The way of Christ.
There is an opposite way to go about life: Anxious, impulsive, distracted, and foolish. That is the way of the kingdom of darkness. The way of the Enemy.
Before we dig into this incredibly important topic, let’s be reminded that the Christian life is lived in the rough-and-tumble, never-ending situations and challenges of the real world. When I study and teach the bible, I continually think about the Christian people who are reading or listening to the messages.
The single mom trying to hold down a job while raising two kids. The worker on the shop floor. The college student. The young couple with a toddler. The soccer coach. The stay-at-home mom. The fifth grade teacher. The truck driver. The retiree. The guy who just got laid off. The manager of the department. The CEO.
Given what scripture says, what are we supposed to do in response to our every day life? How are we supposed to apply the principles of the word of God to the very real events and situations we face in our life?
E + R = O
Event + Response = Outcome
This is why The R Factor is so helpful. E+R=O provides a simple but powerful system for the application of scripture to any situation you face. The central message of The R Factor is fundamentally biblical: We don’t control the Events of life, but we are responsible for how we choose to Respond.
The most effective responses are discipline-driven; which means intentional, on-purpose, and skillful. This is the nature of the world that God has created, and he calls us to respond with wisdom. God calls us to “Manage the R.”
The least effective responses are default-driven; which means impulsive, on-autopilot, and resistant. When Christians operate on default they get hijacked by the power of impulse, caught in the gravitational pull of old habits, or stuck in the ruts and routines of the comfort zone. This is the old nature.
When Christians operate with discipline they manifest the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Simply put, they are more effective: They work smarter, team better, learn faster, communicate more clearly, and are more resilient. This is our new nature in Christ.
It is always your choice how to respond. You make the choice to follow God’s path, or to drift off-path. You make the choice to trust God and obey his word, or to be wise in your own eyes. You make the choice to live according to your new nature and be discipline-driven, or to live according to your old nature and be default-driven.
Every day you make decisions about how to respond to the situations and circumstances you experience. The choices you make are the most powerful factor in your journey through life.
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24.14-15)
