Thursday, September 2: If it’s not broken, don’t fix it?

A common point of view on intervention is “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!” Certainly, when we tinker with what is working smoothly, we often can put a wrench in the works. Truly though, the times are rare when we are not facing a battle on at least one front. God’s goal in us is perfection, yet His intervention in our lives is ongoing. One, small step at a time, our Lord brings us closer to His completed work in us. Each step along that way involves brokenness. Certainly, without brokenness, we cannot take that first step away from the world and toward God. When God breaks us, it is often a cause and effect scenario based on our pride, but sometimes, it has little to do with our own failures and everything to do with God’s timing and His perfect plan.


If we reflect upon the life of Job, we see that not only was he referred to as God’s most faithful servant, but Job praised the Lord. Even after his 10 children died on one day, Job continued that praise. It’s not like Job had been back sliding, or involved in idolatry. Yet the Lord carried Job to a level of brokenness that none of us ever have experienced. Joseph is another wonderful example. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph spent 13 years either in prison or serving in the household of Potiphar. Amazingly, Joseph’s faith never wavered, as he waited for God’s hand in fulfilling His promise in Joseph’s life. With a miraculous wave of His hand, the Lord lifted Joseph from prisoner to second in command of Egypt.


David is another example. As the eighth son of Jesse, David saw few opportunities to learn leadership skills. Being the youngest in his family, David constantly remained at the beck and call of his parents, as well as his older brothers. Yet God had a different plan, placing David in a role of overseeing sheep instead of people. Willing to sacrifice his own life for those sheep, David perfected his sling skills when killing a threatening bear, seemingly, in preparation for a giant named Goliath soon to join David’s path. David also succeeded in his praise to the Lord, accomplished with heartfelt words and a harp. God chose David to reign as King of Israel, though King Saul ruled in fear of David’s God-touched life. Instead of a meteoric rise to power, David first was subjected to his own brokenness, running away and hiding from the King who desired to take that life.


In order to lead, teach or love others in a godly manner, there must first be brokenness. Baptism is a symbolic act of obedience to the words of Jesus for each of us as believers, pointing to the old man dying and the new man rising up. That new man is filled with God’s will rather than the will of a sinful man. But while our brokenness might begin with that act, it certainly doesn’t end there. Our walks with the Lord are not along a flat pathway, but instead, involve many different terrains. We must be broken continuously. Otherwise, pride continues to seep into our lives, as we forget that everything we are is a gift from God.


24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:24-25

When we reflect upon our sinful pasts, we exude much more compassion for those walking in sin. Seeing the sin of others continues to break our hearts, just as it does the heart of the Lord, as we know that only He can heal them. When others feel that compassionate love, they are much more likely to hear the tale we have to tell of a God who saves, heals and restores. We run away from hardships, though in all truth, those are the times when we rely on the Lord the most. Brokenness should be a daily part of each of our lives. Because daily sin is still with us, daily repentance should be its companion.


Though Jesus died for our sins, not a bone was broken, as He did not need to be humbled. Still, He chose death, even the death of the cross. And we complain about losing a job, having our cars break down or having a friend betray us. Sometimes, our lives are going so smoothly that we lose sight of the fact that we are relying on our own power, rather than the power of God. In reality, our saying should be, “If it’s not broken, it’s not God’s!” Are you His?


11My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Job 3:11-12


17“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
18For He bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole.
Job 5:17-18