Monday Memo 343: Is Failure Biblical?

I just got home from Nigeria and before I unpack, I want to write this week's Memo.  I had a great week in Nigeria where I met new friends and family who persevered with my laryngitis the last two days of our conference. Yet things went well and below you will see the first picture I have ever put in a Monday Memo.

I had some failures this week as we prepare for Celebrate a Failure Week starting April 27.  I had a bid for some training, which I thought was a pretty sure thing, postponed and I had a grant proposal turned down. I failed to get all the writing done this week I had planned and some physical challenges limited my effectiveness in Nigeria.  All in all, it was a very good week!  How many failures did you have this past week?  Probably not near enough for you to be a success.

So last week I answered the question of whether or not failure is spiritual.  I came to the conclusion that it is. This week I ask if failure is biblical.  For the answer to that question, you must read on -- but I think you have a hint as to what the answer is.  Let's take a look.

BIBLE FAILURES

I  could think of a number of prominent failures in the Bible.  Here are some.  Feel free to write and add your own.

1. Abraham's decision to have a son through Hagar (see Genesis 16).
2. Moses' failure to circumcise his son, which almost cost him his life (see Exodus 4:24-26).
3. David's attempt to move the ark without following directions for doing so (see 1 Chronicles 13).
4. Peter attempting to walk on the water and sinking (see Matthew 14:29-31).
5. Peter's denial that he knew Jesus (see Mark 14:71-72).
6. Paul's sermon in Athens, which was technically brilliant but lacked results (see Acts 17)
7. Peter's hypocrisy in turning away from the Gentiles when the Jews arrived in Galatia (see Galatians 2:12-14).

Obviously there are a lot of accounts of failure in the  Bible because the Bible has a lot of stories about people, and people and failure go hand in hand.  Yet perhaps the most powerful failure story of all is the one that involved David and Bathsheba.

THE SECOND SON

I assume you are familiar with this story.  If not, you can read about it in 2 Samuel 11 and 12.  Bathsheba became pregnant by David while she was still Uriah's wife, so David had Uriah killed in battle. When all this came to light, the Lord took the life of David and Bathsheba's baby boy.  What a failure!  What a disgrace for the king and his legacy! 

Yet David had taken Bathsheba as his wife and she got pregnant again.  Now surely this child would also be under God's judgment. Surely the fate of this child would be like that of the first one.  At least, that's what human wisdom would dictate.  That, however, is not what happened. 

She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah [which means loved of the Lord] (2 Samuel 12:24-25). 

Does this mean that the Lord condoned what David did?  Absolutely not!  Does this mean that you can go ahead and fail, assured that the Lord will eventually work everything out?  Absolutely not!  What does it mean then?

It means that God can bring something good out of any situation in which we have faith.  David reacted so honorably when he was confronted with his sin, acted so nobly when the first baby died, that God had mercy.  That's the point of celebrating failure.  God is merciful!  Failure is never the end, but very often the means to a new beginning, one that is more glorious than anyone could have hoped for.  In our eyes, failure is terminal.  From God's perspective, it's a chance to learn more about ourselves and about Him. Only God could allow one of the world's wisest rulers to come from a union so marred by failure and sin.

So what's the answer?  Is failure biblical?  I don't know if it's biblical, but it sure is in the Bible.  And if it's there, I know it will be present and relevant in the here and now.  So plan the party!  Get the decorations ready.  The week is fast approaching when we will celebrate failure, or perhaps I should say when we celebrate God's goodness and mercy.  Armed with the confidence that God has been and is with us, celebrating failure will prepare us to attempt new ventures and learn new lessons that will equip us for the ultimate success that God wants us to enjoy.

    Feel free to add your comments to this entry on the site where it is posted. If you would like to read more about the topic of failure and Celebrate a Failure week, you can read past Monday Memos on the topic.

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Below is a picture of me wearing the gift that the board of trustees gave me when I was at the Assemblies of God church in Kaduna, NIgeria last week.  I asked if this suit made me a chief, but they assured me it did not.  If you can't tell which one is me, I'm the tallest one in the group :-)  The man to my right in the picture is Pastor Paul Adim and on the far left is my publisher and sponsor for the trip, Edwin Anya.  The man in the rose-colored suit is the assistant pastor, Emmanuel Babah, who took great care of me all week. My thanks to all the leaders and the church for a great visit to northern Nigeria.

Comments

[David]

The Top 10 Distinctions
between God and Religion.

Distinction 10
God is joyful- Religion is painful

Distinction 9
God disciplines- Religion punishes

Distinction 8
God is more heart than head- Religion is head than heart

Distinction 7
God embraces diversity- Religion demands conformity

Distinction 6
God seeks to serve- Religion seeks to be served

Distinction 5
God is forgiving- Religion is Condemning

Distinction 4
God has friends- Religion has followers

Distinction 3
God is transformational- Religion is transactional

Distinction 2
God is freedom- Religion is a prison

Distinction 1
God is eternal- Religion is temporary

[Air Jordan]

As soon as one is unhappy one becomes moral.

[bnerbhooni]

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