When to Hold’em and When to Fold’em

Kenny Rogers made a classic out of a song about an old gambling man who passed along this advice: “You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run.”  I am not a gambler but in my life one of the big challenges is dealing with change. What should be left behind, discarded? What should be preserved? When is the right time to shift priorities? What must be protected at all costs?

Change is constant and its pace is blinding in 2014. Skills must be refined all the time. The world that I live in today operates very differently from the one I knew in 1980!  A cellphone in my pocket keeps me in contact all the time, every day.  The computer on which I am typing these words allows me to take my office with me wherever I go- which is both a blessing and a curse.  If I am not diligent to guard my time, I can be ‘at work’ all the time.  Social media keeps us connected with friends, near and far.  It also can divert us from deep relationships in the real world!

Three centuries ago a little sect of Christians decided to reject all change. Now, we go as tourists to look on the quaint lifestyle of the Amish. Their motives may be good, but if we all adopted their methods, would the world actually be a better place – without modern medical practices, without scientific discovery?  Some Christians today are similar to the Amish. They want to return to some idealized era in a vain attempt to reclaim the supposed glories of that time.

Others are committed to revolution. They believe the answer to a vital Christian experience is to throw away all the present forms of spiritual life.  Church, who needs it? World missions, a relic of a by-gone era? Ministries that focus on children, youth, or other special groups, discard them?

Individual Christians take similar paths in their spiritual lives.  Some settle and reject innovation and as result grow stale, often losing the radiant faith they once knew. Others chase all things new, endlessly restless, moving from church to church, from pastor to teacher – trying to find the next new wave, living on the excitement.

Jesus urges us to keep a tight grip on the Gospel. Our salvation from sin, God’s gift given to us freely through the Son, is a treasure that we must never discard. "Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you." (Revelation 3:3, NIV)  "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." (Revelation 3:11, NIV)  We must return, again and again, to the Cross where our sins were removed.  The Lord Himself told us to gather at His Table, celebrating with Cup and Bread.  “On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”  (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

We must treasure His Word. Jesus said "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:35, NIV)  The truth of God’s revelation never becomes out-dated.  "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." (Psalm 119:89, NIV)  "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”(Isaiah 40:8, NIV)

The Holy Spirit who lives in us will guide us, keep us, and give us insight to know how to live today. Relevance is not our primary goal.  If we desire to be relevant, we will almost certainly throw away precious gifts of God, valuing the approval of people over His will.  Truth is what we love.  In the same breath, we remind ourselves that while tradition is valued, it is not the same as God’s Truth! 

God, give us the true wisdom to know when to hold’em and when to fold’em! 

________

Holy words, long preserved,

For our walk in this world.

They resound with God's own heart,

O let the ancient words impart.

Words of life, words of hope,

Give us strength, help us cope.

In this world, where'er we roam,

Ancient words will guide us home.

Ancient words - ever true -

Changing me, changing you.

We have come, with open hearts,

O let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our faith,

Handed down to this age,

Came to us through sacrifice,

O heed the faithful words of Christ.

We have come with open hearts,

O let the ancient words impart.

Ancient Words

Lynn DeShazo

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