CHAPTER 28: THE TEMPTATION OF NOT DOING THE LIST 2025
We all know the list, even before the list was given to us, we knew. The knowledge of not doing what needs to be done with our finances, health, family, business. We knew. Still we asked ourselves, what to do. People ask God all day long, “what do you want me to do?” Those people have a list, or had a list. God’s list is Divine, many don’t do it and lose it. Over the years I’ve talk about four headless horseman, demons I imagine, who want my head because they don’t have one. because they want your head. I’ve named them. Alcohol, drugs, bad relationships and gambling. Ride with one, two or all of them. The gambler runs the gang. A person gambles with another drink, another pill, hanging out with the wrong people, until finally the fun is over. Enjoying arrogance, stupid and all of the fun attributes associated with the horseman will, in the end, be the end. Let me talk about risking the list, losing the list. A divine list forfeited for failing to respect what has been offered in the list.
I have a story of young man in college, a brilliant math major. He got mad one day. After studying six months for a very competitive final exam, a test that would definitely cement his future, he found that the test would be only one question, six minutes to accomplish. He was furious, that anyone could answer that question and become his equal academically. He decided to rebel and became disrespectful in the test classroom, becoming an entertainer rather than a competent student. The question was asked.
Question: Show how it is possible to determine the height of a tall building with the use of a barometer. This is a mathematical question and a very extreme equation, one of which he was quite capable of answering correctly. The professor said, you have six minutes. In a moment of defiance, this young student lashed out, stating he did not need six minutes, he could answer correctly outright in front of the whole class because no one could possibly be as brilliant. He rudely spoke out on this very important exam day and gave the following unauthorized answers.
1st answer given: take the barometer to the top of the building, tie a rope to it, drop the barometer to the bottom and drop it to the sidewalk and measure the rope. The class laughed and applauded. He then said, or perhaps, you could simply go to the basement of the building and ask the maintenance manager the height of the building. The class applauded. In the coming days he was voted most entertaining student in college. However, the list that God had prepared for him, was forfeited. He did not receive his scholarship, failed the test with a zero, the job opportunity offered from the defense department was revoked. He graduated most entertaining student, his piers went on to achieve tremendously powerful jobs. He was left behind. He never recovered. It’s been 26 years.
All of us have a list. The road is narrow to success, both in this lifetime and to achieve salvation after this lifetime. To edit the list is a natural thought, especially when not able to master the list given. Picking eight out of ten points to do today. Choosing to do what I like, and leaving what I don’t like. Hiring someone to do things because I don’t understand and don’t want to appear stupid.
I got a letter from a client who quit years ago. I keep it as a screen saver. After a grueling amount of time teaching, the client had learned nothing and continued to fight against the information as did all top level employees. Finally, as the letter read, “we have decided to cut ties with the Rettig Corporation and move to a more legitimate accounting firm, one that is much more competent and enjoyable.”
Clearly, they did not like the list. Nor did they enjoy what the list the Lord had placed in their lives. Here is a caption from a text I received years later. “I am closing the doors today and I found this caption in my desk, “God’s list is not convenient. Inconvenient is a much better task master than failure. It is a note sent to me by you. My children have found other jobs, my wife is gone and my business is closing today, I’m sorry I didn’t see, I wish I had. …, Kenny.”
The temptation of Not Doing the List is biblical and it is inspired by the devil himself.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
To ride with any of the horseman would eventually end is catastrophic failure. Why? At face value their names are enough to explain, but the tools of the horseman are crucial. Arrogance, stubborn, rebellious, the promise of fun times, all tools that look so inviting and they are. People try them on all the time, but you can’t have God’s list and run with the horseman, one must choose.
Bad behavior, rebellious nature comes with crowds cheering and friends, supporters, standing for the one who will not yield. Many will scoff at direction, correctness, laughing arrogantly at the list. A list made for you personally, not for them. A list made before time itself by the creator of the universe. Hang out with the wrong people, ride with the horseman and pay the price. At the end of the ride, there are no cheering crowds, personal accolades or even anymore opportunity, rather one is left alone with catastrophic failure.
The list is gone. There are those who say, “why did God do this to me, I’m a good person.” God didn’t do anything. If God gives me an umbrella and I don’t use it in the rain, whose fault is it when I get drenched?
James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
—Romans 1:21b And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.”
Luke 12:47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
Chapter 28, is about the temptation not to do the list, to disobey, disregard and proceed with what feels good, rather than just doing. Remember the list is not a feel good list, it is a do good list.
John 13:17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
A divine gift, given by a divine God, to a very sinful, unworthy me, and maybe, you. You might say, “well, this list isn’t for me, it can’t be, I don’t like it.” I can’t say either way. I can however note that whatever is happening either could or could not be created by you or me. In my life, I best pay attention to amazing things that happen that are not within my control. I’ve heard it said, ‘that God never gives a person more than they can handle. Not true. He gives everything I can’t handle, and I do anyway, that’s how I know it’s God, not me.
Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
I have one of two choices, “be what God created or what I created.” All of us need to get back to the old ways and stop bucking the system.
KJ21 Thus saith the Lord: “Stand ye in the highways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk therein.’
Temptation is the obstacle. Distractions, division, dissension, disorder, disobedience, dishonor, disregard, disdain, disturbance and stupid get in the way of God’s greatest plan for me and you. One can always find a horseman to agree and support destructive choices. Remember it’s not a feel good list, it’s a do good list.
James 1:14-15 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
Either I do the hard line items or I do something different. Different, I have found, is a waste of time.
1 Kings 18:21, where the prophet Elijah asks, “How long will you waver between two opinions?”.
WHAT IS THE LIST, RECAP LAST WEEK’S 29:
Absolutely everything that needs to be done on your watch, tasks, responsibilities et all, done this day, solutions, transitions, updates, deliveries, information retrieval, personal and business items, financials, produce, deliver, collect monies, quality control, peace maker, living correctly, margins, read the Bible, know your Jesus, be aware of an enemy that will surely disgrace you, rely on Faith and the protection of God, the discernment of the Holy Spirit starting immediately fight yourself to overcome you, get it done, God’s testimony of you, direction and correction, learning discernment, true fellowship. All of it impossible, without God, all in one day, everyday.
Romans 7:19-20 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
“The Holy Spirit dwells within the believer, and makes intercession for him, according to the will of God. This, God’s Holy Spirit is directing each believer, according to a predetermined and definite, defined plan.” Dr. D. Martin Lloyd Jones
I can make my own list, and it’ll sound very important when I tell people about it. It might be a list I see somebody else doing, or one I’ve seen on television, read in a book, it could be any outside influences that cause me to change the course of what God has given me. Is it okay? You decide. Doing new things when the old things have not been tended to correctly. Perhaps the old things are boring, not fun, too hard, whatever the case, people make new lists. Here’s the difference I ask myself. God’s list is divine, I could never make that list. My life is made up of two things. Things I had something to do with, things only God could do.
Miracles in my life are of God, not me. If I can’t seem to make the miracle work out, do I discard it?
Think about it, did this bible leadership study happen because any of us put it together? Are any of us capable of putting together this Wednesday meeting? Are any of us capable of introducing each other to corporate turnaround with God? If we don’t like this one, should we call another Wednesday morning leadership company? Think about the audacity that we have with God when He blesses us with direction and then we decide, on a “better” idea, this one isn’t any fun.
Or you can just do the list. Take care of the lessons given, do the work, and be glad for it. His list is impossible. However, all things are possible with God. Hitchhike a ride on the Highway of Holiness. Isaiah 35:8.
Be Delivered from the Hands of Fate, ..into the Hands of Destiny!
Psalm 139 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your
hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
And yet He gives it to us anyway. He wants you to win. He’ll show you better than your best. Chapter 28, The Temptation of Not Doing the List, 2025. The temptation is always there. Who cares about the reason, the choice in the end yields the same. A list that God didn’t make and a ride into the night with the horseman.
There is really only one reason to do the list…
Luke 6:46 Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?
Good reason, right?
Amen.
