Care Management
On a 24-7-365 basis, our nation’s Air Traffic
Controllers monitor-manage the flow of air traffic within the
airspaces for which they are responsible. The combined radar
footprint of hundreds of control towers is so extensive that seldom
if ever does an aircraft fail to show up one or more radar screens.
It’s “game on” for a controller when a new blip (aircraft
signature) appears on screen.
Modern black-box technology enables the controller to ascertain
airspeed, compass heading, altitude, rate of climb-descent and other
valuable data. A red flag of concern is raised anytime a controller
determines that two aircraft are on flight paths that will
inevitably intersect unless altered. The potential remedy may
consist of altitude and heading adjustments for one or both of the
aircraft. The point is these radar blips represent genuine items of
concern that must be managed!
In like manner, we as God's children have spiritual
radar that runs 24-7-365. The blips that come across our screens
represent items of daily (or perhaps perennial) concern.
We might liken some to a single-engine two-seater requiring
minimum attention. Others are more like the jumbo jet (a "heavy" in
tower lingo) with a lot more people, baggage and
potential mayhem. All of these cares, however, without regard for
size and scope, must be managed in the manner our Lord prescribes.
The biblical prescription for care management is as follows: “Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time; casting all your care upon him, for he careth for
you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). Peter’s target
audience consisted of spiritual pilgrims who were suffering at the
hands of an abusive Roman government that was exacerbating the cares
of God’s people beyond those of the average citizen. Those who pay attention
can discern the rising tide of
anti-Christian sentiment in our national leadership
that is certain to ultimately and negatively impact believers in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
So, what does Peter teach us about care management? First, it’s a matter
of positioning...and we all know that position is everything (e.g.,
IN Christ or IN Adam; UNDER law or UNDER grace). The believer is
enjoined to position himself UNDER the mighty hand of God.
In a context of suffering, the mighty (Gk. kratos, explosive power)
hand of God is juxtaposed with that of Rome. Peter is assuring
readers that NO government, no matter how abusive, can EVER put
God at disadvantage when it comes to caring for his own! At the end
of the day, the mighty hand of God will always trump the heavy hand of
man!
The Greek for “humble yourselves” is tapenoo (“to make low
or level"). Humbling oneself is impossible apart from the prescribed positioning. In addition to being an imperative, it is aorist
(past) tense and passive voice. The aorist in imperative mode
signifies the need to start doing something that is not being done.
Sounds like Peter was telling them that many of their troubles were
directly attributable to bad positioning. The passive voice signifies the
need to have something done to them rather than just doing
something. Peter is saying: “Stop managing your cares in your own
strength and start positioning yourselves under the mighty hand of
the God who desires to shelter you there. Let God be God!”
I’ll be the first to admit that this is easier said than done! So
why do it? The therefore provides the answer as it points to the
previous verse: “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
humble” (5:5). That truth clearly defines our two options: encounter God’s resistance or entertain
his grace? Is this not a no-brainer? Absolutely...and exactly the response Peter was
seeking to elicit!
Secondly, it's a matter of unloading. The imperative is modified by
a participial phrase: “casting all your care.” Care is an
all-inclusive singular. Casting is actually an aorist (past)
participle. Careth as applied to God is present tense, active voice.
Expanded translation: “Having cast your every care
and anxiety upon the
God who continuously cares for you, take your place
under his mighty hand.” There is no humbling without unloading, and
no unloading without positioning!
Casting (having cast) is more a prerequisite for
humbling than a concurrent activity. A cognizance of such non-stop care
from the Lord is what motivates the believer to cast all of his or
her “stuff” upon the Caregiver! The more “stuff” we incur, the more
we must unload. The more we unload, the more humble we become! Thus humility and prayer are inseparable! Moreover, we must
never forget that our God does not stop caring if and when we
stop casting! His paternal nature compels him to care! That’s what he does!
Thirdly, it's a matter of timing. The end game for humility is
an exalting (a raising or lifting up) of the humble in due time.
Whatever “due time” means, it clearly signifies GOD’s time on HIS
schedule! It also means that, in ALL matters pertaining to God’s
people as they endure hardships in this life, the God under whose
mighty hand they position themselves will have the FINAL WORD!
Care management consists of
a proper positioning, a consistent
unloading, and a firm reliance upon the timing of God to bring his
purposes to pass. For Elijah, due time was a death-free chariot ride to heaven.
For Joseph, it was a promotion to the second highest position in
Egypt. For Daniel, it was a case of lockjaw for a den
of lions. For Stephen, it was a vision of the Son of God standing at
the right hand of the Father in readiness to receive his spirit as
an angry mob began to pummel his body with stones. It occurs to me
that Stephen just might have been the first recipient of a standing
ovation!
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