Recent research shows that over 75% of college students admit cheating in high school, up from 20% in 1950. Why the increase? Is it possible we have taught them that “failure is not an option.” Several years ago, I had a surge of high school seniors coming in to my counseling office—the presenting problem was anxiety, and the common theme was fear of failure.
Do you know that failure is built into God’s plan of redemption? The Bible is replete with leaders who failed and recovered—Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Peter. Cheating may be as old as Adam, but in 2012, it seems epidemic. People don't cheat just to win; they cheat to avoid failure. And without knowing God's grace, failure is not an option. But for those of us who have failed and recovered (many times!), we know the secret of success is found in God's unconditional love and acceptance.
Good morning Greg,
ReplyDeleteThough it is most visible in sports, cheating in any area of life, in order to win, is all too common. It is evident from race drivers who say, "if you ain't cheating, you're not trying to win" and businessmen who say, "If it ain't in writing, it don't matter" (as if their word does not matter). There was a survey done by a psychology magazine a few of decades ago, when media and endorsements were just beginning to flex their clout. The magazine asked world class athletes if the athletes would take a drug if it enhanced their performance such that it would put them at the top of their field for a short time, but take away 10 years at the end of their life. What surprised me was that the response was 100% podsitive! What surprised me even more was that when the question was shared in a Sunday school class, the athletes in the class also responded with a "yes" answer to the question. No one is immune from a performance based esteem assessment.
Though the world assesses value based on performance (Hollywood says that you are only as good as your last movie), I am glad that God has a different standard. It is not who we are or what we have done. It is whose we are and what God has done that matters.
Am I ever glad and grateful that I am worthy because it is God who created me. He is the one who knows me best AND loves me most; failures and all.
Godspeed! Larry Q
This is so good, Larry. Thanks for sharing with us. Without an eternal perspective, all that's left is winning now. I wrote in some detail about my own failures and what God taught me in my book "Are you dying to live the abundant life?" I really think most people don't understand how much God loves making our failures His successes!!
ReplyDeleteblessings, Greg