[dropcap2 variation=”coffee”]C[/dropcap2]hange is one clear constant in our world. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes not, but it’s almost always stressful. It’s our challenge to find ways to adjust to the change around us.
In the Old Testament, there is a reference to the men of the Israelite tribe of Issachar: “Men who understood the times and knew what to do.”
Implied here is the idea that things were not business-as-usual. Times were changing. The men of Issachar observed this. Rather than merely going with flow, they considered how to respond.
These men were keenly aware they were a part of a larger plan, a bigger picture. They had beliefs and convictions that governed how they evaluated the change occurring around them. They were men of character and not relativistic jellyfish. “Whatever” was not a part of their mind-set.
There are times to go with the flow. They are other times when the flow will take us somewhere we don’t want to be.
Here are five lessons we can learn from the men of Issachar:
- Know what we believe and why
- Know what we’ll go to the wall for and what we won’t
- Observe what’s happening around us and in the world at large
- Consider how best to respond based on our strongest convictions
- Make sure our children and those closest to us know what our convictions are and why
Ultimately, the men of Issachar were people of action – well-considered, deliberate action based on strong convictions. Our world desperately needs men and women like this.
Here’s to understanding the times and knowing what to do…
