This is defined as a “lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.”

Often, we think of this in negative terms. Someone who is naïve is a person who lacks something. They don’t have the knowledge that others possess. 

The truth is some things in life are not worth knowing. When Eve was tempted in the garden, the serpent said, “You will become like God, knowing good and evil.” Unfortunately, the only knowledge humanity gained was the experience of evil. 

There are some things in life you do not want to know. 

The pain of loss, the heartbreak of lost love, the shame of sin, and the guilt of a wrong decision are just a few things God is trying to keep us from experiencing.

People may look at Christians and call them naïve. I am quite fine with that. There is a blessing in not knowing some things. 

I heard a person complain about how there were so many people they did not know at Church. Their solution was to have an event or program where everyone could get together. Then I reminded them that they were AT a fellowship event when they said this. They responded, “Well, I already know these people; I want to know some new people.” 

While I appreciate the sentiment behind the statement, there are also flaws.

First, whenever we have activities or lunches for people to come and meet new people, the new people rarely attend. When they finally decide to come, there is a good chance they will encounter the long-time members sitting with each other and visiting. People usually choose familiar friends when they have a choice.

Second, I have been metaphorically shouting this from the pulpit for almost 30 years of ministry. It is okay not to know everyone in Church. The goal has never been for people to come and get to know everyone. Instead, the hope is that each person will develop somewhere between one and ten people they connect with on a deeper level. A few close friends are better than a mass of acquaintances. 

The only way for the Church to reach more people is for Christians to know fewer people. That sounds wrong and ungodly, but it is true. Knowing a few people intimately is healthier than numerous shallow relationships. This will also allow the Church to keep growing beyond the number of people everyone can know, which is 150-200.

Everyone needs to know someone, but no one needs to know everyone. Having a few people that are unknown to you is actually a good thing for a Church community. 

One type is impersonal. This is when you thank someone for their service. You are happy about what they do and want them to know it. “Thanks for being such a great teacher” is a nice phrase to hear.

The other type is personal. This is when you thank someone for their character. You are glad they are a part of your life and want them to feel special. “Thanks for being a friend” is a wonderful phrase to hear.

Just be clear. The two are not the same.

This Thanksgiving and Christmas season will be a great time to thank the people in your life for how they interact with you. Ask yourself, “Do I want them to know I appreciate their work or do I want them to feel special?”

Failing to understand the distinction will lead to confusion for one of you.

Whenever you notice something positive that someone does, take the time to recognize it.

Suppose your spouse lies their phone down and engages you in a conversation that fills your soul. Be sure to specifically tell them how meaningful that was to you. If a coworker goes above and beyond the call of duty and helps you with a task, take the time to write a note telling them how much you appreciate their work. If your parent buys you a meaningful gift, offer a heartfelt thank you. When a friend adjusts their plans to be involved in your activity and makes you feel special, let them know how much that means to you.

That which gets recognized gets repeated.

Often it is easier to focus on the negative and see the glass as half empty. These people could have done more or better. Rather than noticing all the places where someone let you down, find the one place where they connected with your soul.

Reinforce joy-producing events by recognizing that they happened. This is a big step toward making them occur repeatedly.

I am a notetaker. 

I have lists on my computer, post-it notes on my desk, and handwritten notebooks full of ideas. 

My mind is usually so packed with information that if I do not write them down, they are quickly forgotten. This is an accurate statement about the small things I need to pick up at Walmart, and it is true of the more essential things I need to remember. Things like Biblical statements, theological thoughts, and religious concepts easily escape my mind if I do not write them down and review them regularly.

Here are the four notes that I keep with me every day.

1. I am loved by God. 
2. I am forgiven in Jesus.
3. I am not alone in this world.
4. I serve a purpose in the kingdom of God.

These things sound so simple, but whenever I forget these truths, then nothing else makes sense.

I think this is true for most people, so be sure to put them somewhere you will not forget them too.

Whenever we experience a life crisis, it is usually the result of us ignoring or neglecting something in the past. 

For example, if you do not budget your money, an unexpected bill will arrive one day, and you will be unprepared. As a result, you have a financial crisis because you neglected to evaluate your cash flow somewhere in the past. 

The flip side is also true.

What can you do today that will help you to avoid a crisis in the future?

Areas to consider are your money along with your relationships, career, health, and faith. There is a long list of things to ponder about the future outcome of your actions today.

If a crisis is the result of neglect in the past, then a blessing is the result of wise choices in the past. So what can you do today or this week that will bring benefits and blessings in your future? 

When you hear a great Bible lesson, take it to heart. If you are taught a new way to behave that aligns with Jesus’ teaching, be sure you do it first. Reading a great book about faith can help you learn how to grow as a Christian but practice the ideas in your life before sharing them with others.

One challenge in the life of faith is to preach to ourselves before we preach to others.

The first question is not, “Who do I know that could benefit from this?” Instead, the question is, “How should this change me?”

Before you seek an audience to listen to your sage advice, be sure it has penetrated your heart and transformed your life first.

One reason that some comedy works is that the person talking says something you have thought or done. They may tell a story about how stupid they acted in a situation while you think, “I have done that same thing.” Possibly they share an anecdote from their marriage and how their spouse behaved, and you immediately go, “I know precisely how he felt.”

There is great power in knowing you are not the only person to think or feel a certain way. It holds more than the ability to make us laugh. It also contains the power to bring us closer as people.

This is one of the great blessings of being in a Christian community. Whenever we share the stories of our struggles with faith, someone will say, “I thought I was the only one.” Giving a testimony of a time God provided when it seemed impossible will allow another person to think, “I am in the same situation, and maybe God can handle this for me.”

One of the great blessings of the Church is sharing the stories of how faith is working in our lives. This will allow people the joy found in knowing they are not alone.

He referred to himself as “the friendship Sherpa.”

If you are unfamiliar with a Sherpa, it is the group of native people to Nepal who are most famous for helping people climb Mount Everest. They will guide, carry gear, and support climbers to the top of the mountain. Because they have lived at such high altitudes most of their lives, they are the perfect companions for the journey of a lifetime.

The man went on to say that he found the best way to have friendships was to become the person who worked to make things happen. He planned trips for a group of people to participate in adventures. He hosted people in his home for game nights, movie nights, and dinner. He took it upon himself to initiate group activities. Over time the people who were a part of those events became his closest friends.

The lesson is easy to see. If you want strong friendships in the faith, you cannot be passive. There is a responsibility to become a friendship Sherpa and not look for someone you can use as your travel agent.

Sitting at home lamenting that you are lonely is not helping. Someone has to initiate. What if that someone is you?

I saw an interview with a champion barbeque maker. He was asked for the key to his delicious smoked meats. He responded simply, “Time and more time.”

If you are going to make high-quality barbeque, you cannot be in a rush. It is not something that is created in the microwave. It requires brines and rubs and waiting. Cooking the meat “slow and low” are the keys to a great taste. It takes time and more time to make it all happen.

The same principle is true for most things. Great things take time. There needs to be a plan, gathering the right ingredients, putting things together, and then allowing the process to work slowly.

This is true in most spiritual matters too. You cannot become a fully devoted follower of Jesus with one decision. It starts with a choice that leads to learning, changing, growing, failing, being forgiven, and transformation.

You may not be happy with your spiritual life right now, but keep doing the right things each day. Even a little prayer, Bible reading, Christian fellowship, and learning will keep you moving in the right direction. The goal is to live for Jesus completely, which takes time and more time.