It's all Greek to Me

September, 2005

by: Jay Underwood

On Sunday, July 31, I was given the wonderful opportunity to preach for my very first time behind the Calvary pulpit. A number of you have since come up to me asking if the “weak seminary man” I described in my opening illustration was me. Well, so you all can rest at night (because I’m sure this was causing you to lose sleep) the answer is… yes, it is me. So lest you feel like you’re all alone out there “with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties” (2 Cor 12:10) don’t worry, the pastor’s life (as I’m quickly finding out) is not always a bed of sweet smelling roses given to us while shopping on “Easy Street;” there is no “pass–go receive no hardships reward”, no “get out of troubles free card” for participating in the Lord’s work. Let me assure you that pastors go through as many trials and tribulations as the next person.

So what are we and everyone else supposed to do with this never–ending condition? That’s right, we are to trust in the Lord remembering that His grace is all–sufficient (2 Cor 12:9). Lately, Julie and I have been witnessing God’s grace first hand as we rely on Him, going through our own time of weakness. You see, I thought a nice way for me (and indirectly my family) to while away the summer months would be to take a class where they compress a years worth of Greek into 7 weeks, affectionately dubbing it “Gladiator Greek.” Well not only am I taking this hoot of a class (the room is air–conditioned at least), but my family is also subjected to it’s effects by way of my attitude after parsing verbs and translating grammar all day. Let me tell you, I’m a joy to be around… anybody like to come and fellowship at the Underwood’s this month?! This of course is the black cloud that makes everything else that doesn’t go according to my perfect plan seem so much worse.

Don’t get me wrong, nothing going on with our family is life–threatening; our weaknesses are minimal compared to some, but they are weaknesses none the less. For instance the last commercial I shot was back in November of 2004 and I’d really like to see myself on the tube again hocking the latest and greatest thing you can’t do without (believe it or not this is how the mortgage gets paid) and we’ve also been having some difficulty getting our youngest son into the school we’d like him to go to, you see there’s this matter of passing the kindergarten entrance exam not to mention the cost. I also just started this new job as Jr. High pastor (is that a blessing or a curse?!), between summer camp and VBS I found that I felt like the man who was robbed and beaten in the Good Samaritan story (ok, maybe not quite that bad), and oh, did I mention my Greek class where the instructor demands that we address him as “Maximus?”

So what are the Underwood’s to do? You got it, trust in and rely on the Lord and His perfect Word, “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong’” (2 Cor 12:9-10). Praise God for His power and strength!