Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
July 24, 2012

“Fire-Proof Your Life”
“Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” – Proverbs 6:27

There was a great movie out a couple of years ago starring Kirk Cameron, an actor made famous as a child for his role in the television series, “Growing Pains.” The name of the movie was “Fireproof.” In the movie Cameron plays Captain Caleb Holt, a firefighter whose biggest problem is not fighting fires and saving lives but rather, saving his marriage.
Caleb was spending more time and attention on his career, saving money for a new boat and spending time on the internet, looking at things that he should not have been. He was doing everything he wanted to do and not what he should have been doing and that was showing attention to his wife Catherine—who was receiving plenty of attention from a male co-worker. This all led to Catherine and Caleb evaluating their marriage to the point where it appeared it was over.
For those of us in the audience—we know right away what the problem is—and to blame it entirely on one or the other would be unfair, but still there is something to be said for how Caleb was spending his time, his money and his attention. Which is exactly the point Solomon is making. The fire (passion) in his heart was for everything except what it should have been for and it was about to burn him!
David found this out the hard way. If you remember the story we are told: “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”(2nd Samuel 11:1) The writer made an effort to point out the fact that David was not where he should have been and what followed was an event that would not only impact his life but the lives of thousands—and eventually even ours. David decided to take a stroll one night and his eyes caught a sight that became more than just a simple glance but a focus—a focus that sparked a fire that burned too hot. We all know the rest of the story.
If we go back to the previous message, we discovered what real commitment is! This verse shows us what can happen when we neglect our commitment(s) and how destructive it can be. The key is to “fireproof” our lives so that when a spark is lit we will be prepared to fight the fire that can start from it! What I liked about the movie was what would follow once Caleb recognized how important his marriage was and how much his wife meant to him. The way he would win her back was to develop ways in which he would prove to her how much she meant to him. He did everything in his power to save his marriage—giving her the attention she deserved instead of focusing just on “his needs.”
Do you want to “fire-proof” your life? Our homes should have little devices called smoke-detectors. Warning signals that alarm us when a fire breaks out to keep us safe and unharmed. God has provided His own detector, the Holy Spirit. His way of alarming us when the heat of temptation is getting a little too close. Heed the warnings! Don’t get burned! Keep your attention and focus on what God wants and needs from us to keep us safe from harm.
By the way, the movie had a great ending, unlike so many marriages. Caleb and Catherine saved their marriage. What can we be doing to keep and save our relationship with Christ—to keep the fires burning?
Pastor J. T. Carnell