Jeroham Judah Löb Pearlman ben Solomon was one of the greatest Rabbi in Russia born in Brest in 1835 and died in Minsk in 1896. While on his deathbed, people from all over lined up to pay respects and hear any wisdom the old Rabbi might share. It is said that the attending doctor asked the Rabbi if there were any last words he wanted to say. In a feeble voice, Rabbi said, “Life is an empty rain barrel.” This statement was shared with hundreds of people outside.
The statement was shared all over town until someone asked what the Rabbi meant by this simple statement. The doctor went back and apologized for disturbing the Rabbi on his deathbed and asked, “what do you mean that life is an empty rain barrel?” The old Rabbi thought for what seemed like a very long time and raised his wobbly head with a voice straining to be heard and said, “So, life is not an empty rain barrel.” It is believed that the Rabbi was trying to show that in most wisdom, there are always two sides; when one statement is very true, the opposite can also be true. The Rabbi was also trying to tell the listeners that a full rain barrel (a vessel) can no longer accept more water. So, to continue learning and progressing, people must occasionally empty themselves of unnecessary matters. This story is a twist on an old Hindu lesson: “A man must empty himself before he can fill himself.” I think all this leads to the fact that we have to have an open mind for new information to be processed. Second Timothy 2:21 suggest, “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
History books are full of stories about famous individuals that accomplished great and wonderful things. What the history book forgets and what many do not remember is the millions of regular people that took care of the countless mundane things that make up everyday life. Famous people and heroes had to have a support group that allowed them to become famous. This support group’s main objective was to provide a good life for their families and themselves. Each of us has talents we share that help build the society we live in. No person can do it all, so we must depend upon each other. Romans 12:6-8 tells us, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” We are asked to do what we do best. Many of us try to achieve the impossible and are never satisfied. If we were to stop and start accounting for each of our many blessings, we would not have time to complain about what we do not have.
The fact that we are here sharing this information means God has given us another day and allowed us the opportunity to accomplish whatever he has planned for us today. That in and by itself is another blessing. Clay Hamlin, the founder of LBCW Investments, is credited for saying, “we need to remember that it isn’t the big trees that trip us up as we walk through the forest, but the vines on the ground, the exposed roots, the low underbrush.” This statement is a good reminder that we tend to get tripped up when we look too high or too far ahead. Counting our blessings, minding our business, and doing what we do best usually keeps us out of trouble. We must also remember that we do not create or do anything without God’s help. James 1:17 states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
As men, we allow our manly pride and the curse of masculinity to give us a false idea that we do not need any help to solve our problems and to live our lives. Until we give up this ego problem, we will continue to worry about things we cannot control. Those of us who have not allowed God to carry our worries and burdens will continue to have a hard time in life. Philippians 4:6-7 should give us comfort when it states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Then Philippians 4:19 goes on to say, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Man tends to get into trouble and become weak when we try to carry on in our lives without remembering that God is with us everywhere and every day. We have no reason to stoop to these human mistakes and forget God’s hand is in all we do. When we ignore God, we allow the Devil to guide our activities, and the outcome will never be what we want. The Devil is always ready to take over anytime we allow him by moving away from God. James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Like the wisdom of the Old Rabbi from Minsk, this verse has two right sides. If all good and perfect gifts come from God, then all bad and evil gifts come when we allow the Devil into our lives. Anytime we feel weak or alone, we should remember and believe Philippians 4:8, which states, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” This should help us survive almost all situations.