Jeremiah 45:4-5 – Don’t be myopic.

There is only one way to conclude from Baruch’s discouragement. He was being self-centered. Two things happen when a person is in such a situation. He first becomes inward looking, then he blames God for his doldrums.   These two things were clearly on display Baruch. First, he became inward-looking and introspective, so he complained, “Woe is me…I am weary with groaning…I  have no rest ” Then he blamed God, “The Lord has added to my pain….”

What would we counsel such a person? Take a break, take a “kit-kat”? What’s truly important in life is to identify what God is doing. When we can see where God is going with the situation, we become less consumed with ourselves.  

So in  Jeremiah 45:4-5, God reasoned with Baruch. He began by aligning Baruch’s focus.  God was telling him to take his eyes off himself and see what would soon be happening to those around him. He said to him, “Behold, what I have built I am about to tear down, and what I have planted I am about to uproot, that is, the whole land.” In short, God was telling Baruch to stop being myopic and start looking at the larger picture. His myopia was limiting the range of his sight. Isn’t this also true of us? When we are short-sighted, our perspective is very limited.   

God even asked a very disconcerting question. “Are you seeking great things for yourself?” God then added saying, “Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh….” God was virtually telling him to knock it off. How could he only think of himself when the future of the whole community hanged in a balance? This is what our short-sightedness will do to us. We only see our own little discomfort and fail to see the larger picture. Graciously, God then assured him that he would escape but, in that assurance, he was somewhat reprimanded.   

Life is about perspective. We must look at life and ministry from God's perspective and not from our limited scope. We need to stop complaining about having no branded shoes when some have no legs even to wear unbranded shoes. Learn to see the larger picture before complaining about our lack.