Most Prefer Short Meetings But Don’t like Short Circuits

This is a word that needs context to understand what it means. It is usually an adjective of contrast. You can be tall or short, or something can be long or short. Obviously life is short, at least in relation to the overall span of time and eternity. Emotions can also be short. Someone is said to have a short fuse if they are easily angered. Having a short circuit can be dangerous but a short answer can be a blessing if it is well said.

Shortness can relate to breath, finances and even investing. To be short of cash is usually not a good situation for our inflationary price increases. You can short stocks and make a profit or take a substantial loss.

Being short can often mean “lacking.” Romans 3:23 says we are lacking. It is best to read that verse in context. Our good works are lacking because they come from prideful self-confidence. Our target for thinking, living and responding is to be focused on “the glory of God” and not our own glory.

Romans 3:20-25 “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” (ESV)

Falling Short Can Be Fixed

Here are some examples from Proverbs and the book of James.

Proverbs 15:21 (ESV) states, “Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.” Your choices can impact the walk of life. If you seek understanding and wisdom, what is lacking can be corrected.

James 1:2-4 (ESV) “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” You can be perfect and complete if you understand God’s work in this world and in your life.

If you are short on the wisdom scale, there is a God-centric solution as well: James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Adjective or Verb or Noun?

We generally think of “short” as an adjective. We may like a short story, short hair, a short rope, or a short meeting.

For investors, “short” can be a verb. For example, I could “short” some stocks. Shorting a stock means you’re betting its price will go down. If you borrow the shares, sell them at the current price, then later buy them back cheaper and return them. Your profit is the difference. If the stock goes up instead, you lose money — and the loss can be very large.”

Finally, while most of my investments are “LONG” there are many options positions that are “SHORT.” The short investments. A “short” is a covered call option contract or a cash covered put option contract. There are wonderful opportunities in the world of the short.

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

Followers of Jesus are people of faith that have works aligned with their faith. James recognized this in the first century and it is still true today.

Faith Without Works Is Dead. It is lacking if you see someone lacking and take no action. “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:14-17

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.