“…I
am with you to deliver you," says the Lord.” – Jeremiah 1:8
What troubles your life the most, the thought of losing your life or the thought of losing your lifestyle? I would say that most people don’t worry about their physical death until they are faced with some trauma that threatens their physical life. Worries about one’s lifestyle are most likely limited to people who live in developed countries. In undeveloped countries, the people have nothing and no means to ever have something. Their concerns are more about how they will eat and where they will find water to drink. There is a song by Janis Joplin that describes the attitude of many Christians:
“Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz ? My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends, So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz ? Oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV ? Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me. I wait for delivery each day until three, So oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV?”
Are you thinking, “That’s not me!” Good. The point is, examine about what is most important for you to be content? Is it the possessions and lifestyle that you have or your relationship with the Lord? Do you see God as the giver of whatever you want or the giver of all that you need? When we talk with people who have lost all of their possessions in a natural disaster, the thing that they want most to preserve or find in the midst of the rubble that was once their home are family pictures. Dr. James Dobson spoke at a Promise Keepers conference in 1993 about trashing your trophies. He said that when you are lying on your death bed, it will not be your 401K that you will be thinking about, it will be your relationships.
To have your life in proper perspective requires that you have spiritual perspective. To have spiritual perspective requires that you practice spiritual disciplines. That you seek God first for His sake and not for your sake. Do not think about what you want and then seek God, seek God with the confidence that He will give you what you need.
“Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Then love others … ” – Matthew 22:37-38
If you do that, there is no room for the love of things of the world.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” – 1 John 2:15
Out of the love for the Father will spring the love for what He loves. Let me give you a hint, it won't be a new car or a big screen TV.
What troubles your life the most, the thought of losing your life or the thought of losing your lifestyle? I would say that most people don’t worry about their physical death until they are faced with some trauma that threatens their physical life. Worries about one’s lifestyle are most likely limited to people who live in developed countries. In undeveloped countries, the people have nothing and no means to ever have something. Their concerns are more about how they will eat and where they will find water to drink. There is a song by Janis Joplin that describes the attitude of many Christians:
“Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz ? My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends, So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz ? Oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV ? Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me. I wait for delivery each day until three, So oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV?”
Are you thinking, “That’s not me!” Good. The point is, examine about what is most important for you to be content? Is it the possessions and lifestyle that you have or your relationship with the Lord? Do you see God as the giver of whatever you want or the giver of all that you need? When we talk with people who have lost all of their possessions in a natural disaster, the thing that they want most to preserve or find in the midst of the rubble that was once their home are family pictures. Dr. James Dobson spoke at a Promise Keepers conference in 1993 about trashing your trophies. He said that when you are lying on your death bed, it will not be your 401K that you will be thinking about, it will be your relationships.
To have your life in proper perspective requires that you have spiritual perspective. To have spiritual perspective requires that you practice spiritual disciplines. That you seek God first for His sake and not for your sake. Do not think about what you want and then seek God, seek God with the confidence that He will give you what you need.
“Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Then love others … ” – Matthew 22:37-38
If you do that, there is no room for the love of things of the world.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” – 1 John 2:15
Out of the love for the Father will spring the love for what He loves. Let me give you a hint, it won't be a new car or a big screen TV.
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