Do Nothing from Selfish Ambition

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3

Mother Teresa once said, “Whenever there is an absence of peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Do you live throughout your day thinking about “belonging to each other”? What would happen if you did? What would happen if you woke up today and literally lived on purpose towards the betterment of someone else? From Phil Jackson at Red Letter Christians

You’re Not Winning

I see two ways you can read this headline: Wow, you’re right I’m not or You’re crazy, I’m killin’ it.

To be clear, I’m not talking about sports or things that actually are competitive. I’m talking about life and of the two reactions above the first is the honest one and the second is a cover up. Deep down there’s a part of each of us that feels like we’re losing, maybe not always but certainly at times. The saddest thing about this is that we’re doing this to each other. This world has a way of pitting us against each other under the illusion that if I can prove I’m better than you or at least convince others I am, then maybe I’ll start to believe it myself and If I really dominate, it may even come true.

The truth is, you’re not winning but the great news is you’re not losing. Life is not a competition, it’s a collaboration. We have nothing to lose by lifting people up. Caring, supporting and valuing others is infinitely more fulfilling than spinning our wheels trying to be superior. If you want to feel great about yourself today, make someone else feel especially loved.

Who’s Watching?

Religion is what you do for God that everyone can see. Faith (trust) is how you live with God when no one is watching or keeping score.

Love Follow Up

Love is a choice, it must be freely pursued. Love is also selfless; it does not seek its own. Therefore, how and why are much more relevant to our conversation on love and obligation than what or when. I guess it doesn’t matter what we call it: duty, obligation or even expectation as long as the motivation is love. I freely choose to love and am willing to take whatever may come with it. Lastly we can’t forget the sacrificial aspect of true love, choosing to surrender.

What’s Best?

What’s best isn’t the same as what’s best for me.

Help is on Its Way

These Little River Band lyrics really spoke to me today:

Hang on, help is on its way
I’ll be there as fast as I can
Hang on, a tiny voice did say
From somewhere deep inside the inner man

Don’t you forget Who’ll take care of you
It don’t matter what you do
Form a duet, let Him sing melody
You’ll provide the harmony

I want my life to be a duet and sometimes a chorus but please never a solo Lord.

Two Views

One way of approaching life is to assume that no one else is watching out for your best interest. Unless you take what you need you will do without. Another way of looking at things is that you have a God that loves and cares for you and promises to provide for all of your needs. We’re faced with these two views throughout each and every day and the one we choose in a given moment directly affects all involved. Are we going to live in doubt looking out for ourselves or are we going to trust and be part of providing for others?

Couldn’t He Tell Me?

Hearing God’s voice should never be an excuse to put ourselves between He and someone else. We should also never allow people to put us there. The intimate, one of a kind relationship God wants with us is also what He wants with everyone so why would we want to hinder that by getting in the way. We are called to encourage others towards Him. If we are given a Word for someone we need to be extremely careful in how we present it and ask them to seek Him in order to hear it for themselves.

One point of clarification, the “Word” we are talking about is a specific thought or action relating to a unique situation in someone’s life. This is not the same as Biblical wisdom that is always applicable. It’s always okay for us to share from The Word.

Reservations

If you have reservations about hearing from God as a result of other’s overuse of “God told me” or for any other reason for that matter, please don’t dismiss the possibility because of someone’s attempts at manipulation. God has been misquoted since the Garden of Eden. There will always be people that use Him and His Word to get their own way. Don’t let them discourage you from seeking to hear His voice. There’s nothing better. His love for you would not be complete if there wasn’t two-way interaction. So don’t quit, He has much to tell you.

Filled

As we’ve been exploring what a Christ filled life might look like we’ve asked ourselves some pretty tough questions for the purpose of exposing our selfishness, as this is the biggest hindrance to the life God wants for us. When we are at the center of our world, when everything is about and for us, the result is a life with a lot of worthless filler. If we can recognize this and admit our barrenness we make room for God to fill the spot in us that He intended from the start.