I like shock value and treasure honesty. I like things that make you stop and go, "Oh, life has a point and purpose and am I trying so hard to live I forget about it?" Since I like this, I enjoy being able to provoke thought within others and cause them to think beyond themselves. Recently, I have out of the blue been asking people, "What is the most important thing in your life?" This was my 'one phrase way' of getting people to really think and share about things deeper and significant in life.
When answered honestly, myself included, the answer generally comes with some self-questioning like, "Should this really be what is most important?" Within my Christian circle especially, the answer is always along the lines of "God", or "My relationship with God" or "Sharing my faith with others" etc. etc. I have even heard, "You mean, after God" implying that God is the obvious answer and in an unintentional way, discrediting the question.
God being number one is great and many people really believe that this is the most important thing in their lives, but I would like everyone to start asking themselves another question. "If my life was studied, what would appear to be the most important thing in my life?" A personal example is I really believe and can say with full integrity that my relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life; but I need to ask myself what about my life really demonstrates and illustrates my answer - what proof and evidence do I have. If you review my daily routine and look over my life, I fear that maybe the conclusion isn't the same as what comes out my mouth. Once I have reached this level of honesty I need to ask, "What changes do I need to make to put what I need to be number one, actually number one?"
I challenge you to ask yourself the above questions and strive daily to live a life of integrity. This includes being honest to yourself because it's easiest to believe lies we create or want to be true.
"If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" - many people
Old Recife
11 years ago
4 comments:
you never asked me..
-nala- ;)
on the contrary - you and someone else were the two that caused me to sit down and create this question - so thanks for the help!
really? how so?
My faith has brought me (and a certain pastor who breaks away from stereotypes) to reading into why people do the things they do, and I keep coming to the same conclusion:
"Because the bible says to do so". The hell kind of answer is that? It sounds like someone just doesn't wanna play backgammon with Hitler when they die. Being a man of God means having a personal relationship with him.. Not putting down the people that say that or calling them hypocrites, but with a simplistic answer like that you can only infer that they really don't know Jesus, and it's sad. Horribly sad.
The most important thing is my life is helping people and lending a hand when needed. Christ has called us to love and paul stresses it extensively in first corinthians how important loving your brother/sister really is. I find an inner peace that's unattainable by any other action. I guess I do have to clarify a little bit.
People do constantly say that God is first in their life. I disagree. What does putting God first in their life really mean? Take a minute to reflect on that question because it's an extremely tough one to answer. The way I've come to interpret it is that the reason an answer like that is given is because they think it's so obvious to give God the glory, but what if at the same time they worship God to the utmost extent and then go rob someone and sacrifice a baby the next moment? God should NOT be first in your life.
God's role (to me(if you're a Christian)) should be your core; your center of life; the energy you have to get up; the heart that's pumping; your fart that is expelled; God is the bringer of everything and if you believe in him then you claim to be one with him. Not saying that you can't screw up, but if you're truly walking with the Lord you have a choice. It's kind of like playing an RPG game and having to choose between the replies: "Yes, I'll help you rebuild your house", or "To hell with that, I'm gonna go get shitcrocked". Being a follower of God isn't easy and DEFINITELY is not always being pure because sin is a constant. But we have to remember that once we have Christ living in us, our lives shouldn't revolve around Christ, they should revolve around letting Christ work through us. If we just dwelled on God all the time without letting him work through us we'd probably have a pretty extinct religion. I let Jesus take the gunner position when it comes to choosing right from wrong and when he pushes me to do something I do not hesitate. I may abstain a night to pray for clearer thought, but I let the Lord show me the way no matter what it is.
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