Joshua 24:15 "But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."The statement above comes with some time... some experience... some perspective. It may sound like a Christian (or Jewish) cliche, but Joshua--who originally spoke them--spoke out of years of being battle-tested.
Is serving God (vs. serving self) really the best way to live? I've walked both sides of that road and watched thousands of others walk it too. I can't speak for anyone else but serving me has never worked very well. The problem with me is...me. When I focus on me I'm like this insatiable beast whose hunger is never satisfied. I tend to grouse and grumble about how things aren't going my way. I fuss and fume when the world doesn't align itself with my plans and priorities. What's wrong with everyone...can't they see they are messing up my life?
I'm sure none of you reading this (assuming anyone is actually reading it) ever struggle with that.
On the other hand, serving God by serving others has always led me down a road toward humility and gratitude. Somehow in God's strange economy it turns out that Jesus knew what he was talking about when he said, "He who loses his life for others will find it."
One night my wife Rose and our daughter Krissie served together at Safe Harbor (a ministry to the homeless in our community. It turned out to be a magic night of love, laughter and caring for others that filled our own souls. Serving others sets me free from me. But at the same time a more noble and joy-filled me surfaces.
So decide for yourself. If you sit back passively and go with the flow you will ultimately make the choice of making life about you. Sorry...it's just part of our messed up spiritual DNA. Serving God's purposes in the world--sharing love and compassion? That's a decision. But it's a good decision.
I hope you make that decision--today. And do it again tomorrow. If you string enough days of you and your family serving God together, you'll get what you really want: a life of significance.
PS. The photo above is a shot from a helicopter of the Grand Traverse region. It reminds me of Joshua--at the end of his life--looking over the land that God had given to Israel. It was a good land flowing with milk and honey. So is ours--flowing with almost unimaginable natural (supernatural) resources. Steward well the gifts God has given you. In the end it ALL belongs to Him.
0 comments:
Post a Comment