A Needed Change

An article by Jason    2 Comments

I just finished reading 1 Corinthians. I didn’t know what to expect, but found myself getting really drawn in, the further along I read. Paul was a radical guy. He was seriously dedicated to his calling. He had some BIG faith!

Paul originally HATED Christians (even killed them!), but after accepting Christ, he spread the Gospel more than anyone (what a turn-around!). Once he changed his life, Paul had one goal and one goal only, serving Jesus and spreading the Word each day.

This part really made an impression on me…

1 Corinthians 7:29 – 31

“What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they have none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy; as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”

I wonder what Paul would say about people today?

The whole idea of not making worldly things our focus is pretty ANTI-society. At least in 2010. Trying to live without being tied to “stuff,” is h-a-r-d! We’re used to over-extending ourselves….and it’s normal to worry about cars, money, and mortgages. It’s pretty sad, really. We’ve gotten to where we define ourselves by these things.

I’m a victim of “stuff” too, don’t get me wrong. I’m a goal-oriented person. I used to set these lofty goals for myself and my business. Some were tied to stature and finances, some to fitness. I really just wanted the best of everything….or, so I thought. Turns out, whenever I achieved one of my life goals, the end wasn’t quite what I expected. The joy was pretty short-lived. So, I’d continue on to the next goal, thinking IT might provide fulfillment. But as dream-after-dream became reality, they started to leave me hollow inside. I realized I was really getting nowhere, FAST. I needed change.

It wasn’t until I accepted Christ into my life that all my earthly goals became sort of meaningless. I mean, if we can’t take the “stuff” with us, why obsess over it all? Our bodies, the skills we try to perfect, and especially the material things…they all fade away. Yup, we ARE mortal. And all that stuff, it doesn’t come with us when we die.

I told Samantha last week, that yes, I’d love my kids to have a rich education and be able to choose from any college they want, and yes I want them to live well and master certain skills. But truly…I really just want them to have BIG faith. I want them to feel indifferent to “stuff” or material desires. Because in the end, none of that really matters. I pray that they don’t get hung up on over-achiever-style goals, or focussed on worldly dreams that don’t bring real inner joy like I used to. My dream for my children, is that they are not guided by the world around them but choose to be guided by Christ. I pray they choose to serve just ONE master. The Lord above. Jesus said it simply, man cannot serve two masters. Stuff or God. God or stuff. There can be only one.

Mathew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

For me, learning how to let go of my Earthly things is a critical part of my spiritual maturity. I’ve only just begun, and it’s certainly not easy. But like Paul, it seems to be one of the best ways to completely lose myself in Christ.