Monday, November 29, 2010

Who Cares What Others Think?

"Stop trusting in mere humans, 
   who have but a breath in their nostrils. 
   Why hold them in esteem?"
Isaiah 2:22



How often to we neglect our relationship with God because of others? How often do we doubt our faith because someone says something that causes us to second guess our beliefs? 

I know that I am guilty of putting too much power in the hands of people. My entire day is made or destroyed by those around me. My faith can falter because of something someone says. My quiet time with God gets postponed or forgotten because I have an "important" appointment with my Facebook friends. 

Yes, people are important. Yes, God has called us to love others and has created us to be social beings. However, our first and foremost priority is to Him. If we trust God and cultivate our relationship with Him first, we will gain wisdom and clarity in our relationships with others. Suddenly we'll know how to love others, who to trust, and who to walk away from. Without trusting God first we'll be forever being tossed to and fro in our faith, relationships, and self-esteem. 

We don't need the approval of others. Our faith doesn't need the approval of others. We need to be secure enough in our relationship with God that we can stand firm and not be shaken by the latest opinion, "fact", or theory. 


Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sunday Sprint: Better to be a Nobody

"Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant 
   than pretend to be somebody and have no food."
Proverbs 12:9



In this society and in this age it seems like everybody is fighting so hard to be a somebody. In seeking fame and fortune and in the pursuit of "somebodyness" so many people lose everything. This verse reminds me that it is better be content with an "ordinary" life--to have all your needs provided for and a even few small luxuries--than to be in constant pursuit of fame, prestige, fortune etc. and end up losing it all.

Too many people make the foolish choice to pursue prestige by stockpiling fancy cars and big houses and other material things only to lose it all when that stockpile of debt buries them. We need to stop looking longingly at the "somebodies" in town and learn to be happy with the blessings God has given to us.

I honestly think that most people will be a lot happier if they choose to live in a thankful frame of mind than an envious one. 

Thank you God for all your blessings.