What to do with millions...

What would you do with millions of dollars?  Buy a boat?  A plane?   A house?  Live on Skid-row for a week?  That last option isn’t one that normally comes to mind, but that is exactly what one man did.  He left his life of wealth and comfort to live at Skid-Row, surviving only on what the average person there receives as benefits from the government.  While there he met many people and discovered something amazing.  The last thing this man said before the show ended was “If you want to feel good about yourself, do something good for somebody else.”

                I’m not here to debate over whether or not that is a Biblical motive, but I do think that it is, at least in part, a Biblical message.  We are fulfilled when we follow the Lord and obey His will.  The Bible clearly states, numerous times, that God’s will for us is to the help the poor, so it makes sense that loving the poor would make us feel good about ourselves.  But I think that there is something even more important than helping others to feel good about ourselves.

                We are to help others to show them that we love God, and that God loves them.  Giving out toiletries and clothes is wonderful, and we should do it!  But the most important thing we can do for anyone is the share the love of Christ with them.  After all, possessions fade, but heaven and God’s love are eternal.

                 

don't waste your life

Chapters 6 and 7, like many others in this book, are about living a purposeful life, namely through risking, and making sure everything in your life points towards God.  These chapters have really been the “in your face” type.  They have made me think about how I spend my time, and more importantly what my time spent tells others about my relationship with Christ.

                One specific time crisis, yes crisis, talked about was computer/ television time.  I said that my time on the computer was a crisis because in truth it is.  A crisis is a disaster or something causing harm, and I fear that someone looking at my life would think that my life was not for Christ, but rather for self pleasure/ entertainment, and that is not a Christ centered or Christ honoring life.

                The reason my time on the computer and television concerns me is this:  Whenever I am upset, angry, sad, or even just bored I turn towards one of these for entertainment or relief.  This shows that obviously I am turning towards material goods for goods for help rather than God. 

                And you want to know what the funny part about this is?  TV and computer don’t make me feel better, it’s like morphine, it just numbs, it doesn’t heal.  Only God can heal my heart, and only God can satisfy my yearning to learn.  If someone was to look at my life they would see that I’m not a perfect Christian; however, they would see that I am striving towards honoring God more, and that it is towards Him I am running.  I am running towards God and the ultimate Christ centered life and away from all that hinders, namely my desires for second best.