The Stuff
When I mention the stuff, what comes to mind? Tangible stuff? Feelings stuff? Life stuff? Whatever may come to your mind, is it worth pouring your life into and making it priority one?
I heard something interesting last week. It was a radio broadcast of Focus on the Family. There was a speaker on there (I don't remember his name) that told the story of a friend he has. This friend was attending a Texas A&M football game and noticed a bunch of people standing around a dumpster outside the stadium. When coming up to the dumpster, he noticed that it was full of trophies. The university was making room for newer awards and tossing the old ones out. The speaker asked what things do we do that we think are important, only to get tossed in heaven's dumpster?
Very true. As students or adults, what do you do that seems so important at the time, only to be seen as worthless in heaven? Clubs, organizations, sports, committees, teams, jobs, school. . . . ministry. In terms of eternity, I commit myself to a lot of stuff that God won't have any use for. So do we just dump all of it? I don't even know how to do that. Whenever my wife and I would fight about me being involved in so much, I always end the argument by asking what she wants me to give up. Neither one of us know the answer to that. But i do know this. Take the stuff that you do and do if for your eternal life.
Let me take that a little farther. What if we traded in pointless stuff and sold out and gave our life to things bigger than our life? To sell out simply means taking your life and turning it into God's life. Living out your life for the cause of Christ. Changing the way you look at things and look at people. Living with purpose for a change. I think in doing this, people are going to notice. Maybe it's not a positive notice at times. Other times, it's one of intrigue. Either way, it is the life we are called to. Live it well, live it for Christ.
We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way. Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. 2 Corinthians 5:16-18
God bless you and stuff you do!
Later!
- Parker
I heard something interesting last week. It was a radio broadcast of Focus on the Family. There was a speaker on there (I don't remember his name) that told the story of a friend he has. This friend was attending a Texas A&M football game and noticed a bunch of people standing around a dumpster outside the stadium. When coming up to the dumpster, he noticed that it was full of trophies. The university was making room for newer awards and tossing the old ones out. The speaker asked what things do we do that we think are important, only to get tossed in heaven's dumpster?
Very true. As students or adults, what do you do that seems so important at the time, only to be seen as worthless in heaven? Clubs, organizations, sports, committees, teams, jobs, school. . . . ministry. In terms of eternity, I commit myself to a lot of stuff that God won't have any use for. So do we just dump all of it? I don't even know how to do that. Whenever my wife and I would fight about me being involved in so much, I always end the argument by asking what she wants me to give up. Neither one of us know the answer to that. But i do know this. Take the stuff that you do and do if for your eternal life.
Let me take that a little farther. What if we traded in pointless stuff and sold out and gave our life to things bigger than our life? To sell out simply means taking your life and turning it into God's life. Living out your life for the cause of Christ. Changing the way you look at things and look at people. Living with purpose for a change. I think in doing this, people are going to notice. Maybe it's not a positive notice at times. Other times, it's one of intrigue. Either way, it is the life we are called to. Live it well, live it for Christ.
We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way. Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. 2 Corinthians 5:16-18
God bless you and stuff you do!
Later!
- Parker
I understand what you're getting at, but can't "Clubs, organizations, sports, committees, teams, jobs, school. . . ." be used to further God's glory as well? Isn't it about the intent and what you're doing it for? I know you don't watch college football, but in the last game this season (Oregon vs. Auburn), which Auburn won, Cam Newton gave credit and thanks on his teams win and his ability to God. It was powerful to me and made me think how many other people he at least made think by that sort of display on public television. It brings me to the thought that worship is not only what you do in church, or ministries you involve yourself in, but part of everyday life.
Oh, absolutely Aaron! The things we do can be used to glorify God. That is what we are truly called to do. Where it becomes a problem is when the stuff becomes our God. It becomes more important than everything else. It becomes about me. It becomes what we live for. That's the problem.
I'm glad that you saw a light from the people we hold in high regard. I wish we would see more of the people in the public eye thanking God for what they have accomplished. We can all think of a number of athletes who do that on a regular basis. Which is awesome because God has obviously blessed them.
It goes back to this, which is pretty corny but true: do what you do well and do it for God. Public eye or not, we are all called to live the Christian life in every aspect of our life. Where's your backpack? Ha ha!
Thanks for your comment!
Later!
-Parker