The Way of The World

I don't think many of us wake up in the morning grappling with the thought of what might influence our way of life during the day. It's almost absurd to think that we ought to spend very much of our time twiddling our thumbs and philosophising over life. I can observe my own life and history and see similar goals and aspirations that most Americans pursue. A major difference occurred after I came to know Christ. My pre-Christ days were pretty much the way of the world. Not all bad, not all good. I just couldn't see the world that I was in because I had never yet seen the kingdom of God. After coming to Christ, I began to view the world and life in the light of the Gospel message. Everything looked different. I could see the vanity for the first time. I could see the materialism and the self-made American lifestyle. I am grateful to live in this country but I am also aware of the pitfalls of having too much stuff. Too much stuff can steal your time and energy to the point that you have very little time left for the things that are most important to us.

The stress that exists in America is directly a result of falling into this trap. There are very few of us that have the courage to reverse that trend. Here's my measuring stick for having stuff. I can have stuff until it starts to have me. I can tell when what I own starts to own me. I feel bound and trapped and I have to make an adjustment. This is not easy for me because I like to go for it. I remember one decision that I made when my kids were in school. I decided to hire a staff for my business. I trained that staff to do the things that I could do without me being there. I didn't make as much money because I paid them to do my job. I was blessed by that decision. I rarely missed any of my kids activities in school and besides that my office ran like a well oiled machine. I received a number of Company awards during that time and I was only in the office 30 hours a week.

The way of the world can consume us and cost us plenty. Don't buy into it! Make an adjustment. The Lord has a rich life for all of us but His ways are not our ways. His ways are better because He knows what we really need. He knew that I loved being around my kids sports activities and I really believe that it was Him that convicted me of my former lifestyle and caused me to make a critical business decision. I can't imagine what it would have been like not seeing my daughter while she was cheer-leading or my sons while they were playing ball. I would have lost a great deal.

Just a thought as I contemplate 2008.