For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. I John 2:16 NIV
I was listening to a speaker at an Elementary graduation service give a challenge to the children to dream big. Children need adults to believe in them and motivate them to be the best they can be. At one point he said, “I see doctors, teachers, lawyers, police officers and even political leaders.” A good seed was planted for the children to follow the path of education leading to one of those types of jobs. Another seed was planted with the power of the unspoken pressure…You are not successful with a blue collar job. Not one blue collar job was mentioned in his list in which case most children will find employment. There is intense pressure to find significance in professional vocations. Many gravitate toward these positions for the power, influence, and prestige they offer.
Two principles to guide your heart in these world of pressures.
Consider things of the world as dead to you.
As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. Galatians 6:14 NLT.
Two things happen when something dies. First, it begins to stink. We remove dead things from our presence because its smell becomes obnoxious to us. The value of owning some of your possessions will be greatly reduced when you consider some of those things dead. We normally remove ourselves from dead things.
Second, something dead loses its power of influence. A dead corpse offers nothing for the living. There is no physical enticement, no controlling words, no offer of money or possessions. Nothing. So also, if we are dead to this worldly system, we have nothing to offer it nor will it have anything to offer us.
The things you boast most often about are the things that are “alive” to you.
We possess, so that we can share.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? I John 3:17 ESV.
If we start with an attitude that all that we own is from God, even when we buy more, then we realize that we become stewards of our possessions. God invites us to share anything that we own with someone in need. Remember Jesus’ teaching that if you have two coats, you should give one to the person in need.
Giving is a key to a cheerful heart which is the antidote for loving the worlds things. Cheerful giving cuts the strangling possession ropes around us. labeled with the word MINE. Giving relaxes our stressed grip of keeping everything, by maintaining an open palm toward the needs of others.
The open palm is really amazing. Others can take from us what they may need, because we are not clutching to our stuff. At the same time, God can continually place more into an open palm rather than a closed fist.
There is a world system that pressures us from all sides. God’s path for each person leads to liberty, freedom and the peaceful rest of letting God be in control. His loving acceptance overcomes all of the world’s pressures.
Blessings Love y’a
Ouch! But good.