a poll of sorts
I’ve been thinking lately how many people don’t live intentionally–they go to school, college, graduate, get a job, get married, buy a house, have kids, grow old, die–without too much thought about how we have one life to live. And if you’re a Christian our every thought, word, and deed should be directed somehow to glorifying God. Now, we’re sinners at heart, so we obviously don’t live up to this; nevertheless it is the purpose of our lives.
For instance, how does how you vote matter because you’re a Christian? How will buying a bigger house, relocating, pursuing further study, changing jobs, having kids, help you to get one step closer to having your heart and mind transformed into the likeness of Christ? And if these things won’t pull you to Christ, there’s not much point to them ultimately. Seeking to glorify Christ and see things based on a Christian worldview, we often make decisions that look stupid from the outside–choosing suffering and servanthood instead of success in its various guises.
And there’s obviously lots of things of life that we overlook and get into a rut of routine without considering an action’s wider impact. But, do you think about your life and how your actions fit into something larger than yourself? And what is it that you do without thinking?
September 17th, 2004 at 8:16 am
I guess no one wants to think about their lack of thoughtfulness.
September 17th, 2004 at 10:36 am
I’ll bite and say yes. It is easy to get caught in the rut. It is deep and well-travelled. I do it a lot, more than I even recognize, I’m sure, but there are those times where I can see the largeness of it all.
What do I do without thinking? I can do almost anything that way.
September 17th, 2004 at 10:36 am
Okay, well I’ll start. I don’t think I think about the products I buy enough; I try to buy free-range chicken but it’s twice as expensive as the regular stuff. I’ll buy a shirt at Gap for 2 GBP on sale even though I know they exploit foreign labour. Often my desire to save money overrides what I think the right action to follow is.
I often don’t think about how the little things reflect the gospel in my own life. Also, I tend to be apathetic about things I may be confused about–the upcoming election for instance. Just a start.
September 17th, 2004 at 3:10 pm
There are so many ways to think about this question from the practical, everyday behavior to the spiritual impact on other’s lives. I guess I try to think how kindness, thoughtfulness and love to others is a manifestation of what I feel in my heart and reflects Christ ( as in the fruits of the Spirit - I’m studying Galatians! ) Sometimes that just means stopping our busyness and “all about me” attitude and taking the time to listen and care for others, or thinking beyond ourselves and seeing someone else’s need and meeting it, whether that be physically, emotionally or spirituallt. I find myself praying more throughout the day just as things come up or as I see them and can’t do anything practical about it. At least that is my goal, but it only happens when I take the time to stop and pray, read the Word and walk with Christ…I just notice the days that I do, it makes such a difference. But I think it is a daily struggle and a learned practice of the presence of God.