Burst the Bubble
With Mission Week fast approaching, it has suddenly dawned on me how our lives are sheltered in a constant bubble, where everyone is centred on their particular lives.
I don’t just mean “everyone” in a general sense, I mean “everyone” in an all-inclusive sense; and yes, I mean me too.
At first I wondered why this is; why do we all have our own egocentric ideals? It has been troubling me for sometime how I keep finding that my personal problems are at the centre of my heart, and that other, more important things are sidetracked or pushed to one side. I often offer prayer and counsel to others who seek it, (and many for those that don’t), but at the end of the day I still find time to dwell on my problems instead of taking my own advice. Why cant I just forget about my problems and, as Matthew Ch6v25 clearly says:
“Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, what you eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”
I think everyone who reads this is probably a Christian. Even if this isn’t the case, let me challenge you. Why do we find things that we are directly involved in more important than things that happen around the World, all of which are far worse? You think of the recent Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Terrorist threats; you think of racism, persecution and poverty. Who can honestly tell me they don’t value their own problems above these?
Before you all think I’ve gone completely insane let me justify myself. We all think that the events around the world are awful and want to help in anyway we can, but when we roll over in bed at night are we thinking about the World’s poverty? When we call up a friend for advice, is it on how we can use our own privileged lives to help those less fortunate, or is it about something a little bit closer to home. If you can honestly say that you value other peoples problems more than your own then you are a better man/women than me; though I would challenge you again if you told me this. If you do value others more than your on problems, and I mean sincerely, what are you doing about it? I mean I do try and help people with all of my heart, and will do anything for anyone, but I still find that I have to sort out my own problems too; I can’t just leave them. Until they are sorted I find it hard focusing on anything else.
In spite of this there is hope for us all. Because of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross we no longer have to live by the rules of this world. We are no longer bound by sin. I know that this problem is part of our sinful nature and that we will never be rid of it. We must fight it though, we must try and do what is best for others first and then ourselves; even if it takes us outside of our bubble. I am not asking you to go on a one-man crusade to right the wrongs of this world, as ultimately you will fail. This world isn’t perfect anymore, and because of this greed and power runs deep through the core of the planet.
So instead of offering money, offer your prayers and time into those who are less fortunate than you. This doesn’t mean just the underprivileged; it means all of those who don’t know Christ as their one true Saviour. I have found over the last couple of weeks that however improbable something may seem, it is never impossible.
I hope I haven’t freaked everyone out. If so, I’m actually not that bothered! After all it isn’t my problem anymore.
Take care and God Bless
Daniel
I don’t just mean “everyone” in a general sense, I mean “everyone” in an all-inclusive sense; and yes, I mean me too.
At first I wondered why this is; why do we all have our own egocentric ideals? It has been troubling me for sometime how I keep finding that my personal problems are at the centre of my heart, and that other, more important things are sidetracked or pushed to one side. I often offer prayer and counsel to others who seek it, (and many for those that don’t), but at the end of the day I still find time to dwell on my problems instead of taking my own advice. Why cant I just forget about my problems and, as Matthew Ch6v25 clearly says:
“Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, what you eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”
I think everyone who reads this is probably a Christian. Even if this isn’t the case, let me challenge you. Why do we find things that we are directly involved in more important than things that happen around the World, all of which are far worse? You think of the recent Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Terrorist threats; you think of racism, persecution and poverty. Who can honestly tell me they don’t value their own problems above these?
Before you all think I’ve gone completely insane let me justify myself. We all think that the events around the world are awful and want to help in anyway we can, but when we roll over in bed at night are we thinking about the World’s poverty? When we call up a friend for advice, is it on how we can use our own privileged lives to help those less fortunate, or is it about something a little bit closer to home. If you can honestly say that you value other peoples problems more than your own then you are a better man/women than me; though I would challenge you again if you told me this. If you do value others more than your on problems, and I mean sincerely, what are you doing about it? I mean I do try and help people with all of my heart, and will do anything for anyone, but I still find that I have to sort out my own problems too; I can’t just leave them. Until they are sorted I find it hard focusing on anything else.
In spite of this there is hope for us all. Because of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross we no longer have to live by the rules of this world. We are no longer bound by sin. I know that this problem is part of our sinful nature and that we will never be rid of it. We must fight it though, we must try and do what is best for others first and then ourselves; even if it takes us outside of our bubble. I am not asking you to go on a one-man crusade to right the wrongs of this world, as ultimately you will fail. This world isn’t perfect anymore, and because of this greed and power runs deep through the core of the planet.
So instead of offering money, offer your prayers and time into those who are less fortunate than you. This doesn’t mean just the underprivileged; it means all of those who don’t know Christ as their one true Saviour. I have found over the last couple of weeks that however improbable something may seem, it is never impossible.
I hope I haven’t freaked everyone out. If so, I’m actually not that bothered! After all it isn’t my problem anymore.
Take care and God Bless
Daniel
posted by Daniel at 12:57 AM
3 Comments:
thank you for the post....read your email for my comment
Although on the flip-side...
God hasn't given us the problems of the world to solve. He has solved them, is solving them and will solve them. Yes, we should pray and seek God's will in the big things, offering our lives if He would use them in the big picture, and maybe we as a Christian community we don't stand up often enough for the standards of our God and the Christ-centred good of the world.
But...
like the age-old story about the thousands of starfish stranded on the dry beach, we can't throw them all back into the water, and so "solve the problem", but we can make a big difference in the lives of the few God has placed around us.
I don't cope very well (mentally/emotionally) with the big problems of the world. (Just ask anyone who knew me well during/after my time in Burkina.) It actually overwhelms me into paralysis, so that I become useless. Ungracious. Unprayerful.
(Also makes me a pain at the dinner-table when I won't let anyone leave food - and in the evening when I crusade against the TV (i.e. wasted time!) - and in church when people get anal about what I consider small problems... Just ask my parents...!)
But, I have learnt that He asks us to focus on Him and do the works "He has prepared for us to do" with our gifts and with the people He places in our lives. Take it one day at a time, and take each day's troubles and blessings to God, as and when they come.
On a world-wide scale we can do very little (although as I said that's no excuse to be defeatist - is our God not big enough?!), but if we seek God's will in those God places in our lives, we will be used in the world-wide picture.
For some that will mean welcoming people into church; for others it's the practical side of running church/CU; for others it's hospitality, teaching, preaching, encouraging, compassion, giving... for some it's being Christian lawyers, Christian doctors, Christian teachers, Christian engineers, Christian inflences in the places God has placed us... for some it's giving our lives in the "big" places, as cross-cultural missionaries.
Therefore, in view of God's mercy, let us offer our lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, for this is your reasonable act of worship. (Rom 12:1-2, I think)
Thanks Dan for making me think.
MUAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHA
I stole your favourite verse for my blog :p
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. - 1 Timothy 4:12
Sorry Dan, but Christian plagerism is allowed lol and I'm sure I wont get sued for plagerising the Bible!!!
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