What is the motive behind our desire to inform others of what we know or have found?
It's time for a little reality check for me. Why do I write this blog? Why after writing this blog do I check the stats daily to see how many people have read this blog? Why am I thinking about trying to get this blog published? I had to think about this as I was sending in some samples to a publisher. They wanted to know the purpose of why I wanted to write this book. The answer I gave was to hopefully open the hearts and minds of its readers to the real life application of scripture. To put skin on scripture so to speak. By sharing my life along with the words of scripture I could help people connect faith with life. This sounds like a noble purpose doesn't it? But is this really why? Or am I just trying to create some sort of following for myself and receive a pat on the back and praise for what a talented writer and spiritual person I appear to be.
Titus Chapter 1 really brings this warning out strongly in my heart. Paul writes a comparison in this chapter comparing the type of person who can be an elder (a person of integrity, who takes care of their family and does not seek dishonest gain) and the type of person who has "spiritual" rituals and words but does them for dishonest gain ruining whole households in the process. Paul really goes after these guys who are emphasizing these myths of what will make you holy. He goes so far to say that for those who are pure everything is pure but for those who are corrupt everything is corrupt even their thoughts. You can tell by their actions what kind of men they are. These men who say "spiritual things" and tell others to do them as well, just to gain a following. Even the good things they do are corrupt. So why do we do what we do?
I remember being asked once what I most want to be. The only thing I could come up with was, "a humble man of God." I really didn't know what else to say. This sounds like the perfect kind of political statement for a spiritual leader. But the truth is that is a dangerous desire to have. To be a humble man of God means I will need to be humbled again and again and again...this doesn't mean that I grovel in self pity, but that I take a look at why I am doing what I am doing. To be a humble man of God is to realize the things that I do come from the gifts that he gave me and their purpose is to bring him glory not to lift me up or gain me influence. But to life him up and gain him influence.
May the actions we do today bring God glory. May this be our only hope of gain. Nothing dishonest not using spiritual things for temporal gain, but glorifying God with all that we are and all he has gifted us with.
keep writin' Cory, cuz my Sabbath School teens ask every week if I will read your blog about the chapter we are reading in Job. Even when I forget to get it out, they ask.
ReplyDeleteAnd may I remember to ONLY glorify God in all I do.I needed that reminder tonight.
At least you ask yourself the question... and so what if you check the stats to see how many people have read what you have written? As human beings we want to connect with other people, we want to feel that what we have to say has meaning or resonates with another person. There is nothing wrong with that. But when that desire becomes greater than our desire to glorify God then, and only then, it creates a problem. Money isn't evil, it is the love of money that is evil. Wanting people to connect with what you have to say isn't evil either, unless that need becomes greater than your need for God. So, be glad you are present enough to ask the question.
ReplyDeletethanks for the encouragement, I am glad for any use God can make of these written words!
ReplyDelete