Efficiency, greater output, increased hours, just a couple of words used more and more in today’s work environment. Business book after business book preaches that we need to be hustling 24/7, waking up at 5:00 am in order to succeed in today’s climate. The business side of me agrees that you need to work your ass off, but among-st all of the hustle and bustle you as a Christ follower have to realize what your point of your life is.
Matthew 22:37–39
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
Your relationship with Christ is built on love. The christian faith isn’t built on a bunch of laws that you obey in order to gain salvation, its founded by love. God is love. And so your life should be centered around loving God first and foremost, second loving his people.
The secular world puts far to much on acquiring status, gaining power, and possessions. But you need to realize what really matters in your life. Once you make God your foundation, you allow him to guide your steps in all facets of your life.
This means focusing on what really matters in life. Relationships are at the core of our life’s. Jesus speaks of the importance of relationships in our lives numerous times throughout the bible.
John 13:35
35 Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
You have a massive impact on the people around you, whether you realize it or not. That smile you flash to a random stranger, asking your friend how they are really doing, lending your ear to a colleague. All small acts that have massive results.
Digging Deep
What does fellowship mean? I don’t mean the kind of fellowship that happens all to often, where the refreshments are in the back, stale coffee stains the air, and all the fake faces pretending that there life’s are amazing. I mean true fellowship. What was James 5:16–18 talking about when it says to “confess your sins to each other”? It means we have to dig deep, we have to approach everyone with the same grace, love, and acceptance that God approaches us with.
Something great happens when we decide to take the risk to jump. When we decide to open our selves and be authentic with each other. Please remember that no matter how perfect some peoples lives seem, we are still human; which means we are sinners. We need each other.
When we are able to come together and realize that we are all sinners in deep deep need of God’s grace and forgiveness, this opens the gate to true authentic fellowship. Together we are better. We are able to learn and grown from each other and hold each other accountable. Often times sin is illustrated as massive spiritual take over. But in reality sin can be a very hard thing to detect. We slip into it without realizing what’s happening. Having fellow believers surrounding you to hold you up and call you out is a must.
We need to realize following God is not a one time decision. It means waking up every single day and taking up the cross. Having a group of trusted friends is not a suggestion, Jesus commanded it. Take it seriously, make the time in your crazy schedule and see the fruits that it bears.
