Focused On Making A Living Here Below Heaven!
I told Ed yesterday there’s a worker shortage here in BC. Lots of signs in businesses saying that they are hiring. Ed complained about the difficulty of making any money on his farm, and I suggested he might want to work off his farm. My comment generated a hot reply from Ed, who made it evident he would not have a boss to deal with at his age.
Being able to pay our bills is often where our minds get fixed. Unlimited things, both visible and invisible, grab our mind’s attention beyond our daily food. Where we live and how comfortably we live are significant matters in our thinking. Our minds often fixate on family, friends, neighbors, enemies, and so much more.
Often Christians are accused of failing to focus on God and his will except at church on Sundays. Then skeptics also comment that even though certain people go to church, it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with them during the week.
In defense of Christians, they are human beings. People are never entirely sinless. Those who believe they are sinless are deceived. As Christians, we live on the foundation of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection for our sins. God forgives us because of our faith in Jesus Christ, His Son. We don’t claim to be sinless, but Jesus was sinless for us because we cannot be sinless on our own.
As Christians, we are to live as we are one with Jesus Christ, who is alive and active at the right hand of God in heaven. Colossians Chapter 3 outlines how we should live as Christians. It states, “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things.” (Col. 3:1-2)
As Christians, we have a big challenge daily as we seek to be one with Christ. Our earthly nature is at odds with the nature of God. It lacks restraint and can result in sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed. Our earthly nature is about self-satisfaction. We quickly show anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language towards others. We lie to others to save ourselves. Our earthly nature is stuck completely on self-centered love. It is simple to give into our earthly nature and become controlled by it and bring grief to ourselves and others.
Christians are to set their minds on the love that reflects God’s love. Christ loved God His Father and all people held by the power of sin. Jesus did not say to us, “It is your problem!” “I only help those who deserve my help.” Jesus showed undeserved love for all, but many refused it. Many did not want or think they needed forgiveness from God. Yet, Jesus willing put Himself on the cross to save all sinners.
Christians do not always have their minds set on God and his word and will as fully as they might. It’s a shame because the world is much better off when Christians act in the love of God. There’s always lots of anger, hate, lust, greed, and slander being enacted effortlessly. So may Christians’ love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, forgiveness, and patience be found more consistently by us.
