Why Get Ahead?
The other night on my way to somewhere, I had to stop at a red light. There was a partially-jacked-up truck in front of me and next to the truck in the lane beside it, an SUV. At the other side of the red light, the road went from two lanes to one.
The light turned green, and both vehicles revved their engines quickly. The SUV started first, but the truck laid down some serious gas peddle and quickly evened the odds. In moments, they were neck to neck (er, bumper to bumper) and neither was giving an inch. Very soon, the SUV would run out of lane and they both knew it. So, the truck gave an extra push and the SUV reluctantly dropped behind it. Seconds later they both got off in the right turning lane to go into McDonald's.
Meanwhile, I shook my head, having watched this test of wills the entire time. I had taken that route SO often, but never had I seen such competition - and they were both turning off very shortly anyway, to go to the same place! How silly, I thought.
But then I realized how accurately that portrays us as stubborn, willful individuals. We always think we need to get ahead - ahead in our schooling, jobs, sports, even church (how many committees are you on, etc?). When really, we're all headed the same place - eventual death - and if we're talking all Christians, which is mainly who I'm writing this to right now, we're all headed to heaven and what will we say to God when we get there? Will we tell Him all of the rewards we got in school? How far up in the company we got? How much we were paid to entertain people? Or maybe even how many committees we were on and how many years we were deacons?
But is that what He wants to hear? As Christians, our sole purpose is to live our lives in such a way that brings all the glory to our Father, who is in heaven, and show the world - all the world - the way to Him, who is waiting for us. He is waiting for us to joyfully tell Him of all the people we poured our lives into so that they could join us there with Him!
Here are some verses to compare to these illustrations.
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
So there you have it....what God shows me as I see two vehicles competing when they're going the same place at the same time. Why compete about what doesn't matter and instead pour your life into what has eternal significance?
The light turned green, and both vehicles revved their engines quickly. The SUV started first, but the truck laid down some serious gas peddle and quickly evened the odds. In moments, they were neck to neck (er, bumper to bumper) and neither was giving an inch. Very soon, the SUV would run out of lane and they both knew it. So, the truck gave an extra push and the SUV reluctantly dropped behind it. Seconds later they both got off in the right turning lane to go into McDonald's.
Meanwhile, I shook my head, having watched this test of wills the entire time. I had taken that route SO often, but never had I seen such competition - and they were both turning off very shortly anyway, to go to the same place! How silly, I thought.
But then I realized how accurately that portrays us as stubborn, willful individuals. We always think we need to get ahead - ahead in our schooling, jobs, sports, even church (how many committees are you on, etc?). When really, we're all headed the same place - eventual death - and if we're talking all Christians, which is mainly who I'm writing this to right now, we're all headed to heaven and what will we say to God when we get there? Will we tell Him all of the rewards we got in school? How far up in the company we got? How much we were paid to entertain people? Or maybe even how many committees we were on and how many years we were deacons?
But is that what He wants to hear? As Christians, our sole purpose is to live our lives in such a way that brings all the glory to our Father, who is in heaven, and show the world - all the world - the way to Him, who is waiting for us. He is waiting for us to joyfully tell Him of all the people we poured our lives into so that they could join us there with Him!
Here are some verses to compare to these illustrations.
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
So there you have it....what God shows me as I see two vehicles competing when they're going the same place at the same time. Why compete about what doesn't matter and instead pour your life into what has eternal significance?
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