The Pursuit of Christianity

Being a Christian is about being a servant. It is putting others’ interests first, not exalting yourself above others. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” We are to put others ahead of ourselves. That is the essence of the Christian life, and it is how our Lord Jesus himself lived when He was here on Earth.

The pursuit of wealth or prominence in this country has consumed most of the American church. The evidence lies in the teachings of pastors such as Joel Osteen, or Joyce Meyer, who often advise people that the power to do or get what you want lies within you. Their book sales are in the millions and they seem to be everywhere on TV and the internet. But their large ministries are a factor of telling people what they want to hear, and slick (and expensive) advertising.

Getting what you want is not in the Christian playbook, nor has it ever been. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we deserve more possessions, a bigger house, or a high paying job. In fact, the Bible says that those worldly things are meaningless in the Kingdom of God. The pursuit of wealth has no place in the pursuit of Christ.

Just as with anything in life, a Christian must make a choice and stick with it. Contemporary wisdom says to pursue your own interests. God says to pursue Him. We must make a daily choice to follow Christ and extract ourselves from the pursuits of the world.

Doing Good Is Not Wasted

God’s Grace is a wonderful thing. It is the reason we are all alive and dwelling on this Earth. It is the reason that, having no merit within ourselves, we could gain the inheritance of heaven through the sacrificial work of God’s Son. We are products of God’s Grace and Mercy.

Today’s Evangelical Church focuses on the miracle of God’s Grace. And for good reason, it is the crux of our faith. Many churches teach that faith is everything, and works are nothing. Through faith we are saved from death because of the Grace of God, and through faith in Jesus Christ we are justified because of His blood that was shed. But after our salvation we as Christians are called to perform good works, not as a substitute for faith, but because of it.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:16) The purpose of works is to glorify God, but also to orient men. Non-Christians watch those who believe very closely, even when they seem indifferent. They watch because a deep part of them longs to see that there is order to the chaos that surrounds them, that there is light among the darkness. Jesus said that we are that light.

Understand that it is OK to do good works. You are not negating the grace given to you. Works do not equal boasting. Be confident that God wants you to focus on doing good things, not as a measure of righteousness, or as a justification, but as an assignment that He has given until the day that He comes.

Doing good is never wasted when it is done in the name of our Father. Do good and orient a darkened world toward Jesus, then receive your reward with humility from the One who notices everything.

Start With The Word of God

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10 & 11.

Do you struggle with reading God’s Word? Take some time right now to examine why that might be. Does it have to do with time? Does it have to do with not knowing where to begin? Does the prospect of opening the Bible give you the feeling that you are starting something that is too big to finish?

As pastor Chuck Swindoll often tells his congregation: Relax. These are all normal feelings that are shared by practically every person who has endeavored to study God’s Word. The fact is that it is a huge undertaking, with cosmic importance to you and those around you. But it doesn’t have to be a huge problem for you, and it doesn’t have to equal the weight of the world on your shoulders.

Start by reading a book of the Bible that interests you. Scared of Revelation? You don’t have to start there, nor do you have to start with prophets or the Psalms. If you are a student of history try the book of Acts. It reads like an informal history of the early church, with incredible detail as researched by the author, Luke. Or are you searching for guidance and foresight on a specific topic? Look at Proverbs which gives the reader the straight dope on hundreds of specific practical issues directly from the wisest man there ever was, King Solomon.

Are you partial to the workings of war and politics? Like a good Tom Clancy novel? Check out First and Second Samuel and First and Second Kings to know the history and politics behind King David’s reign and his successors.

The point is, don’t let the prospect of learning God’s Word scare you. Any little fragment of His Word will act like water to your soul, and you will find yourself growing in spite of yourself. God loves you and He wants you to know Him. He has provided the most important, most powerful tool in the universe in His Word. Take the time to become acquainted with it.