…when I say that we are all blessed by God with certain unique abilities. And with those abilities comes the longing for what we would like to see done and accomplished in our lives. However, at the same time if our talents and achievements are purely self-serving, we will have missed the real purpose of our life that was intended by our Creator God. No matter how great the talents anyone of us may have, our position in this life is to dedicate them to God for the intended purposes He has for each of us. Lest we ever forget it or if truth escapes our everyday living, it’s good to be reminded of the truth that apart from God we will not be able to accomplish anything of lasting value, no matter the days or years of our life. At the same time the exciting opportunity God has given to us as believers is the ability to carry out His plan of promise in Jeremiah 29:1 when He said, “I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.” NIRV
Sad but true I think it’s no secret to anyone reading this CRA Moment that we live in a society where many individuals care immensely more about what others think of them, sometimes more than what they even think of themselves. The opposite of that is those who think of themselves much more than they do of what and how others think of them! Think not! Our children and grandchildren are growing up in a world that has been dubbed, “the selfie generation.” While in many cases, the parents have followed suit, or vice versa. Consider this! Most photos that kids take these days are of themselves. Living in the day of being able to access … having a digital camera built right in to our cell phone enables us the great ease of taking pictures of one’s self. The rise of social media has led to the popularity of “selfies” that allow one to reach no further than into ones pocket or purse. The selfie culture turns people’s focus on themselves, how they look, how many ‘likes’ they get on social media, the kind of clothing they’re wearing, what they’re eating, and the vacation spot they’re visiting. Those in the “know” tell us that focusing on ourselves does not make us happier, quite the opposite it often “robs us of our joy.” Particularly if we don’t end up receiving the ‘likes’ we set out hoping to receive.
Deuteronomy 11:26-27 reminds us; “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse—the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today…” I read of Rabbi Breslov who clear back in the eighteenth century once said, “In this world, a person has only the very day and very moment in which he or she finds themselves. Tomorrow is a completely different world.” Seems to me what he was getting at was that today is an entire world unto itself and tomorrow will soon be gone, and another one will take its place. Every moment of each day is a precious gift that we are encouraged to not squander away. In addition, it’s a day to not just be thinking of ourselves but to realize there are others that we can help lift the inner spirit of someone who doesn’t feel the value of showing to others their own “selfie!”
The challenge today is to consider turning the cell-phone camera around so that we can see others that are around us. That can include friends and family; however, it also includes people we encounter each and every day in our daily lives. That could even be a man or women who just lost their spouse, or a family member who feels down and out for one reason or another, and as though they have little to “show” or offer to a world so swiftly passing by.
Here’s something that just might be good for all of us to consider. Out of the NET translation of the Bible, Philippians 2:3 encourages that “Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourselves.”
Blessings, Psalm 20:7 Dale & Jeannie