Did you get the feeling I wanted to say more in the previous Post on Legacy? You are right and here is Part2.
I believe most Men miss the boat totally when it comes to this. We are so concerned with our Jobs and making Money that we miss the whole purpose. On the other hand, most Women don’t make it easier because they keep on telling us how useless we are and that we are on our way nowhere when it comes to Family Life that we rather go back to work where we are trained for the job and where we can see the rewards for being good at it.
So what is the purpose of life? Let’s look at the previous verse again:
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
So, the purpose is to become more like Jesus! Was Jesus rich? Do we read much about his career with his Dad? No, we mainly read of his life as a Pastor. Now, we can’t all be Pastors? So what then? Look at Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
I think our conflict is right there. We cannot see the link between ‘Seeking the Kingdom’ and ‘Earning the Money’.
Let’s try some good character words and get a feeling for your desire to be remembered for these rather than being remembered for wealth, while lacking these.
- Integrity
- Honesty
- Trustworthy – Keep Promises
- Wise
- Good Husband
- Good Father
- Lead by Example
- Do the Right Thing
- Be able to Apologize
- Blessing
- Courageous
I think you’ll agree with me that these words cannot be added to a person, as character traits, if he/she did not have an opportunity to act in a total opposite way. So, a choice had to be made every time!
I think a good starting point is to have 5 goals:
- Spend regular time with God.
- How should I live to eventually hear God saying “Well done Faithful Servant”.
- Live as if God is going to ask you one day: “Did you make My Daughter (your wife) ‘Bitter or Better’?
- Make decisions that will get your Children to honour God more.
- Continuously think how you can improve – last year’s measure is not good enough. We need to become more like Jesus!
Why do so many old people become more difficult to live with every year? It is almost as if they think they deserve the right to complain more, to be served first, to be treated with more respect without having to respect others. I think we should become easier to live with the older we get because we had more time to practice making good choices.
I challenge you my fellow Jesus Follower to start this journey by looking at Eph 4:17-32