Truth: Nothing is important until it is personal.
It doesn’t matter how important someone else thinks something is, if it isn’t personal for you it will not be important to you. The only way anyone cares about anything is if in some manner it important (Personal) to them. Therefore remember this: Everyone does what they want to do then they find a reason or excuse for doing it. That’s true for you, me… everyone!
Don’t ever say, “I didn’t have the time to do (whatever).” You did have the time, you just chose to do something else that was more important to you… something that was more personal to you than whatever you chose not to do. Don’t say, “I don’t have the money to do (whatever),” especially when you have cable, internet, satellite, eat out, or do other non life sustaining things. You just chose to do something else with your money because it was more important (personal) to you than what you chose not to spend your money on.
You will strive for holiness when it is personal and important to you… regardless of what the preacher says or is found in Scripture.
You will tithe when it is personal and important to you… regardless of what the preacher says or is found in Scripture.
You will witness when it is personal and important to you… regardless of what the preacher says or is found in Scripture.
You will do missions when it is personal and important to you… regardless of what the preacher says or is found in Scripture.
You will pray when it is personal and important to you… regardless of what the preacher says or is found in Scripture.
You will read Scripture when it is personal and important to you… regardless of what the preacher says or is found in Scripture.
So what are you doing with your life? What are you spending your time and money on? Whatever they are… those things are important to you. Those things are personal for you. Those things are your functional god(s). Which means there are a lot of things in our lives that (functionally) are more important (Personal) to us that God is.
Just food for thought and reflection…
Hi, Ron!
I very much appreciate coming across this reflection. I am a pastor, preaching this Sunday on the parable of the final judgment of Jesus/sheep & goats [Matthew 25], and had boiled down to one significant detail – your faith must be personal to initiate any level of value. In my search for a picture, this page showed up!
You articulated this same point very succinctly and in my opinion, personally.
May God continue to bless your journey of faith.