It's About part 2
In order to understand what it's about, you have to understand what it's NOT about. It's not about you. In the sense that while you are the main character of YOUR story... your story isn't the only one being told. You have to understand that what you do affects other people. You can't just do or say whatever you want. That's called be selfish. Self-centered. Narcissistic. Thinking that you can say or do whatever you want just because you're the one doing it is the height of folly. Thinking that you can do or say whatever you want just because you think it'll get you what you want is my definition of selfish. You can't live like that. What you say and do matters. Actions have consequences. And when you don't think of those consequences you can really get things messed up. Look at what Jesus said in Luke 14:28-30, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish." So just from a practical standpoint you need to think about what you're doing before you do it. Don't start something you're not prepared to finish. Count the cost. And, really, let me make this easy for you: If it's not love... don't do it. Because that's what it's all about. It's about love. If you're doing something that will hurt someone else... that's not love. Paul wrote a pretty long piece of a letter about how some people think it's ok to eat meat, and some people don't. Which is fine. But if eating meat causes someone else to stumble... don't do it. Because it's not about you. It's not about just doing what you want. It's about love. And, I'm telling you, when you really start to experience that agape love of God... you will be able to do what you want... because you will WANT to love people. You will WANT to take care of people. You will WANT to help people. You will understand what it means when the Bible talks about how it is more blessed to give than to receive. Because love IS giving. You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. And you can't give while you're focused on taking, or getting. My personal definition of love is giving everything you are and everything you have without worrying about how it will be received. Laying your life down for your friends. That's a life worth living. That's what makes life worthwhile. So thinking about what it's really all about... we need to think about each other. See a need and (if possible) meet that need. I always like to say, "It's not thinking less of yourself, it's simply thinking of yourself less." God's got you covered. And that covering really makes a difference when you extend it to others. Staying dry is cool, but it's so much better to let someone else huddle under your umbrella with you. To share what you have. To share who you are. To extend your influence to those around you... in a positive way. In a way that lets the people around you know how much you care about them. Because it's not all about you. It's about PEOPLE. It's about God. It's about... love!