It seems we are often unsatisfied or discontented because we make poor decisions. It’s understandable that this can happen when we don’t have all the facts. The strange thing is that often these poor decisions are based on bad information about ourselves. I read an interesting article yesterday about things we should know about ourselves. Here’s my take on that.
1. Whom do you serve?
We all serve someone. The problem is that we don’t always realize it. It could be ourselves, our employer, our checking account, our spouse, or someone else. We need to know the real answer to that question.
2. What do you love?
At least once a day we find ourselves saying that we love something or someone. What or whom do we really love? Shouldn’t our decisions be based in significant part of whom we love?
3. What makes you angry?
At least once a day we find ourselves angry or upset about something. These emotions guide us often unconsciously. It is wise to recognize what gets under our skin.
4. What motivates you?
Great leaders and coaches are terrific at identifying and utilizing the motivations of others. We aren’t always that good at recognizing what motivates us. Without that knowledge we find ourselves doing things and avoiding doing other things without knowing why.
5. What are you good at?
The easy answer may be the talent that allows you to make a living. However, there are likely secondary things that you do really well. Have you ever asked someone who really knows you to evaluated what yu do really well?
6. What are you not so good at?
Guess what? You’re not good at everything. People often underestimate the things they are good at or over-estimate their good qualities. An exact evaluation of our talents can make life so much easier. There is almost always someone in our lives available to handle the things we don’t do well so that we can concentrate on the things we are great at.
7. How should you spend your time?
The answers to questions 1 through 6 will probably show that you aren’t spending your time wisely. You are probably not serving your life master well, or pleasing and helping those you love. You are probably failing to satisfy your life motivators and wading into areas of frustration. You likely spend little time doing what you do well and wasting time on what others should be doing.
8. Whom do you want to experience life with?
The greatest factor in living a satisfied life is living it with the right folks. Your spouse is obviously key. The happiest people believe they are hooked up with the right mate. This also applies to other aspects of life. The people you work and serve with make all the difference in the world.
After considering the above shouldn’t the answer to these questions by easy for a Christian?
1. Whom do you serve?
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
2. What do you love?
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”Matthew 22
3. What makes you angry?
Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. Shouldn’t sin and it’s effects anger us? Shouldn’t wasted and lost lives stir us up? Everything else should be just annoyances.
4. What motivates you?
Jesus set the example for our motivation in this life: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work” John 4:34 Jesus was concerned with pleasing His Father, and so should we be motivated by that same concern. He always did the Father’s will, motivated by pleasing Him through obedience John 8:29. His obedience extended all the way to the cross where He humbled Himself and “became obedient unto death” Our motivation should be the same as His—the obedience by which we prove we are truly His. “If you love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15
5. What are you good at?
Whatever our talents are they need to be put to the service of Him whom we serve.
6. What are you not so good at?
John 15:5b Without Me ye can do nothing. It doesn’t matter what we are not good at. Jesus will make up the lack.
7. How should you spend your time?
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28 Our time should be spent on what He commanded.
8. Whom do you want to experience life with?
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? We should experience life with the rest of the body, His body.
Don’t we really make it all too complicated? He’s told us everything we need to know. It’s right there in His word.
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