So I was listening recently to a song by The Band Perry called "If I Die Young", which got me thinking, "If I died tomorrow, what would my legacy be?" Some might think that's a bit morbid, but I think it's a question we all legitimately need to ask ourselves. What are we striving for? What are our goals?
It really shows you where your heart is, doesn't it?
If we say we're all in, following Christ with everything we've got, but answer that question with something related to our career or personal life, are we honestly following like we say we are? What's the lifespan of our legacy if we're just living for ourselves? How long after you die will the effects of your American dream linger on? If all we're living for (and by living for, I mean devoting our time and money to) is trying to put in extra to get that promotion, or completely devoting yourself to school to get the best job and salary possible, what are we doing that will last?
As followers of Christ, we're told to not store up treasures on earth, but to store up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20) and to "make disciples of all nations" (28:19). As humans though, we want so badly to be comfortable and happy. One of the things God really showed me while I was in China over the summer was how much comfort was a heart idol. We get so focused on worshiping that idol by pursuing earthly things, that we aren't reaching people for Christ with our full potential. It's more than just us spending our money on material things though. Whenever we live life all about "me, me, me", we start drawing inwards and living life in a small way. God doesn't want that; he wants us to live big, wide-open lives of influence. He wants our legacy not to be "toys", but disciples (note, not 'converts'). It's like we're living in an identity crisis: Christ calls us to make an eternal difference (Matthew 28:18-20) but so often we're too caught up in this life to notice! It's my prayer today that we'll surrender our idols of wealth, prestige and comfort to God, and that he'll help change our perspective (and our legacy!) to an eternal one.
(link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJqUN9TClM&ob=av2e)
It really shows you where your heart is, doesn't it?
If we say we're all in, following Christ with everything we've got, but answer that question with something related to our career or personal life, are we honestly following like we say we are? What's the lifespan of our legacy if we're just living for ourselves? How long after you die will the effects of your American dream linger on? If all we're living for (and by living for, I mean devoting our time and money to) is trying to put in extra to get that promotion, or completely devoting yourself to school to get the best job and salary possible, what are we doing that will last?
As followers of Christ, we're told to not store up treasures on earth, but to store up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20) and to "make disciples of all nations" (28:19). As humans though, we want so badly to be comfortable and happy. One of the things God really showed me while I was in China over the summer was how much comfort was a heart idol. We get so focused on worshiping that idol by pursuing earthly things, that we aren't reaching people for Christ with our full potential. It's more than just us spending our money on material things though. Whenever we live life all about "me, me, me", we start drawing inwards and living life in a small way. God doesn't want that; he wants us to live big, wide-open lives of influence. He wants our legacy not to be "toys", but disciples (note, not 'converts'). It's like we're living in an identity crisis: Christ calls us to make an eternal difference (Matthew 28:18-20) but so often we're too caught up in this life to notice! It's my prayer today that we'll surrender our idols of wealth, prestige and comfort to God, and that he'll help change our perspective (and our legacy!) to an eternal one.
(link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJqUN9TClM&ob=av2e)
