The best stuff is the good stuff
Matthew 5:1-11
I used to be a sinner, at least what the world thinks a sinner is. I was filling the hole in my heart with “stuff.” I was justified with my “stuff” because I had self-esteem. Self-Esteem is a self-estimate of the value of life. When you self-estimate, you change the rules according to the circumstance; your circumstance. Everything you do is based upon your own estimate of worth; your worth, the stuff’s worth, and the comparison between your want and the price the stuff demands. More importantly, you must gauge whether or not you actually intend to pay the price for the stuff.
It’s like setting the time on a watch, by looking at the time on the watch. It really doesn’t work, but it makes you feel good. That is, until the time gets so far out of whack that you suddenly realize your watch is telling you it’s morning and you know it’s bed time.
Matthew 5:12
When I became saved, I realized I was no longer a sinner, but I still sinned. I began to put away my old stuff and started replacing it with God’s stuff. I am justified in my efforts to replace the old with the new because now I have a sense of self-worth.
Self-Worth is an exterior assessment of value, based on an external (in this case eternal) standard. A true sense of satisfaction does not come when we believe ourselves to be righteous, or good, but when someone else tells us that we are righteous and good. Everyone understands this concept. It’s why we have trophies and awards. We like rewarding excellence, and for that reward most are willing to sacrifice, suffer and travail.
It is when mankind ceases to look for a higher goal, a more perfect standard, that they begin to fail not only themselves, but those who love them. We call this being lazy, or indigent, but in the end it’s simply just a disassociation from the standard. Why we disassociate ourselves from the standard is another question. There are many, many reasons for our disillusionment towards the goal.
The overall reason for giving up on a challenge is that when you look at your worth, you can’t change the rules, so you must change your circumstance. Many don’t feel the desire, or the need to change their circumstances. It’s just too hard. But, changing your circumstances is like setting your watch by the atomic clock. You can trust the truth of the clock, and adjust yourself to that truth. Although you may not ever see any immediate benefits, you’ll never find yourself thinking you ought to be waking up when you really ought to be going to bed.
Even today I’m still tossing the old stuff out and replacing it with newer, better stuff. My worth is increasing. Every time I get rid of the old, broken stuff I gain new, better stuff. It’s like renovating a house; the value just keeps getting better.
So, how do you go about getting the new “stuff” and getting rid of the old stuff? Who do you ask? Where does the new stuff come from? How do you know the right way?
Who do you ask? You ask the father, because the son said to ask the Father in the name of the Son.
Where does the new stuff come from? It comes from the Holy Spirit who is sent by the Son to dwell within us.
How do we know the right way? Because we have the witness of God through the example of his only begotten Son here on earth. We have the word of eye witnesses, witnesses who were with Him, and who wrote down in written word the things that God intended to be given to man through His Son. Words which were composed before the dawn of time itself.
First, you have to ask
James 4:2
And you can’t just ask, you have to ask the right way
James 4:3-10
Second, when you get your answer (and you will) you have to do something about it
James 1:21-25
Third, once you’ve done something about it, continue doing
Revelations 3:14-21
And fourth, don’t ever look back
Romans 11: 20-22
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