Love People

            NOT “Things”

On a typical day, what do you spend your most time on?

As you think through your typical day, you might come up with daily tasks that qualify as “things” such as: work, meetings, school work, house chores, exercise and activities. Within these daily tasks, are you learning to love the “thing” itself, or the people that surround you?

Are you too busy pursuing “things” to take time for the people you encounter every day?

I find it very difficult, a daily battle in fact, to not focus on all the “things” that need to be done. And most of the time, these “things” are rather important…But are they as important as the people in my life? “Things” are not bad, God gave them to us, but it is the people that matter to God.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:2-3

I encourage you to make more time for people in your day; to pursue them, to help them, and to love them like Jesus does. 

Sharing burdens

I look around at the people surrounding me, those very close to me in my life, and see joy and happiness, but also a lot of hurt, sorrow and worries. Sure, you could say that I am worried and stressed, but my worry and stress comes from school or relationships, things that I tend to put on myself. Others around me are dealing with much greater pains, much greater sorrows, and much greater burdens. And because of this, I tend to ask God, “God, why didn't you even it out more? How come they have to carry all this burden when I really don’t have anything that excruciating?” It just isn't fair.

Then, I was reminded of this truth from Galatians 6:2 – “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” It isn't about how many burdens you yourself are carrying, it is about sharing burdens, helping each other carry the hardships in our lives. We are called to “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.” – Romans 12:15

Through these truths, God has made something very clear to me: He made me to bear other people’s burdens just as heavily as I bear my own. When the people in my life are calling for my attention and help, I want to give it to them, willingly, letting them know that I am available and I WANT to bear their burdens.

Some of us get to choose which burdens we bear, and some of us don’t have this privilege. If you are like me, choose to bear the burdens of those around you. Remind them that God created you to share their burdens. And if you are the one trying to carry all your burdens yourself, allow other people to help you carry them, since this is what God has intended for us.

Heavenly Father, help us to bear one another’s burdens in order to do good and obey You. Help us to understand why you place hardships in our lives. You are good, Lord, and we praise You forever and ever. Amen.

Mini-challenges and Mini-accomplishments all brought to you by a HUGE GOD

Mini-challenges…

Studying for a Stats test, your own sickness or a sickness in the family, an injury, a relationship problem, knowing a friend that is going through a rough time and all you can do is pray for them, feeling embarrassed by your outside appearance or even your own abilities, a sin that you just can’t get rid….

Although usually small challenges that fade away after putting some work in, these challenges can sometimes feel bigger than you can handle. Why this, why now, God?

…Mini-accomplishments…

Getting an A on a test, getting through a tough week, finishing a workout, learning something really cool at church or Bible study, someone telling you “I am proud of you”, applying for a scholarship, finally telling that one person what is on your mind, following God’s call to reach out to your classmate…

Although these accomplishments may seem big at the time, after a few days, you move on to working to accomplish the next task.

all brought to you by a HUGE God.

We all go through these mini-challenges and mini-accomplishments each week. But after they pass, do you ever ask, “Is there anything super bad that is going to happen to me? When can I do something super big? What’s next God?”

It is very unlikely that I will lose everything and have to bear the burden of something greater than a mini-challenge (but I am not underestimating what might happen). I am also not at that point in my life to drop everything to go and serve at an orphanage in Africa, something beyond the mini-accomplishments that I perform every day. But here’s the thing, God isn’t calling me to do that anyways, He wants me here, right where I am.

Wherever you are right now, God put you there. Whatever mini-challenge he has put in front of you, He wants you to fight it. Whatever mini-accomplishment He has blessed you with, He wants you to celebrate it. Although small, they are brought to you by a HUGE God, a God greater than anything we could ever experience on this earth.