A Spiritual
Paradigm Shift
December 1, 2003
A paradigm defines the way we view something. For
instance, if a man walks around looking at life through
binoculars, he'll view everything as big and close. A paradigm
shift occurs when he puts down the binoculars--suddenly the
world looks very different.
In the spiritual realm, God wants every man to
have a paradigm shift. Specifically, he wants us to change the
way we view success. We tend to view success on the basis of
money and power. Money works because it's an easy way to measure
how we've done compared to other men. It only takes a moment for
someone to evaluate our success by observing the cars we drive,
home we live in, and clothes we wear. Power is a bit tougher to
evaluate because its symbols are more subtle. But as a general
rule of thumb, the more money someone has the more power they
wield.
The problem is if a man acquires great wealth and
influence he realizes his heart is elastic. No matter how much
he stuffs into it, it can always hold more. Solomon said this
when he noted, "He who loves money will not be satisfied with
money, nor he who loves abundance with its income" (Ecc. 5:10).
Rabbi Harold Kushner said, "There are two tragedies in life. One
is not getting what you want, and the other is getting it." Few
sights are sadder than that of a man who spent his life
acquiring great wealth and power only to realize it never filled
the hole in his heart.
Equally heartbreaking is the man who suffers from
self-loathing and despair because he failed in his attempts to
acquire great wealth. Instead of driving a new Mercedes he
drives a used Pinto and lives in an apartment. He fells like a
failure as he struggles to make ends meet. Like the refrain from
the country western song, he knows that, "There's too much month
at the end of the money."
Through the apostle Paul God provides us with a
paradigm shift . . . one that should alter the way we view life.
Paul said, "So then, men ought to regard us as servants of
Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now
it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove
faithful" (1 Cor. 4:1-2).
God doesn't care about your income, investments,
or influence. He only cares about your faithfulness. That's the
one thing God wants from you. He wants you to do the best you
can with what you have. No more. No less. He wants you to
consistently trust in Him and obey his Word. Whether you have a
little or a lot, if you're faithful, God is applauding your life.
|
