Minus Everything

"The measure of a person may not be in what they have, but what they are able to live without". Pastor David Jacobs.

Humans measure each other only in one scale: how much does one have.

If someone is extremely knowledgeable, they are respected. If some one has a lot of wealth, they are fawned upon. If someone is poor, they are endured at best.

The whole point is How does God view us.

Pastor Jacobs actually creates a new paradigm of measurement, and possibly God uses that measure. What can you live without? There is good sense when in Luke 12: Jesus says

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

In his message Pastor Jacobs goes on to say-

"In the consumer world that we currently live, we are taught that we should always want more, more, more. We can never possess enough, as evidenced by the wealthiest among us. When is it too much? At what point does all of what a person has achieved, gained, and even created actually take away from their status in God's eyes?"

How we view us, view God and how God views us is what we should ponder today.

If we have nothing but we have God, we have everything. God will help us survive with what we need.

Ask Job.

Our 8 Watt Abilities

In his book, Pastoral Grit: the Strength to Stand and to Stay (Bethany), Craig Brian Larson writes:
"In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. According to Leon Jaroff in Time, the satellite's primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to earth about Jupiter's magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere. Scientists regarded this as a bold plan, for at that time no earth satellite had ever gone beyond Mars, and they feared the asteroid belt would destroy the satellite before it could reach its target.
"But Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much, much more. Swinging past the giant planet in November 1973, Jupiter's immense gravity hurled Pioneer 10 at a higher rate of speed toward the edge of the solar system. At one billion miles from the sun, Pioneer 10 passed Saturn. At some two billion miles, it hurtled past Uranus; Neptune at nearly three billion miles; Pluto at almost four billion miles. By 1997, twenty-five years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than six billion miles from the sun.
"And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 continued to beam back radio signals to scientists on Earth. 'Perhaps most remarkable,' writes Jaroff, 'those signals emanate from an 8-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night light, and takes more than nine hours to reach Earth."
The Little Satellite That Could was not qualified to do what it did. Thats a lot like many Biblical characters and a lot like us. 

An ability we think is low, may actually be just what God needs to accomplish something. The question we need to ask ourselves is: What can I do for God? How can God use me? I can cook and clean: Is that good enough (Yes). I can run errands, is that useful (Yes). I can sew. I love to drive. I have green fingers. Yes. Yes to all. Think about yourself today. God made you for a purpose. And if you can't figure it out, go ask God. He is available 24X7! 

Remember, God does not need great orators, scientists, businessmen or women, leaders, etc.  In fact He does not need greatness at all, because He will make you great. All He needs is a contrite heart and a grateful mind. 

How to become an Asset!

2 Timothy 2 14-26

People must see us as different—and different in ways they want to emulate.

Our world revolves around two things - assets and liabilities. We define and classify people around us with these two scales. That is of course in the material world.

In the Christian world, a similar question arises: are we an asset to Christ?

Firstly, let us understand that we are NOT a liability. We, each one, each one of us are valuable to God. Not because of who we are or what we have done, but because of what we have cost.

Second, just because we are not a liability does not mean we are an asset. An asset is something or someone who is useful to God and to the world, people around us and to society at large. As assets we become agents of change for the better.

Last, and following from the above, as assets we become agents of change for God. His word tells us what we need to do, how we must behave and act. How we need to build a relationship with Him as well as the people around us.

That we, become a lighthouse for Him, guiding others to Him. If our light starts to dim, we help each other to brighten it again. That we live a life of praise and thanksgiving, so others want to emulate and experience what we are experiencing.

How can we live as an asset? The quoted verses from Paul can be used as guideline. His Word helps us develop ourselves first and the very nature of our spiritual character will show the world around us, the truth which we know and have experienced.

Prayer

Lord, we ask that you draw us closer to you. Open our hearts and minds, that we may receive your revelations and guidance. May we continually seek you early in our days., prioritizing you above all else. .