Not much time today to get wordy, so just three things that really struck me from “When People are Big and God is Small.” I’d really like to own them in my life.
“To really understand the roots of fear of man, we must begin to ask the right questions. Instead of “How can I feel better about myself and not be controlled by what people think?” a better question is “Why am I so concerned about self-esteem?” or “Why do I have to have someone — even Jesus — think I am great?” (pg 19)
“The most radical treatment for the fear of man is the fear of the Lord. God must be bigger to you than people are. This antidote takes years to grasp; in fact, it will take all of our lives.”
(pg 19)
“Regarding other people, our problem is that we need them (for ourselves) more than we love them (for the glory of God). The task God sets for us is to need them less and love them more. Instead of looking for ways to manipulate others, we will ask God what our duty is toward them.” (pg 19)
The one thing that stuck with me the most is the statement about needing people more than loving them. How does that hit youi?
Jul 28, 2011 @ 08:54:47
Isn’t it so much like that “What if your marriage is to make you holy, not happy”? Really makes you stand back from the day to day “I-don’t-like-this.This-doesn’t-make-me-happy” and instead makes me ask “why does God have me in this situation? Why does God have me in this person’s life?”…And that’s what makes life so amazing and meaningful if you believe that God allows all these situations and people in your life for a reason. We have purpose.
And, actually this goes even farther, not only is it the idea that I have a purpose to fulfill, but I am not always going to FEEL fulfilled or understand it all. I might have a purpose in the other person’s life that isn’t supposed to make me feel good.
This is hard to do sometimes.
i wonder if Mark 10:43-45 applies even though Jesus is answering a request for “honor.” “Whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all. For the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.”
And “I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.” from the Psalms.