Ive learned a lot since I first met God 8 years ago (to the day), but no one thing I've learned has been a more difficult concept to get down than that of dying to myself. To be selfless. To be humble. To put others needs above my needs. And most importantly, to put God's plan above my own plan.
If you say you don't struggle with this you're lying to yourself. Which is a whole other topic for another day.
"If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News you will save it." Mark 8:35
Sounds pretty simple, right? Then what's the struggle all about?
I think our first struggle comes from pride, wanting to believe that we know best, and that we are entitled to the things we desire, or that we deserve an explanation when things aren't going the way we had planned. Proverbs has quite a few things to say about all this:
"Fear of The Lord is the foundation of TRUE wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 1:7 (emphasis my own)
"Choose My (God's) instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it." Proverbs 8:10-11 (emphasis my own)
"Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2
"Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last." Proverbs 11:18
"Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything." Proverbs 11:24
"Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring." Proverbs 11:28
"Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others." Proverbs 12:15
"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25 (So important it's in there twice!!)
"We can make our own plans, but The Lord gives the right answer." Proverbs 16:1
"We can make our plans, but The Lord directs our steps." Proverbs 16:9
"Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud." Proverbs 16:19
"We may throw the dice, but The Lord determines how they fall." Proverbs 16:33
"People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at The Lord." Proverbs 19:3
"The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" Proverbs 20:24
"There is more hope for fools than for people who THINK they are wise." Proverbs 26:12 (emphasis my own)
"Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor." Proverbs 29:23
…I can't get enough of Proverbs!
Along with pride, we struggle to fully believe that God will take care of us. When we put even a sliver of faith into the things of this world to take care of us we end up in a battle of living for both God and man:
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life–whether you will have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are? … So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs." Matthew 6:24-26, 31-32
Lastly, and I believe this to be the greatest struggle of all, we struggle with giving up the desires of our own heart for the desires of God's heart. But look at the greatness that comes from a submitted heart!:
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels–a plentiful harvest for many new lives." John 12:24
"If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." Luke 9:23-24
When we give up our own lives to live selflessly we find true life, along with an opportunity for a plentiful harvest of many other lives. As I continue to learn how to die to my selfish desires and go out to serve the world, I encourage you to join me on this journey! Be selfless. Be humble. Be giving. Be love.
One Love,
Kate
