Home Depot has labels (Good, Better, and Best) on some of its products so a customer can compare the quality of similar products. In the same way, God can label the quality of our relationships.
GOOD – Sometimes a person is so lacking in resources that s/he is in survival mode and lacks the wherewithal to take care of anyone other than him or herself. This is called selfishness and the operative principle is survival. This is characteristic of spiritual infants. Survival is GOOD.
BETTER – As a person matures, s/he learns about consideration for others. They learn that courtesy/politeness allows them to work with others by reducing friction. And the primary focus is now “me & mine” (family, friends, co-workers, community) rather than simply “me”. This enables us to live out of our gifts while taking care of those around us. This is called self-centerdness, and the operative principle is cooperation. It characterizes spiritual children. Cooperation is BETTER.
BEST – However, we have the best quality of life when we allow Christ Jesus to transform us into his image – that of a forgiven, perfect human! We learn to listen to, and follow our Shepherd’s voice. When we are God-centered, as Jesus is, we see our neighbors – both near and far – not simply as fellow humans, but as children of God who are to be loved. Now, as we accomplish what the holy spirit tells us to do, we fulfill God’s will for the whole earth with all its inhabitants, not just our own short (or long) term will. Now we live in accord with God’s global and eternal plan for all of humanity instead of just our own shortsighted plan. Being God-centered is called holiness and the operative principle is humility. It characterizes spiritual adults. Being holy is BEST.
For instance, what qualified Joseph and Mary to be parents to Jesus, earth’s future king, was not any external factor like education, wealth, power, or social status, but rather the fact that they were both God-centered, holy. So, from the moment of his conception, Jesus matured in a God-centered environment.
Do you aspire to be the BEST possible you? Jesus wants to take you there. Will you let him?
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