Giving Up or Gaining?

Over the past few weeks, we have been discussing having the faith that you long for in your heart. We’ve talked about what is and what could be. Knowing how to get there has been covered, as well as celebrating the reason you know the way already.

This week I want to talk with you about letting go so you can have the faith you want. We need to count the cost of giving up something in order to reap the benefits of reaching the goal. A wonderful phrase to use is “this for that”.

We have to give something up to do something new. We can’t do everything. This is true when we want to grow in our faith. I have found most people don’t have the faith they want because they are preoccupied with too many other things. To refer to principles we learn from Jesus and the Apostle Paul, we are worried about many things, too caught up in the cares of the world, and let our worldly passions direct our paths. To have the faith we seek, we must give up something.

• A person who wants to read their Bible must make the time to read. They’ll have to turn the tv off, step away from social media, and not commit to other things.
• A person who wants to pray more must carve out time to spend with God, ensure they are rested enough, and perhaps wake up earlier.
• Someone with a desire to help the poor, hungry, and thirsty must dedicate time, energy, and resources to serve in those capacities.

Fulfilling your faith-vision cost something. As Jesus taught, you must deny yourself to follow him.

The other side of this dilemma is to consider what you get if you make the commitment to Christ to live out the calling in your life.

• You will have communion with God. 
• Your knowledge of scripture will increase.
• The joy and satisfaction of helping others will be experienced. 

As simple as it sounds, your faith-vision becomes real.

Here’s the deal. I have heard no one say, “I sure wish I had more time to scroll through social media.” Nor I have I ever heard anyone say, “I feel guilty because I don’t watch enough TV.” “I sure wish I didn’t have to help the poor. My heart’s desire is to be a selfish person.” That’s not heard often, if ever. We don’t hear such comments.

Rather, we find people who scroll through social media and still come away unfulfilled. People watch TV until they are bored and don’t even know what they want to watch. We spend our time and resources on ourselves and grow weary of what we have.

So what are we really giving up when we decide to pursue God and the vision he has given us? I suggest it is not about what we are giving up, but more about what we gain. We improve our relationship with the Lord through prayer. As we learn from scriptures, we increase in knowledge and wisdom. We discover a blessing greater than anything we imagined as we give to and serve those in need. What we get from things such as these far outweighs anything the world can give us.

Here’s this week’s assignment:

Sep 1: Make a list of all the benefits you would get from living out your faith-vision.

Step 2: Think about what you would have to give up or do in order to live out your faith-vision.

Step 3: Ask yourself, “What do the things I must sacrifice really provide me?”

Step 4: Compare your answers from Step 3 to the results of Step 1. Ask yourself:

• Which do you want more?
• Which brings the most fulfillment?
• What does God want for you?
• What do you want for yourself?

Pursuing your hope, dream, and vision for faith isn’t about giving something up as much as it is about what you gain from living the life God created you to live.