In the mirror, it’s hard to figure out left and right at first. It’s a matter of perspective, but it has dramatic consequences on how we view ourselves and the world.
What do you see? What’s important to you? What makes your world go round? What makes it stop?
Do you want to know?
“Looking him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” Mark 10: 21 – 22
Ravi Zacharias of RZIM speaks about an encounter he had during one of his many travels.
He recalls a conversation where a man of a different tells him that life is only a part of faith from his perspective and that the American faith is weak, because it is only a part of life.
It’s a matter of Perspective
Picture this. You have two circles. One represents life and the other faith. Inside the faith circle, this man places his life. Inside the life circle, we place our faith.
The difference of perspective is that when faith is only a part of our life, other things like wealth or relationships will draw our attention away from the eternal and transcendent.
We become selfish because we realize that life is finite and anxious to get all we can while we can.
Perspective Brings Peace
When life is only a part of faith, the perspective becomes much larger as our attention focuses on the eternal and transcendent. Things like wealth and relationships become subordinate to following your faith.
The faith first lifestyle has less anxiety and stress because it knows that any current struggles, desires unmet, or longings will ultimately be found in the eternity of heaven.
It’s this sense of ultimate justice for wrongs done to you and delayed gratification for wants forgotten that eternal perspective brings to the present here and now.
Are they bad?
Neither wealth nor relationships are bad unto themselves. But we all know that the love of money is the root of all evil… Complementary to that is a love that tortures and reigns over you for your “own good.”
The Wealthy Man’s Perspective
The wealthy man is saddened by the idea of selling all of his possessions because it is his identity at the center of who he is – in the same way, many don’t follow their faith fully because something else is in the center. But, at what cost?
The encouragement here is to place Christ at the center of your life and realize that faith is larger than life. In doing so, you’ll experience the peace of God that only He can give.
