Cafeteria Christianity: Prosperity — Monday
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (NIV)
I’ve never been accused of being “cool.” In high school, I was quiet, shy, and a little awkward. Okay… maybe a lot awkward. So the idea of wanting a seat at the “cool kids” table was very relevant to me. Walking in on that first day of school, going to the cafeteria, and hoping someone would ask you to sit down was a source of real stress, especially for the first couple of days. Eventually I would find a group, usually with the band students, and I would have a seat—and acceptance.
As adults, we have the same fear of not being accepted, but it doesn’t culminate in finding a seat at lunch. This fear shows itself at work, at the gym, in bars, parks, and even at home. It's the fear of not being good enough. We combat this fear by picking a trait and putting all of our efforts into achieving it. This week, we are going to look at prosperity as our trait. Merriam-Webster defines prosperity as “the condition of being successful or thriving.” We often think of being prosperous as it relates to money, but there are several ways to prosper. You can prosper with money, health, success, fame... anything that elevates you to a level where you feel good enough, usually equal to or greater than your peers.
But a life of striving for these things isn’t what God wants for you. Being prosperous in life doesn’t ever get you what you think it will. It may get you some friends, but when hard times hit, will they still be there for you? What happens when what you’ve been working so hard to build suddenly comes crashing down? We all have a hole in our hearts, a hole only God can fill. You see, with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, you have already been declared “good enough.” You are already accepted. And you already have a seat at the table. It’s right next to the God of the Universe. To Him, you are more than a cool kid. You are His forgiven, much-loved child.
Monday’s Reflection
What are you trying to fill your God-sized hole with? Consider filling it with Him. If you need help learning what it means to follow Jesus, we’d love to talk with you! Just call (859) 224-1600 and ask to speak with a Care Team member.