In this world of people and things, we can either love people more than things, or things more than people.

If we love things more the people, we will use people to get things. If we love people more than we love things, we will use things to help people.

Using the Crowell 80-20 Life Rule, this means 20% of the people get more and more things by using people. Another 20% use things to help people.

The existential self-diagnostic question is which 20% do we fall into? If we don’t know, it is likely we fall into the 60% of the human population who are just walking through life living a C average existence. Nothing right or wrong with a C; it can be quite comfortable.

My conviction is the King of Kings calls us to fully live. “C” living is half living; living for things is rat race living because enough is never enough. Just a little bit more becomes the daily grind.

Without being super spiritual, my life experience has taught this grandfather the joy of joys in this life is a life of giving more than a life of getting.

There is no place on earth that centers me better, helps me set realistic goals, and fuels my engine, more than the Holy Book.

These passages truly bring joy and delight to my bones:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Matthew 6:25-33

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Phil 4:4-8

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

SHARE IT: