WHOSE INTEREST IS IT? Where do you draw the line with your personal interest and God’s personal interest? 

This morning as I read the last chapter of 1 Peter, a thought crossed my mind as I finished reading. How will I share with people what i have read? Should I just post the chapter for them to read or how should I explain the message it has placed on my heart? Flash backs of conversations with friends went through my mind. In relation to those conversations, I decided to write as God leads me, because those were topics I had wrestled with and trying to understand their situations. 

CHURCH LEADERS AND ASPIRED PASTORS

The Apostle Peter wrote both to the Gentile and Jewish believers in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Western Asia Minor and Bithynia, appealing to the elders to “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” Verse 2-3. When I read these verses, something a friend shared with me broke my heart. I think I mentioned it in one of my articles earlier. A pastor in a church does not listen to anyone and does whatever he pleases. He is always right and everyone else is simply wrong. This pastor expected the church to dig up money and maintain his home, so he can live a luxurious life, and people seek favour by selling themselves to him. If this is the attitude we Christians carry with us, then are we truly doing what God has called us to do? Another friend, Vera, shared about one of her parents, who were aspiring to be a pastor, but didn’t get given a position in the church. When that didn’t happen, the parent took out their frustration on her and does not seem to have recovered from that rejection. If God didn’t want you to be a pastor, should you be angry? What if he needed you to take up that degree because he had something else in mind? Shouldn’t you serve God wherever and whenever you are called? We are all missionaries in Christ and we are to shepherd and minister to the lost not give them a wrong impression of who Christ is. Show love and care. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord not for men” Colossians 3:23. There are other stories, but let’s concentrate on the above examples. Think about them and reflect on your attitude and actions towards the work God has called you to. Are you obedient to him or to yourself?

MARRYING INTO A DIFFERENT RACE

I know the importance of family history and the will and need to continue the family business, name, race and you name it. Culture is one thing we value and cherish, which is beautiful and amazing. Where do we draw the line between understanding God’s will and our culture? What if your child decides to marry outside of culture because they have fallen-in-love? Will you as parents deny them their happiness, because the man/woman is from a different country, race and colour? I know this is a sensitive topic to most sheltered families who have not had many encounters with different cultures. As Christians though, should we disapprove of our children’s choices, just because we don’t want to have mixed children even if both couples are God’s children? I have watched a number of my friends’ part ways because their families didn’t approve of the other’s colour. Isn’t that being racist? I don’t know about you, but find it appalling that we as parents tend to think we know what’s best for our grown up children even when God has already assigned them duties and responsibilities and have given them the freedom to choose. I am not saying you as a parent become useless, but how about you accept their decision and pray with them rather than look down on the person they love and cherish? God in heaven sees our hearts and knows our thoughts. Our every action shall be accounted for before him, and I would urge parents out there to think about WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” Verse 7. God is a better judge than you are, so let go off your fears and set your heart on obeying him. Bless your children and he will do the rest.

Those are two major conflicting issues I have been wrestling with, not knowing how to lay it out. God has given me grace and understanding to share my thoughts. It is not easy to follow God without letting our own personal interests get in the way. We however have a choice on how we respond and react to those prideful desires and thoughts. Let us spread wide in the arms of Christ.