I was in a neighborhood restaurant with my family recently when a framed poster caught my eye. It was from the Coca-Cola Company and pictured a Navy crewman serving his buddies Coca-Cola on board a destroyer during World War II. The caption read, “Any place, anytime, the pause that refreshes.”
As I stood there reading this phrase for the fourth time I suddenly realized that in our hectic, go-go lives we seldom take a break to refresh ourselves; to think about how we are living our lives, about our Christian walk, and whether we are centered in God’s will.
Of course, we could refresh ourselves “anyplace, anytime,” but you know what happens; you get busy, and “anyplace, anytime” never happens.
We need to take a moment every once in a while to review ourselves in light of God’s unique plan for us and make sure that we are still on track. So let’s take a moment now to “pause and refresh.” When you are done, if you want to learn more about developing a fulfilling, authentic relationship with God read Bill Hybels’ book, Honest To God? Becoming An Authentic Christian.
1. Role Relationships
This is indeed a complicated world, and a lot of people (television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and now even the government) are trying to tell us how to behave as men and women. They are even telling us how we should feel like men and women. No wonder people are confused about their roles.
Fortunately, God gave us a lot of help in this area.
What should a man do in today’s world? How should he behave? There are as many answers as there are men. But Paul provides some excellent advice: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage. Do everything in love” (1 Cor. 16:13-14). Men need to develop a strong relationship with God. We need to be on our guard for those that would seek to take us away from our faith or break our relationship with God. We need to be men of courage, capable of standing up to the world in defense of our Godly principles. At the same time, we need to be loving, caring, and sensitive to the needs of others.
Does the Bible give similar advice for women? Indeed, it does! Look at the examples of the many women God used: Deborah (Judges 4-5) was a wife, a prophet, a judge, a ruler, a warrior, and a poet; Esther (Esther 1-10) the Jewess who married a Persian king and saved her nation from genocide at the risk of her own life; and Priscilla (Acts 18) who with her husband Aquila, provided theological training to young Apollos. These are just three of literally dozens of women who God used in a mighty way.
The point of all this is that God made each of us unique. We should not try to be like someone else. We should try to be the best at what God made us to be, our own unique self. Find that uniqueness that God put in your life, and break away from the pack.
2. Work
Work is not a spiritual curse. As the writer of Ecclesiastes said; “…enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward” (Eccl. 5:18 NAS). Here are four tips to help you find a great reward in your work.
Attitude. Remember Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians to be content in their stations (1 Cor. 7). The one with the most toys is not the winner. While work is an important part of God’s plan, it is secondary to our need to be God’s servants.
Diligence. Work as Solomon said, “with diligent hands” (Pro. 12:7). We should work as though God were standing beside us all the time. Honor Him by working hard and by doing your best.
Passion. Do work for which you have a passion. God uniquely created each of us to do certain work. Find out what God has made you to do, and do it!
Perseverance. Paul was shipwrecked, stoned, flogged, and put in prison. Yet he considered these difficulties as merely “light and momentary afflictions.” Paul was effective because of his sheer determination and perseverance. Do not let your light and momentary afflictions keep you from being God’s servant.
“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:2
3. Marriage
As I stood in church one day during prayer, I felt my wife, Barbara, put her head on my shoulder and squeeze my hand. It was a silent but meaningful acknowledgment of the love we share for each other. To be sure we have our differences. I am controlled and patient and am capable of reading a good book all weekend long. She is always on the go; it pains her to stand in one place for five minutes. We are opposite in so many ways I marvel at the fact that we are still together. Yet we are more in love today than the day we were married.
To the extent that we have a successful marriage, I believe it is because we have learned to value our differences, and in fact, use them to build a stronger family. I rely on Barbara’s opinion of people. She can read someone better after five minutes than I can after a year. When we’re under stress, she relies on my calm nature and my patience.
God made us different so that when we were put together, we would be one whole. Find those differences in your spouse and celebrate them, use them, and build on them.
4. Finances
Driven by the desire to acquire, Americans spend $1,300 for every $1,000 they make. Yet no one is getting rich renting U-Hauls for funerals. You cannot take it with you! So why do so many people keep spending what they don’t have, for things they don’t really need, to keep up with people they don’t really like?
Solomon was the richest man in the world, and even his wealth did not bring satisfaction. What chance do we have? Only one, learn to be satisfied with what we have and learn the basic rule of God’s economy.
Luke said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38). Investing in God’s economy will return many blessings. So, gain your financial freedom by paying God first, then yourself in a regular savings plan, and live on the rest.
5. Evangelism
Many of us get a cold shudder running up and down our spines when someone mentions the word “evangelist.” You can see some intimidating, bible-thumping man screaming at you about hellfire. And you don’t want to be like him!
Rest easy folks; there is good news. Every person that comes to know God needed to hear God’s message in a slightly different way. That’s why to be successful evangelists we don’t need to worry about being like Billy Graham or anyone else!
Even if we are not outspoken evangelists, we are all serving evangelists. Our lives are a testimony of our faith through our service to others.
God made every one of His creatures unique and has provided a variety of ways to present the Message through the unique gifts of His servants. Don’t worry about not being comfortable with a particular style of evangelism. Find the style that suits you best, and prepare your message so that when you have the opportunity to present the gospel to someone, you’re ready.
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 2:23
6. Parenting
A survey done in the 1940s asked teachers what students did that caused them the most concern. The answers included talking in class, running in the halls, chewing gum, and not wearing appropriate clothing. A similar survey completed in 1982 had different answers; rape, robbery, assault, burglary, murder, and suicide. Today, the same problems exist, but teachers now live under the constant threat of being sued if they try to take corrective, disciplinary action with students.
What happened in the last 70 years? The breakdown of the family unit; divorce skyrocketed, dual-income families left kids unattended, role models like rappers who advocate killing police and raping women, and a cheapening of the value of life all played a part.
Despite all the difficulties, one of the most important jobs we will ever have is to raise up a generation of children who know God. The writer of Proverbs tells us to, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
Of the many things that we need to teach our children, none is more important than having a relationship with God. Teach a child about God, lead them into a personal relationship with Him, and you will have equipped them to lead fulfilled lives.
What things are worth more than this? What parent would not give up everything they have to have their children happy, successful, and fulfilled? An investment in children, yours or others, will reap eternal rewards.
7. Facing Difficulties
My father died in 1993, and my mother in 2006. At the moment of their passing, and for the next few days, I thought over and over again about the command in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, rejoice!” But, I struggled with the question, “What is there to rejoice about in this situation?”
Regardless of age, we all face difficulties; difficulties in which it seems there is nothing to rejoice. So why then, did Paul write this command to the Philippians? The answer comes in verse 7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
No matter what the situation. No matter how bleak the outlook appears. When we rejoice in the Lord, when we focus our lives on Him through prayer and thanksgiving, God will provide peace in our lives. We may not understand it, but God will give us the strength and the peace to see us through any valley of darkness.
8. Service
The psalmist wrote, “How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?” (Ps. 116:12). Obviously, we can’t; our righteousness is as filthy rags, but shouldn’t we try?
Paul said, “…I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord has given me…” (Acts 20:24). Clearly, Paul thought it was important to do the work God had called him to do, even if it meant death. Peter wrote, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administrating God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Pet. 4:10).
There are speaking gifts (teaching, prophecy), people-oriented gifts (counseling, encouragement, hospitality, leadership), service gifts (giving, helps, craftsmanship), and support gifts (knowledge, discernment, faith, interpretation, wisdom). God has uniquely built into each of us gifts that can only be expressed through us.
What are you passionate about? What are you driven to do? Perhaps these are your gifts. We should spend time figuring out what our gifts are and then use them!
9. Physical Fitness
Our bodies are an incredible piece of God’s handiwork. Sadly, many of us fall in temptation to fast food restaurants, snack foods, and putting off until tomorrow exercise that should be done today.
Paul wrote to the Romans, “I urge you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom. 12:1 NAS). And to the Corinthians, he wrote, “…do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
If we are to present ourselves as living sacrifices, as Paul suggests, then shouldn’t we keep these bodies that house the Holy Spirit in good condition? Lose the weight you need to lose, change your diet, and start getting the exercise you need to keep you healthy and useful to God for many years to come.
One Final Thought
If my wife, Barbara, were standing behind me reading this letter she would undoubtedly be shaking a clenched fist with index finger extended saying, “You don’t do this, you don’t do this, and you don’t do this either!” And you know what? She’s right. I know I am sadly deficient in many of these areas. Oh, I have moments of brilliance to be sure, but I have plenty of room for improvement.
The keys presented here are designed to help you review various aspects of your life. Read them, think about them, and pray for them. They are vital parts of living a fulfilled Christian life. It does not matter that you need improvement in one or more of these areas. God already knows you are not perfect. What matters is the condition of your heart toward God.
Bonus Whitepaper
9 Keys to Fulfilling Christianity is also available in the form of a bonus whitepaper. This 7-page bonus whitepaper includes more in-depth content covering the 9 Keys to Fulfilling Christianity. You can download it here:
9 Keys to Fulfilling Christianity
More Articles on Priorities
I’ve written several articles on the importance of priorities in the Christian life. Here are three of my favorites.
#025: The Single Most Important Investment Priority
#081: Understanding our Primary Priority and Making Decisions
#181: Pressure, Pleasure, Power, Pride, and Priorities Lead to Failure
There are more articles on the importance of setting priorities in our life. If you to read them, simply search the website for “priorities.”
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome! Do you “pause and refresh” regularly to consider yourself in light of God’s unique plan for you? If so, how are you doing with these nine keys to fulfilling Christianity? Which one do you struggle with the most?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because people like you share it with friends. Would you share it by pressing one of the share buttons below?
Category: Personal Development | Priorities
Ron,
This last Saturday a police chief I once worked for passed away from cancer. I drove down to console his wife and son. I have been working with the family to plan the memorial and your post was a well timed message to ” pause and refresh.” I liked your reflection about how you and your wife learned to “value our differences.” And the comments on parenting were spot on. Thanks for a great post.
John,
So sorry to hear about your friend. It is a great privilege to bring a message of peace and hope to a family that is grieving. I am glad you were there for them – I am sure it was a great help in a time of great need.