WHAT REALLY MATTERS?

Even if you've committed your life to Christ, who takes responsibility... and does it matter?

Photo by Murilo Bahia on Unsplash

To be honest, I have no idea when I wrote this, some time in 1980’s/90’s, so a lot has changed - in the world, church and myself - since then. I probably wrote it as a challenge to myself (I rarely shared anything back then). I certainly still need the challenge all these years later!

Despite how long ago I wrote this, I've done very little editing for today's post. I've left it simple and basic, the way it flowed from me all those years ago.

However, I think I need to explain something before I get comments about how this erroneously puts us at the centre. Of course, I know that's not how life lived with Jesus as Lord works! He is the Centre around which everything else revolves. His love is the Standard against which everything else is to be measured. His is the Power - through the Holy Spirit - that enables us.

This piece is taking that as read. So, what is it about? It's about taking responsibility for ourselves… responding instead of reacting. Easier for some folks than others - I said I take it a a personal challenge! But as we live in God’s Embrace, as we give everything that either blesses or pains us to Him, so we can change and grow…

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WHAT REALLY MATTERS?

It’s not my temperament that matters most,

it’s my response to those natural inclinations that fashion who I become.

It’s not what happens to me that’s most important,

It’s my response to those events.

It’s not how much money or possessions I have that’s important,

It’s my response and how I use them.

It’s not who I know or meet that’s the key issue,

It’s my response to them.

It’s not what talents I have that matters,

It’s the use I make of them.

It’s not the skills I learn that matter,

It’s how I use them.

It’s not the thoughts I have, or the emotions I feel that really shape me,

It’s how I respond to them.

It’s not how healthy I am that’s most important,

It’s how I respond.

It’s not reading the Bible that matters most,

It’s my response to what I read.

It’s not how people speak to me that matters

But my response.

It’s not even how people act towards me that matters,

It’s my response.

Above all, it’s my response to God’s offer of unconditional love that really matters.