Click here to go to the Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-15

In Paul’s time many people went around telling everybody who wanted to hear about the great things they’ve done for God. They enjoyed people’s reactions to that. It makes you wonder about their agenda.

This is not so unfamiliar to us. There are so many people who make a big scene about the many things they achieve in the Name of the Father. We see it on TV and all over the internet. The more people fall down, get up and walk, the bigger the following. The question is: Who is it all about in the end? Is it about God or about the person?

Paul works differently. He also had supernatural meetings with God and he says: 13If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Paul doesn’t broadcast his special experiences with God to everybody. No, it was personal and will remain between him and God.

Paul has enough insight and vision to recognize when something is done for personal gain. This has no place in God’s world. When you believe in Jesus, the focus shifts away from self to others around you: 15He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

When Jesus fills our lives, we get a new outlook on life. Then I don’t ask where I can get as much as I want, but rather where I can give more. My focus is on other people and I no longer want to take as much as I possibly can for myself. And that is so difficult to do, because as a result of the fall we are wired to put ourselves first. Every man for himself and the rest can look after themselves.

But when Jesus lives inside you, we start returning to our original state. Then we no longer focus on what we want, but what God wants, and God wants us to focus on others. When Jesus comes and lives inside us with His Spirit, our orientation changes and instead of looking for taps that can give us something, we become taps quenching other people’s thirst.

God gave each of us many talents. God gave us a full tank. When we allow the Spirit to live in us, we notice the places where there is drought. We see the places where other people are in need. With the help of the Spirit we receive power and wisdom to go there and open our taps. Now it is no longer about us, but about others.

And when we succeed in doing so … let’s keep quiet about it, because it can quickly become about our agenda and not about God.

May we allow the spirit to work in us. May we obey Him and change the focus from grabbing and taking to giving and giving and giving. Let’s rather look for others who can drink from our tank and know that this is what it should be like in the Kingdom of God. That’s where there is real peace and joy.

Reflection

Who do you focus on?

How much space do you have in your life for others?

Who do you live for?

Prayer

Lord, it’s not easy to put our own needs aside. It’s not easy to leave everything behind and attend to the needs of others first. Please help me through Your Spirit so that I will focus on others. I know this is Your will. Amen