The Bible reveals how our perspective is shaped by comparison.
Rom 8:18-19 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. NIV
Verse 19 communicates how all creation is eagerly awaiting God’s sons and daughters to experience and express the love and the life of Christ in the earth. Our world becomes a better place when we discover God’s revealed purpose for our lives. Our homes, our marriages, our families, our workplaces, our neighborhoods all begin to flourish when we are awakened in this capacity.
I find it very interesting that this verse speaking of the transformational power of our lives follows a verse that addresses our perspective by introducing the idea of comparison. Our present suffering doesn’t compare to God’s revealed purpose in our lives!
Gods purposes for your life are greater than any problems you are facing right now! Stop rehearsing your mountain to your God and start rehearsing your God to your mountain! A healthy comparison helps us keep the right perspective.
What we tend to look at as problems truly don’t even compare to problems other people face who live in third world countries. Our problems are First World Problems like a car that has a flat or breaks down. These kinds of things are annoying interruptions to our very busy lives however only 16% of the world population actually drives a car. An 60% of the world population don’t have toilets.
When my focus is on my problems my perspective is shaped by complaint. When I focus on the sufferings of others my perspective is shaped by compassion.
Is your perspective born from compassion or driven by a complaint?
Making the most of your life doesn’t make other people’s pain go away but making other people’s pain go away does make the most of your life. The more we learn to live sacrificially on behalf of God’s love for others the more rewarding it will be. This reward apparently comes not only in this life but also in the next.
1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. NIV
It is as if there is a big cast party that will take place after this world’s production is over. God will be acknowledging the roles we served in fulfilling his purposes. Loving, serving and giving in church positions you to stand before God with the works of this house credited to your life? Every time you give, every time you serve, every time you make a sacrifice to see vision furthered this is applied to your spiritual account.
2 Cor 9:11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion... NIV
We were CREATED TO FLOURISH! When we come to church our lives are enriched. When we become the church our worldis enriched! Focusing on giving beyond our own needs is part of God’s plan for your worship!
Deut 14:23 The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives (TLB)
Tithing helps us with our comparison perspective. There is something bigger going on that we are called to sacrificially embrace. We want you to know it is God’s will for you to discover God’s best by learning to live a sacrificial life with the resources of time and money God has entrusted to your care!
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Purpose a discussion over a meal this week with family or friends to discuss just how blessed you are giving thanks to God.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. What was something that stood out to you from Sunday’s message?
2 Cor 9:11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. NIV
Pastor Lawrence explained how coming to church enriches our lives. While becoming the church enriches our world.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. What are some ways our lives are enriched by coming to church?
3. What are some ways our world is enriched when we actually become the church Jesus desires for us to be to the people around us?
Making the most of your life doesn’t make other people’s pain go away but making other people’s pain go away does make the most of your life.
Jesus is alive!!! Because Jesus is alive the world is a better place! We are alive in Christ! The more we become like Jesus the more we make the world a better place!
Rom 8:18-19 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth COMPARING with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. NIV
Vs 18 speaks of a healthy comparison that then leads into a greater revelation of God’s people transforming the world.
A healthy comparison helps us keep the right perspective.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. Sunday we heard that comparison in the right direction produces compassion. Comparison in the wrong direction produces complaining. How does this apply to you personally?
Wally Lamb wrote, “I cried because I had no shoes. Then I met a man who had no feet.”
Our children will not learn the generous nature of God from their buddies. We must lead them in this. God has always included sacrificial giving as part of worship. God asks us to sacrificially gather as God’s family in the earth expressing our understanding that life is not merely about our personal ambitions or selfish desires.
We should include the next generation in conversations about why we gather and why we give to expand God’s work and further God’s Kingdom in the earth.
Deut 14:23 The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives (TLB)
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Purpose a discussion over a meal this week with family or friends to discuss just how blessed you are giving thanks to God.