How long are we going to treat Christianity like a self-help solution? Pastors, and religious authors teach us about all the things we need to do to achieve healing, prosperity, love, happiness, or become good people. There’s no doubt that their intentions are good, and that they’re helping a ton of people achieve a better life. But it all seems a little hollow to me. When I look at what Scripture says, I see a different approach to ‘improving’ lives.
In the very heart of the Scriptures we see over and over again that our best efforts to become good fail miserably, and always will. Instead of focusing on our sinful failings, we focus on becoming closer to God, and building a relationship with Him. God tells us that that relationship is enough to transform our lives!
Scripture makes it abundantly clear that the laws, and ‘guidelines’ are not the things that we strive towards. They are merely a measuring stick for us to use against our lives to determine where our relationship with the Lord actually is. They give us warning signs when we begin to stray. They remind us that we can’t acheive good on our own. God tells us that rather than strive to become better, we are to strive to know Him better, and He’ll take care of the rest. That’s it!
Take 1 Corinthians 13. Most Christians take it as a goal, something that they strive to achieve. That’s missing the whole point! Love is what manifests in our lives when our focus is on the Lord! It’s not about our effort, it’s about our focus!