Witness for Christ Blog

You might wonder why people choose instead hatred, sorrow and unrest. What would be the forces at play?

Love here should be defined as unselfish, loyal, and benevolent concern for the well-being of another (Greek root agape) - not physical pleasure. So "love your neighbour as yourself" brings it all in context. It is the attitude that puts the welfare of others as a priority.

Joy is the fulfilment of being at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. It is not self-centred pleasure seeking - there is a name for that. It's called hedonism.

Peace is the sense of rest that comes when you are secure in who you are. Obviously you need to have a great sense of self-worth and self-esteem to get there.

Notice than in order to love your neighbour as yourself - you need to love yourself first! And so we go full circle. Could it be that a wrong self-image is the cause of all this dysfunctionality?

We are told that man was created in the image of God. Therefore if the connection with God is lost our self-image goes out the window. Instead we go for pale substitutes which quickly degenerate into hatred, sorrow and unrest.

There you have it. Ever noticed that in the last twenty years since Judeo-Christian values have been systematically removed from western institutions, things are going downhill at an alarming rate?

I guess you don't appreciate what you take for granted. You only value what cost you effort and resources.

What is true on a corporate level is also true on a personal level. Just like governments are falling asleep at the wheel no longer being able to administer the country - likewise couples are unable to keep their families together and divorce is the looming outcome.

Love, joy and peace are not pie in the sky concepts. They need to be experienced day after day. So where do you start? Take an inventory of your values and prepare to let go of number one, your big self, me, myself and I. it's only when you start having altruistic motives that put the welfare of others ahead of yours that you release a boomerang effect. God is watching and will reward those who play by His rules. Are you going to play on His team or are you going to do your own thing all your life? Are you going to be re-connected with no other than the creator of the universe or are you going to be your own god?

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