How would you rather live?

[grazbo]

Be well known and liked or put to shame for the gospel?

Have everything and yet have nothing, or have nothing but everything you do have to give it away!

Be prosperous and shout about how God has given you this and that, or quietly help those in need without any one knowing?

Be up the 'front' in all you do or serve with humilty in the background!

Do your best to bless people or curse them and move on

Go to every meeting you can in a week or spend some time with your family

Be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good
be so heavenly minded that you are a great good on earth
(You Decide which fits best)

Reply soon with your thoughts

grazbo

[Whitehorse]

These are some really good questions! In my own personal experience, my goal is (however imperfectly I carry it out) to make everything I've been handed in this life, be it money, time, skills, convictions, blessings from God, persecutions from enemies, praise, slander, support from His family, gossip from His foes, friends, enemies, everything...to God. I truly believe He has a purpose for all things. I believe He blesses some with great material riches so they can do much for the kingdom of God, and others He blesses with poverty, so they can be rich in trust and compassion and do much for the kingdom of God that way. Everyone has gifts, some joyful and others painful. He has His Jobs and Solomons, and He has His poor widows and Phoebes. The important thing is that the Lord is the Author of the dream, the Captain of the heart, the Ruler of the house, the beloved, blessed Lord of the life. The Creator of every breath, the Designer of every deed, the Maker of every ray of sunshine, of every billowy cloud filled with rain.

So, to answer your questions, I think it isn't what a person does or doesn't have, it's Who or who is in charge of it, God or themselves or the world, and what is the work they do with it. As a Christian, I admire biblical teaching, fellowship, and living. To see holy zeal is so wonderful. So refreshing. We all have a comission from God, and it is ever so sweet to see people carrying it out. To see brothers and sisters taking a stand for what is right. To see the Bible become the focus of people's living. To see hearts in right places and hands in holy deeds. It's good to be active for Christ, even though American culture says, "Look out for number one."

It's the motive of the heart that determines all of these things, in ministers, Christians, students, enemies, and critics. We'll all stand before the judge, and it will be an honor to stand with my brothers and sisters in Christ. What a day that will be!

Blessings to you, and thank you for a wonderful post.