I must admit, the Christian life is as mysterious as the way of an eagle in the air. Can you imagine life without self as the main focus? Such is life as a Christian; it makes no room for self:

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

Jesus ”called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

Jesus Christ is or should be the goal of every human being. He is the breath within the life of every Christian:

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28).

A Christian is able to do all things because Christ enables us. We belong to God and are preserved and shall be glorified because of Christ.

The goal of all human endeavors; joy and happiness is always one step away from man. It is only a possession when the heart and mind is in union and communion with the  triune God:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:2).

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 3:17).

Self is too small to get attention, but please don’t get me wrong, I am not saying self is not important because it is important. Jesus would still have died, even if it was only one person on earth who had sinned.

But look at it this way, what is the size of your little village in comparison to the size of the universe? Yet, the universe is incomplete without your village. Every child of God has God at the center and all others on the circumference.

In the kingdom of God, everybody takes care of everybody. Everyone loves God above self, and everybody loves the neighbor as self.

Wealth and happiness are virtues all Christians share equally. The Christian life is self less because, where self rules, God cannot be and neither can there be faith in God. Self and God are antagonistic:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Unregenerate self is selfish; it seeks its own pleasure at the expense of all others and is independent of God.

As creatures of God we can only find pleasure in the pleasure of our Creator. When God is happy with you then you can truly enjoy happiness. Life as a Christian is emptied of self because Christ is the Life within the life; He is the center of attention.

One cannot be a Christian on his own accord; it has to be given and received and lived as intended. True Christianity is giving and there cannot be true giving where self is set as a premium.

Let me ask you a few questions. What will you do with self in the following situations?  When all the blessings of God come upon you and overtake you? When God opens the windows of heaven and pour you a blessing, that there is no room enough to receive it? When God makes all His grace abound toward you so that you always have sufficiency in all things?

When God has blessed you exceedingly and abundantly above all that you ask or think, according to the power that works in you? If you are a Christian then your answers to these questions must matter to you.

The blessings of God are just too much for an individual to spend on self. The sheer weight of such blessings may consume or destroy you. The scope of our calling transcends self and likewise our blessings in Christ.

The world is one big palace with both humans and animals feeding at the same dining table. It is therefore important for each of us to make sure everybody is okay.

There is a reason for us being here (earth), a reason for the kind of person that we are, and a reason for our current situation whether we see ourselves blessed or not.

Life cannot be created or destroyed by any creature except by the Creator and neither can life change form. Life is a gift from the Creator to the creature and this is the reason why each individual human being must come to God for new life without exception.

More important to God is the life of a Christian (and I say this without any disrespect to anyone). There is a divine purpose for God waking us up every morning and likewise the numbers of years spent on earth.

Again, the gifts and talents we each possess are not just for us and our children but for all. God has demonstrated in many ways how humanity ought to live as His children; how to relate, one to another.

For example, in the beginning of creation, God could have begun the population of the earth by creating billions of people from the onset. But, He wanting to teach humanity that we are all of one stock, descendants of one blood and one another’s keeper, created just one adult couple. And from this couple has come every other human being.

Allow me to digress at this point and share with you a very salient truth: No man on earth is truly blessed until the last of us is blessed. The earth is an inheritance to all human beings; every human being that has lived, living and would ever live on it. All the blessings, joy, pain etc. that come with living in God’s lucrative and blissful planet is for all to share.

Now, let me share a brief history of why Christian life is devoid of self, why self cannot rule in the second birth and why no Christian lives to himself.

It all began from eternity past when God the Father gave us this beautiful world and natural life. After man had missed the mark, God in addition gave to humanity, spiritual and eternal life by offering the life of His only begotten and beloved Son as a sin offering for mankind. God gave us His only beloved Son to be the substitute and Savior of every man.

All-knowing God had this plan in place even before man was made and before history. God knows all things well in advance before they come into being; nothing takes God by surprise:

“Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:20).

Jesus came to earth from heaven at the time appointed by the Father and as predicted by the prophets.

At the right time God honored the promise He made to Adam and Eve and their protégé after they had fallen into sin. Christian life was actually born in history when Jesus died on Calvary cross.

God did not force Jesus to come and save humanity; He came voluntarily and vicariously laid down His life for all. He came because He loved us: 

“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).

Jesus tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9). He gave His life as a ransom for all.

He took all of our sins upon Himself and gave us all of His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17); His life was the sacrifice; His blood was that which was poured on the mercy seat in heaven; He was our atonement (Mark 10:45). He died for every man, because He loved every man.

The life of every Christian was purchased by His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19):

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

Close to the end of His incarnate life, Jesus prayed to the Father for the Holy Spirit:

“He, therefore, having received the Holy Spirit after His ascension, and having paid the price for our redemption in full, sent Him to earth to help us obtain all that God has graciously given to all men through Him” (John 16:7-15).

Again, Jesus did not force the Holy Spirit to come, the Spirit voluntarily offered to come (John 14:17).

The Holy Spirit loves us in the same way as the Father and the Son. When the Spirit came, He also gave holy characters (fruits) and spiritual gifts to men: 

“Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).  

Now can you see why the Christian life is all about giving?

The Father gave, the Son gave and the Holy Spirit gave. The triune God is a giver and this is the nature of Life as a Christian; it is all  about giving from start to infinity.

Beginning with self; life begets life:

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:18-19).

“And this is the record that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in the Son. He that have the Son hath life: and he that have not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12; cf. Romans 6:4).

I believe from all that has been said so far, that we can create another definition of who is a Christian.

A Christian is one who follows the divine example: 

“For even hereunto are ye called: Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).  

Jesus  though was God, emptied Himself (took upon himself our human nature) and humbled Himself (appearing not in splendor) became like one of us, sinful man; and even stooped lower by dying on a cross, the death of a criminal and a slave.

As a result God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above all names. The same promise of exaltation is reserved before God and the holy angels for each individual Christian.

Each of us is called upon to follow the divine example:

“For other foundations can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Only if we follow the footsteps of our living Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ greater reward awaits each of us.

If we humble ourselves before God and lay down our lives for Him and his course, we shall possess the heavenly glory: 

“He that findeth His life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Mathew 10:39).

If we live a sacrificial life before Him in fear and trembling, we shall be exalted.

As already mentioned, Jesus Christ is the true mind within the mind and strength within the strength of the Christian: 

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11). 

In response to the gracious acts of God, every Christian is called upon to voluntarily follow the divine order through self-denial.

Self-humbling is the hallmark of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ being our supreme example. Though Jesus Christ is God, He voluntarily condescended to the level of a man, and not just a man but even lower by becoming a slave and finally died as a criminal on a wooden cross. 

Jesus Christ is the foundation on which every one of us is building on and every man’s work shall be tested on the day of reckoning by fire: 

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (1 John 5:11-12).

Every born again must be totally sold out to Christ and His agenda.

The daily life of every Christian is to be lived out through the faith of the Son of God. This means we must depend on the accomplishment of Christ to live our daily Christian life and not what we can produce or deduce from self.

We must have the same feelings and interest as Christ. His heart, will and mind must become our heart, will and mind: “what things were gains to me, those I counted loss for Christ:”

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

 Each of us rose again as a creature that is fully God-centered; a new creature that has no self to gratify.

Jesus is everything to the Christian (Colossians 3:4): “In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Through Christ we can bear all things:  

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to be abound” (Philippians 4:11-12).

Union with Christ means oneness with Him; His stripes are for our healing, His death for our offences, his resurrection for our justification and sanctification and finally, His glorification would be our future glorification: “Christ in me the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27): 

“The way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). 

No Christian lives for and to himself, but unto Him who died and rose again for Him.

To place emphases on self is sheer wickedness and there is no room for such in the kingdom of God and of Christ: 

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

The resurrected life of a Christian is not his to organize and live as he pleases.

Jesus died for all, so that all who may live shall live for Him:

“They which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

The new life received at regeneration rightfully belongs to God and must be lived for Him.

Take note, it is our duty to give it to Him, because He would not take it by force. Once again, our will and agenda must be replaced by His will and agenda:

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).

The life of a Christian is gratuitous; to live as a Christian is man’s way of saying thanks to God for all His benefits.

Every service or sacrifice that a Christian renders to God and to men in the name of Jesus, is and should be considered gratuitous and with no expectation or return whatsoever.

For example, when a Christian loves his wife or spouse, gives alms, pays tithes, or worships, it is all gratuitous and must be done in the spirit of gratitude. Equally, when we render love and services one to another, we do them as unto the Lord.

See how God personalizes our response to one another from this quotation:

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again” (Proverbs 19:17).

Again, the scriptures declare: 

“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:7). 

The word ‘independence,’ is not known in the new life and in the kingdom of God.

The only reason the world will not accept theocracy is because, it is out of joint with God and His will. The dictionary of heaven contains no words such as self, me, I, independence and any isms.

In Christ, everyone, everything is God dependent. Whatever we do as Christians must be done as to please the Lord and no one else and not even ourselves.

For example, a wife is not to please the husband nor the husband to please the wife but, the Lord. However, both will find fulfillment in each other as they walk and seek to please the Lord. God should be the love-knot in every relationship whether its parenthood, marriage, etc.

The giver must have His share before the receivers: 

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).  

We become like Jesus when we seek to be like Him (Philippians 2:7), but, this cannot happen until we first give ourselves to God, before our sacrifices and offerings.

God is not interested in the sacrifice of the wicked (unbeliever) because, they are an abomination to Him. God cannot be bribed and neither can He be fooled by any man’s flattery: 

 “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:22-23). 

God is a social being, and so are Christians.

We get our own right when we seek the right of others; we feel loved when we love others, when we forgive others their trespasses against us then, God forgives that which we have committed against Him; we must be willing to do for others what we want God to do for us.

The rule of life says, ‘what is good for me is good for all.’

What is good for the rich is also good for the poor. For example, the clothes that the rich wear upon themselves and their children, the cars they drive, the food on their table, etc., if they are better, then the poor and the needy deserve the same. After all, the same divine hands made us all.

Take the teaching of Jesus on forgiveness for a better understanding: 

“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” (Mathew 18:23-33).

The rich of this world, believe it or not, cannot be truly happy unless everybody else has a due share, and this applies to rich nations as well.

The mass exodus of immigrants from poor countries to the rich countries would never stop, unless the poor nations are equally blessed, after all, nobody in the true sense would like to be a friend to poverty.

Besides, the resources of the earth are for all to share. Rich nations can save the enormous money spent each year to curb illegal immigrants and rather spent to improve the quality of life in the poorest nations. To at least give them a descent living.

More money or abundant goods does not translate into joy and happiness. One can be very rich and yet unhappy. Here is another parable as told by our Lord. It is based on a rich young man who came to Jesus seeking life in the kingdom of God: 

“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting” (Luke 18:18-30).

To know the Son of God and be known by Him transcends all earthly glories:

“Anyone who layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God is a fool” (Luke 12:21).

To be rich in the sight of God is to seek the good of all men through the Holy Spirit.

Self is insatiable and he is not subject to change. Self wants it all and wishes that everybody would recognize and come begging. Christians must seek the good of all men, especially those of the household of faith.

We must sincerely love another; love should be the cause for all charitable works. Love must be the motive for giving; giving without love pays no reward in the kingdom of God; it has no residual value:

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3).

 Love must be the only reason we give.

Love does not seeks its own. Its own is the Lord; its own is the owner of the universe who seeks the good of all. Love is personified in Christ; love is the rich man (Christ) who came from heaven purposely, to share his riches with all mankind (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Again, love is the longsuffering of God who is still pleading with man to repent and be saved. Where self rules, true love is absent and where true love rule, self is absent: 

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a) 

Love gives 100%.

No Christian contributed towards his salvation. The salvation each of us received by faith is a fully paid for. Spiritually bankrupt, we had nothing to bring. Therefore, our heavenly Father gave to each of us 100% of all that is needed to restore us to glory and beyond. Every Christian becomes rich at the expense of Christ.

God takes over a wasted, unprofitable and perishing life, pays off all debts, and then makes it rich by planting us together with His rich Son; thus making us credit worthy (Galatians 4:7; cf. Romans 8:17; Hebrews 1:2; Revelations 5:12).

God replaces our poor and unworthy life with the rich life of His worthy Son: 

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). 

Now, armed with all this information, answer for yourself these questions:

Is it possible for a Christian who is a recipient of such gracious generosity, withhold from God? Can Christians withhold from those who need their help or withhold from the less fortunate? Can any of us hold tight to what has been freely given and received?

I tell you, the answer to all of the above is no. It is the secondary duty of every Christian to share what we have with all who have not. This may sound difficult but to whom much is given, much is required. The glory of Love is that love never ceases. God who gave the world and His Son and His Spirit is still giving.

Every day, plants, animals and humans receive abundant blessings of life and sustenance from him: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

One cannot be a true disciple of Jesus and hold tenaciously to family, spouse, children, self, and personal effects.Each individual Christian must be prepared to forsake all and to suffer for His name sake (Luke 14:24).

It is expected that every man aspire to be like Jesus Christ; self-sacrificing and self-humbling: 

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mathew 5:45).

The kindergarten of Christianity begins with knowing your why: Why you believe; why you are a Christian; and why God chose you.

Further, you must know why God did what he did for you and why He was willing to pay such a hefty price for your freedom. There is only one answer to all of these questions: God created us in order that we may live happily together with Him and is for this reason Jesus died to bring us back to God:

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savior” (Ephesians 5:2).

Who knows why many prayers are not answered, may be due to the fact that they are full of self; full of I or me and self.

We ask for things to consume on the flesh and not for His honor and glory. Christians are channels of blessings; we receive from God and pass it on to others. Then, they who receive also pass it on to others and the chain of giving continues.

On the reverse, praise and adoration pours from the lips of the last recipient to the first; multiples of praises rise to the throne room of grace through giving and receiving. God rejoices, and the circle continues. In addition, the joy of all multiplies because everyone has the opportunity of showing gratitude to God.

We maintain a constant state of fullness when we come to know the love of Christ and the blessings of giving. Apart from maintaining a state of fullness we become blessed with constant overflow (Ephesians 3:19-20; cf.1:23). Overflow makes up for the shortage in others, till we all come to a state fullness (2 Kings 4:6; Mathew 15:37).

There are so many needs in the world and in the body of Christ; there are too many people who need our help daily. Overflow is what supplies the need of others while maintaining fullness; without ourselves running short (3 John 2): 

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1John 3:16). 

Jesus once told the parable of a man who was so blessed that instead of being an imitator of God by being a cheerful giver, decided to keep all to himself: 

“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:16-21).

Greedy self is another reason we have a world that is opposed to the will of God.

The worldly man says what is my, is my but the Christian says what is mine is yours. Where the Spirit rules, love and submissiveness rule:

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

Think of this, what does it profit you to have billions of earthly goods while your fellow men are dying from lack of basic human needs:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Mathew 16:24).

Our heavenly Father cares much about the right of all to descent life because there is enough for all.

Human life is far more precious than goods and animals. Huge sums of money spent on war machines can be spent to improve the quality of life and existence of all men. The well being of all mankind is the duty of all:

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7). 

We must not forget, for Jesus warned us against the increase of worldly goods:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mathew 6:19-21).  

There is no place for self-rule in the new man and the new life:

“For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died” (Romans 7:9).

“For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God” (Galatians 2:21).

What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19).

What comes to mind first thing in the morning and last before bed time?

 What occupies the mind throughout the day determines whether self or Spirit is ruling. True life is that which is lived under the rule of God and in His presence.

Very often, you hear, especially church leaders, make the following statements; we want to build a large church; we want to have branches all over the world; we want organize a large choir; we want to buy forty acres of land for the Lord, we want to have a radio or television ministry to spread the Gospel etc. To be honest, none of these ventures are bad in themselves.

But, the question each of us must ask before taken any of these ventures in the name of God is for us to truthfully examine ourselves if what we are about to do (are busy doing) is for the glory of God.

Yes they are done in the name of Jesus, but who actually gets the glory and who are the beneficiaries? I believe the starting question for any work done in God’s name is a critical examination of our conscience and motive.

We must make sure that pure necessity, hardship and self aggrandizement is not the driving force. For example, to enter the pastoral calling because of retirement, unemployment, failures and misfortune may not be a smart idea.

Each of us must make it a responsibility to ask ourselves: Has God really asked me to do what I am doing in His name or am I by myself doing them for Him? Are we trying to win His favor by self-effort or trying to help Him accomplish His purpose?

No work is worth doing for God if He has not asked us to do. The tragedy with some of our Church leaders is that they fail to acknowledge the fact that God honors and protects his name and that signs and wonders are not necessarily approval of character or works.

Huge crusades, large congregations, many people saved are not always signs of approval and acceptances of method used and or even work done. Sometimes, we put God in a box; we make Him defend His name unwillingly. To be honest, any unbeliever who gathers people in the name of Jesus and preaches the word even out of spite, pretence or greed may see great and positive results.

In the same vein, it may be possible for a preacher to share his bed with a prostitute on Saturday night, and yet, see many souls converted on the alter Sunday morning.

Many of the mighty moves of God are permitted because God protects His Holy name and glory and not because He approves the lifestyle, motives and the means by which these works are done in His name: 

“For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another” (Isaiah 48:11). 

Furthermore, sad to mention is the fact that things acquired in the name of God, in many cases end up becoming personal or family property.

They are often wasted, laid to waist or even used for ungodly purposes. Huge sums of money that could have being used for Gospel outreach are used on custom made church buildings, church decorations and top notch technology. Others use it for expensive clothing, cars and mansions. Many who are paid handsomely engage in fanciful lifestyles.

Please, understand that I am not saying these things are bad in themselves; after all, the laborer deceives his wages. But, the question we must all ask is how shall all this play for us on the judgment day or at the judgment seat of Christ? Will He say well done or you wicked, get away from me?

Christians have received a holy calling; the way of life is the way of holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. It is about time, we all re-examine our motives and consciences for the day of the Lord is fast approaching. We have a God given responsibility to seek the rights and welfare of all men: 

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him” (James 4:5). 

There is nothing like, what is in there for me in the kingdom of God because, all is for Him.

God has promised to take care of the needs of every man, so that every man can take care of every man:

“Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Mathew 6:31-32).

If we have the feelings of Christ, then we shall have the same interest as Christ; His concerns become our supreme concern: 

“Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be life, or by death” (Mathew 6:31-32).  

We can summarize all that has been said so far by concluding, life as a Christian began with God giving us life through His Son.

Jesus purchased life for every man by His voluntary and vicarious death on the cross of Calvary. That which was purchased was brought down to man by the voluntary coming of the Holy Spirit. Trinity is the source of all giving.

Christians are imitators of God by first giving themselves to God. Life as a Christian is self-humbling and self-sacrificing. Here is the supreme example. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.” It is giving from start to finish.

Everybody in the family of God gives, starting from the Father to the least in His kingdom. True giving is emptied of self; it is full of love. Where self rules, the Spirit is either silenced or absent, for self and the Spirit cannot co-exist and co-rule.

From the moment of rebirth, the Holy Spirit begins the work of Christ by seeking to reach others through us. He seeks the welfare, salvation and the dignity men through us:

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death” (Philippians 1:20).

Above all; know that if your thoughts and acts are not for the glory of God then you are out of joint with God. 

From Transcended Life ISBN 978-1-60643-527-4. Tell others about this site .