One Thing You Don't Need

Its ironic to me that when we survey the world's population and examine issues that each country and region face, the biggest issue in the richest countries are things like: depression, anxiety and suicide.

Interestingly enough, suicide isn't an issue in impoverished areas like it is in first world countries. How is it that people that "have it all" are the most unhappy people in the world?

I heard a sermon recently from a guest speaker at a Christian camp, discussing the Beatitudes, a section of scripture also known as the Sermon on the Mount.  It is a sermon given by Jesus.  Many of Jesus' teachings seem counter to our culture and this section of text is no exception. Jesus says things like, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," or "Blessed are those that mourn..." What? How can they be blessed?  Yet, when we look into the communities of the world, these statements of Jesus are reflected in real-life.

Whenever I visit Thailand and spend time with the Karen refugees living in the northern Thailand mountains, I am moved with the happiness of the Karen.  Here are people who are living outside their native country, without citizen rights, often poor and yet - they are happy.

When a sponsor gifts a new outfit to a girl at the center, you will see that outfit many times throughout a visit, and each time on a different person.  When someone gets something, it is for the group, not the individual.

This attitude is also modeled in the scriptures when we read about the early church in Acts.  Followers of Jesus were focused more on community than the individual.

It seems that the Bible is right.  The more we become focused on ourselves, the more unhappy we become.  The more things we possess, the more empty we become.  The more we get our way, the less we really get what we truly want.

What is the one thing you and I don't need?

Everything.

We don't need to have things the exact way we want it.  We don't need everything our heart desires and can possess with the click of a button and free drone instant shipping.  We don't need to be the center of the universe.

What we DO need is an others-focused, community mentality.  We need to be self-less not selfish.
We need to be told no and to experience disappointment.
We need to live without
...only then are we strong, brave, empathetic, creative and fulfilled.

Seeing others succeed is a greater high than getting the latest technological device.  It is always better to celebrate each other than to have it be all out me.

Our culture is feeding us a lie - A LOT!  Are you ready to abandon the cultural standard of having it all and live the kind of life God created us for?

These 3 things will help you to live counter-culturally:

1. Recognize it - Do you see the subtle and not so subtle way advertisers sell the message that you deserve it all?  Can you take note of how many times that message crosses your path each day?

2. Deny It - Make note of the truth that stands in the face of the lie you are being spoon fed.

3. Defy It - Step out and live in a way that puts others' needs first.  Choose to give more than you receive, to embrace the thorns that prick you when you come across a rose and see the beauty that came with the pain.  Live in such a way that embraces the needs of others and community more than you the individual.

When we see others before ourselves, we live in a way that celebrates our communal and spiritual purpose.  We are, after all, the Body of Christ - working together is the only way we truly work!