I read an article recently that stated an interesting fact. It said that Americans spent, and forgive me if the numbers are wrong, 9.8 Billion dollars on self help books and information in 2005. Over the last few years I've read my share of self-help blogs and I've bought a few "you can do it" style books. These numbers got me thinking about what's the reason we all want change so badly. Along with that I began wondering how the bible says Jesus brought about change.
Jesus was the exact opposite of His culture and did things completely different than the religious leaders of His time. Jesus was around in a time when the government and religious societies told people to do whatever they had to in order to get ahead. Is it any wonder that the majority, if not all the tax collectors mentioned in the bible were crooks and thieves? A trait arguably passed down from the government into the lives of all the low level officials such as the tax collectors. The way to improve your life in Jesus's time was to cheat and steal your way to the top. To take advantage of people and play on their weaknesses in order to move yourself further up the ladder.
Jesus comes onto the scene and begins to tell people if they truly want to change they must not look inside themselves, rather they should look outside into their local communities. Jesus tells people, for the most part, if they want to change themselves they need to first look into changing their communities. To the rich young ruler Jesus says to go sell all that he has and give it to the poor. To Jesus's disciples He teaches them how to feed the hungry, how to pray for and heal the sick. He doesn't lead them in a 12 week discipleship course at their local synagogue. Please don't read what I'm not saying. I'm not saying that 12 week discipleship courses in your church are wrong or counterproductive, I'm not saying that self improvement is wrong. What I'm saying is, according to the example Jesus set, the best way to see the change inside ourselves is to be active in providing the change outside of ourselves.
I've spent a few years trying to change my life for the better. I think most people do the same. In my case I was trying, and to some extent still am, to improve myself first. I have this thought that I cannot create the change I want to see in the world until I reach some level of "perfection". I've learned that's a very bad way to approach life. Why? Because I set myself on a very high and guarded pedestal and the tinniest slip brings me crashing down to the floor and becoming afraid to climb back to the top. Time and time again I've fallen off and remained laying on the floor of what I perceive as being failure.
Somewhere in the bible one of the new testament authors says that I'll never become perfect in this life. This life is a journey I take, a road I walk. My journey is not complete until I reach my destination.
So the question is, should I not participate in brining change into this world until I've arrived? It seems to very basic, the answer to the above question. Yet, I live my life this way. How can I help others and help my community when I am still working with myself?
Well, in true Jesus form, the best answer is always counterintuitive. Jesus lives His life and tells me that, instead of focusing on myself I should focus on others and on the world and community around me.
Cheers,
~ Anthony
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