“For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephens University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt“
Week 3 of the course is almost over. I’m not quite sure how I’ve lasted this long ’cause it has pretty much consumed all of my spare time. I’m not complaining though, I’ve learned so much in just 3 short weeks and there’s still more to come.
This week our subject was “Fully Human – What Does It Mean To Be A Human Being?”.
One of the areas we looked at was ‘what does it mean to be a relational being?’ I often hear people say that they don’t know their neighbours or “I only know them to say hello to”. To some degree I fit into this as I only have conversation with the next door neighbours on either side of me. I find an anomoly in this because I love to socialise and have a good chat yet I’m apprehensive when meeting new people.
God did not create us to be alone or to be self centred and self sufficient. God wants us to be a community, sharing our lives, our experiences and being there for someone in need. Our relationships with others affect our relationship with God. How can we suppose to love God if we are neglectful of others.
Our relationship with God and others also affects our relationship with ourselves. If I was to say that I love myself I might be perceived as being full of myself. The truth is I do love myself, I have to. I am with me 24 hours a day. I decide what I wear, where I go, what I think. I also decide how I feel about myself. This doesn’t mean that I am self centred (I hope) but that I have self worth. I have two beautiful daughters and I tell them, constantly, that they are beautiful, wonderful people. I truly believe that they are and I want them to believe it too. This is how God looks on us as well. We are made righteous through Jesus – when God looks on us He loves us. I imagine God as a proud father looking at His children just as I look at mine.
If I am of worth to God then I have worth. The important thing is to accept that our worth comes from God and not of ourselves – no pride or selfish boasts. Can we really love God and others if we don’t love ourselves?
Maybe our relationship with self is more important than we might think.
All of my relationships have been brought into focus this week - God, others and self. I cherish them more today than before. I hope they develop and deepen. I hope there is more to come.
God bless, Andrew.
“How can we suppose to love God if we are neglectful of others?”
What a great line, and yYour point hits home completely. We’re not meant to have NO self worth, that would be a sin. But we’re also not meant to be filled with pride – that too is a sin. But recognizing what we have is from God, and living out life and relationships to that effect is what makes God’s creation glorious!
I believe that if we all were to live and love more the way the Bible teaches, by allowing the Holy spirit to lead and guide our thoughts and affections, we would indeed be more fully alive, and in so doing become the glory of God.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Ryan
PS – “The truth is I do love myself. I am with me 24 hours a day” … priceless!