Made to Create
November 5th, 2008Chapter 6 in Erwin McManus’ book, Wide Awake, is about being an Activist. The title of the chap. is actually “Create.” I think for some of us, it may be easier to think along the lines of “producing.”
We don’t like to think of us, humans, being able to create, but that is what God made us for.
Not to create out of nothing, but to create, nonetheless.
What are you creating? Or producing? What kind of life are you creating?
Jesus told these 3 certain stories:
The Bridesmaids
The Three Servants
The Separating of Sheep and Goats (you don’t want to be a goat)
Go read these for yourself. What do you think they say to us?
Here’s my take…
1. Some of the bridesmaids were ready for the wedding and some weren’t. They all were excited about being in the wedding but only half of them prepared ahead of time so that when the time came they could join in.
The lesson for us is… Stay Awake and Be Prepared!
Some of us aren’t producing anything (or much) in our life because we don’t prepare to do that. Education, debt, training, health, whatever… are all things that can keep us form being able to do some things that we dream of. Don’t settle for whatever is easy. Prepare!
2. In the second parable, the third servant takes the resources he was given and just buries it so that he won’t lose it. His strategy is defensive and driven by fear of failure more than the possible good that he could do with those resources. We have been given time talent and treasure. Are we being creative about how we can use it for good or are we trying to maintain what we have and not take any risks? If we only seek to hold onto what we have, it usually has a way of slipping away from us. Use what you have! Even if it’s only a little!
3. The last story is pretty serious. It’s the one where it’s decided, “who’s in and who’s out.” The big difference between the “sheep and goats” was that one group reached out to people in need and one group did not. What ever you are creating… or whatever you produce… you must ask yourself, “is this about me, or, is this about others?” It has to be about people!
so… here’s the bottom lines to Creating the life of your dreams:
Stay awake and prepare!
Maximize what you have!
Serve others!
What’s your take?
