Your Spiritual Balance Sheet

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When you were born, you probably occupied a baby bassinet, then a larger crib, then you might have even got your own room! Possibly your first home was a one-bedroom condo, then a two-bedroom place, then kids came, and you might have moved into a four-bedroom place. Some of you ran out of room and moved into a 4,000 square foot house and then, years later, after the kids moved out, you downsized to a small bedroom condo again.

Finally, when life is over, you will pass on from this place and some of your friends will gather around and view you in a casket. After the big garage sale your kids have after dividing up all your stuff, all your saved possessions are in a plastic tub in your kids’ garage until some faraway generation looks at your picture and says, “Who’s that?”.

Here’s the truth… you entered the world penniless, you will leave it penniless, but in between, you might think more about Earth than eternity. People are “stuff-ocated”! They build three car garages and park the car outside so they can fill the garage with stuff. If you believe in Heaven and living forever, you know it’s about eternity, but do you live like it?

Here are a few questions for you to ponder

  • Do you think 30-million years ahead?

  • What should you focus on with the time you’ve been given on Earth?

  • If accumulation of money is not what God measures, are you insecure if you have just enough to live comfortably?

  • Do you act like God really is the owner of your assets, or do you just get advice from Him on how to manage your stuff?

1 Timothy 6:3-20 talks about what I like to call our “Spiritual Balance Sheet”:

A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough. But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after. But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life--a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.

I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He'll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He's the only one death can't touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He's never been seen by human eyes--human eyes can't take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes. Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage-- to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Overwhelming grace keep you!

Here’s how I see this in terms of a “Spiritual Balance Sheet”:

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  • It’s all about me!

  • Make lots, spend lots, save lots

  • Put on a false front

  • Cheat just a little

  • Go hard after toys, leisure, power

  • Help myself & my family

  • Let’s not get carried away now!

  • I’m not sure I believe in a “god”

  • I told her I loved her at the alter

  • What management fad is it this year?

  • People are a means to an end

  • Self-indulgence

+

  • Don’t be full of yourself

  • Don’t be obsessed with money

  • Be yourself before God

  • Be extravagantly generous with:

    • Your money

    • Your talent

    • Your time

  • Do good

  • Go hard after God & the faith

  • Be rich in helping others

  • Live a life of wonder

  • Faith

  • Love

  • Steadiness

  • Courtesy

  • Self-denial


I love what Blaise Pascal says,

“Our imagination so magnifies the present, because we are continually thinking about it, and so reduces eternity, because we do not think about it, that we turn eternity into nothing… and nothing into eternity.

So, what’s in the box of your life?

If you have been exploring the concept of developing your leadership from a Christian perspective, make sure to check out Convene’s CEO Peer Groups. If you’ve been looking for an executive coach or a consultant to help you through a project, take a look at Convene’s Executive Coaching and Business Consulting platforms.