Cornerstone

Evidently Rick Warren and Max Lucado read from the same script. The first words in Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” state “It’s not about you.” Max Lucado echoes this thought in his book, It’s Not About Me, by devoting the whole volume to the subject. “Not” is a big exclusive word. Is this statement by Rick Warren and Max Lucado totally correct? I appreciate the concept. I am humbled by the realization that too often our lives, thoughts and ambitions are self-centered. My being readily responds in praise to God when I am reminded that He is the center of my universe. My desire is that His will be done. I bow in adoration before the One who really matters in a world obsessed with selfish considerations. But I must honestly ask myself once again, “Is it only about Him?”

I ask this question which I fear will appear to be irreverent and self-serving. I take that risk because I believe the scriptures go beyond the concept of the worthlessness of humanity. I do not believe that God has these deprecating thoughts about those that He has created.

Is it ultimately about Him? Absolutely. On the other hand, it is largely about you and me. Didn’t John record the fact that God considered every human being was of great value? John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Didn’t Paul remind us of this great love when he said, Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God didn’t wait to impart righteousness to us before He commended His love.

It was about me after all. It was so much about me that He decided to suffer the extreme humiliation of putting aside His divinity long enough to suffer the ravages of humanity. It was about me after all. It was so much about me that “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin , condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:3) so that I could experience deliverance, holiness and divine love.
I think that God would say that it is about me.

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Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, (Grand Rapids: 2002), p. 17. It’s Not About Me by Max Lucado (Integrity: 2004).

by Dr. Gayle Woods

Ephesians 5:25-27 (25)

 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

The Saturday Evening Post published an article entitled “The Seven Ages of the Married Cold.” It revealed the reaction of a husband to his wife’s colds during their first seven years of marriage.

Year one: “Sugar dumpling, I’m really worried about my baby girl. …. I’m putting you in the hospital this afternoon for a general checkup and a good rest….  

Year two: “Listen, darling, I don’t like the sound of that cough. I called Doc Miller and asked him to rush over here. ..

Year three: “Maybe you’d better lie down, honey: nothing like a little rest when you feel lousy. …

Year four: “Now look, dear, be sensible. After you’ve fed the kids, washed the dishes and finished the floor, you’d better lie down.”…

Year five: “Why don’t you take a couple of aspirin?”…

Year six: “I wish you’d just gargle, instead of sitting around all evening barking like a seal!”…

Year seven: “Stop sneezing! Are you trying to give me pneumonia?”…

How is loving your spouse connected to being holy?  Jesus lamented that the Ephesians had left their first love.  As a marital relationship can become cool so a relationship with Jesus Christ can become lukewarm.  It is essential that we give attention to kindling the fires of romantic love in our marriages and also in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Dr. Gayle Woods