What If?

What If?

“Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” 1 Tim. 6:11

What if the whole world suddenly began operating by biblical principles?  What if every single person pursued the things above and was able to live by them?  If we lived them out perfectly, we would no longer have stealing, cheating, bribery, or murder.  There would be no acts committed from selfishness.  There would be no honking horns or impatience on the highways, no need for paternity tests, no sexually transmitted diseases, no infidelity and no hurt because of it. 

The Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to live in just this way, to pursue the attributes listed in the verse above.  In this passage he also warns people against putting their hopes in money.  He says to be “rich in good works,” to be “generous and ready to share.”  He says in this way they will “store up for themselves the real treasure,” which he says is a “good foundation for the future, so they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 

So often we think about our security here on this earth, our retirement, and planning for the future.  But what if – what if we started to think of our possessions and bank accounts as only temporary, and the real treasure in our lives what is done for the Kingdom?  What if we thought of everything we have as belonging to God?

As believers we have the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).  We can know, think, and do what he asks of us.  Every person who has trusted Christ has the same power that raised Christ from the dead residing in him or her (Romans 8:11) and therefore has the power to live out this kind of life, through His Holy Spirit. 

What if I lived this way today?  What if you did too?

What if?

Written By: Michelle Dowdy