Rick Warren's Blog, page 660

The More Grateful You Are, the Happier You Are

"Every
time I think of you, I give thanks to my God." (Philippians 1:3 NLT)

Study
after study has linked gratitude to happiness; psychologists and sociologists
have proven that the more grateful you are, the happier you are.

If
you want to have healthy relationships, you have to start with an attitude of
gratitude. You will be far happier and enjoy your relationships more if you
will develop the habit of being grateful for the people in your life.

Philippians
1:3 says, "Every time I think of you, I
give thanks to my God" (NLT).

That
simple truth is the source of good relationships. When people stop doing this
in a marriage, they crumble. When you stop remembering why you got married in
the first place and the good times in your relationship and you stop being
grateful for your mate, your marriage is on a long slide into oblivion.

When
you think of the people in your life, is your first feeling gratitude? Probably
not. More often it's, "What do they need to do for me? What are our problems?
What have we got to get done?" Your first thought is not gratitude. But Paul's
first thought for his friends was one of gratitude, and it is the model we
should follow if we want our relationships to last.

Here's
the problem: The longer you know someone, the more likely you are to take that
person for granted. Isn't that true? The longer you know someone, the easier it
is to focus on that person's faults and the bad times instead of the happy
times.

That's
why it takes effort on our part to make the decision to have an attitude of
gratitude for the people in our lives. The longer our relationships, the harder
it may be to remember. But, when we develop the habit of giving thanks to God
when we think of our spouses, children, parents, siblings, neighbors,
coworkers, and small group members, it's going to have an eternal impact on our
relationships.

Talk It Over

What
negative thoughts do you need to replace with words of gratitude?For
whom in your life are you thankful? Have you told God? Have you told those
people?



Why do you think God wants us to thank him for the
people he has placed in our lives?

Do Your Work Well, and Don't Compare

"Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of.

But don't compare yourself with others." (Galatians 6:4 CEV)

Satan will try to steal your joy of service in two ways: by tempting you to compare your ministry with others and by tempting you to conform your ministry to the expectations of others. Both are deadly traps that will distract you from serving in the ways God intended.

The Bible warns us never to compare ourselves with others: "Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others" (Galatians 6:4 CEV).

There are two reasons why you should never compare your SHAPE, your ministry, or the results of your ministry with anyone else:

First, you will always be able to find someone who seems to be doing a better job than you, and you will become discouraged.

Second, you will always be able to find someone who doesn't seem as effective as you and you will become full of pride.

Either attitude will take you out of service and rob you of your joy.

Paul said it is foolish to compare ourselves with others. He said, "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV).

The Message paraphrase says, "In all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point" (2 Corinthians 10:12b).

You will find that people who do not understand your shape for ministry will criticize you and try to get you to conform to what they think you should be doing. Ignore them!

Paul often had to deal with critics who misunderstood and maligned his service. His response was always the same: Avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations, and seek only God's commendation.

One of the reasons Paul was used so greatly by God was that he refused to be distracted by criticism or by comparing his ministry with others or by being drawn into fruitless debates about his ministry.

John Bunyan, the author of "Pilgrims Progress," said, "If my life is fruitless, it doesn't matter who praises me, and if my life is fruitful, it doesn't matter who criticizes me."

Talk It Over

How have you seen people in the church compare and even compete with their gifts? What has been the effect?

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How do you think God wants church members to resolve differences about ministry?

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Do you feel like your ministry is slow or is taking a long time to bear fruit? Ask God for perseverance and for the wisdom to stay focus on what God wants you to do.

How Much Do You Think You're Worth?

"You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God." (1 Peter 2:4 GW)

How much do you think you're worth? I'm not talking about your net worth; I'm talking about your self-worth. Don't ever confuse your valuables with your value as a person. You can be rich or poor, but it has nothing to do with your value as a person.

There are two things that determine value in life:

Value is what someone is willing to pay for something.

Value depends on who has owned something in the past.

Based on these two things, what's your value? Ask yourself, "Who owns me?" and "What was paid for me?" The Bible says, "You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him" (1 Corinthians 7:23a LB).

You belong to God, and Jesus paid for you with his life. The cross proves your value.

Nobody has ever paid a greater ransom price than God paid for you! You're acceptable, and you're valuable.

Peter uses the imagery of a building project to illustrate our value. God is building this stone building that represents the Church, the family of God, and you're one of the stones. "You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God" (1 Peter 2:4 GW). Jesus is the living stone. He was perfect, but some people still rejected him. Some of you may think, "If I could just be perfect, then I would be accepted." No! Jesus was perfect, but even he wasn't accepted by everyone. But, he was "chosen by God as valuable."

God is building his Church, but it's not found in temples or church buildings. God lives in people, and you are his spiritual house. Peter says that you're a living stone. When you give your life to Christ, you become a building block in God's great plan.

Talk It Over

How should understanding a Christian's value in God's eyes change the way you treat yourself and other believers?

What does this mean to you: Don't ever confuse your valuables with your value as a person.

Meditate on this truth: The cross of Jesus Christ proves your value.

Have You Ever Suffered From 'Gift-envy'?

"Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit." (1 Corinthians 2:14a TEV)

You can't earn your spiritual gifts or deserve them - that's why they are called gifts! They're an expression of God's grace to you: "Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us" (Ephesians 4:7 CEV).

Nor do you get to choose which gifts you'd like to have. Paul explains that God determines that "it is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have" (1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT).

Because God loves variety, and he wants us to be special, there's no one single gift given to everyone, and no individual receives all the gifts. If you had them all, you'd have no need of anyone else, and that would defeat one of God's purposes - to teach us to depend on each other.

Your spiritua �l gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit. The Bible says, "A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other" (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT). When we use our gifts together, we all benefit. If others don't use their gifts, you get cheated, but if you don't use your gifts, they get cheated. This is why God wants us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts.

Whenever we forget these basic truths about gifts, it always causes trouble in the church. Two common problems are "gift-envy" and "gift-projection."

The first occurs when we compare our gifts to others, feel dissatisfied with what God gave us, and become resentful or jealous of how God uses others.



The second problem happens when you expect everyone else to have your gifts, do what you're called to do, and feel as passionate about it as you do. The Bible says, "There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:5 NLT).

Sometimes spiritual gifts are overemphasized to the neglect of the other factors that God uses to shape you for service. So keep in mind, your gifts reveal one part of God's will for your ministry, but not all of it.

Talk It Over

Why do you think God wants us to learn to depend on each other?

What needs to change about the way you do ministry when you consider that your spiritual gifts are for the benefit of others and not yourself?

Think of a time when you became discouraged because others were not as passionate about their ministry as you. How do you think God wants you to change your attitude?

God: Never in a Hurry; Always On Time

"Don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so

you become mature and well-developed." (James 1:4b MSG)

Be patient with God and with yourself. One of life's frustrations is that God's timetable is rarely the same as ours. We are often in a hurry when God isn't. You may feel frustrated with the seemingly slow progress you're making in life.

Remember that God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time. He will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for your role in eternity.

The Bible is filled with examples of how God uses a long process to develop character, especially in leaders. He took 80 years to prepare Moses, including 40 in the wilderness. For 14,600 days Moses kept waiting and wondering, "Is it time yet?" But God kept saying, "Not yet."

Contrary to popular book titles, there are no "Easy Steps to Maturity" or "Secrets of Instant Sainthood." When God wants to make a giant oak, he takes a hundred years, but when he wants to make a mushroom, he does it overnight.

Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering. Be patient with the process. James advised, "Don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed" (James 1:4b MSG).

Don't get discouraged. When Habakkuk became depressed because he didn't think God was acting quickly enough, God had this to say: "These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!" (Habakkuk 2:3 LB)

A delay is not a denial from God!

Remember how far you've come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be. Years ago people wore a popular button with the letters PBPGINFWMY. It stood for "Please Be Patient, God Is Not Finished With Me Yet." God isn't finished with you, either, so keep on moving forward. Even the snail reached the ark by persevering!

Talk It Over

How is God using a season of struggle in your life to develop your character?

Why is it so hard for us to be patient, even when we believe God is at work?

What promises from God or experiences from your past can you remember that encourage you as you wait on God's timing?

Real Spiritual Maturity Is Gradual

"We shall become mature people, reaching to the very

height of Christ's full stature." (Ephesians 4:13b TEV)

Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ; your journey will last a lifetime. Every day God wants you to become a little more like him: "You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you" (Colossians 3:10a NCV).

Today we're obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness. We want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. We want a sermon, a seminar, or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation, and release us from all growing pains.

But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual. The Bible says, "Our lives gradually [become] brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him" (2 Corinthians 3:18b MSG).

People often build their identity around their defects. We say, "It's just like me to be ." and "It's just the way I am." The unconscious worry is that if I let go of my habit, my hurt, or my hang-up, who will I be? This fear can definitely slow down your growth.

Habits take time to develop. Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits. You can't claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind - meaning you show kindness without even thinking about it. You can't claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest. A husband who is faithful to his wife most of the time is not faithful at all! Your habits define your character.

There is only one way to develop the habits of Christ-like character: You must practice them - and that takes time! There are no instant habits. Paul urged Timothy, "Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress" (1 Timothy 4:15 GW).

Talk It Over

What are you doing to gradually but consistently grow as a disciple of Christ?

Who in your life can help and encourage you as you work to develop a habit of Christ-like character?

What are the character traits that you want to be known for? How can you develop those traits in your life?

How Much Do You Think You're Worth?

"You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans
but was chosen as precious by God." (1 Peter 2:4 GW)

How much do you think you're worth? I'm not
talking about your net worth; I'm talking about your self-worth. Don't ever
confuse your valuables with your value as a person. You can be rich or poor,
but it has nothing to do with your value as a person.

�

There are two things that determine value in
life:

�

Value is what someone is willing to pay for
something.

Value depends on who has owned something in
the past.

�

Based on these two things, what's your value?
Ask yourself, "Who owns me?" and "What was paid for me?" The Bible says, "You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him"
(1 Corinthians 7:23a LB).

�

You belong to God, and Jesus paid for you
with his life. The cross proves your value.

Nobody has ever paid a greater ransom price
than God paid for you! You're acceptable, and you're valuable.

�

Peter uses the imagery of a building project
to illustrate our value. God is building this stone building that represents
the Church, the family of God, and you're one of the stones. "You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans
but was chosen as precious by God" (1 Peter 2:4 GW). Jesus is the
living stone. He was perfect, but some people still rejected him. Some of you
may think, "If I could just be perfect, then I would be accepted." No! Jesus
was perfect, but even he wasn't accepted by everyone. But, he was "chosen by
God as valuable."

�

God is building his Church, but it's not
found in temples or church buildings. God lives in people, and you are his
spiritual house. Peter says that you're a living stone. When you give your life
to Christ, you become a building block in God's great plan.

�

Talk It Over

�

How should understanding a Christian's value
in God's eyes change the way you treat yourself and other believers?

�

What does this mean to you: Don't ever
confuse your valuables with your value as a person.

�

Meditate on this truth: The cross of Jesus
Christ proves your value.

God Is Not Ashamed of You

"Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family.

That is why he isn't ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters." (Hebrews 2:11 CEV)

Did you know that Jesus calls you his sister or his brother? That's a pretty amazing thing.

Jesus isn't ashamed to call you his brother or sister, no matter how messed up your life is, because you belong to God's family.

As a member of the family of God, your sin doesn't define you anymore.

It's the difference between Alcoholics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous is a very good program. But I think Celebrate Recovery, which was started at Saddleback Church, is a whole lot better for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it's Christ-centered, so it stresses that your sin does not define you.

If you were to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, you would stand up and say, "Hi, my name is Rick, and I'm an alcoholic," and you would say it for the rest of your life. You let your sin define you.

In Celebrate Recovery, people stand up and say, "Hi, my name is Rick. I'm a child of God who struggles with alcohol." See the difference?

Your identity is not your sin. That's why Jesus is not ashamed of you, because once you're in the family, you're treated like family! You may be a little weird, but you're in the family. You will have sin in your life, but you're in the family.

The world doesn't want you to know what God made you to be, but by belonging to God's family, you will learn your true identity. Being accepted by God and belonging to a spiritual family will give you power and confidence to live God's purpose for your life.

Talk It Over

How has the feeling of shame kept you from living your purpose? How do you respond to the truth that Jesus isn't ashamed to call you his brother or sister?

Once you learn your true identity, what do you think God wants you to do?

How can you help others move past their shame and into the family of God?

You Are Called to Belong, not Just Believe

"God's family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15b GW)

You are called to belong, not just believe.

Even in the perfect, sinless environment of Eden, God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18a NIV).

We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God's purposes by ourselves. The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits isolated from other believers and deprived of fellowship.

The Bible says we are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted together, and held together and will be caught up together (1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:21-22, 3:6, 4:16; Colossians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

You're not on your own anymore!

While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private. In God's family you are connected to every other believer, and we will belong to each other for eternity. The Bible says, "In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others" (Romans 12:5).

Following Christ includes belonging, not just believing. We are members of his Body - the Church. C. S. Lewis noted that the word "membership" is of Christian origin, but the world has emptied it of its original meaning. Stores offer discounts to "members," and advertisers use member names to create mailing lists. In churches, membership is often reduced to simply adding your name to a roll, with no requirements or expectations.

To Paul, being a "member" of the church meant being a vital organ of a living body, an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ. We need to recover and practice the biblical meaning of membership. The church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organization (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 6:15, 12:12-27).

God's purposes for his church are identical to his five purposes for you. Worship helps you focus on God; fellowship helps you face life's problems; discipleship helps fortify your faith; ministry helps find your talents; power helps fulfill your mission. There is nothing else on Earth like the church!

Talk It Over

How are you fulfilling your vital role in the Body of Christ?

Since the church is a living organism, what should its qualities be? What should the church be known for?

What fears do you have about sharing your spiritual journey with other believers in the church? Ask God to give you courage to be transparent and genuine with your church family.

God's Family is the Church

"You will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God." (Romans 15:6-7 NCV)

There are only two ways to get into a family: You can either be born into it, or you can be adopted into it. God does both for you! It's called being born again, and it's called being adopted into the family of God. God does both.

In Roman law, during New Testament times, you could disown a child you birthed. But if you adopted a child, you were forbidden to ever disown that child. God says you are not only born again into his family, but he has adopted you, and there is no way he could ever disown you. That's good news!

You may ask, "No matter what I do? Really?" No matter what you do!

Once you're born, you cannot be unborn. Once you are born again, you cannot be unborn again. You can grieve the Father, just like we sometimes bring grief to our earthly parents. The fellowship may be broken, but no matter what your parents say, everybody knows you are still their child. In the same way, once you become a child in the family of God, you're in!

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 3:15, "I want you to know how people who are members of God's family must live. God's family is the church" (GW). This means church is not something you go to. Church is something you belong to. We are the family of God.

Many people think that Christianity is a belief system, but it is a belong system. Yes, there are beliefs involved, but it's more than that. It means you are a part of the body of Christ.

You belong to the family of God: "You will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God" (Romans 15:6-7 NCV).

Talk It Over

What are the benefits of belonging to the family of God?

What is the evidence in your life that you belong to the family of God?

How are you using your gifts to bless your spiritual family?