Life is too complex and messy to follow a one-size-fits-all formula. But this doesn’t mean we have to figure it all out on our own. We’ve been given directions if we’re humble enough to follow them.
To be sure, having to read the directions to figure out how our new toy, device, or piece of furniture needs to be put together is humbling. And it’s tempting just to dive in and try to figure it all out as we go.
And this is often how we approach life. We’re our own man and we don’t like others telling us how to live. We don’t want to be placed in the box of their limitations. And this is part of our maturity and exercise of faith. In fact, it’s bad faith when we simply follow blindly what others tell us to think and do.
While all of this is true, this doesn’t mean we do life on our own or merely determine what’s right based on our own desires and preferences. There is still a way things work and wisdom demands we live with the grain of the universe. And this requires us to know God and follow his directions for our life.
For instance, we must love as he loves and forgive as he forgives. We must pursue justice and mercy, and live humble lives – looking out for the interest of others and not just ourselves. In short, we follow the example of Christ Jesus himself.
And we make a mess of our life when we don’t follow him and his instructions for us. There is still mature freedom here, but we live within his guiding principles.
Take the time to review God’s directions for your life often. This is the only way to figure out how life works and to live it to the full.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
