THE STORY OF OUR DAILY SUFFERINGS AND THE GLORY THAT WILL BE REVEALED: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it - Romans 8:18-25 (KJV).

PREAMBLE

After reading Romans 8:18-25, the following truths emerged:

1.    Sufferings reveal our real values, the stuffs we are really made of.
2.   Sufferings manifest us for the world to see.
3. God allows us to be subjected to different shades of sufferings in the hope that they would yield glorious fruits. Romans 5:3-5 highlights what some of these fruits:

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works out patience, and patience, produces experience while experience, produces hope. Hope, however, does not make one ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given to us.

4          4. Sufferings are not peculiar to us because, “The whole creation travails and groans in 

                pains.” Suffering is universal.

5     5. “We are saved by hope….”  This implies that if we remain faithful to God in our 

           individual “sufferings,” the glory, which is the by-product of our endurances will become 

    our lots and portions.1 Corinthians 2:9 testifies with a touch of finality and hint of 

     conclusion when it says,

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

An avalanche of glory will envelope those who live in consonance with the Will of God, those who triumph over trials and tribulations of life.  

Let me affirm without equivocation that there is a “sense” in every present “nonsense” in your life. What we call sufferings are sometimes fortunes in work clothes. If we would appreciate the refining values of the challenges that confront us, we would gladly request God to give us grace to endure them so that we will savour their gains.

I want you to appreciate the fact that the ultimate measure of a person is not in moments of comfort and convenience, but in moments of challenge and controversy. Jesus saw the glory that lay ahead of Him and endured His Cross, despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus knew that every suffering (aside criminal or self-induced) would naturally yield its own glory. At Luke 24:26, Jesus said matter-of-factly, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and then enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26).

This year’s theme, “NO CROSS, NO GLORY” is a call to brace up to the challenges of everyday life. This year’s theme reminds me of the following general truths – if there is :

1.     “No Cross, there will be No Crown.”

2.     “No Test, there will be No Testimony.”

3.     “No Pain, there will be No Gain.”

4.     “Every Prize has a Price.”

It is an incontrovertible fact that people all over the world are going through difficult times and challenging moments in their daily lives. You may be a member of this global club of those who are going through the mills: you are a student in the Department of Pain, Faculty of Difficulties at the University of Hard Knocks.

Sufferings are painful times when a minute refuses to die after sixty seconds - times of heart-breaks and uncertainties; times when our days are filled with questions. These are moments when tears, deep thinking, doubts and confusion become our companions. In these times, we are tempted to resign and to bow out of life. If this scenario describes you, I want you to appreciate the fact that this could be but a process in your personal transformation. What you consider stumbling blocks could actually be your stepping stones.

Life on planet earth is not a restaurant but a war field. In this battle, you either become a victor or a victim. In life, there are battles to be fought at all fronts. Incidentally, this battle commenced at conception where a single sperm cell (you) had to struggle with millions of other sperm cells to emerge victorious. In other words, we are all wired by nature to struggle throughout life. This battle will not end until life on this plane terminates at the grave (cf. Job 14:1). One battle will naturally yield to another; a victory won is a natural attraction for another battle (cf. Luke 4:13). Incidentally, one battle won prepares you to fight another. Biblical David is classical example of this. At I Samuel 17: 32-37, David said:

… Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock. And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

Every adversity of life has in itself a corresponding weight of advantage. One of my favourite Bible passages is Judges 14:14. It says matter-of-factly,

And he said unto them, ‘Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.’

SUFFERINGS AND CHALLENGES OF LIFE ARE PATHS TO GLORY

Anyone who tells you that you will obtain the blessings of life on a platter of gold is either lying to you or is suffering from dementia. Life is structured in such a way that before you achieve a given feat or attain a certain position, you must be tested to determine your worthiness before being awarded such a medal of honour.

In his book, Don’t Throw Away Tomorrow: Living God’s Dream For Your Life, Robert Schuller (2007:25) quoted Charles F. Boss Kettering, an inventor at General Motors as saying to his colleagues, “Problems are the price of progress. Don’t bring me anything but trouble. Goodnews weakens me.”

Outstanding achievers all over the world are of the consensus that easy times lead to laziness while challenges naturally bring out the bests in them. Peace times, they say make warriors lazy but battle fields bring out their elements to the fore.

Personally, I have come to realize that difficulties of life naturally bring out the best in me in terms of ideas and resilience. I am weakened by comfort but strengthened by troubles.

Truth of the matter is: you cannot attain to greatness in life if you do not first of all pay your dues. For every prize you hope to be decorated with, has a price tag. There is no breakthrough in life without corresponding efforts. Anyone who breaks through without efforts is a thief. Of course, Bible tells us at Matthew 6:19-20 that it is only thieves who break through.          

God structured life in such a way that for you to eat, you must break sweats. At Genesis 3:19, God told Adam, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread ….” (KJV). 

NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS SUFFERINGS

In 1993 when I graduated from a diploma programme, I was so disillusioned: there was so much lack – abject poverty defined everything about my family. Suffering was an understatement. As a way out of my predicament, some persons came for me to join them in a cocaine/heroin peddling business. I nearly fell into their snare. However, by God’s grace, I viewed a Nigerian movie, Living in Bondage. This movie depicted the dangers of get-rich-quick syndrome and its after effects. To me, God used this movie to make me have a rethink. The rest, as they say, is history. If I had gone into what I was to go into, I would have been a dead person today. How do I know? Because all my friends and brothers who went into it all died. None lasted beyond five years in that business. At that time, I had a negative attitude towards suffering. Today, I no longer do. 

Suffering has various shades: it could be as a result of poverty, lack, unemployment, business or work related problems; inability to meet targets or general frustrations of life. It could be as a result of an unfulfilled dream. Proverbs 13:12 affirms that “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Someone wrote that “When a shattered dream is part of one’s expectations, the result may be a shaken faith.”  1 Samuel 22:2 provides insight into what can happen when life becomes bitter:

 

And every one who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

We cannot deny the fact that hard times can be very frustrating. In their frustrations, people have responded negatively by opting for the negatives. In their frustrations, they have resorted to criminal acts, get-rich-quick activities, secret societies, Yahoo! Yahoo!!, armed robbery, prostitution, and all manners of anti-social and destructive activities.

One thing we need to know about engaging in activities that are not in consonance with God’s Will is that they lead to self-destruction and regrets. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 warns,

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 

Proverbs 20:17 says that, “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man when he is eating it, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.”

No one ever lived long by getting involved in criminal activities. Criminals all die before their time. Ecclesiastes 7:17b asks, “… why would you die before your time?”

I beg you in the name of God Almighty not to allow your present situation to lead you astray. It will not pay, no matter what! There are seasons of life: you may be experiencing a difficult season today, but I assure you: if you rely on God and work hard, a new season of joy and fulfillment will be ushered in (Psalm 30:5).     

DEVELOP A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHALLENGES OF LIFE

Developing a positive mental attitude to life will help you to live above your challenges and to derive maximum benefits from your situations and circumstances. Judges 14:14 is a gold mine. It tells us “…Out of the eater will come forth something to eat, and out of the strong will come forth some sweet.”

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, author of, The Power of Positive Thinking and Amazing Results of Positive Thinking wrote, “When you see a problem coming down the road, holler, ‘Hello, Problems! Where have you been? I have been training for you all my life!’

What you see as a disadvantage may actually be an advantage. Most times, successes come disguised as “misfortunes.” When you throw them away or run away from them, you have only succeeded in throwing away a vital part of your life.

Life is a process. For you to emerge the kind of personality you were wired by God to be, you must take the path of refinements. Sufferings of different kinds are at the heart of the making of who we will be. No gold or silver emerges as beautiful as it is if not through a refiner’s fire. It was Seneca who observed that as “Fire tests gold, suffering tests brave men.”

Suffering makes you, it will not destroy you. Suffering has ways of toughening us.

I like sharing what late Nigeria’s Social Critic, Tai Solarin was in the habit of saying. He had a habit of responding to people’s greetings thus, “May your days be rough.”  If anyone would greet him at any hour of the day, he would say, “May your days be rough!”

Many people felt offended by his unusual way of responding to greetings until one day someone summoned courage to ask him, “Mr. Solarin, why do you spoil people’s day by wishing them ill?” He cast a long gaze at the man and meditatively said, “The path to greatness is strewn with thorns and thistles. It is only those who are willing to pay the price who finally emerge as great men and women. Which would you want to be: a great man or a vegetable?”

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW HIS CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE SUFFERINGS IN LIFE?

James 1:12 tells us that sufferings of life perform unique responsibility of purifying us to be the kind of people God wants us to be:

Blessed is the man who endures trials because when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

There is a blessedness attached to trials and tribulations of life. We may not see these God’s way, but He sure knows the good it performs. At Isaiah 48:10, He said,

See, I have purified thee, but not with silver; I have refined you through the fires of affliction.

Sometimes, sufferings are Divine conspiracies for our good. King David attested to this at Psalms 66:10-12 when he wrote,

For Thou, O God, has proved us: Thou has tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; Thou has laid affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water, but at the end You led us out into a wealthy place.

Let me announce to you: Your present set-back may actually be a set-up for your set-on. Do not despair. You are in the making for something that will amaze you. This situation will guarantee the making of a spectacular you. Only time will tell what the present will translate into. Do not give up, child of God. Hold tight to the rope and never let go. This is not the end of the road for you, it is only a turn!

Problems are like the birth pangs of a woman (John 16:20-23) and I stand to declare to you this day that the problems you are facing in the present will give birth to a greater glory and testimonies (Romans 8:18ff).

You will emerge out of your present predicaments into a place of abundance (Psalm 66:10-12). As it was required of Jesus, “That He must suffer and then enter into His glory” (Luke 24:26) so has it been ordained for each of us that “Through many tribulations (obstacles) we will enter into the kingdom” God has prepared for us (Acts 14:22).

BEAUTY FOR ASHES

There are beauties for your ashes. Most times God allows people to be subjected different kinds of sufferings with a view to manifesting His glory (John 9:1-3). If God has so chosen you to be a vessel through which He will manifest His glory, even though you may be presently in pains, it should be a cause for celebration rather than mourning because Almighty has singled you out for the demonstration of His power.

Are challenges curses or blessings? Whatever takes us away from God is a curse, but whatever “curse” that brings us closer to God is a blessing. David resolved not to allow his prosperity to move him away from God (Psalm 30:6). If King David would not allow himself to be moved by prosperity, we should also say we will not allow any form of adversity to move us. Job is a classical example of this.       

DO YOU WANT TO REIGN IN LIFE?

We all desire to be kings and queens. We all want to reign wherever we are found. This desire is not against God’s Will. Sandwiched between Romans 5:17 is this statement of Scripture,

“…they who received abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

Yea, God wants us to reign in life. How can this be possible? II Timothy 2:12 provides a clue:

“If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us.”

By what means did Joseph reign as a Prime Minister of Egypt at the age of 30? His experiences are documented for us all to see: wrenched away from the warm embrace of a loving father, lied and conspired against by his own brothers; thrown into a deep pit, and sold into slavery. Again, he was lied against and imprisoned. For about 12 years, Joseph was thrown about by every wind of sufferings. Each suffering toughened and readied him for the glory that was laid for him – the position of a Prime Minister in a foreign country!

Suffering brings out our hidden talents (I Samuel 17:31-38) and sharpen our perspectives (Psalms 119:71). Suffering turns our eyes inwards, outwards, forwards or upwards. Suffering builds confidence and self-esteem. It is only when I must have paid my dues by virtue of being schooled in suffering can I confidently say, I have “seen 99, 100 is nothing.”

GLORIES TO BE COMPARED WITH THE SUFFERINGS OF OUR PRESENT

If only we know the glories that will arise at the end of our sufferings, we will but hold tenaciously to our faith and commitments in spite of our trying and challenging moments.   

The comforts that await us at the end of our present sufferings bespoke the glory that will be revealed. The glory that will attend to each of us is both unspeakable and unfathomable. At I Corinthians 2:9, God’s Word declares,

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

At Revelation 2:17, God says of everyone who overcomes his/her own challenges, that He will “give a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except he who receives it.”

As I was preparing this presentation, my spirit kept reminding me of one of God’s promises found at Revelation 21:4. It says amongst other things that “God will wipe away all tears from their eyes….” Think of it – God’s handkerchief across my face to wipe away my tears occasioned by the sufferings of life would be one of the greatest high points of eternity.

PROBLEMS HAVE EXPIRY DATES

Every problem in life has a manufactured as well as expiry dates (“…and it came to pass…”).

CONCLUSION

I do not know the suffering you have been subjected to. I do not know the bitter cup that life has handed to you to drink from. I do not know what your situation and circumstance are BUT I do know one thing – God is on His Throne over your life. He will speak at the end.

I leave you with the lyrics of American born Gospel singer, Kirk Franklin titled, My Life Is In Your Hand:

You don't have to worry

And don't you be afraid

Joy comes in the morning

Troubles they don't last always

For there's a friend in Jesus

Who will wipe your tears away

And if your heart is broken

Just lift your hands and say,

Oh:

I know that I can make it

I know that I can stand

No matter what may come my way

My life is in your hands.

God bless you!

HILARY JOHNSON CHUKWUMA CHUKWURAH

                                                            Township/Campus CHURCH OF CHRIST,

                                                            14, Agbugwu Lane, Off,

                                                            University Market Road, P. O. Box 351,

                                                            Nsukka, Enugu State.

                                                            PHONE: 08039596919; 08182820677.

            E-MAIL:hilaryjohnsonc@yahoo.com,

                                                                            hilaryjohnsonc@gmail.com.

 

REFERENCE

Schuller, Robert H. (2007). Don’t Throw Away Tomorrow: Living God’s Dream For Your Life. USA: HarperSanfrancisco. 

ME, MYSELF AND I: DETHRONING THE SPIRIT OF NEGATIVE SELF-IMPORTANCE

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need - Acts 4:32-35.

If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus - Philippians 2:1-5.

Cultivate the understanding that the self is not really an independently existing entity, and begin to view self instead in terms of its dependent relation to others. Although, it is difficult to say that merely reflecting on this will produce a profound spiritual realization, it will at least have some effect. Your mind will be more open. Something will begin to change within you. Therefore, even in the immediate term there is definitely a positive and beneficial effect in reversing these two attitudes and moving from self-centeredness to other-centeredness, from belief in self-existence to belief in dependent origination - Dalai Lama XIV.

The spirit that should prevail amongst Christians is the spirit of Community, not an individualist spirit. Jesus died to make us a kingdom of priests (Revelation 1:6a), not islands. Beneath the Cross every ground is level – Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah.   

An orchestra was playing for a group of wealthy guests. When they concluded a particular performance, the conductor who obviously was carried away by the group’s wonderful performance announced, “Now, I shall perform for you …!” No instrument responded to his command. He repeated his announcement using the first person singular. Again, nothing happened. A voice spoke from behind him, “Do not say, ‘I’; say We!” He immediately corrected himself and announced, “Now, we shall perform for you …!” The instruments came alive and delivered a most commanding performance. 

Without controversy, we live in a Me, Myself and I generation; a generation where self is the epicenter. The end-time spirit of I is the spirit of negative self-love (II Timothy 3:1-5). It is characterized by “Me first” mentality and reinforced by self-importance where self is past, present and future. In this era, ego is celebrated.

I would like to commence my presentation by highlighting Biblical characters who demonstrated Me, Myself and I mentalities and those who repudiated them in what I call the Negatives and the Positives:  

THE NEGATIVES

In Scripture, several characters displayed the Me, Myself and I mentalities at various points in their lives. Amongst these were:

King Hezekiah

After King Hezekiah was healed of his sickness and had his life extended by almost twenty year, he blew the fuse. God was angry with him for showing Babylonian emissaries the secret treasures of his kingdom. In displaying His displeasure, God told him that he had jeopardized the interests of Israel and then gave him two options: to accept calamity in his days or have it occur in the days of his posterity. Selfishly, King Hezekiah chose the second option. He sealed the future of his children and that of the nation of Israel when he said to Prophet Isaiah,

“…Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?” (II Kings 20:19).

He was not thinking of others but of himself. His self-centeredness blinded him to sufferings that awaited the people he would leave behind.  

 King Uzziah

King Uzzah was one young man who began life on a beautiful plane because he leaned on God’s Word through Prophet Azariah. As long as he paid heed to God’s directives, he prospered and did well. However, when he allowed self-importance to take center-stage of his life, he began to falter: he took laws into his hands, despised others and finally destroyed a beautiful life God had in store for him. II Chronicles 26:16 gave this sad commentary on the life and times of King Uzziah:

“But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.”

When self is on the driver’s seat, catastrophe results. We can actually destroy ourselves by ourselves or save ourselves by ourselves.

Prodigal Son

Driven by thoughts that centered only on himself, this young man went to his father and in seven words, “…give me my share of the inheritance….”  communicated to his father his desire to live life the way he wanted it. Filled with thoughts of self, he took his own share of his inheritance and nearly destroyed himself.

We can become spiritual prodigals who live for ourselves when we allow self to dominate our relationships with God and others.          

Judas Iscariot

To say that Judas Iscariot was one of the rarest privileged men to associate with Jesus is to say the least. He threw that privilege to the garbage bin when he allowed self-interest to destroy a beautiful career ahead. His self-centeredness was revealed when he went to enemies of our Master to say to them, “…what will ye give me…? (Matthew 26:15).

Note:

One of the most outstanding languages of self-centered people is Me. Amongst these characters x-rayed, you would notice the refrain, Me. Self. I. These characters and their ilk are not the only culprits. We are all involved. 

THE POSITIVES

In Scripture, several characters also displayed that they were not controlled by Me, Myself and I mentalities at various points in their lives. Amongst these were:

Abraham

Being a man of considerable spiritual maturity and one who was altruistic, faced with one of the most destructive challenges any person could face – resource control, Abraham demonstrated that self was not the epicenter of his earthly existence. In a situation that would have pitched him and Lot at daggers-drawn, Abraham said,

…Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left - Genesis 13:8-9.

John the Baptizer

John the Baptizer demonstrated uncommon leadership spirit and sportsmanship when his followers reminded him that the man (referring to Jesus) he had baptized earlier had taken the shine off him and that he was recording an avalanche of followers, John refused to yield to the demeaning spirit of self-exultation. Rather than being bitter, he fought the urge to politicize the work of God. He said to his followers:

…“A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.’ He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” - John 3:27-30.

Apostolic Injunction

          Knowing the evil effects that Me, Myself and I mentalities could have on people, especially in Christian communities, Apostle Paul led by Holy Spirit enjoined Philippian Christians as well as Christians everywhere to de-emphasize self and to emphasize others and community attitudes:   

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others - Philippians 2:1-4

The Christian Magna Charter

In what could be described as Christian Magna Charter or Christian anthem (Motto), Christian life is summed as one that self has taken the backseat while Jesus has taken the drivers’ seats of individual Christian lives, Holy Spirit spoke through Apostle Paul who penned:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me - Galatians 2:20.

BASIS OF THIS PRESENTATION

          When we worship God in spirit and in Truth, we naturally tend to forget about self but when we stop worshipping God, we start worshipping self. When self is at the center, God is relegated to the background and other people become an afterthought. In this situation, God’s business becomes secondary while our individual activities become primary.

Serving God requires absolute surrender. It is one thing to be converted, but another thing to surrender. The greatest gift we can give to the Lord is personal surrender. The gift of self is the greatest gift (II Corinthians 8:1-5). God cannot move until we remove the things that inhibit the move of God in our lives and in our congregations – the spirit of self-importance.

           

WHAT IS SELF-IMPORTANCE?

Thomas Kevin observed that “Pride is nothing more than us highlighting us.” The universe of self-importance revolves around Me, Myself and I.

Roya R. Rad observes that self-centeredness is an indication of self-importance and wanting to be the center of attention. Self-centered people confuse ‘self-caring’ to being self-adulation.”  Self-caring means that you have concern for others, but not at the expense of yourself. It is the ability to strike balance.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SELF-IMPORATANT PEOPLE

Self-important people are always on self-protection mode. There is a part of them that they do not like and are trying hard to cover. They are always wearing invisible masks. They are natural energy vampires. They can be arrogant. Some of the characteristics of self-centered people are:

1.     Arrogance and taking too many measures to protect their self-images. 

2.     Inward insufficiency. They may look ‘too confident’ on the surface but feel inadequate in their inside. They are in search of ego feeders. That is why they use other people to fill up their inner gaps. 

3.     Intolerant of differences. They devalue others and put them at lesser positions. They lack abilities to feel confident internally. They feel sense of superiority by seeing others as inferior. They cannot accommodate different viewpoints. When you disagree with them, they fall out with you.

4.     Unable to have long lasting relationships. For them, people are either very good or very bad, depending on who admires them and who does not. In other words, if you fulfill their wishes, you are good; if you do not, then you are bad. They can be your friend one minute and an enemy the next.

5.     Possess self-esteem holes. Self-esteem is how well-developed our senses of self are. For self-important people, there are lots of holes in this area that need to be filled.

6.     Maximize their importance but seek to minimize that of others. They run you down by telling how important they are, asking, “Do you know me?” “Do you who I am?” “Do you know where I have been?” “Do you know the position that I occupy?”...   

SELF-LOVE: IS IT REALLY WRONG?

          Self-love is not completely wrong. Love for self is encouraged (Matthew 22:37-39). Self-love is only wrong when one thinks of self more than he/she ought to (cf. Romans 12:3-4). If I truly love myself, I would have to ascribe to others the same measure, not above or below. It must be the self-same affections (Matthew 7:12).                                                 Balanced self-love is healthy. It gives people senses of worth, and value; it encourages hardwork, discipline, focus and healthy competitive spirit. It helps people to develop self -respect and deep senses of fulfillment and belonging.

CHRISTIANS VERSUS ME, MYSELF AND I MENTALITY

Where spirit of self-importance envelopes an individual, he/she becomes trouble waiting to happen (James 3:16).

 Life is only meaningful when we live lives of altruism, that is, putting others ahead of us (Philippians 2:3-4). When we live for others, we reproduce the life of Christ in us because He counted us as more important than Himself. Because He did, today the world is all His, considering the fact that billions of souls have given their lives to Him (II Corinthians 5:14-16).

          One of the greatest battles we must fight in life is battle against self-importance (II Chronicles 26:16). Until you conquer yourself and subdue it to the point of where others become important, their opinions counting and their interests as paramount as yours are to you, you are dominated by Me, Myself and I mentality.

          Every new creature in Christ has died to self, has become alive to God and to others.  In Christ, “I” is an old story. “I” no longer lives but Christ is the one who is alive (Galatians 2:20). Christ must increase but I must decrease (John 3:30). To overcome, I must be “crucified.” This can only be realized when I die daily (I Corinthians 15:31-32). Our individual daily assignments would be to kill “I” and to ensure that “I” is not as it used to be.

          If a grain is planted but does not die, it will not spring to life to bear more fruits (John 12:24). Death must occur for our true personalities to emerge. So long as self remains on the throne, our true spiritual personalities will remain unrealized.  

          When we de-emphasize self, we will discover new senses of purpose, freedom and power. We will discover that life is more pleasurable when lived for God and for others.

DYING THAT HE MIGHT LIVE (JOHN 3:30; GALATIANS 2: 20)

          Throughout New Testament Scripture the principle of self-crucifixion and Christ’s exaltation are quite pronounced (II Corinthians 5:14-15). Self is represented by the word, “I”. This word is rooted strongly in the fallen nature of man. For the real nature of man to thrive, the fallen one must consistently die and diminish. The fallen nature is the Adamic nature but the real living nature is Christ nature. These two are present in each of us. It behooves, therefore, that the one we desire to live must live while the other dies. However, the Lord desires that we let self die (Matthew10:38-39) so that Christ can live in us and through us.

          Two great men of God in New Testament realized that this is imperative and in their respective lives were determined to let Adam die for Christ to live. To them, “Dying that He might live” was a mandate:

§  John the Baptist - “He must increase but I must decrease” (John 3: 30)   

§  Apostle Paul - “It is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2: 20).

          Who is presently reigning in your life - you or Him? If it is you, please let self die. But if it is Him, let there be an increase of His nature in your life daily.

ME, MYSELF AND I VERSUS GOD’S WORK

          Self should not the epicenter of earthly existence. Where self rules, God’s work is relegated to the background. We will not be sensitive to the needs of God’s work and will find it increasingly difficult to lend spiritual, morale and financial supports.                                

         We must not be at ease in Zion (Amos 6:1). We must not be like those in Prophet Haggai’s day who felt unconcerned over the well-being of God’s Work. They were busy building their businesses and developing their careers so much so that God’s House and work were left in states of ruin (Haggai 1:9).                                                         Life teaches that only a few things are REALLY IMPORTANT – that is, labouring at the foot of Jesus Christ (Luke 10:38-42). Eternity will not reward us for the things we enjoyed but for the things we sacrificed for God, His Work and for others. 

SAVE MYSELF FROM MYSELF OR DESTROY MYSELF BY MYSELF

We have been saved from our sins through faith in Jesus and in His vicarious sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary. We also must endeavour to save ourselves from ourselves – our pride, our worthiness, temperaments, selfishness, and from our self-wills.

It is an established fact that man is his own best friend and his own worst enemy. This was King Uzziah’s undoing. His self-worth destroyed him. King Uzziah’s life provides lessons on how not to let self-importance destroy us and others: 

§ We must learn not to think highly of ourselves (Romans 12:3; II Chronicles 26:16).

§ No matter how well-placed we may be academically, socially, economically and spiritually, we must never lose sight of the fact that we are what we are by the grace of God (I Corinthians 15:10). Uzziah never learned that lesson (II Chronicles 26:5, 15-16; cf. Ecclesiastes 9:11).

CONCLUSION                                                                                                             There is no gainsaying that God created us with senses of self-worth. This self-worth is what enables us to live reasonably and responsibly. However, when self-worth degenerates into negative self-importance of Me, Myself and I, it is then that we must step aside to allow God’s Holy Spirit redirect our focus on who we really are and what God expects each of to be.

       We must defeat negative self-importance by encouraging Community spirit, de-emphasizing self but emphasizing Jesus and others. Biblical discipleship demands self-denial and cross-bearing (Matthew 16:24-25).

          God bless us in Jesus’ name!

                HILARY JOHNSON CHUKWUMA CHUKWURAH

                   Church Of Christ, 14, Agbugwu Lane, Off,

                   University Market Road, P. O. Box 351, Nsukka, Enugu State.

                   PHONE: 08039596919; 08182820677.

                   E-MAIL:hilaryjohnsonc@yahoo.com, hilaryjohnsonc@gmail.com.

REFERENCES

Roya R. Rad ( 2010). “How To Deal With Self-Centered People.” Self Knowledge Base and Foundation, A non-profit dedicated to public education. www.SelfKnowledgeBase.com

Tina Vasquez (2008). “Common traits of the self-centered person: How to recognize and deal with self-centered people,” Published January 09.

YOUR FUTURE IS IN YOUR PICTURE

There is a law in Psychology that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking.

 - William James

    One of America’s foremost Psychologists.

In Creative Visualization – relaxing deeply and then picturing a desired goal in your mind exactly the way you want it to be. …you can picture in your mind what you want to have happen and it will happen.... Quite often the things I was picturing came true quickly and in unexpected ways.

– Shakti Gawain

Author of Creative Visualization.   

I would like to commence this presentation by asking simple but salient questions – questions that I am convinced would jolt us out of our reverie; questions that are meant to spur us to greatness and awaken the giants in each of us. I dare ask - do you want to move from:

§  Zero to Hero?

§  Grass to Grace?

§  Upgrade from nobody to Somebody?

§  Transit from failure to Success?

§  Graduate from poverty to Prosperity?

If these questions speak to your heart’s desires, then, you must change your thinking. Your desire must be strong. You must have the spirit of No Retreat, No Surrender.

What I want to share with you goes by different nomenclatures: Shakti Gawain calls it, Creative Visualization. Dr. Maxwell Maltz calls it, Psychocybernetics. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale calls it, Possibility Thinking. I call it, Your Future is in Your Picture!

To establish and justify the fact that I will not be talking mere psychology, I want us to look at some Bible passages:

 At Ephesians 3:20 God’s Word says you can exceed your expectations – “Now unto Him who is able to do EXCEEDINGLY and ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL that we ASK or THINK, according to the POWER that WORKS in us….”  

Psalms 81:10 says, “I am the LORD Thy God who brought you out of the land of Egypt: OPEN WIDE YOUR MOUTH and I will fill it.”

IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE MENTAL PICTURES IN OUR LIVES

A Chinese proverb says that a picture is worth a thousand words. Obtain a picture and live.  The picture you have determines the future you possess. While some people have appropriate pictures of themselves, others do not. At Jeremiah 1:11-12, God confronted Jeremiah and asked, “… Jeremiah, what seest thou?” Jeremiah replied, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” The LORD said to him, “Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.” The picture you have determines what God will bring to bear upon your life.

Jesus encountered a man who was blind. Realizing that the man’s life was filled with restrictions, He took him aside to restore his sight. At Mark 8:22-25 we read, 

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw anything. He looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

First, the man did not see as he ought to see. He saw men as trees. Jesus knew that he was not seeing clearly. He did what He did and the man’s sight was fully restored. He began to see clearly. I dare to ask you:

§ What do you see?

§ Who do you see?

WHAT you see is as important as WHO you see. Fact remains that the you, you see is the you, you will be. Twelve men were sent to spy out God’s Promised Land to Hebrews enroute Canaan. Two men came back with the appropriate picture but ten came back with wrong pictures in their minds. Their report said it all, “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:33).

Do you see a giant or a grasshopper? Do you see an achiever or a failure? Do you see a person on a world stage or a person relegated to the background? Do you see a job creator (employer) or a job seeker? What you see is what and who you finally become. …we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

IMAGINATION: KEY TO PICTURING YOUR FUTURE

To create a future you so desperately desire, imagination must be your strong ally. William James made a significant statement that I consider critical:

There is a law in Psychology that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking.

The formation of this “picture in your mind” is nothing other than the use of imagination. Imagination enables you to create mental pictures. When these pictures are fully developed, an imagineer begins to piece the images on his/her mind together, a kind of putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Every great invention or innovation followed this process. There is nothing mystic about it.

Dale Calvert, a networker employed this method of picturing one’s future in one’s picture to achieve success in his networking business. In their book, Dream Achievers: 50 Powerful Stories of People Just Like You Who Became Leaders in Networking Marketing, Anthony and Erik Masi quoted Mr. Calvert as saying,

When I started my business, I lived in a little 600 square-foot house. To inspire myself, I would drive my beat-up Chevette over to a really nice community where there were huge houses on a lake. I took pictures of these gorgeous homes in their beautiful settings. I’ll then put them all around my house and visualize one day that I would live there too. Nine years later we bought a home there! And right now, I’ m building a 15, 000 square-foot home on a 100-acre piece of land.        

BENEFITS OF DEVELOPING A MENTAL PICTURE

In his book, Success Secrets of Self-made Millionaires, Brian Tracy advocated the employment of Back-From-The-Future thinking. According to him, this is a powerful technique that is practiced by high-performing men and women which can have an amazing effect on your mind and on your creative abilities. He suggested that individuals should create visions for themselves for the long-term future. The clearer your visions are, the more you are likely to be driven by them and to achieve them. “When you create a mental picture of where you are going in life, you become more positive, more motivated and more determined to make it a reality. You trigger your natural creativity and come with idea after idea to help you make your visions come true…. Perhaps, the greatest discovery in human history is that you become what you think most of the time.” He wrote.

MAXIMIZE YOUR IMAGINATIVE CAPACITY

The word, “Imagination” comes from the root words, Image and Imaging. To “imagine” means to see through the mind’s eyes. To imagine, therefore, entails seeing in your mind the formation or existence of a thing. It conveys to us the understanding of the process of allowing a given phenomena take shape. This picture that takes shape in a creative mind is what finally becomes a product or service in the real world. It is pertinent to state that imaginative people are creative people.

To some people, their imagineering capabilities have been so developed that imagineering has become their second nature. Great minds like Albert Einstein, Henry Ford, etcetera were like that. In modern times, imaginative people are scattered all over the globe and can be found in various research centers, Research and Development departments of small, medium and large corporations. The interesting thing is that these are also found in various homes, schools and offices. One of the characteristics of imaginative people is that they see farther than their peers, see worth in worthless things and potentials in seemingly inconsequential objects.

Imagining how birds fly was what provided the idea-seed for Wright Brothers to think of a flying machine that could move people from place to place. This was at a time when common belief had it that whatever went up must surely come down. However, imagination and determination proved to be two great allies in the desire of these two brothers who worked hard to invent airplane.

The science of telepathy was what gave birth in the imagination of Graham Bell who imagined the possibility of inventing a device that could enable people to communicate with one another. Today, we have telephone in various designs and capabilities. O'Callaghan (1999:1) writing on Imagineering: The art or science of using imagination to intuitively make practical applications from knowledge observed:

 Imagination and intuition are the foundations of all improvements and advancements made by humankind. If someone had not imagined it was possible for man to fly, no one would have attempted to fly.  If no one had intuitively reasoned a propeller shaped like an airfoil could be used to power aircraft, no one would have attempted it. Imagination or intuition is the basis for all advancements and new designs.  The design of all prototypes is based solely on intuition.  The designer intuitively reasons or imagines the design and designs changes that result in the working prototype.  Only after testing does the design cease to be intuitive or imaginative, instead becoming scientific fact.  Until then it only existed in the designer's mind or imagination. Imagination is the process by which the human intellect travels beyond the limitations of his or her senses; imagination opens doors to an abstract world that is governed by the same rules as the physical world. The science of Imagineering is based on intuitively applying the laws of the physical world to an abstract imaginary world in an orderly and consistent manner to make predictions.  These processes give scientific credibility to imagination and intuitive reasoning.

MOSES: EXAMPLE OF FUTURE IN YOUR PICTURE

Moses' life is a study of faith in action. He demonstrated the Can-Do Spirit of an average person. He showed that human beings have the capacity to dare any odd and to come out victorious. There is power that inhabits every one of us. You can, if you think you can. Moses was a man who understood that the picture you form in your mind goes a long way in determining the future you will have, if only your faith can take a long look.

MOSES: VISION OF BECOMING PRINCE, JUDGE AND DELIVERER

Moses' life is an inspiration. Exodus 2:11-15 tells us. At Exodus 2:14, Moses was asked, “Who made you a Prince or a Judge over us?”

Why and how? Was he accusing Moses for accusation sake or was Moses guilty of trying to be a “Prince and Judge” over them? Moses actually envisioned himself as a Prince and Judge or Deliverer over the Hebrews in Egypt.

A careful study of the Hebrews in Egypt in the days, “When the Pharaoh who knew not Joseph” came to power (Exodus 1:8) and all the diplomatic games he had played in slashing down the Hebrews' population, including the circumstances that surrounded the birth of Moses, all revealed that the Hebrews' daily lives in that era in Egypt were that of “Sighing and groaning” (Exodus 2:23-24). At a point in the lives of Hebrews in Egypt, despondency set in as a result of their “Cruel bondage” (Exodus 6:9).

     Moses, at 40 years had observed the humiliations, exploitations and other numerous human right violations perpetrated against his people by the powers that were. Simply stated - the Hebrews were dehumanized. Over the years, Moses' people's pathetic state and tales had brought mist into the man's eyes. He had pondered over and over what should be done. One day, however, an idea dropped into his mind as Acts 7:23 tells us, “As he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind….” Mark the phrase, “...entered his mind.” Just before his fortieth birthday, an idea came into his mind; a vision flashed on the screen of his mind, immediately, he took hold of it, not letting go his grip on it.

What was Moses’ vision, his idea? To Deliver and Judge his people; to give them respite! To borrow Dr. Schuler's terms: when Moses had “Nested,” “Invested,” and “Crested” his ideas, he swung into action. Led by his vision as a Redeemer/Deliverer, he came upon an Egyptian pummeling a Hebrew, slew him and buried his corpse. That was an act of a redeemer and deliverer. Encouraged by his success, he ventured into the work of a Judge when he saw two Hebrews as they fought each other. In trying to mediate between them, he was told off by the offending party. Realizing that his act of redemption of a Hebrew, which eventually led to the death of an Egyptian had become an open secret; aware also that Egyptians would view the death of a fellow Egyptian who died for a 'worthless' Hebrews as treasonable, Moses ran away from Egypt and went into seclusion in Median.  

Succinctly stated, Moses saw the plight of his people and despite his royal upbringing longed to share in their lives (Hebrews 11:24-26). With a long-term view of an end to their sufferings, he saw the Hebrews as a people without a leader, sat down with his education and special training and mapped out strategies towards accomplishing his vision. His faith had a long look.

To reach his goal and accomplish his mission of delivering his people, he first envisaged himself as a Prince, a Hebrew Prince, Judge and Deliverer. As a Deliverer, he killed an Egyptian who was trying to kill a Hebrew. As a Judge, he went to mediate between two fighting Hebrews.

Although, those he had tried to salvage rejected him, yet, he kept the rope and after another forty years, his vision came through. Acts 7:32-36 tells us that his vision as a Judge and Deliverer over his people clicked. Moses had held tenaciously to his visions.

Desires of tough-minded optimists die-hard. Dare to dream. Hold on to the line, be tough skinned and don't give in to doubt, frustrations and discouragement. At Acts 7:32-36, Stephen, the first Christian martyr while he recapitulated on God's scheme of things for the nation of Israel and for the rest of mankind as it concerns human salvation strategically posited Moses and told how Moses' visions of becoming a Prince, Judge and Deliverer came to fulfillment:

But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him; but they did not understand. And on the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, “Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?” But the one who was injuring his neighbour; pushed him away, saying, “WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? You do not mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?” And at this remark Moses fled and became an alien in the land of Median, where he became the father of two sons. And after forty years had passed, an Angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai in the flame of a burring thorn bush. And when Moses saw it, he began to marvel at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.” And Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. But the Lord said to him, “Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place you are standing is holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now, and I will send you to Egypt.” This Moses whom they disowned, saying, “WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?” is one whom God sent to be both a RULER AND DELIVERER with the help of the Angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.

“Dreams do come through and true!” I thought I heard you say. Yes, dreams do come through and true. I want you to remember that for Moses it all started with a tiny seed-vision when it “entered into his mind.” I am convinced that when Moses muted that idea to some of his friends and close relatives, they must have laughed at him. Some may have tried to sow seeds of doubt and discouragement in him. Some may have made certain pessimistic comments about the visions he had expressed. Obviously, there were criticisms and other negative comments by those who seem to be ‘rationale.’ You may have come across these kinds of people who would take you through the drills of “reason” with all the facts that it is not possible; that it can't be done.

Read this: when Wrights' Brothers were working on their “Flying machine” idea, a somewhat skeptical editorial which appeared in New York Times of May 25, 1908 observed, “Flying machines, one and all, have quickly illustrated the adage of our youth, 'What goes up must come down.' ” Today, the skeptics have been proved wrong while  Wright Brothers have been proved right. When Graham Bell went to a bank to obtain loan to finance the production of his telephone machine, the irate bank manager drove him away because his idea was not only impracticable but weird as well. You and I are witnesses to the doggedness, can-do spirit and workability of the very ideas that were repudiated by the “experts” because, today, not only are machines flying and men could speak to each other from one end of the earth to the other, but also the fact that the world has been revolutionalized and made better by these two inventions. The world would not have been what it is today if these inventors had given in to the tauntings and skepticisms of those around them. Someone had rightly observed:

Beware of those who stand aloof and greet every venture with reproof; the world would stop if things were run by men who say, “It can't be done!”

Don't kill that dream; execute it! Be assured that any dream that would bring glory and praise to God; cause the expansion of God's Kingdom in the hearts and communities of men and ultimately bring blessings upon mankind is a seed of good from God. Writing to Philippian Christians in Philippians 1:6 and 2:13, Apostle Paul under inspiration wrote,

Of this I am convinced, that He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion… for it is God who is at work within you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Dare to create that picture and God will see to it that it becomes your future. Let your faith a telescopic view. I do not know the vision you have of yourself. Do yourself this favor: whatever may be the circumstance of your present, hold on to the rope. Someday, somewhere and somehow it will click. At Habakkuk 2:3, God's Word has this to say:

For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.

MY CHARGE

I charge you to see the hero/heroin in you.

I charge you to see beyond the restrictions of your present.

I charge you to see beyond the limitations o your environment.

I charge you to see beyond your parental background.

I charge you to see beyond your personal limitations.

I charge you to have faith in your faith and to doubt your doubt.

CONCLUSION

Your future is in your pictures. At Revelations 3:18, Jesus challenged, “I counsel thee to … anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” May God enable you to see what and who you ought to see for the glorious future that He had ordained for you in Jesus’ name!

_____________

Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah is a Gospel Preacher in the Lord’s Church,  and MD/Chief Executive, Grand-Heritage Global Communications. 

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*Your Future Is In Your Picture was culled from, FAITH TAKES A LONG LOOK and IDEATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP by Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah.