Kingdom Value, 4 Kingdom Keys to Pursuing Meaningful and Joyful Living By John C Arnold
What are you doing today and what is the value of it?
Understanding the value of your actions is vitally important to having a
meaningful and joyful life. It is exceedingly hard to be happy if you don't
know the value of what you are doing. The reverse is true though as well. If
you enter your day, planning for activities that you know the purpose and value
of you then you can experience tremendous joy and meaningfulness. The choice is
up to you.
I have found that one of the keys is making sure that the
activities I pursue have "kingdom value." What I mean by
"kingdom value" are activities that make the kingdom of God a
tangible reality right here and now. So what does God value and how can that guide
us in evaluating the activities in our lives.
First, we know from God's word that God values
relationship with us. He loves us and wants us to know and experience that
love. Christ prayed for not only the disciples but also those who would believe
their words that they would know God's name so that they would know God's love
and that love would be in them. John 17:26. So, as you look at your to-do list
for today ask yourself, "What on my list increases my love of God or my
understanding of God's love for me?" If you don't have something like that
on your list add it.
Second, we know from God's Word that God wants us to value
relationship with one another. Christ also prayed in John 17 that believers
"would be one." At the last supper, Christ commanded the disciples to
love one another the way he loved them. There are numerous other references for
believers to love and encourage one another. So, what is on your to-do list for
today that will strengthen your relationships with other believer? What is something
you can plan on doing today to actively love someone else.
Third, we know from God's Word that God wants others to
know about him. Jesus prayed that we would know the love of God and that we
would be one so that others would come to know his love. What on your to-do
list is going to help someone else see the reality of God in a tangible way.
Fourth, another way we can determine whether or not
something has kingdom value is too examine from a perspective of eternity. Do
you have any activities on your to-do list that have eternal value? In the
sermon on the mount (Matthew, chapters 5-7) Jesus told people that they should
lay up treasure in heaven where neither moth nor rust will cause decay not on
earth where things are perishable. What he was telling people was, "Put
your time into those things that have eternal value and will not simply pass
away."
You will notice that I kept mentioning your to-do list.
That's because if you want to experience a meaningful and joyful life you have
to be extremely intentional about it. You can't passively get to the end of the
day and ask, "Well, did I do anything worthwhile?" You have to go
into the day scheduling activities with kingdom value. You have to kingdom
goals.
Jesus made it clear in his prayer in John 17 that he was
praying for the unity of God's people and for people to love God because this
would bring them great joy. He also made it clear in the sermon on the mount
that if you want to be free from anxiety you need to focus on "Seek first
the kingdom of God and his righteousness and these other things shall be added
unto you." Working on deepening your relationship with God, with one
another, with helping others to come to know him and on those things that are
eternal will ensure that your life is meaningful and joyful.
John Arnold has been teaching people for over 25 years how to have a more abundant life by reading and applying the Word of God in their lives. For more tips on adding kingdom value to your life or to learn more about discipleship visit his blog http://thepracticaldisciple.com At his blog, John Arnold shares a host of tips and tools for spiritual growth. His advice is extremely practical and applicable in daily life and has helped numerous people deepen their relationship with God and live into more meaningful discipleship. A
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