CHRISTIAN LIFE & GROWTH

Life is Like a Box

By Laurel J. Davis
See Laurel's blog at The Reluctant First Lady

Picture your life as a box with a lid that you can use to control what goes in and what goes out, and how much goes in or out. Include in that picture the fact that what you let go into your box, and how much of it you let in, will determine what kinds of things come out.

The more wide open the lid to your box is, the easier all sorts of things can jump right in — bad as well as good, harmful as well as harmless.

In other words, the less careful you are with your life, the less protected you are against bad influences that will distract you, encumber you, make you stray off course, or in some other way undermine your walk with God.

On the other hand, you don't want to close your lid too tightly either, because then nothing at all — not even good things — can get in.

And nothing good going in means nothing good can come out. Not witnessing the Good News that saves nonbelievers. Not sound teaching that increases faith, that protects your spirit and that equips you for ministry. Not wise counsel that edifies. Not testimonies that encourage. Not fellowship that blesses. No hope, no joy, no peace, no power, no service, no wisdom, no witness, no love.

The tighter your lid is closed, the less open your life is to receive daily empowerment and experience spiritual growth, and the less you can be a positive influence on others.

What you want to do is keep your box open, but also fit it with a filter that will help you better control what goes in your life and what comes out of it. That filter should be the Word of God. The Bible is the best and final authority for all things (2 Timothy 3:15-17). So, it should be the only tool you use to regulate the "box" that is your life so that more good goes into it and, in turn, less bad comes out.

To use the Bible as your filter, you need to know it, and you get to know it by simply reading it regularly and repeatedly. The more you learn it, the more efficient your control over your box will be. The more efficient your control, the less vulnerable you will be to temptation, distraction, discouragement and backsliding. Also, the more effective you will be as a living witness to others of the goodness and power of God.

Keep in mind, a lot of people's "boxes" can look all good on the outside. But what's really going on, on the inside?

Is there any emptiness?

If you feel your life is full, what is it full of? And what's been your filter? After all you've allowed and maybe even deliberately put into your box, do you like what's coming out as a result? More importantly, does God? How truly effective is your influence on the lives of others for their lasting, even eternal good?

The truly full life overflows with God's grace, power, hope, joy, wisdom and love — all of which come only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which is then accompanied by devotion to His Word. But you control the opening of your own box.

Let Jesus Christ into your life. And if you already have, then let His Word abide in you. Let all of His goodness increase in you to overflowing.

(References: Matthew 5:13-16; Luke 14:34; John 3:16; 14:6, 26; 16:13; 17:17; Romans Chapter 6; 12:1-2; Colossians 4:5-6; 2 Timothy 3:1-17; 4:1-5; 1 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Peter 3:18; Revelation 3:20)

Image Credit: Mark Lee; "Treasure Box"; Creative Commons

Tags: Biblical-Truth | Christian-Life