I know I apologize for not placing a video on here last week or even this week. I have ideas but have not edited or even video’d everything that I have wanted to. So hopefully I will have something next week.

I do want to seek your thoughts. “The few. The proud. My blog followers”.

A few weeks ago we were sitting in Church listening to the Pastor speak. He made some comments and I am not exactly sure how to take them. So please leave me your thoughts.

He was talking about doing the Lords work. Great topic, I know. My problem lies in the statement that even though you are self centered the work that you are doing is what the Lord wants you to be doing.

I agree and understand his work is to be done with who we are. But what I disagree with is that this is how the Lord has, in a way, ordained it for even those who are self centered. That it is still OK to be a self centered person even if doing the Lord’s work. This I disagree with.

I agree He can and will utilize these and all situations where His name is professed.

It was the fact that he said what he said and did not say that self centeredness was a bad thing. He left out much, we need to as He has requested “put no god before Him”. Am I, Toby, not a possible god to myself if I want myself to be?

Christ can and will use those who are self righteous, I agree. But not needing to change is where I have the issue.

Maybe it was something he accidently left out of his talk but for some reason I have had this thought stuck in my head since then. I am not a fan of the self absorbed person that all they can talk about is themselves with Christ sprinkled in for good measure.

Am I being a bit judgmental? Why yes I am, I guess. I grow weary and see that Christ is not fully honored when “I, me, etc” is where I find the most joy when speaking to others.

The scariest thing to me is the fact that this can also be such a divisive wedge between the one being spoken to about Christ and the saving knowledge of Christ. One can see thru us and what we say to actually see the real meaning to
His truth and not our own.

Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deut. 6: 5)

Unfortunately the mission field is not immune to the self righteous. At times I think it can be worse. It is easy to get the thought that hey I am a missionary, I am better than others since I have given up my creature comforts back in the states to live without much electricity, without all the restaurants while the culture around me is harder to live in. I live in a part of the world where things do not mesh with my way of life, where you would have a very hard time living. But not me, here I am in Africa. Living for the Lord, and where do you live? What are you doing to proclaim His name to all the World?

Please pray that this is not me at this time. Also that I will take a back seat to Him with whom I serve. Pray that this will not become me when we are back in the states. I do not want that for the Lord or for myself.