We often have our own hopes, expectations and rights. For example, when we pay for a meal, we expect to get a decent meal back, or at least to get whatever we ordered in return - that would be our right. When we do something kind, we expect? a thank you or at least some form of appreciation. When we work, we expect a pay in return. When we follow God, do we expect to be blessed? For people to look at us in a certain way?
When we study for exams, we hope to do well. When we make friends, we expect certain things from "true friends", when our friends get married, we expect to be invited. When we are there for a friend, do we also expect them to be there for us in return?
When the outcome or reward is different from what we expected or hoped for, how do we react? In anger, in hurt? If there was no outcome or reward, will we live differently? If there was no such thing as "pay", or "results", will we still work as hard? No such thing as exams, would we still study? Will we love somebody, if we wont get love in return? what if we do something that we think is right or is a good job, and nobody tells you that you did well - will we then start to doubt what we did? Do we judge how nice a "photo" is based on how many "likes" it gets?
It reminds me of a friend's valedictorian speech - at which she talked about the hope we have in Christ. or what do we put our hope in? do we put our hope in - leading a good life after putting in all this effort to study hard, to get a good resume? Do we put our hope in getting a good job if we learn all the skills that we ought to have? and then whats next?
My thoughts are all jumbled up but perhaps in thinking about an uncertain future, it made me think about whether it is worth it to put in the effort now, and it made me realise that I am thinking this way because I am placing a high priority on the outcome. Or on my own rights - the rights to receive a reward at the end of all this hardwork and pain. Perhaps I need to learn to surrender, and need to learn to trust God - that whatever the outcome is, he is leading me each step of the way. To learn to surrender my rights, my rights to be in control, my rights to know the future, my rights to be rewarded (or what i want to be rewarded with) at the end of the day. For I know that at the end of the day, my greatest hope ought to be placed on Christ, that because of his death on the cross, I can be set free, forgiven from my sins and I can have a right relationship with God that will last forever. And that ought to surpass everything else that we see on earth now, which can fade away any moment. But why? Why is it sometimes so hard to live with my eyes set solely on that vision and hope?
As I was catching up with friends, I can sometimes see how much these worldly needs, desires, expectations, hopes can consume us. What are we really living for? What are we really placing our hope in? Not just what we say we put our hope in, but through our lives, what do we truly put our hope in, because that will definitely change the way we live.
That being said, there's still so many things thats in my head now that needs to be sorted out.
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on a side note... this also reminded me about meekness, something jesus talked about in the bible. which is defined as, according to dictionary.com :
| — adj | |
| 1. | patient, long-suffering, or submissive in disposition or nature; humble |
| 2. | spineless or spiritless; compliant |
| 3. | an obsolete word for gentle |
This is a long article talking about meekness
http://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/237/The-Fruit-of-Spirit-Meekness.htm
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/february/20.56.html
have not read both but will come back to read it! Just a reflection
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