Day 5: Seeing life from God's view

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
Sometimes I just wonder, it is that hard to give motivation to someone? No, it's not. Read between the lines :)

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Day 5: Seeing life from God's view


Life is an mysterious journey. The way you describe your life will mold the life that you want. Just give yourself some time to think of some words - nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives... whatever - to describe your life. Little do you know that these words actually reflects how you and your future. If you describe life is like parties, most probably your value of life will be having fun. Yes, never think of this special influence, right? You life metaphor will influence your life more than you realize.

Then again, how do you see your life? Well, to fulfill God's purpose for us, we have to trade in everything else for biblical metaphors of life.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

If we analyze the bible carefully, we can see that there are 3 metaphors that teach us about God's view of life.
1. Life is a test
2. Life is a trust
3. Life is a temporary assignment


1. Life is a test
If you read through the whole Bible, we can see that God tests people's characters, faith, obedience, love, integrity and loyalty. Words like trials, temptations, refining and testing appeared more than 200 times throughout the Bible. And some people failed the test, just like the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But bible also showed examples of people who passed the test, such as Joseph, Ruth, Esther and Daniel.

Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

God constantly testing us throughout everything around us, our simple reactions determine if we pass the test or not. We will be tested by major tests, delayed promises, impossible problems (eg. me as MGSS badminton champion), unanswered prayers (eg. my grandfather's case), undeserved criticism (eg. from someone), and even senseless tragedies.

In my own life I have noticed that God test my faith through problems, test my hope by how I handle possessions, and test my love through people.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

And sometimes, God draws back from you, and we really feel as if He has gone. In Bible, Hezekiah had a intimate fellowship with God, but during crucial point of his life, God intentionally left him alone to:-
1. test his character
2. reveal a weakness
3. prepare him for more responsibility

Therefore, every moment and aspect in life are significant, if we understand that life is a test. Thus life sounds hard, because it is filled with tests by God? No! It's not hard at all, if you can integrate it! I remembered my favorite Verse in bible:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. and God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1. Corinthians 10:13

And forget not James 1:12:-

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

2. Life is a trust
Our time on earth, our intelligence, relationships, opportunities, talents, resources etc are all gifts from God. God entrusted all of these to our care and management.

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Psalm 24:1

We do not really own anything here on earth; everything belongs to God, and we just loan them from God. And our job is to take care all of His "stuffs" on earth, even on this very day and in the future.

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove more faithful.
1. Corinthians 4:2

And God does not just entrust them to us. At the very end of the day, you will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well you handled His possessions in your hand. Having the story of talents, a businessman and his 3 servants? Yes, I'm talking about that. And God promises 3 awards in eternity:-
1. Affirmation
2. Promotion for greater responsibility
3. Celebration


3. Life is a temporary assignment
-this will be in Day 5.

Life is both a test and a trust, and the more God gives you, the more responsible he expected you to be.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,
Luke 16:10a

So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
Luke 16:11

Vincent