Why? (Chp 7)

While this book is supposed help us find what we're here for, what our purpose on earth is, oddly enough this chapter touches on the subject of why things happen. We all know and say "things happen for a reason." What is this reason? Why do the little things happen? Why do the big things happen? We've said that life's obstacles are a test or a trust, but even then, why a test or a trust?

The answer, which I was completely unaware of and did not expect and did not ever consider in any of my actions throughout my life, is to bring glory to and to glorify God. Wow! My tests, my trusts, if I handle them the way God wants me to, I bring glory to God. That means, every moment is an opportunity to bring glory to God, and that's just one way to bring Him glory.

There are 5 ways to glorify God in our lives according to the chapter:

1) by worshipping Him
2) by loving other believers
3) by becoming like Christ
4) by serving others with our gifts
5) by telling others about Him

In worshipping Him, it commands a lifestyle of worship, not just prayer out of habit, its enjoying God, loving God and submitting to be used for His purposes. Prayers, rituals and habit play small part of worship, worshiping comes from the heart, and the Lord looks at the heart.

I have a small problem with the second point, I believe that we're commanded to love everyone, not just believers, Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, even those who crucified Him He loved. If we glorify God by becoming like Jesus then we are to glorify God by loving everyone as Jesus did, not only believers. Both loving others and becoming like Jesus are part of our tests in life. Tests give us the chance to ask ourselves the famous cliche "What would Jesus do?" and whatever it was that Jesus would do, He would do it with endless compassionate love.

God gave us all gifts, our trusts, and He wants us to use those to their full potential. Not for our own benefit and glory, but for His and for serving others. Again, this trust of serving others with our gifts ties in closely with becoming like Christ because Jesus spent His life in service of God and of others, even down to washing His disciples feet. There are countless ways to serve others with our gifts from teaching Sunday school or preaching to driving people to and from church services and activities to simply having a friendly ear for someone to turn to in their times of need. Whatever the nature of service, it glorifies God, even if you don't see what you do as a service, God sees it.

Word of mouth, one of the most successful marketing techniques there is, so why not use word of mouth to glorify the Lord? Tell others of His magnificence, of His power, His mercy and grace and most importantly His love. Reach out to people, a lot will turn away, but if one finds the Lord, you are blessed and God has been glorified. Telling others about God doesn't mean going door to door asking "Have you found Jesus?" Its your lifestyle, its part of your worship, its the way you live. People will see you and your actions and hear what you say, all this glorifies God and if its part of your lifestyle, people will ask you about God and about Christ and you can reach out to them.

One of my friends logged on to an instant messaging program and initiated a conversation saying, there are too many people on my contact list with a religious quote or saying for their nickname. Then he asked me if he was that religious to be surrounded by these people. I replied to him asking "Does it bother you that the Lord has reached into your life and surrounded you by people trying to spread His word?" There is nothing wrong with reaching out to others, and there is nothing wrong in being rejected when you do. Jesus himself spent His life telling others about God and was rejected and crucified for it. If you make a difference in one life, if you help one God's sheep return to His flock, the Good Shepherd has your reward for you in heaven.

The book named 5 ways in which to glorify God, I want to boil it down to one. You can glorify God by becoming like Christ. When you strive to become like Jesus worship becomes a lifestyle, love is in everything you do and its there for everyone, you serve others by giving of yourself and of your gifts and you tell others about the word of God. Live your life like Jesus to bring glory to God. That's the reason for everything; God's glory.