Too many Christians live their entire lives for the next life! Their eyes are so fixed on the prize that they completely forget to enjoy what they have in the present! They have forgotten that God is past, PRESENT, and future. After all, if this life is meaningless, why not just skip it altogether?
The author of the book of Ecclesiastes wrote: "I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life." (5:18) Did you catch that? We should be savoring our meals and enjoying our daily tasks - whatever they happen to be. The same author went on to note that good health and material wealth are things that we should appreciate if we are fortunate enough to have them. Later still, in the same treatise, he noted that we should do everything that we do in this life with gusto, because we will have plenty of time to do nothing when we die! (9:10) The Psalmist once declared that "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." (118:24)
Not convinced? Jesus Christ instructed his disciples NOT to allow themselves to be overwhelmed with worrying about what's next (see Matthew 6:25-34). Instead, he told them to focus on what was right in front of their faces! It wasn't that they were supposed to completely ignore the future. He did tell them that they should "seek the kingdom," but he also instructed them to "live righteously" and assured them that God would supply their needs in the present (verse 33). He concluded with this sage advice: "So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Verse 34) In other words, focus on today!
Likewise, the Apostle Paul told the saints at Ephesus that how they lived their lives in the present was very important (Ephesians 5:15), and he went on to tell them that they should "make the most of every opportunity" (verse 16). Paul also wrote to the saints at Philippi that he didn't personally dwell on the past - that he kept pushing forward (3:13).
Moreover, this is something that the study of our own psychology has affirmed! In an article for Psychology Today titled The Art of Now: Six Steps to Living in the Moment, Jay Dixit wrote: "We need to live more in the moment. Living in the moment—also called mindfulness—is a state of active, open, intentional attention on the present. When you become mindful, you realize that you are not your thoughts; you become an observer of your thoughts from moment to moment without judging them. Mindfulness involves being with your thoughts as they are, neither grasping at them nor pushing them away. Instead of letting your life go by without living it, you awaken to experience."
He went on to note that "Mindful people are happier, more exuberant, more empathetic, and more secure. They have higher self-esteem and are more accepting of their own weaknesses. Anchoring awareness in the here and now reduces the kinds of impulsivity and reactivity that underlie depression, binge eating, and attention problems. Mindful people can hear negative feedback without feeling threatened. They fight less with their romantic partners and are more accommodating and less defensive. As a result, mindful couples have more satisfying relationships."
How can we be mindful people and live in the moment? Jay Dixit went on to list six strategies for doing just that: 1) If you want to improve your performance, stop thinking about it, 2) focusing on the present helps us to avoid worrying about the future, 3) If you want to sustain a relationship with someone, then you must live in the moment <take time to stop and smell the roses>, 4) don't be a clock watcher - lose track of time - go with the flow, 5) don't try to avoid what's bothering you, and 6) avoid zoning out - keep your focus and attention on what is in front of you. Sounds like good advice to me!
We want to do self-reflection to improve on past bad behaviors. We want to be in God's Kingdom someday. Nevertheless, we MUST NOT forget the here and now - if we truly want to be happy and please God!
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