A Time To Review #10

Keeping and Casting Away

It's been a while since we posted, but we have the latest review of our A Time To Series below.  Find out what the similarities and differences there are between Keeping and Casting Away and how these two seasons may work together for your benefit.

What's the Difference?

Keeping and Casting Away have an obvious difference in that one is about losing, while the other is about retaining.  This is like many of the seasons of life we've covered.  There is a season to retain or gain and a season to lose or let go. Keeping is about holding to those things that God has put in our lives and not allowing anything - not success, relationships, outside pressures, etc. - to keep you from pursuing what God has for you.  Casting Away is about deciding what needs to be set aside - whether possessions, pursuits, people, etc. - so you can further pursue God more directly.  As we can see, even in this difference, there is a similarity.

Don't Let Anything Keep You From Pursuing God

There is nothing in this life worth more than pursuing God.  That is why we are instructed to lay not up for ourselves earthly treasures (Matthew 6:19).  That's the words of Jesus Christ.  He also instructed us that until our love for others - including our families - looks like hate compared to our love for God (Luke 14:26).  I have to put God's ways and purposes first in my life and so does everyone else.  In order to do that, I'm going to have to decide to keep God's commandments, purposes, plans and passions in my life at all cost. 

If God's ways come in conflict with my job, I must position my job to where it is no longer in conflict or I must cast it away.  I must reorder my relationships to ensure that they do not conflict with God's purpose in my life.  I must make sure all of my pursuits, whether practical, spiritual or recreational, align with God's plan for my life or I must remove them from my life. 

Clean Your Life Out

We all must perform a spiritual "spring cleaning" in our lives.  If anything is holding us back from God, we need to adjust its position or get rid of it all together.  We need to go to those we have relationships with - our parents, children, spouses, friends, etc. - and let them know what are plan is for God and that we want their support.  If these people are in alignment with God, they will get behind us.  If they aren't, God will line them up or get them out.  

In the end, these two seasons of Keeping and Casting Away show us we are to prioritize God in our lives.  For those of us who can step up to the call, we'll see our purpose and place in the Kingdom advance.  For those who can't, there will be stagnation and eventual sliding backwards into spiritual atrophy.  Don't let this world weigh you down and then rob you of God's calling and purpose.  Get your life cleaned out and free of all things that would hold you back from fully embracing God's call for your life. 

Here's a tip for you to get started cleaning out your life:

1.  Make a list of all the things you are involved in (job, activities, hobbies, etc.)
2.  Make a list of all the relationships where you spend time with that person at least once a month.
3.  Make a list of all your possessions.

In these three lists, go through and place check marks next to the pursuits, people and possessions that help you to pursue God's plan for your life.  Place an x mark next to those who don't.  Place a question mark next those you are unsure of.  Keep hold of the check marks.  Remove the x marks (unless it is a close personal relationship.  In this case, seek counseling and prayer for this relationship first, especially if it is a spouse). Pray about the question marks and let God lead you in how to handle them.  Watch how reordering your life frees you up to pursue God's calling for your life