The measure of your accomplishments isn't the number of points you rack in, how many chapters you read from the Bible, how many verses you quote. The measure of your accomplishments, instead is how much you've learned, applied, and put into practice.
Whether you do things for points or not, if you do them without learning, applying, and putting the applied truths to action, then you haven't accomplished anything.
I was lying here on my bed, wondering what I should to for tomorrow(To those not going to my church, Wednesdays are the days we have our "score sheets" turned in--where we tally up the verses said, devotions done, ministries served, books read and reports written on said books. Each with their own point-price-tag).
So, I haven't memorized any verses for sigma(youth program), I haven't read any books or done reports on them, I have only done my devotions and some ministries.
However, I memorized a list of verses published last year as a topical verse sheet that wasn't transferred over to this year's compilation of verse sheets. It had Philippians 4:8, Matt 5;27-28, James 4:7-8, Ps. 19:14, and a few others.
So I was trying to rack my mind...Could I memorize an easy, yet applicable verse sheet on kindness or obedience before tomorrow? Could I read a book and do a report on it by tomorrow afternoon?
Once I started thinking on doing the book report, God reminded me of the truth at the beginning of this blog entry. The measurement of our accomplishment isn't about how many verses we can earn in a week, or how many Bible chapters we can read in a day/week, or how many books we can read/write reports on in a week, or how many verses we can quote.
The measurement is how many times we learned from those things we did; how many times we applied the truths we learned; how many times we put into practice that which was applied. How many time were you able to grow in Christ by doing those things? How many times did you say no to Satan's foolish temptings because you remembered what you read/memorized and then put it into action by resisting him?
After God reminded me of this truth, he reminded me also of the times I was able to use the verses I memorized earlier this week. I remember Satan tempting me to sin in my thoughts, and by applying and putting into action what I memorized, I was able to resist Satan(through God).
God also reminded me of how I learned from what I memorized. That lesson can be found in the blog entry blow this one, "James 4:7-8."
He also reminded me of a few other things that I won't go into. But my point in all of this is to exemplify that even though I didn't "accomplish" anything hardly as far as points go, I was able to accomplish much more important things.
To those in the youth program: Throw out the mentality of points! They won't get you any where in life if that is the only (worthwhile) reason you do spiritual things.
To those out of the youth program: Reading your Bible, "memorizing" verses, "serving" God won't measure your "accomplishments" for the week. The many times you learned, applied, and put into practice those spiritual things you did--that is what measures your accomplishments.
You can "read" your Bible and "memorize" verses all you want, but until you let truths sink in and you learn from those things, and until your apply and practice those things, you won't grow.
Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;
Pro 22:17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Jam 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
-Kevin
I like the new set-up.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate this post as well. I know right where you're coming from. I have had an amazing week and my brain is full from everything I've learned, but I don't have points to show for it.
Molly and Brian are really great (in my thinking) in not pressing for points. This whole secret sister fellowship we just did was awesome, but wasn't counted for points because we couldn't get everyone involved. That was no big deal to Molly. It was something we all enjoyed doing and everyone else loved it. When Brian was encouraging CJ to do his devos, he barely touched on points because that's not the important thing.
Somewhere in there is a delicate balance. I think our team is just struggling to find it. I'm preparing my "speech" for if someone gives me a hard time for not having points to show for the growth I've experienced this week. :)
Just remember your reward is in heaven. This is temporary, but how we serve Christ is what truly matters. Maybe this will get the youth group thinking of a new way to do things. You never know. I totally agree it should be how you live what you learned that is really important. When you use verses you have memorized to defeat a temptation, then you have won. When you encourage someone to become a stronger christian and to live for the Lord, then you have won. If your team loses and you have learned and applied many verses to your life, then you are a winner and you will be successful in defeating Satan when he tempts you in "the real world". Your heart is what really matters, and I am really proud of you for applying what you have learned. If you don't make anyone else happy with that, know that God is happy! And really, He's the only one that matters :)
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