It’s Not About You!

Charles Swindoll

I need to underscore a foundational fact: God's goal is not to make sure you're happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It's about God.

How can I say that with assurance? Because of Paul's response in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

That's it! He got it, too. And he went with it for the rest of his days.

When you and I boast of our strengths, we get the credit, and we keep going under our own head of steam. But when we boast in what He is doing in the midst of our brokenness, inability, and inadequacy, Christ comes to the front. His strength comes to our rescue. He is honored.

Don't miss that point. The very things we dread and run from in our lives are precisely what brought contentment to Paul. Look at the list: I am content when I lose. I am content when I am weak. I am content with insults. I am content when I am slandered. I am content in distresses. I am content with persecutions. I am content with difficulties and pressures that are so tight I can hardly turn around. Why? “Because when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Knowing that brought the apostle, ablaze with the flaming oracles of heaven, to his knees. What a way to live your life-content in everything-knowing that divine strength comes when human weakness is evident.

Paul recommends an attitude of unselfish humility. Quite remarkably, you never read where Paul said to his Roman guard, while he was in prison: “I need you to do me a favor. Next time you happen to be near one of the Emperor's assistants, urge him to get me out of this dump. I shouldn't be here in the first place. I've been here for one year, seven months, four days, five hours, and nine minutes, and that's long enough.” Paul's attitude of unselfish humility prevented him from keeping meticulous records of the wrongs done to him in Rome, or anywhere else for that matter. He was in prison by divine appointment. He willingly submitted to his situation.

Christ modeled the great emptying-out principle that permeated Paul's remarkable life. If we want to learn contentment, developing an attitude of unselfish humility is the perfect place to begin. Start with your family or neighbors. Model it before your employees or clients. You won't believe the impact that sort of selfless mental attitude will have on the people. You won't have to raise flags or pass out tracts. Just demonstrate an attitude of unselfish humility. The results will amaze you.

Paul exhorts believers to have an attitude of joyful acceptance. Paul minced no words about how believers should relate to one another. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15). He sought an attitude of joyful acceptance, free of petty disputes and bickering. He pled for authentic joy. Nothing is more contagious!

Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives: Profiles in Character from Charles R. Swindoll (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005), 313, 337.

Definition of Love

Dr. Frederick K.C. Price

I have a very simple – maybe even a corny and oversimplified definition of love. When I say, “I love you,” it means I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. I want to be your companion, your provider, your lover, your confidant, your advisor, your friend. I want you to be the only woman in the world that carries my seed and mothers my children. I want only you handling the affairs of my household. I mean that I want to spend my life with you in every conceivable intimate way that there is imaginable. I am yours for life. I want you to be mine for life. That is the best way I can define love.

Some people are marrying because someone says they love them and because the person is a Christian and goes to church every Sunday. But that does not mean a thing! You could still be unequally yoked. It is so important to be equally yoked in spiritual matters first. Both of you should be filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking with other tongues. You should both believe in tithing. If either one does not believe in either of these two matters, you are unequally yoked.

II Corinthians 6:14:
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

This scripture usually is attributed to a Christian not marrying a non-Christian. But based upon what I have been able to see from the Word and from life, I believe being unequally yoked involves some additional criteria.

If one believes in divine healing and in exercising faith to believe God for healing, along with whatever help one may be able to get from the doctor, but the other does not believe that, then you are unequally yoked.

I think you should be equally yoked on the things that mean the most to you in life. Even though you may both be Christians, you need to sit down and talk about all these other areas, with spiritual things being first.

When you talk openly, you will discover what the other likes and dislikes. My wife likes a particular food that I do not like, but it has nothing to do with our relationship. I allow her the privilege to like it, and she allows me the privilege not to. So, we are equally yoked in that sense.

Such natural things can be adjusted. However, if you do not agree on the spiritual matters, like tithing, you are going to have real trouble. Start with the spiritual matters, then go on and talk about other concerns from there.

You must use honest communication; otherwise, you will be talking a lot and saying nothing. alk about whether or not you want children. Talk about where you want to live. What church you both will attend. There are many areas of living that need to be discussed before a couple walks down the aisle and says, “I do.”

I know of a situation where after the couple was married, the lady said, “Honey, I am ready to start having children.” The husband said, “What? I do not plan to have any kids!” Now what is she supposed to do? They are unequally yoked. They should have discussed that issue until each one understood clearly where the other stood. Here, she has given herself to this man and he doesn’t want kids. This is trouble with a capital “T.”

I think two people can make a relationship work under any circumstance if they agree as to what they are going to do. Some situations cannot be pre-planned, of course, but most things can.

Do your homework before you ever decide to get married because you are still going to have to adjust to each other. Just the psychological and physical adjustment alone is a big responsibility. So, all the other stuff should be ironed out beforehand.

Your focus during the spring season of romantic thoughts, leading possibly to marriage should be: Talk honestly. Get into agreement about things. Be equally yoked together. Then put things into operation.

The most important thing to remember is that God knows more about you than you do, so let Him in on your heart’s desire. He can arrange for you to have the best life partner that you could ever imagine. Before you start your game plan, before you begin talking to him or to her, talk to your Heavenly Faith first!


This devotional was excerpted from Dr. Price’s book, “Golden Nuggets: A Treasury of Wisdom for Both Ministers and Laypeople.” Please call us at (800) 927-3436 for a complete list of his products.

Dr. Frederick K.C. Price is the founder and pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center West in Los Angeles and CCC East in Manhattan. To obtain more information about his ministry, please call (800) 927-3436 or visit www.faithdome.org.