pride & vanity - who's being uplifted

There are (at least) a couple of matters that have grown massively in importance to me during this year...

1) a need for actions to match words...Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul (2 Tim 2 MSG)

Without this, we aren't authentic, we aren't modelling & we aren't providing true leadership (& we're all leaders)

2) beyond that there is a need to further consider what drives those actions

I can do the 'right' things for the wrong reasons & be out of whack

I find it fascinating to consider the ordering of our relationships in different scenarios. I'm not saying these orders are correct for all occasions (yes I remember Jesus first, Yourself last & Others in-between!) but they are helping me as windows into my behaviour.

The key questions I consider at any point in time are...

1. where's the love?
2. whose view of me matters most?
3. who's being uplifted?

For each scenario below, I also pose a couple of starting thoughts. I'm sure if they aren't your versions, you can get honest with yourself & fill in the blanks.

Right standing:- God is in His rightful place, I find my identity in Him & love others as I love myself, as follows...

God
Me
Others

Leadership: people following me following Jesus
Listening: I listen so as to listen

-------------------------------------------------

Given pride:- I'm the most important person to me & in my ultimate desire to be God, I want as much of a gap between me & the Real Deal; leaves you with this...

Me
Others
my God

Leadership: people following me following me

Listening: I 'listen' so as to talk (to uplift myself!!)

-------------------------------------------------

Given vanity:- my desire to be God to others is paramount & they get used to 'fulfil' this fantasy, resulting in this order...

Others
my God
Me

Leadership: who knows who's really leading who?!

Listening: I listen so as to fix (taking God's place)

-------------------------------------------------

Using these filters (often in real-time) has greatly benefited me during this year - especially in my interactions with people.

I was planning to post more on that front next time but feel to change the order of the final two pieces, now finishing with pride & vanity - chasing it down, for reasons which should become obvious.

TTFN - Jonathan