Part 3
In my previous blog, I did mention about the acronym RELAX...
1. R -- Realize my worth
2. E -- Enjoy what I already have
3. L -- Limit my labor
4. A -- Adjust my values
5. X -- eXchange my pressure for God's peace
Let's elaborate them one by one
R- REALIZE MY WORTH
The reason most people overwork is because they confuse their work and their worth. We think that if we work a whole lot, achieve a lot, we're worth a lot. We confuse what we do with who we are
When we meet someone, after we find out their name, usually the second question is "What do you do?" We get our worth, we think, from our work.
The Bible doesn't teach that. It says our worth is regardless of what our work is. Many of you grew up with a little phrase in your mind that says "you're a nobody." Maybe a teacher told you that. Maybe a former friend. Maybe a brother or sister. Maybe a parent said, "You're never going to amount to much." The real reason you overwork is you say, "I'll show them. I will prove my worth by my accomplishments, my achievements." You never accomplish enough to feel satisfied. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt." That's not true. Names do hurt. Names last far longer than broken bones. Many years later you're still hearing a little inner voice that says,
"You've got to keep paddling. You've got to keep working. Somebody may catch up.
Somebody may get ahead of you. You've got to prove your value, your significance, your worth, by overworking."
And you never can slow down.
The antidote is to realize what God says about you. James 1:18 "God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made." God says you matter more than the rest of creation. You can relax; you don't have to prove your worth. If you were made by God, you're worth it. I am me and I'm OK because God don't make no junk. If you really understand and feel what you are worth to God – not just know it but really feel it -- it will change your life. If God likes me, and I like myself, if you don't like me, that's your problem. You don't spend your whole life trying to win the approval of other people. You don't need the approval of other people to be happy. But you do need to realize how valuable you are to God.
Jesus said in Matthew 6 "... your heavenly Father feeds the (sparrows). And you are far more valuable to him than they are." If God notices even when a bird falls to the ground and takes care of birds, don't you think He takes care of you?
1) You will never understand how much God loves you here on earth.
2) There is nothing you can ever do in life that will make God love you more than He already does.
3) There is nothing you can ever do that will make God love you any less. His love is not based on your performance. It's unconditional love. It's based on who He is.
You don't have to prove your worth by overworking. God says you are OK. God says "I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." Jesus died on the cross and they had put nails through His hands. He said, "I love you this much. I have engraved you on the palms of My hands." He can never forget how much He loves you. When you get to Heaven, He's going to show you those engraved hands.
Well... take time to ponder all these things...
We'll continue on my next blog!
God bless
