“To consider persons and events and situations only in the light of their effect upon myself is to live on the doorstep of hell.” -Thomas Merton
My spiritual director reminded me the other day that “I am third.”
When priorities are right, when I am loving God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength, I am at shalom–considering God first, then others, then myself.
How often though I consider myself first and how something is going to affect ME, and then making decisions accordingly. Mostly, it’s “How much time will this rob me of doing what I want to do?”
This is a bastardized and self-worshipping version of “counting the cost” in my estimation. Always counting the cost to me. Me. Me. Me.
But when I am allowing God His rightful place on the throne of my heart, when I am practicing His Presence, my considerations look like this:
- “How will this bring glory to God?”
- “How will this encourage someone?”
- Then, maybe, “What is the cost?”
In the Name of Jesus,
Soli Deo Gloria