Have you put God on the shelf?

Have you put God on the shelf and left Him to gather dust? I did that. Fortunately, I have long since taken God off the shelf and allowed him access, once again, into my life. However, there was a long time, starting with my post-college days, that I was just busy with life and did not have time for God. I did not go to church. I did not open my Bible. In fact, I could not have even told you where my Bible was. It was probably on a shelf somewhere.

I was young and had the whole world before me. I knew my parent’s generation had really messed up the world, and I was hell-bent on making it better. “Hell-bent” indeed, but I had no idea at the time. I saw the needs of people in poorer countries, and I raised my voice to condemn those that allowed this to continue. Did I actually do anything to help? Well no. I made a lot of noise, but I did not do anything to really make a difference.

It wasn’t until I gave my life to Christ, and asked Him to come into my life, that I began to change. It was when I gave Christ permission to melt me, mold me, fill me, and use me that I began to see people and issues through His eyes and heart. It was then that I stopped making a lot of noise about the way things were, and began to take actions to make a difference in the lives of people around the world, and at home.

Today, I live a modest life and use my money to support a number of worthy causes, from the Wounded Warrior Project, to global service missions like World Vision and Compassion International.  I teach a women’s Bible study group so that others can have a stronger walk with the Lord. I pray earnestly for my fellow Christian brothers and sisters who are even at this moment being tortured or killed for their faith, and I look forward to the day I will meet these great examples of faith.

I went from a person so self-absorbed in her own life, that all she could do was verbally complain about the failure of others  to a woman who humbly and quietly gives of her time and money to help make a difference. What changed me? What made the difference? God made the difference. When I took God off the shelf and invited Him into my life, my life was changed from a self-gratification seeker to a God-serving seeker, and my life has never been better.

I guess you could say, I’m one who is “collecting treasures in heaven,” but now it just feels so right and so good when I am able to help one more person.

“Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-21

Wonder what the world could be like if each person did the same?