Listening to Your Inner Voice - Part 2

Most people want to rise above self-centeredness at some point in life's journey. Self-centeredness promotes self-indulgence and eventually creates a void within the heart and soul. What are you getting from your relationships, from the world of entertainment, or from a successful career? Sooner or later each person will have to ask, "What gives meaning and purpose to my life?"

There's an interesting paradox to this issue of self-indulgence. The incongruity lies in the connection between a deeper, underlying self-hatred and the drive to fill up one's life with everything possible. Self hatred, low self-esteem, and a wounded conscience go hand in hand. One reason for self-hatred is guilt.

Self-hatred and guilt tell you you're bad, but God provides an escape from  condemnation. Genuine sorrow for wrong-doing is what God expects within the heart of the person. Ask God to help you seek the promise of Psalm 126:5. "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." This choice is the pathway to change.  

Listening to Your Inner Voice - Part 1

Every modern civilization to some extent sanctions self-indulgence. In our society self-indulgence is endorsed in every way imaginable. But is it wrong to indulge yourself since most people participate? Because of long term negative consequences, I would suggest it is wrong.

I read about a man who early in his career decided to give away half of his earnings to church groups and organizations whose mission was to improve the lives of less fortunate people. What do you think would happen if you chose to follow his example? Is it possible even to give serious consideration to this idea?

Do you believe the words of Jesus from Luke 6:38? "Give to others and God will give to you a generous helping, poured into your hands - all you can hold." Self-indulgence and self-absorption eat away at your conscience and integrity. Generosity rebuilds the conscience and strengthens integrity when it's expressed with thanksgiving and love. Such a choice is fostered by the love of Christ Jesus for us. 

The Voice of Conscience: Turn It Back On - Part 3

Most people struggle to stay in line with the dictates of their conscience. We know that impulsive decisions often indicate we're out of compliance with good judgment and are vulnerable to damaging our integrity. Still we find it difficult to override the tendency to self-indulge, even though self-indulgence ultimately leads to negative consequences.

Our conscience attempts to remind us that self-indulgence is not suitable for good health. Succumbing to self-indulgence causes our integrity to suffer. We become manipulative and controlling in an effort to fulfill our desires, but still we feel empty and like Ezekiel 37 describes as "a dessert full of dry bones, with no life, direction, or purpose."

Yet what God can do with faith the size of a mustard seed has no bounds! God told Ezekiel to say to those dry bones, "Dry bones, hear the voice of the Lord: 'I will make breath enter you and you will come to life.'" Permit God's power  to penetrate your life so your conscience and integrity can be restored and healed. This is a wise choice.  

The Voice of Conscience: Turn It Back On - Part 1

Every person is subject to self-indulgence at some level. Self-indulgence can range from food to video games and is not reserved for what money can buy. Anything taken to excess is an indulgence and tends to cross all socioeconomic lines. Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI of France, was known as the queen of self-indulgence.

During the French revolution when poor people were begging for food, the queen's insensitive response was, "Let them eat cake." She was so obsessed with food, nothing satisfied her taste and cravings. She was so captivated with self-indulgence that her conscience and integrity disintegrated.

Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16, reveals the startling, sad truth that self-indulgence blinds us to compassion and the realistic needs of others. Perhaps God is speaking to you and prompting you to make important changes before it's too late to turn things around. Ask Christ Jesus to help you do that right now.