When a new trend goes big and everyone seems to be doing it, do you ever say, “Meh. I’m not into it. I’m going to sit this one out”? It could be a diet or fashion style or listening to a certain type of music. Maybe it’s a social media thing, or vaping, or another online game to waste your time.
I’m glad that I’m becoming less and less gullible and manipulated by what’s popular – just to be popular. But back in grade school through most of our 20s, fitting in was intense, wasn’t it? Things that truly didn’t matter were everything. Today, kids are still bullying each other over brands and looks and what someone does or doesn’t have. It makes them feel powerful or think they’re superior – but they’re not. They’re just cruel. Some never grow out of it and continue to make others miserable so they feel better, rather than ask God for help to fix what’s broken inside and heal what’s made them sick – yes, sick! – and stop spreading it to others. He can!
When we choose wisely and make our own decisions, the things culture and marketing are telling us to do become irrelevant. If we don’t take the bait and fall for influencers – which isn’t easy these days because they’re everywhere – we can decide what matters instead.
My best friend Diane had a lot of great sayings. One of them was “I’m not going to take that delivery.” When a person would try to bring their negativity or something unhealthy into her life, she imagined it like a UPS or FedEx delivery person was bringing her a package. She stopped it right at the door, sent it back, and wouldn’t let it into her house. In reality, she chose to not let it into her life. Now that’s a wise decision!
Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.
We can waste so much of our precious lives chasing fads and what we think will make us happy. Money. Youth. Possessions, Being entertained. Fantasy. Pleasure…
But inside we’ll still feel empty – like many celebrities that have “everything” and end their lives because what they were chasing led them away from what was truly most important and deceived them.
1 Timothy 6:6-11 (NIV) says this about that:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man (or woman) of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.”
It’s ok to not follow the masses. Maybe you were meant to lead instead.
RESET HIGHER: Think about the list in verse 11 that we are to pursue instead of “foolish and harmful desires.”
Righteousness. Godliness. Faith. Love. Endurance. Gentleness.
Right now, how do your life values compare to these goals?
