This is the second part of a series based on "The Secret". What I am trying to do is show where the ideas in the book agree with scripture and where they do not. The first part is about those areas I have a problem with. This will show some areas where "The Secret" compares rather well with scriptural principles. Many of these agreements have to do with our attitudes. Let's look at a few of them.
JOY: .... What your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.... A job well done is anything but drudgery. It is joy. It is a great thing to be able to accomplish something in any area, business, sports or in personal living.
Some years back I was working at a small company designing machines. One day my boss, AJ comes in and says, "I've got some good new and some bad news." "What's the good news?" I asked. "You get to design an new machine." "And the bad news?" "I need to take it with me when I leave- next Friday!" Did I tell you this was also Friday? I had less than a week to design and build a machine. "OK." I said. The next Friday we tested that machine and loaded it into the back of his truck. It was a week of hard work. It was also a week of pure joy.
CONTENTMENT: ...Eat your bread with happiness... Godliness with contentment is great gain... These days there is a lot to worry about. However, over the years I've found out that over 90% of the things I worry about never come to pass! That means I've wasted a lot of mental energy thinking about the wrong stuff. Now if some worry comes to mind I'm a little bit relieved. Odds are against it happeneing. On a larger scale, contentment is a demonstration of faith. Not that I am somehow in control, - God is.
THANKFULNESS: ... In everything give thanks... Rejoice evermore...Come into his presence with singing. It is in this area that "The Secret" comes very close to scripture. Giving thanks is one of the great hallmarks of a person of faith. King David recognized this. Praise and thanks are scattered all over the Psalms. David recognized that being able to come into the presence of the Living God is the greatest honor that can be enjoyed in this life.
GENEROSITY: ...Freely you received - freely give...When you give to the poor do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing...Give to him who asks of you.... All these statements were made by Jesus. He was demonstrating a principle. I am freely giving of Myself to you. Now you do the same.
The above attitudes are great, but having them does not guarantee that success in any area of life (such as business or wealth) will absolutely follow as implied in "The Secret." You can have the best attitude in the whole world and your business still fail. That failure may have nothing to do with you, your efforts or your thoughts. For example, lets say you are a farmer. You plant at the best time of year and in the best possible way. This does not guarantee a successful crop. Things may happen which are not anticipated. What if there's a drought? What if some careless person starts a fire and it gets out of hand? What if some kind of pestilence comes? In any endeavor, be it farming, any other business or sports there is always some uncertainty. That's one of the things that makes life so interesting. Solomon say this in Ecclesiastes 11:6: "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." He acknowledges uncertainty and suggests for us to always be looking for opportunities. One may fail. In that case there are others which may not.
In light of this, what is my best attitude to have? I am a creation of God. My most important relationship is to Him. I can have eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus. The above attitudes, Joy, Contentment, Thankfulness and Generosity flow from my relationship with God and sipll over to other people around me. If I gain any material succes in life, great! If not I can always rest in the fact the God will not leave me or forsake me. It is He who guarantees my soul. This does not mean I should not strive for excellence in all I do. To the contrary my actions are a form of worship. All is for His glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment