The Church Must Break Away from Religiousness

The church should strive to break away from a sense of religiousness. What is this religiousness? It's the notion that if I shout Hallelujah loudly, something will happen for me. But it's all for naught; shouting Hallelujah loudly doesn't signify anything. If a person still grapples with issues of laziness, they must confront it. Overcoming the vices of the flesh is a lifelong endeavor. It seems there's a significant confusion within the Christian faith, one that I've largely resolved over the years. What is it that I've resolved? It's that while I faithfully believe in the Lord, I must also work diligently. Don't assume that if you believe in the Lord, you can be idle and expect a good outcome.

I've observed a compelling phenomenon in the Bible. My interpretation may not be authoritative, but the early church experimented with a form of communism, where people sold their lands and brought the money to the church for communal use. Consequently, the Jerusalem church became impoverished to the extent that Paul needed to solicit donations to financially support it. If a person believes correctly, I believe Deuteronomy 28:1-13 should serve as a standard. Thus, we contemplate how one should live out God's word. Living out God's word is evident in refraining from laziness, as Paul stated, If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.

Indeed, during Jesus' time, this habit wasn't established. It was when Peter led the church that he instituted this practice among the Jews, but it wasn't a good example. In Paul's teachings, he didn't advocate for a person to be lazy. Let's return to the Bible and restore God's glorious image, which certainly isn't one of laziness but of vibrancy and creativity.

Living God's Word in Life

In other words, the generation we live in is one of restoring God's glory and image. To restore God's glory and image, beyond healing the sick, casting out demons, and proclaiming God's word, the most crucial aspect is living God's word in daily life. I trust everyone agrees with this assertion. When observing a matter, whether in a church or a Christian, don't focus solely on their words but rather on their actions. It simplifies matters significantly. If one only speaks, there have been many eloquent Christians in the past, adept at speech, but how much have they done? It's hard to say. And if their actions resemble Jesus' actions, it's even harder to say. These issues are perplexing. What should be done?

Breaking Free from the Vice of Laziness

Essentially, one must return to the fundamental aspect: breaking free from the vice of laziness. Laziness is, in fact, a reprehensible behavior, a truly egregious one. How does one transition from laziness to diligence? What's the best tactic for a lazy person, as I've observed? If they are lazy, they might say, I can't cook. I can't iron. I can't mop the floor. I can't do anything. But they never say I can't eat .

I'll impart a lesson: when pastoring, be cautious. A person might claim, Pastor, I can't do this. If you can't, shouldn't you learn? Everyone starts from a point of inability and progresses to ability, correct? Thus, I can't is merely an excuse. Lazy individuals have many excuses: I want to, but I don't know how. I know how, but the conditions aren't right. This is classic laziness. In company management, I detest employees who say, Boss, I didn't know; no one told me. How could I possibly do it? Sounds familiar, doesn't it? I deduced a strategy: I now ask, Let's assume we both don't know. You don't know, and I don't know. Now, tell me, how should you find out? The reply comes, I should do this and that. Then I ask, Why haven't you done it? Once you acquire knowledge, that settles it, doesn't it? Everything progresses from ignorance to knowledge, from inability to ability, correct?

Once, my employee was exceedingly lazy, so lazy it was as if maggots bred in his backside—a crude description, but not an overstatement. That year when I was a manager, I halted his salary increase; it wouldn't rise by even one percent—a decrease would have been more like it. He knocked on my door and asked, Boss, does this mean my salary will never increase as long as you're the boss? I replied, That's an intriguing point; let's discuss it. We can talk about anything. Tell me, what have you improved in the past week? Nothing. What have you improved in the past month? Nothing. What have you improved in the past year? Nothing. On what basis should I give you a raise? Everything remains the same; you're doing exactly what you did before.

I inquired, In the IT industry, would you use a five-year-old mobile phone? Does anyone use a five-year-old phone? I've noticed that even the poor don't use five-year-old phones, so that's the crux of the matter. A five-year-old phone is unusable, I stated. I'll show you the work you've been doing. I took him to the machine room, the place where he was supposed to work, and saw a complete mess, a jumble of things. I exclaimed, My goodness! I'll give you five minutes to tell me how this should be done. He replied, Boss, this should be done this way, doing that way. When people call in to inquire, this is how things should be checked. I responded, Understood. So, you're not ignorant; you know everything. How long have you been doing this? He said, Five years.

He couldn't deceive me; I had climbed the ladder from the bottom. I knew his little tricks. He had been working with me for so many years. You haven't changed anything in five years, yet today you know how to change it in five minutes. Isn't that laziness? That's laziness indeed. You must confront your laziness, for if you don't, know that you have no future. Therefore, among our brothers and sisters, regardless of your past or present state, tomorrow must mark the beginning of implementing changes and breaking the habit of laziness.

Why Are We Particularly Concerned About Others' Opinions?

Host: Today's topic is why we are particularly concerned about the opinions of others. Today, we will delve into an issue that has deeply affected many Chinese individuals, whom we will refer to as Xiao Ming. We have compiled all the collected cases and attributed them to Xiao Ming. Today, we will conduct a small experiment. The pastor and I will act as questioners, posing questions, and the pastor will provide an authoritative summary. We will also invite PL to actively participate, as he undoubtedly has his own insights on this matter.

Pastor: I can also ask questions, correct?

Host: Yes. Let's begin with the first point, moving from shallow to deep. Let's examine a situation known as sensitivity. Xiao Ming returns home exhausted but finds himself tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. Why? Because he is ruminating over an incident that occurred at work during the day. He made a few jokes that caused a colleague's expression to change instantly. However, the coworker immediately regained composure, chatting with Xiao Ming as usual. Yet, Xiao Ming sensed an unprecedented coldness, wondering whether he should apologize to the coworker at work the next day, or if he shouldn't, what apology method should he use, or whether he should send a text?

Host: Secondly, Xiao Ming's parents often argued fiercely, repeatedly making certain statements to the child. After each argument, Xiao Ming's mother would say, I live only for you; you are my only hope. Why am I living like this, arguing with people every day? Xiao Ming felt that his parents' constant arguments were his fault, leading him to believe that he was a child incapable of receiving love, constantly fearing that the worst would happen. The only thing that could make his parents happy was good academic performance. As he progressed to high school, he became increasingly afraid of exams because he knew that each poor exam score would result in a major conflict at home.

Host: I'd like to pose a question: Are there individuals who are highly sensitive to the subtle actions of others, such as frowns or glances, that cause discomfort? Is anyone experiencing such sensitivity?

Particularly Sensitive to Changes in Others' Expressions

PL: Meaning, you are very quick to notice changes in others' expressions.

Host: Yes, these subtle details.

PL: Yes, I am.

Host: Are there any audience members or remote brothers and sisters who can relate? Wow, many remote brothers and sisters do. LJ, YL, ZX, and ZM can relate. Let's ask PL what specific actions he notices in others.

PL: I notice their expressions.

Host: Such as those of colleagues or bosses?

PL: I'm relatively fine with bosses, but I notice it in my students.

Host: What specific actions, for example?

PL: For instance, when you're addressing them, they begin to have negative reactions that are easily discernible through their every move in class.

Host: The negative impact of students doesn't affect you, does it?

PL: I understand; you're asking if others' expressions affect my mood. Not really, but I pay attention to my students' reactions, and I consider how to follow up with them.

Controlled by Sensitive Words

Host: Does anyone else relate? I believe sensitive words can be quite damaging in fragile families. Parents might use phrases like I live only for you; you are my only hope, making their children feel that their actions cause their families' problems. Has anyone had similar experiences? Can you share experiences of parents saying things that made you feel responsible for your family's issues?

Pastor: Let me rephrase the question. When you experience such a situation at home, what is your inner feeling? If someone cares so much about you, how do you feel? Do you try to fulfill their expectations? Describe your inner feelings; this is a very spiritual matter.

XY: I believe such statements are common, including in my life and the lives of my childhood friends, especially after parents argue. Typically, the mother would cry, tearfully saying, If it weren't for you, I would have divorced long ago, and similar phrases. Hearing such statements, my immediate feeling was that I absolutely must not do anything to go against my mother's wishes, lest she be too saddened.

Host: It seems like being controlled. Feeling that your grades determine whether you can't make mistakes in life, and if you do poorly on exams, there will be conflicts. Personally, I can share my situation: my parents wouldn't argue if I did poorly on exams, but they would give me the silent treatment, which made me uncomfortable. My father, a self-proclaimed intellectual who knew a lot about education, would act as if he didn't care when he saw my terrible grades, pretending he knew better than to get angry, but he would still make me uncomfortable.

Pastor: May I share a contrasting example? In my family, I was a child who wasn't required to do much. Although my father disciplined me, he didn't care much about other things. I feel my upbringing was quite normal. However, I have encountered many individuals who are overly concerned about various things, especially many children of the 80s and 90s who are very concerned about their parents. They don't consider their own decisions but rather how their parents will react and what they will think. They consider too many factors, and I find them living a very tiring life. Do you feel this way—tired?

Host: Brothers and sisters who have very close emotional ties with their parents can share their thoughts.

Afraid of Dad Since Childhood

JN: I had to listen to everything my dad said.

Host: What would happen if you didn't? We're not trying to instigate rebellion. If you didn't follow your dad's instructions, what would his reaction be?

Pastor: The issue here is the spectrum of concern versus indifference. When you're constantly concerned about something, do you feel your growth is normal?

JN: I was very afraid, and I have been afraid since childhood. It gets better as you get older, but here's a simple example: at the dinner table, if my dad gave me a dish I didn't like, I would force myself to eat it, even to the point of fear.

Host: What would he do if you didn't eat it?

JN: I don't know; he has always been that kind of figure since I was young.

Host: Your dad doesn't hit you, right?

JN: He doesn't hit me.

Host: Then why are you so afraid?

JN: He is just terrifying. Recently, he has been telling me that his past behavior was wrong and that he created an image that was bad for me.

Host: We should have expectations for children, but when they perceive it as fear, I have personally witnessed you being completely shattered after receiving a phone call from your dad.

JN: Because he is very strict on the phone, he also likes to demand things of me in every aspect. For example, he could lecture me every day because I didn't wear a braid. Once, I returned to my country for this reason, and he scolded me for a long time until my mom couldn't bear it anymore.

Host: We can interact with remote participants. Brother JX can come on stage, and sister LJ can come on stage. Pastor, do you have any questions?

Pastor: Can we highlight a theme, which is what impact does this thing you care about have on your development? We must focus on the results, as that is what is important. If the result is not good, then in reality, we must learn a lesson: if the result is not good, why is it not good? We must deeply reflect and dig deeper, really talking about your inner feelings. I know a child who always did exceptionally well in exams, but when it came to the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), he was originally able to score 270, but only got 237. Because everyone's expectations of him were very high, his parents' expectations were very high, so it was very detrimental to the child's growth.

Host: Let's see what sins this character, Xiaoming, has committed again.

Being Sensitive to Those Around You Brings Negative Emotions

Brother CW: Xiaoming is very afraid of others giving him expectations and responsibilities, because he believes that his ability has not yet met his own requirements, and he is afraid of messing things up. He has a compulsive idea in his heart, which forces him to do everything to the best of his ability. He believes that only in this way can he gain the love and affirmation of those around him, and he is afraid that others will see his shortcomings, be disappointed in him, and leave him. As soon as other people's attention leaves him, and no one pays attention to him, he will fall into a feeling of losing love, being abandoned, and believe that he has lost his value and meaning.

Brother CW: Of course, this is a very extreme example. But in the church, this phenomenon also occurs from time to time. When I was pastoring, I had such experiences. We know that the objects of pastoring are not immutable, and will be adjusted accordingly. For example, when pastoring A, B will feel that no one is paying attention to them. Conversely, when pastoring B, A will also have such emotions, which is something that pastors often encounter. In fact, it is not that the pastor does not care about you, but that their attention is temporarily shifted away from you to serve other brothers and sisters.

Sister PL: In the process of pastoring Sister LJ, there were some situations that were very consistent with what Brother CW said. For example, she would keep calling me and Sister LL. If we didn't answer her calls or didn't respond to her needs, she would have a direct reaction in her mind, thinking that we didn't love her anymore, creating such a mistaken perception. This situation lasted for more than 3 months. From this, we discovered that she was very dependent on this feeling, that the pastor must respond to her. If we ignored her, some negative thoughts would appear in her mind, such as saying I want to die in the QQ group with the pastor.

Brother CW: Let me ask another question. Let's ask a couple. Suppose Sister ZT used to send text messages to Brother ZH, and he might not reply for 1 hour, 2 hours, and even after 3 or 4 hours, there was still no reply. Sister ZT, what would you think at that time?

Sister ZT: In the past, I would think: What is he doing? Why doesn't he reply to my message? What is he doing again?

Brother CW: According to research, more than 80% of women have had the behavior of fatal serial calls and texts.

Sister KX: If I call my mother and she doesn't answer in time, then I will keep calling until she answers. If I call more than thirty times and she still doesn't answer, then I will get angry. Because what I think in my mind is, if she doesn't answer, could something have happened?

Brother CW: Let's look at the process of a boyfriend and girlfriend dating. When security is not so strong between a boyfriend and girlfriend, what kind of thoughts will they have?

Sister ZT: When they are in love, they will think if he is annoyed with me and hates me.

Brother ZH: Actually, at that time, I would reply if I could, but sometimes I was really busy and couldn't reply or do anything about it.

Pastor: Brother JX and Sister LJ are both on stage.

Brother CW: Sister LJ, tell everyone, why did you feel that others didn't love you if they didn't answer your phone call at that time?

Sister LJ: Actually, I don't know very well myself.

Brother CW: When Xiaoming is in love, if his girlfriend's words and actions don't suit his wishes, he will be very angry. As long as his girlfriend doesn't reply to texts and phone calls don't go through, he will repeatedly confirm where his girlfriend is and whether she still loves him. Sister LJ, when you called the pastors, they didn't answer, maybe they were really busy at the time. We know that there is a lot of pastoring in the church. When you called and they didn't answer, what was your instinctive reaction in your mind?

Sister LJ: At the beginning, I didn't know the reason, so I would feel that they didn't love me. Every time I asked, Don't you love me?, I actually just hoped to get the answer that you still loved me very much. Then I would feel at ease and have a sense of security.

Sister PL: We must say it for her to believe it.

Brother CW: Sister LJ, we care about you very much. If there is no such expression, you will feel very insecure, right?

Parents' Requirements Bring Pressure and Impact

Brother CW: Brother JX, you can share with us from two aspects. First, the topic of being sensitive to those around you. Sometimes parents or relatives will give us some inexplicable feelings of fear, putting a lot of responsibilities on us. For example, they give you a piece of food, you don't like it, but they still insist on you eating it. If you don't eat it, you will feel terror enveloping you. This is one situation. Another situation is that the other person really cares about you, but they just don't have time to free up. Share with everyone about your own experience regarding being overly concerned about other people's opinions.

Brother JX: The first point is that when I was in high school, my father was a math teacher, and he cared about my studies more than I did myself. He wouldn't demand anything from me, but he would use a sarcastic way to give me some pressure. My parents believed that going to university was a stage that a person must experience, and their dream for me was to go to university. My father often sent me emails, which basically contained words like: Son, do you still remember your dream? Do you still remember Dad's dream? You must know that getting into university is very sentimental. After reading it, I would feel that if I didn't go to university, it would be like committing a crime, and the pressure would increase, so I would want to study desperately. But I also wanted to work first and get PR first, and felt that after working, studying part-time would be a good choice, but my parents didn't think so. In fact, I am almost graduating from my part-time studies now, but they still feel that if there is an opportunity, I should go for a postgraduate degree.

Brother CW: Why? Does getting a university degree or a postgraduate degree increase your salary? Perhaps your father subconsciously believes that having a full-time university or postgraduate degree more or less concerns his face. Of course, this is just my guess, and it may be a bit excessive.

Brother JX: Actually, for myself, I care a lot about my parents' opinions. Recently, I shared with them what I learned in church, that we should do things effectively. That's what I feel. For now, I don't need to go back to school to improve myself. I have many things to do now, and I may go to school when I need to in the future, but I don't have the passion and energy to do it now. Currently, they have almost let go of this idea. But before, I cared a lot about my parents' thoughts, especially I was very afraid of the letters he wrote to me, which made my pressure double.

Brother CW: After he gave you this pressure, what did you think in your heart? If you have already planned your future choices, and he asks you to do something that is not in your plan in such a soft, coercive way, then what is your true thought in your heart?

Brother JX: There will be irritable and chaotic emotions. I immediately don't know what I need, because parents' expectations of their children are fatal in the eyes of the children. Every time I go home, they ask: What are your plans for going to school in the future? If I say I don't have any plans yet, then they will think that your future is bleak.

Being Concerned About Negative Words Around You Brings Negative Emotional Impact

Pastor: In fact, there are many other pressures, such as forced marriage, etc. In your opinion, how much of these pressures are healthy pressures, and how much are negative pressures? Does it have a healthy promoting effect on your growth, or does it have a negative effect on your development?

Brother CW: Sister KX, when your parents give you pressure, will they say that you must get a certain score in the exam?

Sister KX: I don't have such an experience, because my parents have never had any requirements for my grades. I remember when I was in sixth grade of elementary school, I once got 30 points in math. Because during that time, my dad was sick and hospitalized, I didn't have the heart to study. The teacher said to me very sternly: If you are like this, your dad will definitely die, and your dad's illness cannot be cured. This incident had a great impact on me. After that, when I took the exam, I handed in a blank paper. My mom asked me why didn't you do it. I said the teacher said that to me, so what am I still studying for. I haven't studied math since then. When I think about it later, I feel guilty in my heart. I also care about what others will think of me. Another time, there was a unit test. Before the test, I reviewed math very seriously and got 98 points, but the teacher insisted that I copied it. I also took offense after hearing this, thinking: Then I will copy it. During the class exam, I specially sat next to people with good grades and copied from others.

Pastor: As an educator, or as a pastor, the role you play is critical to a child's growth, but more important is the person themselves. Sister KX, after the teachings in the church, if you are asked to face such a thing again, what would your reaction be?

Sister KX: I shouldn't be so ignorant and won't be angry anymore. I will study harder and be responsible for myself.

Pastor: You see, this is a person's growth. The attitude towards things will change, and it's not the same. In fact, the topic we just discussed is: one is other people's requirements for you, and your reaction; the other is your requirements for others, and your reaction when they are not met. In fact, these reactions are crucial to your growth.

Pastor: So, to be a healthy person, a healthy person will develop healthily, a healthy small parent will build a healthy small family, a healthy group leader will build a healthy group, a healthy district pastor will build a healthy pastoral district, and a healthy pastor will build a healthy church. This is a very important thing.

Sister KX: When I was working as a teacher, I also knew that if a teacher does not have expectations or requirements for students, it is actually a kind of laissez-faire for the students, but this is a big knowledge, because this expectation cannot be copied the same for everyone, because each student's ability is different, so you have to set this expectation according to their own ability.

But I have also observed a very interesting phenomenon. When we are constantly leading students to grow, some students are very positive, but some students really choose to be very negative. They are afraid of failure, choose to give up, and have an excessive burden in their hearts. That is, in this process, first, as a teacher, you do need to set up step-by-step steps for him according to what he already has; second, how should we positively respond to the requirements given by others or future growth plans. If a student cares a lot about Why does this teacher say that to me? and his family is also very considerate of his body and follows his feelings, he will often think like this, Why were you so fierce to me today? There will be similar negative emotions, and he will not like you very much. Once he doesn't like you, he will be more negative, so you have to start cleaning up the negativity inside him.

Brother CW: The last question is about the situation of top students caring about what others think of them. Let me first tell everyone the information about Xiaoming that I found. If his boss approves of his work, he will be very at ease and have a sense of security, but if the boss is noncommittal about his performance, he will be very bewildered and feel that he has made some mistakes. People all hope to get the other party's affirmation and praise, but why does the situation of being overly concerned appear? It's like you are addicted to recognition and praise to a certain extent. If your pastor doesn't give you praise, even though you are doing well, you will keep seeking praise, maybe by showing off in front of your pastor, or you will have many strange thoughts in your heart. And basically speaking, the so-called top students' failures in exams are all due to this kind of mentality. They will feel that if I miss this opportunity, I will lose many opportunities to get praise, and I will get criticism that I shouldn't have. For some students, the teacher's praise is like a life-saving straw. If you don't give it, he will not be able to do it, and the person becomes like a bomb, bursting with a bang.

KX Sister: Some top students may mind if you praise others but not them. They are concerned that others receive praise while they do not receive attention.

CW Brother: If you praise others but not him, and he does not express his emotions, but suppresses them, can you tell?

KX Sister: Yes, you can definitely tell. He will avoid you and stay away from you, saying that you are biased.

CW Brother: Xiaoming very much hopes for someone who understands and accepts him. Once he approves of someone, he will be very close to that person, confiding in them wholeheartedly. However, if the other person slightly shifts their attention away from him or shows some annoyance, he will become very disappointed and sever ties with them. It may just be a small matter, but because he has invested a lot, perhaps emotional attachment, he will feel biased when the other person shifts their attention.

Pastor's Summary: The work we do in the church is to make people healthy.

Your Reaction to Things Shows Your Health

What is a healthy person like? For example, like the couple ZT Sister and ZH Brother, one day a sister sent ZH Brother a small rose on WeChat, and ZT Sister almost broke down. I was thinking, if a small rose causes a breakdown, what would happen with a big rose? But thank God, she quickly recovered from it. We must see that a person's reaction to things is a sign of health. How you react to things represents your state of health. In the church, people should become healthy. In my words, they should be molded into loaches in a muddy ditch. A loach in a muddy ditch can live with a little water, with a lot of water, with clean water, and with dirty water. If a person is molded into such a state, you can influence many people because nothing can cause your life to collapse. This is what Paul wrote: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (cf. Romans 8:38-39), that is, nothing can take away the state of joy within him.

Your Future Depends on What You Care About

What you care about or do not care about determines your future and your state of health. For example, the message I just received, Pastor, you don't trust me. Why should I trust you? This is my shrewdness. Don't think I'm hurting you. Why should I trust you? I don't need to learn this kind of trust to meet your needs. But regarding what I said, healthy and unhealthy people react differently. Whether you care about this determines whether you will be consumed by it for days. Some people get caught up for three days, unable to do anything, constantly thinking, The pastor doesn't trust me. How can the pastor not trust me? Just because of this little thing? It's not about the size of the matter, but my habit. Don't think this habit is bad. I hope you have such a habit. Why should you trust those people? For example, those who come to our church online, I also hope you tell me, Why should I trust you, Pastor Liu? If you say that, and I have no reaction, I will think you are shrewd. I am at ease with shrewd people because they know what to do and how to handle things.

Trust is not something that is given but earned – you prove to the person that you are trustworthy. Abraham's trust before God was not because God chose to trust Abraham first, but because Abraham went through trial after trial. Because he offered Isaac, no one knew if he would offer him before he did, but after the trial, Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you did this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies (cf. Genesis 22:17).. So your state of caring and not caring about something determines your state of health. I remind everyone, when you care about irrelevant things, reflect on it.

What You Care About Will Become Your Bondage

For example, a sister sent CW a message, and the next day when CW was talking about something, he missed a point and said what he was doing at three o'clock. This sister thought, I sent you a message at two o'clock, why didn't you reply? and went crazy. This proves one thing: spiritual life is unhealthy. Why do you demand this? Reply if you do, don't reply if you don't. Nothing can take away the joy within me. If you are not healthy, how can you build the church, how can you build pastoral districts and groups? So I encourage brothers and sisters to start coming out of these bad habits. If you care about something, you will be bound by that thing; if you care about someone, that person will become your bondage.

There is a sentence in the Bible that many people do not understand: And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life (cf. Matthew 19:29). If you leave these things, it means you don't care, you have no feeling. Whoever cannot leave them will not live well; whoever leaves them will receive a hundredfold; whoever does not leave them will be dominated. This sentence gives many people many misunderstandings. This is a psychological abandonment, you are not controlled by it, but it does not mean that you do not care about anything.

Care About Spiritual Growth, Enhance the Level of Life

If your life is always concerned with those unimportant things, your mind is filled with these meaningless things, and you are entangled in these things all day long, I can boldly make a prediction: you will definitely not live well, unless you change. Can you care about the things that make your life grow? Paul said, For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17). Can you change yourself and only care about one thing, that is, the growth of your life? I really want to teach you how to be a smart person. Smart people care about what they should care about, and foolish people care about what they should not care about. If you care about the things that make your life grow, your life will definitely grow. In any case, don't say I'm just like this, if you're just like this, then you'll continue like this. What I said may stimulate some brothers and sisters, but I think such stimulation is good for you.

What you care about and what you don't care about determines the level of your life. If your level is very low, what you care about is a very low level. If you send a message and people reply or don't reply, you are entangled in these things all day long, which actually represents a person's state. First, whether he is healthy; second, the level of his spiritual life. When you enter a high level of spiritual life, you will find that you don't care about many things, so you will be a healthy person. In the process of being a pastor, I find that the problem that needs to be solved is often what to care about and what not to care about. If you want to find some trivial things, you will never find them all. I also have bad feelings inside. When I am wronged, I am also very tired. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt and was also very tired, but you must manage it. If you indulge your feelings and let them run wild, your life will be ruined by this feeling.

Overcome Feelings, Be Victorious Christians

Like JY Sister, who always reads romance novels and is controlled by the devil, do you want to follow the devil or not? Do you want to win or lose? To be a Christian is to be a victorious Christian. In fact, the entire faith of Jesus Christ is not about salvation and non-salvation, but about victory and non-victory. I found such a law in the Bible: those who are victorious are definitely saved, and those who are not victorious, whether they are saved or not, what happened to them? The Bible does not write clearly, it is possible to go to God, it is possible not to go, it is difficult to say. If I were to choose, I would definitely be a victorious Christian, overcoming the feeling inside. In fact, not being victorious is very dangerous. Some people are not victorious, but they say: I am saved. I don't know what their salvation means. There are no slaves in the kingdom of heaven, only princes and princesses. If you are not victorious and are still a slave, wouldn't it be very fatal.

Choose to Let Go of Things You Shouldn't Care About

Regarding the things that you care about, I encourage you to start learning to let go. If you are unwilling to let go, unwilling to make changes, and still entangled in those things, it will be difficult for you to be successful. But if you really want to change, then we can help you change together. So the key is, what kind of choice do you want to make. If you choose I just want to care about these things, no one can help you, even if Jesus comes, he can't help you, because that is your choice. Ghosts are easy to drive away, but people can't be driven away. Although I am a pastor, I cannot control your choice, nor can I make choices for you, I can only tell you how to make the right choices. As a Christian, it is important whether you choose to care or not to care. When you start to no longer care about these trivial matters, you start to win, and you go up a step. Next, can you go up another step, even if you are wronged, you don't care. I often see some people whose pastors or district pastors send them a message that is wrong. I also know that they are really wronged. But every time I see them wronging the brothers and sisters below, I think good job. Then I see the negative messages coming back, which shows that this person still needs to improve.

After a person is wronged, you know whether this person can be used and where his level is. You can test it through caring and not caring. So, in the church, we really love you, but we care more about whether your life is healthy, whether you still care about things that you shouldn't care about. In fact, there are many situations in my job where I am wronged. Why has my career been going up all the time? Because I don't care about being wronged. I imitate Joseph, I imitate Paul. Paul served the Corinthian church wholeheartedly for a year and a half, but the Corinthian church wronged him for being greedy and seeking benefits. In fact, he didn't get any benefits at all. Paul served with blood and tears and was still wronged, but that is the state of a person's life. Today your life must continue to rise. If you continue to rise on the mountain of God, many things will change.

Reject the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Imitate Jesus Christ

If you reach a level, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (cf. Galatians 2:20), you don't even need to care about being crucified. When Jesus was crucified, he said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (cf. Luke 23:34) I often say this when I am wronged, Forgive them, they don't know what they are doing. But we must know what we are doing, your life you have to take responsibility. If you encounter this situation, you say Pastor, I really want to not care, but I can't do it, it's very hard. It shows that you still have a heart of knowing good and evil, you think things shouldn't be like that. Brothers and sisters, it is not about how things should be, but about our choice to let go. Joseph was really sold into Egypt, but he chose not to care, he resisted it with faith inside. When that uncomfortable feeling comes, it is very hard, so And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” (cf. Genesis 41:51).

The whip hitting Jesus' body is really painful, the nails nailed into Jesus' body are really painful, because he also has flesh and blood, and you and I also have flesh and blood, it is not that there is no feeling, but we define not to care about those things, your life will definitely be healthy. If your boss says a few words to you, and you are negative, then you have no future; if your pastor wrongs you, criticizes you a few words, and repairs you a few times, and you can't bear it, your life is not healthy enough. If your life is getting healthier and healthier, you will care less and less, and see all things as good.

For example, your pastor scolds you, and you will think, Thank God, God teaches me through the pastor, because He loves me. For example, your pastor says to you: Why should I believe you? You will think, Yes, why should he believe me, I will prove to you that I am trustworthy. We must begin to change our concepts, change our views, get rid of our current state of ignorance, and be smart people. I really hope that through every trial and training of the church, the brothers and sisters of the church will become shrewd and smart people. To be a valuable vessel, not a mean one, all depends on whether you care about it. I encourage everyone, to live out the image of God, like Jesus, like Joseph, like Paul, then the world will exude the fragrance of Jesus Christ.