Murray Smith
Our Town Hall was the venue for a psychic ‘fair’ and as I walked by, a pleasant lady came over wanting to talk.
Learning that she was taking a break from working her stall, I asked how her day was going. She was into a variety of spiritual practices but explained, “today, my readings aren’t going so well”… she talked about channelling, frequency and such things, whereby she sought information from beyond the physical world.
Talking to her gently about her practices, I gathered her spiritual ‘gift’ was something she valued and took great significance from. For her, being ‘off form’ was unhinging. I laughed when she suggested that I carried a strong aura which is what some people believe is an energy or atmosphere that emanates from people.
I explained being a Christian – not in a religious sense, but having a personal relationship with God through Jesus means His presence is always with me… something anyone can experience. She asked me if I thought her ‘gift’ was from God. I expressed my doubts, stemming from the fact that there are only two sources, and explained simple ways for discerning which source we’re tapping into .
This lady attached great value to her ‘gift’ and took identity from what she did – so having a ‘bad’ day particularly rattled her. Everyone chooses certain things that they place value on.
Things which we love and assign importance to will absorb our focus and attention. So, where we place value determines a lot about life’s outcomes for us.
Being controlled by what we value is possible. For that reason, we must take careful responsibility for what we attach value to, be it money, possessions, reputation, beliefs, career, achievement… anything in fact. I know someone who had lived much of their life with the misplaced value of ‘pleasing people’.
Seeking the approval of others controlled everything this person did, causing them to miss the point that living purely for God’s approval is how we find peace, purpose and freedom.
Jesus had issues with the religious crowd of His day. This bunch of so-called spiritual leaders called Pharisees were hooked on traditions, ticking off checklists in order to appear holy and devoted, looking good to others. But for all their outward piety, public prayers, and ostentatious ‘giving’ akin to the blaring fanfare of trumpets, it was all just show.
Jesus nailed it when He commented that they had their reward inasmuch as, “They love the praise of men rather than the praise of God.” (John 12:43)
We ultimately play to an audience of One. Think about that. God who sees our thoughts and the intents of our heart knows us better than we know ourselves. He understands the things that motivate us… how we put value on things we think will nurture and balm our insecurities and fears.
It’s tragic to place value on purposeless things in life… let’s ensure we’re not ‘backing the wrong horse’ and putting our energies into futile pursuits.
