We have been talking about what it means to succeed in life. Is it about having an ego? We recently asked are you fed up with the world telling you, you need an ego? We offered an alternative way of thinking, and that was to do what Jesus said and that is to serve one another.

Well, we came across another scripture in the book of Mark, in chapter 8 verse 36, displayed below.

So, lets unpack this scripture a little. What Jesus is saying here is, you can go your way in the world and have an ego. However, if you go that way, you will likely forfeit your soul. Because to gain the whole world you need to ask yourself what kind of person you are going to become. Will you become someone who needs a toxic ego in order to succeed and need constant adoration from people. Ask yourself where can an ego lead? Will it trample over who knows who damaging many lives in the process.

When we say gain the whole word, it can be someone who has toxic ambition, they need to own 10 houses, 5 cars, own a huge business, and say it was me who created all of this, and they will look proudly at themselves thinking they are something special.

But the Christian perspective is very different. It says in the book of Romans that we are all sinners unworthy to boast about ourselves, here is the scripture.

Romans 3:23

23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

This includes people who think they have succeeded in life because of their great achievements. Are we as Christians being mean and horrible by saying this, no, we just believe in the truth that the Bible gives us and believe it is true. Here is what God says about storing up wealth in the book of Matthew, here is the scripture.

Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

What Jesus is telling us is this. Wealth means nothing in this world, one day we will leave this world and what us Christians believe is you will either make it to heaven or not. But if you do make it to heaven then there your treasure will be waiting for you determined on how you have lived your life, and it will be waiting for you for all eternity.

It is your right in a democracy to live how you want to, however think of the alternative, you may well have done well for 70 to 100 years, depending on how long you live, but eternity is a different matter altogether and you could end up with nothing but misery for all eternity (that’s a long time).

We have good news for you today.

If you are someone who has gained the whole world or has been hugely successful and believe it was all your own doing, but have now realised you are a sinner who needs forgiveness because of all the damage a toxic ego has done, then that is possible.

Over 2000 years ago Jesus came into this world to willingly be crucified on a cross to take the punishment for our sins. He stood in our place making those who believe in him righteous and as white as snow before God, this includes people who have gained great wealth through toxic egos and arrogance.

Visit our family service.

If you would like to know more about the good news that you can start afresh then visit us. Come along to our family service taking place every Sunday. We are happy to answer any questions you have. Doors open at 10.45am for free refreshments and drinks. Our service then starts at 11.15am.

We live in a society today where people are encouraged to have huge egos. You need huge swaths of confidence to be successful, and in this fallen world the only way to be successful is to be macho man or woman. If you are fed up with that way of thinking here is an alternative way for you to consider.

Jesus came into the world over 2000 years ago to serve us. Not only serve us but to take away our sins, and that is exactly what he did through his finished work on the cross. Here is one instruction Jesus gave us to live by mentioned in the book of Mark displayed below, in specifically Mark 9 v 35.

What Jesus is saying in this verse is to be humble and not to be boastful, to count yourself as last in order to be first. In other words, put others first and not yourself, and that way you win. A life free from ego.

What does serving look like?

Serving can look like a whole range of things. It could be helping someone with their shopping supplies, serving in church to help give out refreshments to people before a service starts, or to help organise older people’s finances to help them in older life, and many more ways of serving.

The point is, help people, serve people, love people, consider yourself as last, because with such sacrifices God is pleased, as it says in the book of Hebrews displayed below.

Hebrews 13:16

16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

So, if you’re someone who is fed up with the world telling you, you have to have an ego, then why not consider the Christian path instead. You can do well in life with God at the centre of your life leading the way and you can do it humbly without an ego. Put your confidence in God and allow him into your life to fulfil his purposes in your life, and in humble circumstances you can be proud.

Visit our morning family service at Church in the Avenue

If you are curious about the Christian faith, come along to our family service taking place every Sunday. We are happy to answer any questions you have. Doors open at 10.45am for free refreshments and drinks. Our service then starts at 11.15am.

God knows you intimately. He knows you better than anyone does, and even knows you better than yourself. This scripture in the book of Luke pretty much sums it up, specifically Luke 12v6-7.

When we are in the loving Fathers arms then you are worth a great deal more than a group of sparrows. God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. Just imagine that the creator of the entire universe, in all his power and goodness wants to have a deep and meaningful relationship with you. Yes you.

When we confess Jesus is Lord of our lives, he comes into our hearts to take up residence and helps us in our lives. Just imagine that. A God who is all powerful, who healed people, who provided for people comes into our lives wanting a deep and intimate relationship with us.

Know that you are loved by God, and he wants to come into our lives to help us. He wants to guide you through all of the tough challenges you have to face in this world, whether that be paying bills, bringing up your children, ensuring the family is provided for, and also to take care of you.

So why not come along and learn more about the Lord Jesus, a God who loves you, cares about you deeply and wants the best for you. Visit us at a family service that takes place every Sunday at Church in the Avenue, doors open at 10.45am where we serve hot drinks and a few treats, the service starts at 11.15am.

We have recently written about how God wants to have a relationship with us, He loves us deeply and wants to help us in our lives. It is important to maintain a balance. We must be careful not to accept a false message, instead we must accept the Bible with all it’s challenging parts too, being a Christian is not just a walk where you are blessed all of the time with good things, if it was then it would be a prosperity Gospel, a false Gospel!

When you come to know God, this promise is true, He will never leave us or forsake us. God comes into our lives to forgive us, and then help us along the pathway. Because God is in our lives it does not mean that we will not have trouble and challenges from time to time; but now we will face them with Him at our side, with all His Wisdom & Power to help us succeed.

When we accept Christ as our Lord and our God, He takes permanent residence in our heart, and that means He is there for us, to guide us through the storms of life so that they will not overtake us. Jesus came into the world to serve us, to take away our sins by bearing the punishment for them on the Cross.

It could be that we have an addiction that nobody knows about and that is our trouble to overcome, or you may well have consequences to face because of undealt with sin in your life. Trouble can come in a form of safeguarding people and you need to campaign and risk a great deal to make the change in the world to protect people. Whatever it is Jesus our Lord and Saviour is there for us to help us through every challenge so that we may experience the peace of him in any situation.

Challenges in life can also be a part of your walk because God wants to establish you, he wants to develop character in you. Look at this scripture from the book of 1 Peter, specifically 1 Peter 5v10.

The scripture mentions suffering, so there can be suffering from time to time, the Bible confirms this. But after you have suffered for a little while, God will restore us making us strong, firm, and steadfast. So, consider this, storms of life and difficult challenges, can they not be good for us? They can make us stronger and more resilient, see it as a positive thing.

Above all remember that through any storm or difficult challenge God is with us. He will never leave or forsake us. Storms are where you will see God, so be expectant and be diligent, a storm can help you have even more faith and confidence in God so look at it as a good thing.

Do you need a break through in life? Have you ever considered what forgiving someone can do? Jesus gives us clear guidelines of what we are to do in this world, one is outlined in the book of Matthew, specifically Matthew 5v44 displayed below.

It could be that you are holding unforgiveness against someone. It could be that you are not loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you. The breakthrough has not come because you hold hate or harbour ill feeling towards people who have hurt you in your life.

The Christian walk is a tough one from time to time. It is full of challenges and forgiving people is one of them. But the good news is Jesus came to die on the cross so that we maybe forgiven of our own sins, and that is true for the people who have sinned against you, they to need that forgiveness and your forgiveness.

So if you have ill feeling toward a person who has hurt you, why not look at it with a different mindset and do what Jesus tells us to do. To love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. You are not alone and in Jesus’s strength residing in your heart he can help you genuinely forgive.

Once you start thinking and acting more like Jesus obeying scripture that breakthrough could be just around the corner.