Can a person can find themselves making decisions (short and long) with their time and resources that are not in alignment with their particular worldview? What about a society, a culture, or a civilization? If such a reality exists and then persists, it would cause an awkward conundrum. The conflict is just too much to bear unless there are other elements at play.
Perhaps there could be several names for this dilemma, but to put it simply we’ll designate it as gap living.
Let me explain.
Gap living says that you hold to a particular worldview, but you don’t order your life according to its principles. It’s believing something, but behaving differently than your set of beliefs. Obviously there are degrees with this, and thus the expanse of the gap will vary by person. However, to acknowledge that there is a gap between a worldview and a practical life is the first step to minding the gap. The easiest way to test your gap living is to pull out your checkbook and calendar. How do you invest your money, and how do you invest your time? You could drill down as deep as you want on both, but at some level most people would admit that a gap exists between their worldview and their time/resources. They believe something about something, but they behave differently.
Why is this? More importantly, how does this impact the Christian today?
The Bible informs the Christian that your money/resources are ultimately not yours (i.e. you can’t take it with you after you die), and that your time on this earth is finite (i.e. you have to face death at some point). In essence then, a Christian is really a conduit through which God extends biblical characteristics through their time and resources. And in addition to this, the Christian would also acknowledge that what they do with their resources and time will echo into eternity. So that while your resources and your time are limited, they nevertheless–in the final analysis–will be taken into account, honored accordingly, and will have eternal results.
It’s important to point out here that the Christian is not talking about salvation as it pertains to his or her works. The process of salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone…it is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. And it is completely based upon the merits of Christ imputed to the account of any who would believe in faith that Jesus died on their behalf to pay the penalty for their sins. Thus, the final analysis of a Christian’s life has not to do with their salvation, but their future rewards in heaven for the life they lived while on earth. Therefore, salvation–the Christian would say–is of God, but God has saved the Christian for good works (not to gain God’s favor) that will be rewarded accordingly in the future.
To demonstrate this biblically you would more than likely turn to…
“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God…So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Romans 14:10-12
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
2 Corinthians 5:10
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
James 1:12
“…in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:8
So, how do you deal with the situation where your decisions (as evidenced by your calendar and checkbook) don’t align with your Christian convictions? How do you mind the gap? In other words…
“…how should we then live?” (KJV)
Ezekiel 33:10
Consider the following SIX things as ways to begin to mind the gap:
- Set your heart on God…Seek His face…
- Invest in the Word of God daily…seek to know not only the “what”, but also the “why”…
- Here’s a great place to start: www.thebibleproject.com
- Pray for foreign mission initiatives…
- Here’s a great place to start: www.prayercast.com or www.joshuaproject.net
- Invest in your local church in ways that align with the core values of you and your family…
- Give to your local church and ministries that align with your core values…
- Go on a short-term mission trip with your church or ministry that aligns with your core values…
May the Lord grant us desire, initiative, and fun as we pursue Him. May this world and all that it provides be second to our Lord and the life to come. O, may it be.
— January 27, 2017