Living Our Lives From the Wrong Center

While we may honestly believe that Jesus is at the center of our lives, decisions, and behaviors, more often than not, we find that something else really occupies the center.

The thing or things that occupies the center of our lives may not be bad things in themselves (such as family or work), yet when they take priority in our lives, they can cause havoc.  Whatever our center of gravity is, we will be pulled towards that thing (or those things). Our center of gravity will dictate our behaviors, goals, and interactions with others, and these may not be in line with the vision of the Kingdom of God that Jesus has put before us.

As an example, if success really is our center of gravity, we might find ourselves using others to facilitate our success or ignoring others when they impede (or at least not help) our success.  We end up using or discarding people rather than loving them as Jesus would love them.  This can be true even when success seems like a very good and worthy goal, i.e., when we desire to create a successful ministry.

The problem, however, is success can never be a proper center on which to stake our lives.  When we make it our center, we forgo living fully out of the Fruit of the Spirit and rather find ourselves displaying whatever attitudes and behaviors are necessary to ensure our success.

As another example, if our family is our center of gravity, we might live in ways that work to benefit our family only, without thinking about the needs of others in our neighborhood, community, nation, or world.  It is not wrong to care for our family and its needs (and indeed, we have an obligation to do so).   That being said, when it is our center of gravity, we can end up caring for our families in ways that are self-centered, manipulative, and even exploitative of others.

Whether it is family or success or health or money or whatever that occupies the center place in our lives, the results are problematic.  When we live from the wrong center, we generally experience some alienation in our relationships with others and with God.  We also experience disconnection from our deepest desires and longings – including the deepest desire which is to know and be known by God.  Moreover, we often experience some kind of instability or fear in our lives because what forms the center of our identities today has the possibility of disintegrating before our very eyes tomorrow.

In truth, Jesus is the only center that will never fail us.  When we are centered in Him, all else will take its proper place in our lives.

 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)