From today’s reading, Acts 20:24, However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Our lives are meant for the service of our King. Too often we feel our lives are worthless unless we are getting a lot out of it; whether its fun, recognition, or success. Paul’s example shows it is more important what we put into this life than what we get out of it. What is more important to you: what you get out of this life or what you put into it?
2013 Day 48 – Acts 19-21, Proverbs 12:15-28
17 Sunday Feb 2013
Posted in Daily Reading
Daily Devotion 
Interesting thought, Dino. I sat around thinking about this a bit and realized the irony of the whole thing. Paul was more interested in what he was putting into life and what he ended up getting out of life was more satisfactory and pleasing than anything he could’ve tried to pull out on his own. When I think about my career, the more I pour into a character, the more I study the music, the more focus I put on pouring myself into every aspect of it, the more I get out of it and the more the audience gets out of it without me even trying to get anything out of it for myself or them. It’s truly a symbiotic relationship. And it’s one of those other aspects of life where I just sit in awe of how good God is. When you look at your thoughts and question on the surface, it could be tempting to think that we serve a God who wants us to have a horribly tedious, boring life full of the doldrums of “serving him” and that our only reward for such a boring existence is eternal existence with him. That getting anything out of this life is sinful and self serving. But the exact opposite is true. When we our hearts are motivated by pouring into life, pouring into him and pouring into others, we experience immense satisfaction and joy. We experience an adventure beyond what could have ever been imagined. He set it up this way on purpose because he knows us way better than we know ourselves. He longs for us to have joy, peace, satisfaction, adventure in this life etc…and he knows the best way for us to experience it. It just seems counter intuitive to us in our broken state. But, of course, what else would you expect when discussing living in the way of the kingdom verses living the way of a fallen world.
So glad you brought that up, Dino! Good reflection for me this morning!
Great response! Love it!