Humble Christian

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30.
This one has a whole new meaning for me, lately. I got a sty and my ophthalmologist said that I had to put medicine in my eye daily and to not wear makeup for a month.  You wouldn’t think that would be such a big request, but it has, unfortunately!

Sure, putting medicine in my eye daily has been an inconvenience, but that’s not it. It’s that I’ve considered myself to be a Humble Christian, but am I?  Since I’ve been putting the medicine in my eyes, they’ve been puffed up and I have bags under my eyes, as well.  I hate to admit this, but I have gone from putting the medicine in my eyes three times a day to once a day, because of how they look when I do it more frequently.

Prior to this, I didn’t wear much makeup, but according to my ophthalmologist, the eyeliner I used carried bacteria to my eyes, which caused the sty. I had heard of mascara doing this, but never realized that eyeliner could do the same thing.  What I am just realizing is that I am wasting a whole blog post on worldly things like makeup and how I look.  What a shame!

I thought that God showed me that what I looked like and what size I am didn’t matter in God’s eyes, and it doesn’t!  Did I take on those same values? I thought I had, but obviously, I have a looooong way to go!  I can’t wait until I’m healed enough to put eyeliner on again.  What shallow values I have!  I am so amazed and ashamed at the same time!  Instead of being thankful that God is healing my eyes, I’ve been more focused on more worldly things like beauty. Oh my!  Fortunately for me, God is patient and uses these blog posts to help me be open to letting Him make me the Christian He wants me to be and He can do the same for you, too! Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30.


Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

The Lives of the Rich and Famous Christians

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool; Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy Name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal Law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well. James, Chapter 2, verses 1-8.

We have become “The Lives of the Rich and Famous Christians,” catering to those with status who look and dress a particular way. I wish I could say that I didn’t fall into this category, but I can’t. I think our society falls prey to this, as well. If we were on a bus, train or subway; would we stand to give our seat to someone who looks down and out or would we stand for someone who was either rich or famous? I have a feeling I know which answer I would get if people were really being honest.
If you really think about it, our human logic is backward. Some of the people with wealth don’t do as much physical labor and are not exposed to the weather conditions as much as those who are needier. Those who are less fortunate probably need our seat more than those with wealth. Well, the same goes with our kindness. The wealthy often have others who treat them courteously, but do we extend that same courtesy to the poor? I’m ashamed to say that I don’t always. I wouldn’t want God to treat me as indifferently as I sometimes treat those who are less fortunate. Sure, I give clothes that I no longer want to the needy, but that takes minimal effort. That is giving out of my excess and I don’t think that’s the same as treating others with the respect and the courtesy that they deserve.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Back-Seat Christian

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James, Chapter 1, verses 26-27.


It’s easy to be a “Back-Seat Christian,” becoming complacent in our relationship with God. In doing so, we are letting everyone else take care of God’s work while we focus on ourselves. God says He wants us to take an active role as Christians. He wants us to visit the fatherless, those grieving and we are not to get caught up in worldly values.


With so many single parent families, visiting the fatherless could be a relatively easy thing to do. If we each took the time to touch the life of one child, we could make a major difference. Some might think that they don’t have the time, but you could include neighbor kids in your game of basketball with your child. Family board games are nice to invite other kids to play. Even if you don’t have children of your own, you can take a child you know with you to the library. You can invite them over to bake or BBQ. Even doing routine chores seem special when you’ve invited a child to help you. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and helps them feel like they are contributing. When you take your child to a scouting, church or school activity; include a child who wouldn’t have been able to attend otherwise.


Going to a school once a week for 30 minutes, can positively impact the life of a child. (When I was a teacher in a low income school, I tried to get volunteers to come and read for 30 minutes a week with my students who had behavior problems. Within days, I would notice a positive change in the behavior choices that these children made. Interestingly, I wasn’t having the volunteer focus on teaching the child to read or anything else academic. The vast majority of these kids are quite capable of doing academic tasks. They just have so many other things going on in their lives that it’s often difficult for them to focus on academics. The time with the volunteers was really meant to be a positive time for the adult and the child to spend together. Isn’t it amazing that 30 minutes of contact with a child each week could make such a difference?)


I’m not suggesting that everyone should volunteer to spend time with kids who have behavior problems, although that’s not a bad idea. I’m using this as an example. If we each took the time to be with a child for 30 minutes a week, just think of the positive impact we could have on the children of our country. It has the added benefit of making us positive role models of our Christian values to our own children.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.


Devout Christians

Who concerning the Truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy, Chapter 2, verses 18-19.

I think this passage speaks to people who try to confuse us by saying things like, “Heaven is here on earth, right now,” or “You can make your life a heaven or a hell by the choices you make.” Your choices do bring about logical consequences. If you make poor lifestyle choices, you usually have a life that reflects those choices. If you make lifestyle choices that reflect your faith in God, you won’t have steak on the table every night, but God will take care of you.
My concern is that people can get confused by others and lose their focus on God when they engage in philosophical religious debates with them. Even though some profess to be Devout Christians, reading the Bible is one of the best ways to find out God’s Will for us.
God wants us to leave behind our sinful ways and to live a life that reflects how He has influenced us. We don’t have to get public notoriety as a Christian in order to have Salvation

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.