goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Somebody

By Linda Tancs

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon comes to terms with vanity in the sense of meaninglessness. He surveys life and concludes that all the power grabbing, striving, positioning and other activities are meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:1-3). It’s all like a vapor, here one minute and gone the next. The poet Emily Dickinson had her own take on that with her poem “I’m Nobody, Who Are You.” Like Solomon, she recognized the futility of scrambling to be a somebody. The apostle Paul had his own awakening on the uselessness of being a mover and a shaker. Like Solomon, he’d acquired a long list of credentials but counted it all as nothing in the light of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). Remember the popular expression, “you can’t take it with you.” Material things will always fade in value and importance. Make it your chief aim and desire to have a relationship with God above all else. He’ll take care of the rest (Matthew 6:31-33).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Who’s Your BFF?

By Linda Tancs

BFF (best friends forever) is a sweet sentiment, a cherished part of our digital culture. But friendships don’t last forever. After all, we all die. And, sometimes, relationships fail. That doesn’t mean we should neglect pursuing friendships in this life, but it’s comforting to remember that we do have an unfailing BFF—Jesus.

Paul recognized the value of the Lord’s fellowship when he remarked to the Philippians that he counted everything else as loss (Philippians 3:8). For each of us, Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). He is our refuge, fortress and shield (Psalm 91). He promised never to leave us nor forsake us, not to abandon us physically or emotionally (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5). He gave His life for us.

What would you give for a friend like that?