There are approximately seven billion intelligent human beings on this complex planet. It is a shame and a disgrace that the vast majority of us are not tapping into the great potential we have of excelling in many fields. I am not specifically pointing my finger at the uneducated. Those that have a higher degree of learning are also included in not taking life seriously. What I am alluding to is the capacity of the human brain to better our lives and especially others’ lives. Our brains have such an immense ability to accumulate and utilize much more information and knowledge than we are aware of. Of course, some are born with brains that have superb memory, the ability to solve complex problems, and other unique abilities. Then others may have brains that are normal—whatever that means—and yet others may have mental disorders that can’t be amended. I am not sure if the latter could be included in this topic.
The biggest injustice we are most often guilty of is wasting time. Of course, we never call it that—we have given it more honorable names such as “leisure,” “entertainment,” “vacation,” “goofing off,” “sleeping in,” “sports,” and a multitude of other respectably named activities. And there is nothing ethically wrong with wasting time. However, what we may not be aware of is that the more we use our brains, the more we will be able to use them, and the more they desire to be used. I often wonder why we—who evolved—were given such an astounding instrument.
Then one might ask, “What is in it for me? I have everything I ever desired. What more can I ask for?” And I am sure many feel that way. The only objection that type of thinking puts up is a roadblock as to any more mental advances—not so much for one’s own benefit, but for the betterment of others. There are many ways we can assist others—I am not only talking financial help, but intellectual, academic, physical, and, since this is a spiritual blog—spiritual. Please don’t be surprised as to my next comment. I truly believe we innately have, per se, one ultimate goal in life: to help other in whatever way we can. If that is true, then whenever we are wasting time—which can never be reprieved—we are taking away or stealing from those less fortunate than ourselves. Before this, you thought I was crazy; now you know for sure I am a lunatic. But wait a minute.
Now I will get into the spiritual aspect—my forte. I will give you scriptural credence to back up my logic. Mark 12:28-31. One of the teachers of the law asked Jesus a question: “Of all the commandments, which one is the most important? ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” [emphasis added]. Is any genuine Christian, including myself, aware of the implications this most important command really is saying? In most organized religions, people use that command as a lovely cliche of excellence, and go no further. In order to actually put this command into practice, all that we have learned in life would have to be turned upside down. And then, we don’t live this way to become Christians, but once Christ has made us Christians. That is the proof in the pudding. That means that the more one loves him/herself, the more he/she is obligated to God to love others more. Some may say, “This is a hard teaching; can’t we water it down a bit?” That is what organized religion has been doing for the last 2,000 years. Now some of you may understand why I am so emphatic in the words I use in this post. We cannot live in this Godly manner when we are not exerting our every effort to love others in whatever way we can, so that they can reciprocate the same to others. With this type of life, wasting time is a bigger loss than wasting money. But no matter what way we are loving others, the main goal is to somehow lead them to genuine belief in Jesus Christ, and by all means not to a church building. The only church building I personally approve of is the “Home/house Church.” I don’t mean leading them to a religious organization and then going to each others’ homes for Wednesday-night prayer meetings. I mean excluding all contact with the formalities of organized religion. In the environment of each of these closely-knit house churches, people will become one big intimate family, with one super Holy Grail: loving one’s neighbor as oneself. Everything that is taught and lived is centered on that command with no limits as to where the Lord will take them. Of course, all this is done because a person desires to love The Lord God with all one’s faculties.
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