To be... what does it look like?

Shakespeare puts it best, “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”  As we live and walk through life in this world, it’s the question that each of us must ask, “What does it mean to “be”?  Does that mean to get a good job, put my kids in a good school, pursue service through my local church, and keep out of trouble? Or is “being” something deeper and higher-reaching than that?  

When Jesus was here on earth, the ultimate examples of this type of “being” for the Jewish people were likely the Pharisees.  They “had it together” and were looked up to as God’s “blessed ones”.  However, we see Jesus react very differently to these individuals on a number of occasions and it should cause us to stop and consider our own idea of what “being” in this world looks like.  

In Luke 20:45-47, Jesus has some particularly strong words for the people that listened to his teaching.  Let’s look at that:

While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.

Though these were supposed to be the leaders who “had it all together” in the eyes of the people, Jesus spoke of them as mistaken and deceptive.  Their hearts were the real problem!  Though they claimed to be living lives of obedience and devotion to God’s way, they were actually all about their own comfort and success.  Moreover, this was going to result in severe punishment!

Later in Scripture, the apostle Paul shows us a different way to “be”.  Let’s look at Philippians 3:7-9, 12 and compare this example of “being” to the Pharisees.  

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ...Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

So THIS version of “being” seems to involve a complete change of focus on the things deemed “important” in this world and instead keeping our eyes on the gift of God’s presence, empowering, and purposes in us to bring HIM glory.  

Hamlet wondered what it looked like to “be”... we must ask ourselves the same question and consider the answer based not on our perception of the world and what is considered a “good life”, but based on the example of our dear Savior and the richness of His teaching in Scripture.  If this sounds daunting to make such a mindset shift, take courage from James 1:12, which tells us that this perspective can be gained and nurtured through the Holy Spirit empowering us to persevere!  Praise God for His help and faithfulness!!