What Would You Do If Jesus Ruled Your Life?
Today, I want to give you a question to use as a filter that will protect you from unintentionally building your own kingdom and, instead, lead you to participate in the kingdom of God.
Jesus came into this world with an announcement — the kingdom of God is near! And then, Jesus spent the rest of his life explaining the kingdom of God, why it’s essential, and how every person can be a part of it.
The kingdom of God is established wherever Jesus is king.
If you follow Jesus, your mission is to participate in the kingdom of God by making Jesus the ruler of every area of your life (watch the latest message to find your God-given purpose for every season of life). However, this is not intuitive because the nature of every human being is to be self-centered and selfish.
Self is the silent enemy.
Selfishness leads to sin. Sin separates a person from God and from participating in what God is doing.
If you’re anything like me, I realize many things compete with being “king of my life.” Naturally and instinctively, I like to be in control of my time, my money, my relationships, and ultimately my life. I cannot depend on my human desires to lead me to participate in the kingdom of God.
Jesus already knew this about the human condition. Being born again spiritually is the starting point to being transformed to be more like him by the Spirit of God and the Word of God.
Not only did Jesus announce the kingdom of God, but he also instructed his followers on how to make it the number one priority in their lives.
“Seek the kingdom of God above all else,” Jesus said. “Live right, and your father in heaven will give you everything you need.” — Matthew 6:33
Seeking the kingdom first means searching for something that you esteem as valuable.
One time, I misplaced my wireless headphones. I was on an urgent mission of the highest priority to find them. No one else in my family cared about finding them as much as I did. Why? Because they were valuable to me. (I found them in our washer, cleaned with some other clothes.)
The motivation for seeking something first is directly related to the value you have placed on the thing.
The motivation for seeking the kingdom of God above all else is directly related to the value you have placed on choosing Jesus as the King of your life.
Here is the question you can use as a filter to ensure you seek the kingdom of God above all else:
If Jesus ruled every area of my life, what would I do?
Replace WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) with WWID (What Would I Do).
A famous axiom asks the question — what would Jesus do? But I wonder if that’s a helpful guide.
It really doesn’t matter what Jesus would do in my situation; it matters what I do.
Here’s how you can apply WWID to specific areas of your life:
- If Jesus ruled my time, what would I do? How would I use my time (here are four ways to be more intentional with your time)?
- If Jesus ruled my bank account, what would I do? How would I manage my money?
- If Jesus ruled my home, what would I do? How would I treat my family and those I love?
- If Jesus ruled my words, what would I do? How would I speak about others?
Choose Jesus as the ruler of every area of your life, live according to his teachings, and rest in his promise:
“So don’t be afraid,” Jesus says. “For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32).