Not to get caught up in the semantics of the topic, but did you ever stop to consider why personal development is such a popular topic? Everyone wants to be successful in life and business. The problems and challenges we face along the way, though, are many and varied to say the least. Personal development sounds like a good solution on the surface. Along the way, however, you’ll probably notice more than just a few wealthy, popular, connected people who acquired these things through means that aren’t even vaguely connected to “personal development” concepts.
Spiritual growth on the other hand is different. It deals with the inner person or the heart of the individual. The reason Jesus attracted so many “worldly” people was because of the love he showed towards them. The woman caught in the midst of adultery was forgiven instead of stoned (as the law said she should be). The paralyzed man in John 5 was in a bad physical state because it appears his choices in life opened the door for evil. Although this isn’t always the reason for bad things happening to a person, Jesus didn’t say, “Get right with God and I’ll heal you.” He healed him, no questions asked. Later he told him, “Stop sinning lest something worse come upon you.”
What was the sin? It’s funny how people want to know all the details. Obviously, that was between the man and God.
Everyone sins. That’s a given. Not everyone meets God through Jesus, though, and gets delivered from ultimate effect of it.
John 3:36
(36) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
When I was in my late teens, I enjoyed reading personal development books. It didn’t take long before I I’ve discovered that personal growth isn’t easy at all.
Spiritual growth, on the other hand, isn’t easy either. It’s downright impossible without God’s help. Even so, I can tell you that you’ll get God’s help if it’s something you truly want from your heart. Otherwise, you’ll notice a little change here and there… but it never seems to really last. There are things within each of us that only God can change.
HOW THIS APPLIES TO BUSINESS
As a business owner, I originally tried to follow the advice of the “gurus” to build a successful business. When that didn’t work too well, I became frustrated. Then, I finally turned to God about it. It’s not that I didn’t pray for help growing my business in the beginning. I did, but nothing great seemed to happen.
If you would have told me at the time that true success is something that happens inwardly first, I would have wholeheartedly agreed with you. That wasn’t the first approach I took, though!
Obviously, you have to pay bills and need money to live. I’m not minimizing the importance of money because the Bible doesn’t, either. I’m just pointing out a few things because there a multiple warnings in the Bible about money dominating your heart and thought-life.
The worry habit doesn’t do anything besides make you sick from the inside out.
An alternative is to put your life and God’s hands and follow the simple instructions you’ll find in the Matthew 6. The Matthew 6 plan is as straightforward as is gets. You don’t have to intellectualize it, you don’t have to force anything. You just have to do it one day at a time.
Today, I live according to these instructions and have experienced tangible results in my life. It didn’t happen all at once, but it happened and continues to happen. This is much better than having a little change that lasts for a while, but then eventually goes back to the same old thing again.
So go ahead and decide whether or not Matthew 6 is for you or not. I’d love to hear how it works out for you!