Recently I was reviewing some notes from my Masters program while preparing to teach our Tuesday morning Bible Study group. This group has been together for four years now, starting with Genesis, and now all the way up to the letters of Paul. While researching those seminary notes, I came upon a reminder from one of my professors about Paul. He noted that Paul's focus was very much on being - not doing. In particular, when it comes to the letter to the Galatians, Martin Luther used these verses from Paul to emphasize the importance of faith over works. So, what does that mean?
For me, it is a reminder that while works (or doing) are signs of earning, being is different. Being means incorporating your faith into your life. It means taking seriously what you say you believe in. In Galatians 5:25-26 (NIV) Paul says, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
Eugene Peterson's Message states these same verses so beautifully, "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original."
We are invited to move our beliefs out of our heads and into our daily lives, not as a list to check off or a way to prove our faithfulness - but as a way of imitating the life of Jesus. To do that, we need to truly read for ourselves and understand how Jesus lived - and not to assume it because a pastor told us so.
When was the last time you slowed down your striving, took a deep breath, enjoyed a sunset or time with a child? When was the last time you picked up a book, a Bible, an inspiring article and read with intention? When was the last time you connected what you hear about faith to how you actually want to live your life?
If it has been awhile, consider creating a time over the next few weeks to dedicate yourself to a new good intention that helps you experience more being than doing. If I can be a friend while you pursue this, let me know. I have some great ideas on incorporating faith into life - and enjoying your time being instead of doing.
“I am a human being, not a human doing.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
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