Who is on The Throne of your heart?

Related Scripture:

“Do you not know that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” - Philippians 2:3-4

Every time we step on a football field, we bring experience, ability, reputation—and if we're honest, sometimes our own ambitions.  For a seasoned official, there can be a temptation to think, “I've earned the big game. I deserve that opportunity.”  But what if God has given us that experience not simply for our own advancement, but to invest in the officials’ coming behind us?  In Philippians 2:3–4, the Apostle Paul challenges us to ask a deeper question: Are we operating in humility and valuing others above ourselves? Or a deeper question: Who is enthroned on our heart?  In 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Paul reminds us, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” Think about that. We don't even give ourselves our next heartbeat. We don't command our lungs to take another breath. We don't sustain the blood flowing through our bodies.   Our Creator gives us life and sustains it.

If I am His creation—and He has redeemed me—then my life isn't ultimately about me.  So maybe the question isn't, “When do I get my next big game?” Maybe it's, “Who can I help get theirs?”  The experienced official who takes time to teach, encourage, mentor, and open doors for the next generation may be making a greater impact than the one who simply collects another big game for himself.  When Jesus is on the throne, we can invest in someone else's growth. We can use what God has given us to help someone else become who God is calling them to be.  Because ultimately, it’s about whose throne we're serving.

Questions to Ponder:

Who is on the throne of your heart?

God’s truth calls me to lay down my own interests, value others above myself, and use what He has given me for His purposes—not my own.

Larry Etheridge  - FCA Area Representative (Dawson County, GA) - GFOA