Get Your Facts Straight part I

Have you ever walked into a supermarket and gotten stuck in one aisle of basically the same product but different brands? You want one of those but there are so many options that you get so confused on which to go with. So you just stand there going back and forth from one product to another…

Yup this is me… every time!

Especially when it comes to hair products! For some reason, there are like a million companies out there making some sort of ‘hair treatment’  or ‘hair potion’ that can magically grow your hair and make it the healthiest, shiniest, longest, thickest, and a million other things. They all claim to be the best.

So what’s a sister to do in such a situation?? (shrug)

Okay, let’s analyze this based on how different people behave in such situations. Let’s call it “Different kinds  of people at the supermarket” (Famous comedian catchphrase. ha!)

• Person 1: The person who just picks up any product that catches their eye and keeps it pushing.

This is that sister who really doesn’t’ care, Her thought is “I mean a shampoo is a shampoo right?” Doesn’t matter who made it. I just want a shampoo. Period.

• Person 2: The person who picks up the product  with the most attractive packaging

This is that sister who is attracted to how the product looks on the outside. Maybe it’s wrapped in bright looking colors or a fancy-shaped container. Now when she sees all that fanciness, that’s what she goes for without a question!

• Person 3: The person who picks up the product someone recommended to them 

This is that sister who will buy what their favorite influencer on Youtube or Instagram or some social media site or blog said was good or they read somewhere that a famous person is using it. Her thought is “If she uses this and she looks like that! This must work for me too!” So bingo!

• Person 4: The person who gets all the facts about the product before buying it. 

Now, this is that sister who will only buy a product when she’s carefully read the label, checked all the ingredients that are inside of that product. She will probably not buy the product at first sight. She’ll go back home, do her research, ask questions before she goes back to buy the product.

So how does this apply to our lives? Especially as Christians.

These days, there’s so much information out there. The world seems like one really huge supermarket with an overwhelming availability of options to choose from that it can become really confusing and misleading.

Person 1

So from above, the first person is that person who really doesn’t mind who they listen to. They listen to anyone who ‘preaches’ and they take what they say and run with it without a second thought. They share whatever ‘inspirational quote’ they see on social media without stopping to think about it – to think if what is written in that quote is really in line with God’s word. You’ll see a Christian sharing a statement like ‘My Life My  Way’, and it seems perfectly fine at first glance. But as Christians do we really live our lives according to ‘our way?’ We need to be able to stop and think about what we read on the internet these days before we accept them. Even this article you’re reading right now, You should read it with your spiritual antenna on. If the Holy Spirit contradicts anything that is written here, then please go with what He says instead!

Not everything that sounds inspiring is in line with the word of God.

This is also that Christian who will move from one church to another every other Sunday.  Their thought is; ‘I mean a church is a church right? Does it really matter if I’m committed to any?’

Don’t be person 1 sis. Don’t just accept every piece of information that’s thrown at you. SELAH (Pause and Think)

 

 

Person 2

The second person is attracted by the outside and really doesn’t bother much to check if the content is as good. As long as the container looks good, they’re down. They’ll follow or listen to that person who always wears the fanciest suit, the most exquisite clothes or they’ll rather go to that church that has a pretty looking building and the interior design is top-notch. Those are the things they’re attracted by. They don’t give much thought to whether the things spoken are truly in line with God’s word or if they are becoming better people or are being edified by listening to those things.

We should belong to a church community where we are being edified and enlightened spiritually by the word of God. Where the true undiluted word of God is brought to us and we are being challenged to become better followers of Christ. The outward look of the church shouldn’t be what keeps us there.

In the same way, you shouldn’t follow and listen to preachers on the internet because of how they look. Rather what they say should be your measuring rod.

 

Okay, this article got longer than I had expected. So we’ll make this a two-part series. In part two, we’ll look at the last two types of people. We’ll break those down and see how we can learn and apply them to our personal lives.

In the meantime, find out if you are a person 1 or 2 and work at not being any of them.

We are all a work in progress. What’s important is we should be willing to accept our weaknesses and work on them.

 

God Bless you