Careful Exploration

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that." Galatians 6:4 (MSG) I getting in some devotional time after returning from Virginia Beach with Sarah. We had a great time and whirlwind of a week. God has been speaking to me for a period of time in scriptures like these. It's essential for us as believers to place enough value on our own life (the life the Christ paid a heavy price for), not to waste it moment by moment, living impulsively, but to examine and reexamine ourselves and the work that God has given us all to do, assessing our life now and mirroring it with God's perfect will for our life. Tom Raff, author of Strengths Finder, identifies 5 areas of human well-being. I've slightly modified them for my own use, allowing for faith in Christ to play a stronger role. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Social well-being - your capacity to love and be loved by others
2. Career well-being - your productivity in your work
3. Financial well-being - your stewardship of earthly resources
4. Physical well-being - your management of your body
5. Spiritual well-being - your relationship with God

We each have responsibility in these areas of our life. The next verse in the passage above says, "each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." Galatians 6:5 (MSG) Our stewardship of the responsibilities we are blessed with, I believe is a measure of our maturity in Christ.