Everyone’s life has a center. Our center is the hub around which all decisions revolve. For some, survival is the hub from morning until night. For others, the acquisition of wealth or material goods drives daily choices. But a God-centered life is one that revolves around the character of God. Decisions are made from within that center, based upon that which pleases or displeases God.
A God-centered person has found that the pursuit of God is life’s highest calling (see Jeremiah 29:13).
- Earthly enticements lose much of their attraction for someone who has been in the presence of the Lord God Almighty (Isaiah 6:1–5; Hosea 12:5).
- Attitudes, desires, and relationships are altered by that encounter, and the Word of God becomes a lifeline.
- A God-centered life is marked by the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). These are not personality traits that we can “work on”; they are called “fruit of the Spirit” because, as a fruit tree naturally produces fruit, a life that is fully surrendered to God naturally produces godly qualities.
God-centered people are not self-centered. God-centered people pay less attention to the applause of this world, because their motivation is the anticipation of hearing the words “Well done!” when this life is over (see Matthew 25:21, 23).
A fine but distinct line exists between being God-centered and being religion-centered.
- Many religion-centered people think that their lives revolve around God, when, in truth, they are enslaved to a religious system.
- Many false religions, and even some Christian denominations, focus so much on strict performance standards that the relationship with God Himself is pushed into the background.
- Neither being church-centered nor being activity-centered can substitute for being God-centered.
Another distinction must be made concerning the identity of one’s God.
- Many religions have created their own gods, and people may center their lives on those gods, but such false religious systems lead to very different ends from biblical Christianity.
- “God-centered” refers to the one true God revealed in the Bible and manifested in the person of Jesus Christ (John 10:30; 14:9). Therefore, “God-centered” and “Christ-centered” are interchangeable.
In order to differentiate between a God-centered and a religion-centered life, it helps to know the difference between the two. If you believe yourself to be born again according to Scripture, then consider these questions:
- Do I live with the vague, uneasy feeling that God is continually displeased with me?
- Do I often find myself exhausted and defeated in trying to live a Christian life?
- Do I believe there to be a clear distinction between the sacred and the secular as it pertains to daily life?
- Do I consider religious-looking activities a means by which I can gain God’s favor?
If guilt or fear is the motivator for any Christian-based activity, you may have a religion-centered life.
- A truly God-centered life feels off balance when prayer or personal Bible study is lacking.
- A religion-centered life draws clear lines between the sacred and the secular, considering only religiously tainted activities as having any spiritual worth. God draws no such lines and encourages us to glorify Him in the mundane chores of daily living (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23).
- A Christ-centered life is not to be confused with a religion-centered life. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were religion-centered. They ate, drank, and slept the Law. They could spout rules, codes, and judgments as fast as a child can recite the ABCs, but Jesus had harsh rebuke for them. They were Law-centered but not love-centered, and it made all the difference (Matthew 23:25; Luke 11:42).
- A religion-centered life strives for supremacy, attention, and glory based upon performance. It keeps score and judges itself and others by self-made standards.
- Christ-centered lives rest in the finished work of Jesus on their behalf and yearn for holiness as a means of staying close to Him (Hebrews 12:14).
The secret to living a Christ-centered life is understanding the “fear of the Lord” (Psalm 19:9; Proverbs 16:6).
- The fear of the Lord is the continual awareness that our loving heavenly Father is watching and evaluating everything we think, say, or do. Those who live Christ-centered lives have developed a tangible awareness of the presence of Jesus (Matthew 28:20). They make decisions based upon the question “Would this please the Lord?”
- They avoid Satan’s traps and worldly entanglements because they evaluate their choices: “If Jesus was spending the day with me, would I do that? Watch that? Say that? Buy that?” (1 Timothy 3:7; Ephesians 6:11).
- Every lifestyle decision is weighed on heaven’s scales and evaluated for its eternal significance. Lesser loves fall by the wayside because they steal time, resources, and energy away from the real passion of life—pleasing Jesus.
- However, living with the fear of the Lord requires a conscious, ongoing commitment and even the most devoted will fail at times. Yet, those who are God-centered have His forgiveness, comfort, encouragement, peace, direction and very presence of the Holy Spirit assuring of His everlasting love.
We move from earthly centered to God-centered/Christ-centered by having a real encounter with the Holy Spirit, who transforms and renews our minds (Romans 12:2). When we realize that nothing else matters and we are willing to let go of whatever is necessary to have more of Him, we are on the way to living in joyful abandon to the things of God.