Biblical Challenges

In Five Years

Hi! It's @Ly-Blossom, here with a challenge for you!

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I've thrown so many tantrums and made so many rash decisions without considering the consequences and I'm sure I'm not the only one. But the thing is... it doesn't have to be that way!

One thing a teacher (bless her heart) told me that if it wouldn't matter in five years, then what's the point?

And I heavily thought about it. Everything you do should be heading somewhere and that somewhere is your future! With that in my mind, I started considering the things I did. Sometimes I would want to irrationally spend, then I think, in five years, would I think this was a good investment? Or want to say something rude, then I'll think, in five years, would I regret what I said?

With that said, I challenge you to evaluate your choices - all of them because they all matter - and weigh their worth. Pros and cons, if you must. Think about what you're doing and ask yourself these questions...

1. In five years, would I regret this?

2. In five years, would this have added positively to my character?

3. In five years, would this matter to me?

Here's some examples:

"You want to give that mean girl a rude piece of your mind."

1. In five years, would I regret this?

Maybe you would. That 'mean girl' may have been going through something serious and decided to take it out on someone. Or maybe she just needed someone to like her and give her a warm smile. In five years, what if you hear that she is in jail? Would your rudeness have positively impacted her life before prison?

2. In five years, would this have added positively to my character?

You're not any better than her if you treat her the same way she treated you. If you did this and continued to do this for everybody you dislike, in five years, you'll become the same girl that you didn't like. And that's the last thing you want.

3. In five years, would this matter to me?

Sometimes we think back at the things we do and shake our heads because truly, what were we thinking? Sometimes this is positive and sometimes negative. In five years, would it be an accomplishment or a milestone for you that you were rude to someone else. In fact you may be ashamed of yourself then.

Another example (a positive one this time *wink*):

"You want to volunteer or donate."

1. In five years, would I regret this?

In five years, when you think about the smiles that you put on a stranger's face, I think you'd be rather proud of yourself for volunteering or donating.

2. In five years, would this have added positively to my character?

Having been a volunteer or by donating, you're conditioning your mind to be more sympathetic and caring towards people. In five years, when you realize the effect of your actions, you'd realize that you're a compassionate person who values people. That's a good trait to have in my opinion.

3. In five years, would this matter to me?

You see, in 1981, a doctor helped to save the life of a 1.5 kg premature baby boy. The boy grows up to be a firefighter and 30 years later helps to save the same doctor in a road accident.

Your deeds aren't just forgotten. That person you helped five years ago may just be the person to help you five years later. So yes, it would matter.

By the grace of God, you'll evaluate your actions and in five years, you'll laugh and smile about the choices you make today!