A Framework
for Living Life Well In A World of Chaos
By Rev. Dr. Russell M. Morrow
From October 9th to November 15th, I was a young pastor with a young wife and three young children, stair-stepped in age. I was striving to be a faithful man of God, growing in His Word, and appreciating his gift of grace in Jesus Christ.
The relevant question for me then was how to take care
of my family, fulfill my responsibilities, and be all God would have me be. Growing up in my childhood church in Jamacia, New York, I learned the story of Jesus, and I believed in it as a young adult. I needed the story of Jesus to make sense in our daily lives.
As I read and studied the scriptures about
the life of Jesus, his mission, Luke 4:18, his teachings beginning with the
Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7, his mission work, Acts 10:34-39 and his
loving faithfulness to God, Matthew 26:36-46, I found what I was looking for.
In addition, I came across a book by Denis Kimbro and
Napoleon Hill titled Think and Grow Rich. The book was about achieving wealth,
but its focus was not on money and success alone.
The book resonated with me because it addressed core values of character, responsibility, and ethical and moral values that sustain character and commitment. I could draw from Kimbro's seven attributes of a wealthy life that aligned with good's will for my life.
I called them "A Framework for Living Well in This World of Chao."
The Frame 1. Salvation / Peace of Mind
2.
Health and Strength
3.
For love and respect
4.
Godly wisdom guides my knowledge and understanding
5.
A work ethic that yields the ability to produce and
provides
6.
Purpose of life.
7.
Opportunity to fulfill "purpose" in life.
This is an excellent framework for living life. However,
there can only be a good framework with a good foundation.
The Foundation
Anyone who comes and listens to me and obeys me is
like someone who dug down deep and built a house on solid rock. When a flood
came, and the river rushed against the house, it was built so well that it
didn't shake. But anyone who hears what I say and doesn't obey me is like
someone whose home wasn't built on solid rock. As soon as the river rushed
against that house, it was smashed to pieces! Luke 6.47-49
