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Answer
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. In many Western cultures, the center of life is pleasure-seeking, gained through entertainment and various forms of sexual expression. However, a life centered on God revolves around His character. Decisions are made from within that center, based on what pleases or displeases God.
A person centered on God has discovered that seeking God is life’s highest calling (see Jeremiah 29:13). Earthly temptations lose much of their allure for someone who has experienced the presence of the Lord God Almighty (Isaiah 6:1-5; Hosea 12:5). Attitudes, desires, and relationships are transformed by that encounter, and the Word of God becomes a guiding principle. A life centered on God is characterized by the fruits of the Holy Spirit, as stated in Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” These qualities are not traits that can be cultivated through effort; they are referred to as the “fruit of the Spirit” because, just as a fruit tree naturally produces fruit, a life fully surrendered to God naturally exhibits godly characteristics.
Those centered on God are not self-centered. They pay less heed to the approval of the world, as their focus is on the hope of hearing the words “Well done!” when this life ends (see Matthew 25:21,23). Their aim is to become more like Jesus rather than seeking personal fame and wealth. A. W. Tozer expressed that “the objective of every Christian should be to live in a state of uninterrupted worship,” and the God-centered (or Christ-ce
A person who is God-centered finds this goal delightful.
There is a fine but distinct line between being God-centered and being religion-centered. Many people centered on religion believe that their lives revolve around God, when in reality, they are enslaved to a religious system. Many false religions, and even some Christian denominations, emphasize strict performance standards so much that the relationship with God Himself is relegated to the background. Being church-centered or activity-centered cannot replace being God-centered. Another important distinction is the identity of one’s God. Many religions have fabricated their own gods, and individuals may center their lives around these gods, but such false religious systems lead to very different outcomes compared to biblical Christianity. In this article, “God-centered” refers to the one true God revealed in the Bible and embodied in the person of Jesus Christ (John 10:30;John 14:9).
To distinguish between a God-centered and a religion-centered life, it is helpful to understand the difference between the two. If you believe you have been born again according to Scripture, consider the following questions:
Do I live with a vague, uneasy sense that God is constantly displeased with me?
Do I frequently feel exhausted and defeated in attempting to live a Christian life?
Do I secretly judge those who are not as actively involved in church or charitable work as I am?
Do I perceive a clear separation between the sacred and the secular in daily life?
Do I view religious activities as a way to earn God’s favor?
If my religious involvement wanes, what motivates me to resume it—guilt? fear? or a longing for more of God?
If guilt or fear drives any Christian-based activity, you may have a religion-centered life. A genuinely God-centered life involves a sense of freedom and joy in serving God.
Feeling off balance occurs when prayer or personal Bible study is lacking. For an individual focused on God, the motivation to resume those practices arises from desire, not guilt, akin to how a person who has fasted all day craves food by evening. A faith-centered life distinguishes between the sacred and the secular, recognizing only activities influenced by religion as having spiritual value. God does not establish such distinctions and encourages us to honor Him even in the ordinary tasks of daily life (1 Corinthians 10:31;Colossians 3:23).
Transitioning from being centered on earthly matters to being centered on God happens through a genuine encounter with the Holy Spirit, who transforms and renews our minds «And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. », (Romans 12:2). When we comprehend that nothing else holds significance and we are ready to release whatever is necessary to have more of Him, we are on the path to living in joyful surrender to the things of God.
