As A Man Thinketh

As A Man Thinketh

By Apostle Felix

7  For as he thinks within himself, so is he. He will grudgingly say, “Go ahead and eat all you want,” but in his heart he resents the fact that he has to pay for your meal. 

Proverbs 23: 7

The content of man’s heart gives defines who a man is. The outside image sometimes can be misleading. We may find well decorated gravestones in this world. But underneath lies a decomposed body and bones. Therefore, in our quest to know somebody, we have to go beyond just the physical appearance. Oftentimes, we appoint and approve people base on their physical appearances, and then later on encounter their real person, which is their inner being. What we encounter after the physical appearance is what matters most. Physical appearance or demeanor is important but the inside man is more important. The physical beautiful fades away, but the inside beautiful is permanent. In most cases, the world will accept you based on your appearance, but it can only keep you based on your inner character. A company can employ you based on your curriculum vitae but it can only keep you based on your character. Many have been fired from work mainly because of their character. They are intelligent but with sour and bitter disposition.

9  And that the women would also pray with clean hearts, dressed appropriately and adorned modestly and sensibly, not flaunting their wealth. 

10  But they should be recognized instead by their beautiful deeds of kindness, suitable as one who worships God. 

1 Timothy 2: 9, 10

I am not here to address women’s dress code but to talk about the importance of inner beautiful versus the outer beauty. Both are importance, but the inner beauty surpasses the outer beauty in the quality and longevity of reward. The outer beauty reward can be like misty sometimes. When the sun rises, and the wind blows, all the misty disappears out of sight. The outer beauty does not have the ability to sustain an individual in his/her location of prominence. It is the inner beauty, which character that has the power to sustain a person.

 25  But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 

2 Samuel 14: 25

Absalom’s appearance was outstanding in the entire nation of Israel. This man was good looking. But his character did not match his outer beauty, hence met his fate early in life. His good looks could not sustain him as a prince of Israel. The appearance can open doors for you, however, you need character to occupy the house. Jesus said, occupy until I come. The occupation has got to do with an attitude of diligence, innovation and creativity. An attitude is the inner feeling expressed through behaviour. The inner man has a greater influence in one’s direction in life. Oftentimes, in Africa we blame our forefathers for the kind of life I have today. We are ever trying to trace the state of our lives to what our forefathers did. I think that does not make sense at all. It is true that our forefathers made bad choices in their lives. Some had married many wives. Some were witches. However, that should not be the reason, you and me cannot make it in life. We often go on this unthinkable search for generational curses that have no end to themselves. How far can one go to trace the forefathers’ sins and curses. My dear brother and sister, you are searching in a wrong lineage. You now belong to Jesus’ lineage.

28  It is through him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said, ‘Our lineage comes from him.’ 

Acts 17: 28

Change your thinking, and that will change your life. Your thinking plays a big role in determining how far you go in life, and not your forefathers. Every human being has a past and forefathers. But the game changer is the way of thinking. Every family upon the surface of the family is sinful, and engrossed in wickedness. But yet they are those who decided to change their lives by changing the way they think and see their world. For a child of God, you have an advantage over those who are not born again. This is because you have God inside you and you have born of the incorruptible seed, which the word of God. You cannot be corrupted by all means. Therefore, stay in the word of God and align your mind with the will of God for your life.

1  Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. 
2  Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes

Romans 12: 1, 2