How the "hustle culture" is affecting our relationship with Christ and each other.
In today's society, there is an overwhelming pressure to be constantly hustling. We are told that if we're not working hard and grinding 24/7, we're not doing enough, and we're not doing life right.
This pressure has trickled down into our relationships with each other and with Christ. Instead of resting in God's grace and spending time connecting with each other, we're trying to out-hustle each other. And it's taking a toll. It's changing the way we interact with each other, and in some cases, we're pushing the boundaries and beginning to look like the world.
We need to step back and ask ourselves some tough questions like:
1. What does it mean to truly love and support someone?
2. Am I taking and not giving?
3. What does Iron Sharpen Iron mean? And are you displaying this?
4. Am I motivating others only to monetarily gain?
5. Who are the people in my circle and what do they mean to me?
6. Am I reliable? Do I stick to my word?
7. Am I okay sitting in the bleachers cheering others on?
8. Who am I to the people in my circle? What do I gain from having them around? What do they gain having me around?
9. Have you only gotten close to someone only to see what they can do for you?
10. Do others benefit from you and you don't reciprocate?
11. As E40, would say "Are you loyal to the soil? Are you loyal?
We must answer these questions as we take stock of our lives and our emotional standing with God and each other. Unless we understand what we're caught up in, and can see clearly the ways we have changed, then we will only find ourselves eloping with the enemy to bring more harm to the body of Christ.
The hustle culture is all about working hard and making money.
It's about advancing yourself and your career at any cost, and this mentality is slowly infiltrating the church. We are now seeing people supporting others solely based on what they can get out of the relationship instead of genuinely caring for the other person. We seem to have forgotten the hallmarks of love as described in the Bible.
This isn't limited to church relationships either. We see it in our friendships, families, and even our relationships with Christ. We are quick to try and take advantage of those we feel have something valuable to offer in the same way that many of our prayers have been reduced to "Make A Wish" emails and letters to God ("I said what I said").
It wasn't always like this, though. There was a time when relationships were built on trust and genuine love, but somewhere along the way, we lost that. We traded in love for the hustle culture, and it's time that we realized the mistake we've made.
The dangers of hustle - when it becomes an idol that takes over our lives.
For Christians, it's important that the things of this world don't become more important to us than God. Unfortunately, there are many dangers associated with hustle culture that can lead us down that path.
One danger is that the hustle and grind mentality can lead to unethical behavior. When we're focused on making money or achieving our goals, we may be willing to do whatever it takes, even if that means stepping on others to get there. We may take advantage of people or behave in a way that is contrary to God's character.
This includes telling lies, breaching confidentiality agreements, plagiarizing and stealing content, and sabotaging opportunities for competitors. This is not at all how God expects us to behave.
Another danger of hustle culture is that it can lead to a distorted view of God. We may begin to think that God is only interested in our success, and He wants us to be wealthy. We forget that God's primary concern is our hearts and not our bank accounts. It's important to remember that God is always more interested in our hearts than in our success. When we keep Him at the center of our lives, we will be less likely to be consumed by the hustle.
It's also important to remember that we can't do everything on our own - we need God's help.
If we're going to be hustlers in this Christian life, then let us hustle for God. We should be doing everything we can to bring Him glory and honor.
The church is a great place to find support and build meaningful relationships but even that has changed. There's nothing quite like being around people striving for the same things you are and who can offer encouragement and advice. This is the supportive/collaborative bond we see in the gospels when Jesus was here.
Jesus quashed arguments among His disciples and taught principles of honesty, integrity, respect, boundaries, and honor. Jesus had a lot of work to do while He was here. Still, He never hustled, and He never took advantage of anyone while going about His Father's business.
We need more than just His example to help us walk according to His example. We need His intervention, His guidance, and His grace. While He can do this in any way He wishes, I've often found that He sends genuine people into our lives to bridge the gap. If we are too focused on the hustle and grind, however, we may miss out on a God-ordained and orchestrated opportunity to become more like Him.
Let's get back to the basics of Godly human connections.
Now I may be showing my age here, but Christian values used to be based around humility, kindness, and love. The enemy desperately wants us to shelf these principles in favor of instant gratification and promises of attaining more than we really need.
I was recently at church, and I couldn't help but notice how many people were sitting alone, not talking to anyone. It seems like we've become so obsessed with our devices that we've forgotten how to connect with other humans. We're all busy chasing after this idea of "success" that we've lost sight of what's truly important in life.
It's time for us to get back to the basics of human connection. Let's start by simply talking to the people around us, even if we don't know them that well. Let's offer a helping hand to someone who needs it without expecting anything in return. Let's share our talents and skills with others, even if they can't repay us. Let's operate our businesses honestly and with integrity, and let's do it all for God's glory.
In a world where so many people are struggling, let's be the light of Christ that shines through the darkness. Let's do these things not because we have to but because we want to. It's the Christian thing to do. And God knows, we could use some more Christian values in this world today.
I want to see us all win in christ!
~ Loyal to the soil ~
I hope that you've enjoyed this week's journal entry. My goal is to send love and encouragement to you and your household. Wherever you are in your journey, know that you are not alone. God is with you...
Thank you for reading.
© I am Coach Shonda
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