The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line…

The Bottom Line – the most important part of something : the most important thing to consider, the final result or outcome.

Businesses use the bottom line to measure their financial success. It is this that tells them how well they are doing and how people see them. It is the final result or statement, the main or essential point, the final outcome of a process, discussion, etc The most important or fundamental aspect of a situation.

We also use the ‘Bottom Line’ to measure ourselves. We measure how well we’ve done in school, with friends, completing our chores and for that matter life itself – how we measure up.

You can change anything in your life if you want to badly enough. Excuses are for losers! Those who take responsibility for their actions are the real winners in life. Winners meet life challenges head on knowing there are no guarantees, and give it all they’ve got and never think it’s too late or too early to begin.

Face it, nobody owes you a living. What you achieve, or fail to achieve in your lifetime Is directly related to what you do or fail to do. No one chooses his parent or childhood. But you can choose your own direction. Everyone has problems and obstacles to overcome, but that too is relative to each individual. Nothing is carved in stone!

This life is a sinking ship. No one gets out alive. We have a limited time and then eternity. Most people, even believers, spend their time chasing after material possessions, following trivial pursuits, focusing on what is petty, vain and meaningless.

Could that be you? If so, wake up! We only have a limited time to live in holiness, fulfill our calling, spread the Gospel, and help save those who are perishing. So glorify God with all your heart because this life is too precious to waste another second.

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15-21

Time plays no favorites and will pass whether you act or not take control of your Life – Dare to Dream and take risks….. Compete! If you aren’t willing to work for your goals don’t expect others to. Believe in yourself – you are your bottom line!

Did you know God gave us a bottom line also? He really did! He told us to love our neighbors as ourself and as He has loved us. He said we should put nothing ahead of Him. He instructed us to care for the poor and down trodden, the widows and children and He told us not to place judgment on others.

How well are we doing with His ‘Bottom Line’? I would speculate that if we measured ourself along the guidelines of His ‘Bottom Line’, we would find we are totally failing. Isn’t it interesting that we look so hard at ourselves and our bottom line, yet we so easily push His aside – that is until we find ourself in a bind? Yet, the first one we turn to when things start going wrong is to Him!

No matter what we choose to call it, sin is sin, and God is not confused about it. He will forgive us, if we ask for it, but wouldn’t it be so much easier just to follow His will? Think about it, then honestly ask yourself how well you are following His guidelines.

A while back I posted – In His Image. The post asked you to look in a mirror and tell me what you saw. When you looked at the clerk at the store, or your neighbor, or even the pan handler on the street – what do you see? The whole point of the post was to remind you that God is everywhere and to tell you that you just might be looking into the face of God.

Now, what are you doing to shine your light for Him? Believe it or not, this is the true measure for your’s and His ‘Bottom Line’ and we all should be striving to make the best of it.

What do you think? What is your ‘Bottom Line’? Who do you put first? I would love to see your opinion and your suggestions.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed