Are You God-Centered or Self-Centered?

by Rick Warren — March 11, 2023
From The Life You Were Meant to Live

“Instead of worrying, pray . . . It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)

What will be the center of your life?

In other words, who or what are you going to live for? You have a lot of options. You can center your life around a career, a sport, a hobby, making money, or having fun.

There’s nothing wrong with any of these things. They’re all fine, but they all make a lousy center for your life. You need something at the center of your life that is absolutely unchanging, that can never be taken away from you. Because if your center can be taken away, you will always be under stress, knowing you could lose your security. That’s why you need to center your life on something that is unchanging and secure.

There’s only one thing you can put at the center of your life that will never change and is strong enough to sustain you through life: Jesus Christ.

Do you remember an old toy called a Superball? When you bounced it on the ground, it would go dozens of feet into the air. Why? Because the center of a Superball was a tightly compacted, solid core, not a mushy center like a tennis ball. Its solid core gave it bounce-ability.

When your core is solid in God, you also have bounce-ability. You bounce back from stress faster. You bounce back from problems faster. You bounce back from grief faster. You bounce back from crisis faster. You have something solid in your life that doesn’t change, and you worry less.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Instead of worrying, pray . . . It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (The Message).

One of the ways you know that Jesus is at the center of your life is you worry less. Any time you start worrying, it should be a red flag, a warning sign that says, “I’ve allowed someone or something to become the center of my life instead of God.” If you make a person the center of your life, you’ll be under stress because you know that person can walk out of your life or even die. Knowing your center isn’t secure brings constant stress.

So what’s at the center of your life? If it’s the stock market, your grandchildren, or your dating life—something other than Jesus—you’ll be stressed. But if Jesus is at the center, you’ll be blessed.  

The choice is yours: Are you going to live a life that is self-centered or God-centered? Make the decision today.

Talk It Over

  • What do you think about the most? What does that say about your priorities?
  • Why do you think you bounce back faster from adversity when your life is centered on Jesus?
  • If you were to live a God-centered life, what changes do you think people would notice in you?

Will you follow Jesus today?

God proved his goodness through his Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 CSB).

Are you ready to trust God to fulfill his promise of eternal life? If so, pray this simple prayer: "Dear God, I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen."

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


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