Man's problem is that he doesn't know what God's order is so he invents one and expects to do well.

"Study, work, get married, have children, make money and you will be happy" In that order, or it may have some variations, but we were all told something similar when we were young.

In my beautiful calling as a pastor, those who approach me in search of answers to so many questions, have concerns, needs or doubts about the requirements of the order to be happy. They tell me "I studied, I worked, I got married, I have children, I go to church, I have money, but my house is in disorder, I suffer from anxiety, depression, or one of my children suffers from this, I do not like my work and what I do, I know it is wrong, I am not happy, there is no happiness in my home, in my life" Not all together, these are some of the ones I hear.

"And whatsoever ye do, do all things heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, because ye serve Christ the Lord" Colossians 3:23-24.

What does "Do all things as unto the Lord" means? It means that everything we do glorify God, not that we do it in his name, because even Christ himself was crucified by the Pharisees in the name of God.

Man's confusion is that he does not really know what the order is, because he does it from his needs and not from God's plan. We say we believe in God but we do not base our actions on his word.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." S. John 13:34-35

God's plan starts from my neighbor not from me. "What is best for me, what I want, what I seek" is the repeated phrase that goes against God's plan, we cannot expect the promises to be fulfilled in my life.

If this order is broken, our life will not have order, because this is God's order.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" S. Matthew 16:24.

Difficult, complicated, impossible, ask Judas who even while walking with Christ preferred to give Him up than to love Him, and all for thirty pieces of silver. There are not enough coins to buy the love of Christ.

Christ gave himself, suffered, bled and died for each one of us, without asking for much we have sold ourselves for a few coins. We want God's promises but we find it hard to give up our wealth, our money, our pride, my, my, my, my.

Christ has a way of giving order to our lives, giving us life in abundance, taking us to places that eye did not see; that we must do, renounce ourselves and put our neighbor first.

Live God's order, the order of eternal life, the order of the all-creator, the all-powerful, a great gift that Christ has already paid for you.

God bless you!