Leaning on Jesus or Loitering?

The other day I had a talk with a customer and the conversation turned to the world today. I said that I am leaning on Christ and without Him I would be in complete despair. They agreed, and we moved on in conversation. 

However, that caused me some introspection.

Then yesterday in the shower I went to use the shower curtain rod to hold my balance as I washed my lower leg. Immediately I realized my foolishness in choice of support, even though I barely gripped it.

Somehow in my mind I thought of leaning vs loitering. I do my best thinking in the shower.

Leaning means to rest against or upon something for support.

Loitering means to linger aimlessly or as if aimless in or about a place, to pass time in an idle or useless manner.

Leaning on Christ is a positive. It means we are resting on Him for strength, for support, for rest.

It implies that we are struggling, fighting, working for Him.

Loitering in Christ is a negative. It means we are standing in His name yet doing nothing for Him.

It implies that we are doing nothing to further His work, His name. We are merely using His name, His reputation to further our own inanities.

 

The question that is derived from this line of thought is this - are you loitering? Using Christ and His church for your own purpose or prestige? Are you playing games with "religion" or are you truly walking with Christ, leaning on Him as you travel through this life?

In Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira played games, used the church to say look at me and what I am doing. They loitered. They died.

However in Acts 18 we have Priscilla and Aquila who leaned on Christ. They worked with Paul, taught Apollo and set a timeless example. They live on in History as they leaned on Christ.

The question can only be answered by you. 

Introspection ,as painful as it is, is necessary time to time. Just be certain that as you look inside and view it in the mirror, that your mirror is the Word of God and not man's standards.

Find the certainty that you are in Christ first, for that is the only way you can be leaning on Him.

Then examine your heart, is it selfless? Is it sincere and genuine in His Work and Will? Out of the heart comes all deceitful things.

Lastly, examine your walk. Does it follow Him?  Are you showing your faith by your works? Are you walking in Christ's footsteps?

Are you leaning?