Not born a Kennedy or Bush or Kardashian? That's OK- Just Pursue and Do

Today...I am thinking about a highly misrepresented word...

“That word you keep on using, I do not think it means what you think it means,” this is one of my favorite quotes from “The Princess Bride.”

There was a word stirring in my spirit as I prayed this morning, and I do not think it means what most people think it means:

Equality.

Equality, unfortunately, does not mean fairness.

Why wasn’t I born a Kennedy or at least a Kardashian?

I was born the same way the children in the Kennedy family or Bush family or even the Kardashian family were born. We were born with the gift of life from God. We were all born upside down and naked J …..we all came through the lives of our parents. Yet they have a whole lot more money and influence than I do. That really doesn’t seem fair, does it?

God creates each person with unique gifts and abilities. I have mine. You have yours. Venus and Serena Williams have theirs. Why do Venus and Serena make so much more money than I do? I work hard. I work every day. I’ve been developing my abilities for the last 30 years….and I’ve yet to earn over $30 million dollars! That just doesn’t seem fair.

Even in the body of Christ, we are all equal. Each believer in Jesus has Resurrection power on the inside. Every one has a role to play, and the blessings of God are available to all. If we’re all equal, why then, did you watch Joyce Meyer and T.D. Jakes on TV this morning and not me? That just does not seem fair!

All Men (and Women) are Created Equal

The brave men who penned the Declaration of Independence wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..”

The founding fathers were people. They weren’t perfect. They were, however, men of conviction, and the basis of most of their convictions came from a belief in God.

God is a God of righteousness, justice, and equality. God gives every baby born the gift of life. Every one. God gives every baby of every race, tribe and tongue the gift of freedom of choice. Everyone can choose to serve God or not. Those who choose God through Jesus Christ will go to heaven. Those who do not will end up in hell. Is that fair? Yes, it is, because every person is given the choice. (I believe every person will one way or another have the opportunity to choose Jesus, even in the darkest corners of the world… “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20)

Obviously not a Kennedy or Bush or even a Kardashian, but still pursuing happiness!

The Right to Pursue

The Declaration of Independence states that God gives every American, regardless of race, social status, or background the right to pursue his/her God-given gifts, which will result in life-long happiness.

There is a pursuit required.

·      Everyone isn’t born into the Venus and Serena Williams family.

·      Everyone isn’t born with the talent of professional athletes.

·      Everyone isn’t born with the same amount of money in a Trust fund as the Kennedy children or Bush children or Kardashian children.

·      Everyone isn’t born with the doors of opportunity wide open. Some people have to knock on door after door; or maybe even knock a few doors down…..

That seems downright wrong and unjust.

The writers of the Declaration of Independence held that everyone is born with the freedom to pursue happiness.

I never pursued being a professional athlete like the Williams sisters, therefore I am not partaking in the financial prosperity that they have honestly earned.

My parents didn’t pursue political positions of power and influence, so I wasn’t born into a family like the Kennedys or Bushes. They didn't sign up to become a reality series, so I don't have the fame of a Kardashian.

I haven’t pursued having a world-wide TV ministry like Joyce Meyer and T.D. Jakes….so they have one…and I don’t.

I Love Our Country, but it is far from Perfect

The system of freedom of pursuit in America is no doubt, the best in the world, and yet, it is still flawed. There is no perfect man-made system! Stop expecting it to be perfect! If you want a perfect system, get serious about God’s system, also known as, “The Kingdom of God.”

In the Kingdom of God-

·      Everyone can participate in His system of sowing and reaping.

·      Everyone can participate in giving to others.

·      Everyone can choose to speak words of life instead of words that kill.

·      Everyone can choose to operate in love and forgiveness.

·      Everyone can trust God to take him/her to higher levels than any man could ever provide.

Are your rights to the Pursuit of Happiness Unalienable or Inalienable?

Equality-all people are created equal…with certain unalienable rights….

Have you quoted this incorrectly? Many people say “inalienable.”

There is a difference.

"Unalienable: incapable of being alienated, that is, sold and transferred." (Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, page 1523)

Inalienable rights: Rights which are not capable of being surrendered or transferred without the consent of the one possessing such rights. (Morrison v. State, Mo. App., 252 S.W.2d 97, 101.)

It seems to me that we have confused our rights as Americans and as Christians. We have forgotten that we have unalienable rights, not inalienable rights. A lot of people are willing to “surrender” their rights of free choice to some big group or the government, even…hoping that will bring them their long sought happiness.

God gives you the right to pursue whatever is in your heart. Don’t let the voice of some preacher, professor, politician, or media guru tell you that you can’t achieve happiness because you weren’t born into the right family; you don’t have the right connections, or you are from the wrong neighborhood.

God gives you the right to pursue it. That doesn’t mean that you try something once, and if it’s difficult, you just throw up your hands and say, “The world is against me. I wasn’t born a Kennedy, or a Bush, or a Kardashian, so nothing good will ever happen for me.”

I’ve Seen Some Very Unfair Things in Life

Life isn’t fair. Period.

I’ve seen some very unfair things in life….very, very unfair…

Those to whom the unfairness was wrought had to choose to either let that unfairness embitter them for the rest of their lives or allow it to spur them on to pray more fervently, give more generously, forgive more liberally, and work more vigorously in pursuit of their happiness….in pursuit of their God-given dream.

God doesn’t intend for us all to have the same amount of money.

God doesn’t intend for us all to do the same kind of work.

God doesn’t intend for us all to look to some big group or government to bring us happiness.

Look to God, not to a Group or to a Government.

God longs to be the source of your joy.

God says, "I want to be your all-in-all."

God intends for you to seek Him.

God wants you to depend on Him.

Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7 NLT)

God will show you what He has brought you into this earth to do. You don't need permission from any group or politician to be who God created you to be.

Pray, set goals, work, believe God, give, believe God, and believe some more. 

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV)

Whatever it is-Get with God-Listen to Him-Trust Him! YOU CAN!

PURSUE it and DO IT!

If this blog encouraged you, please share it today! I'll blog you next week, in the meantime.... do something each day to pursue your happiness by following God's plans....