Do you prefer things that are mass produced and sold in stores, or things that are home-made? There are valid arguments for both. Do you receive an adequate amount of honor? Are you recognized and appreciated for the things you do? Does anyone think they get too much of this? Yet it comes with a price. Those who admire you hold influence over you, for you will seek to please them, and they will affect your direction. But honor is something you can create for yourself, by your own character and conduct, whether or not anyone else approves or even notices.

Do you have a desire to improve? Are you aware of the areas in your life where improvement is necessary? Do you engage in the activities that will bring about the changes you desire? Do you engage in regular practices of your faith? Do you see a cause and effect connection of improvement in yourself because of these activities or even a correlation? There is a direct linkage between study and acquiring knowledge, but this linkage is less obvious when it comes to acquiring character traits. This is still  a worthwhile question to ponder.

Have you ever heard anyone say, ‘we take care of our own’? This is a positive sentiment in that it implies both group solidarity and compassion. It implies commitment to  those who are in the same group. How large is your group? Smaller groups tend to be more tight-knit. Can you maintain group solidarity in a multitude? A similar question was posed to me:  who is my neighbor? The story of the Good Samaritan I told in response implied that the concept of a neighbor transcended the normal concept of group solidarity.

Are you committed to following my example? I had disciples of my own and told my followers to make disciples of all men. So do you have disciples of your own? It would be easy to say that any who would be yours are really mine, but that doesn’t make the question go away, because you are part of the equation. Do you exercise the gift I have given you? Do you mentor those with similar gifting so that they may carry on when you are gone? You believe in something greater than yourself. You can create a legacy that will endure in those you disciple to follow me by following you.