First, to find out if you are a loser, we have to define
what the word ‘loser’ means. This is my definition: ‘A loser is a person who ‘habitually’ exchanges something
of worth for something of lesser value’. Simple, right? 'One who continually
comes up short on a trade.'
Being a loser does not just happen in cards or cars, houses and games
of Monopoly. Our society is sick with losers; people who have traded family life
for the night life. People who have given up their wives and children for more time to party and play
ball and have fun. People who are preoccupied with fantasies of being rich, famous,
powerful,
popular or pretty. Meanwhile their children grow up and move out of their lives and eventually their
hearts.
My bone is with those who's values and decision making are inconsiderate
of what is truly important in life. In my mind the dead beat dad is not much worse than
the workaholic husband who never reads to his kids. The result is often the same-
disconnected kids who's values tend to be less on family, less on community, less sympathetic of the
needs of others, but more and
more narcissistic and hedonistic.
What happens when the losers children are “habitually” exampled and
fed a diet of "me, myself and I"? And what happens when losers
start mating with other losers!? Materialism and self become the religion
of the land, and money becomes their god.
There are many ways to become a loser. Some ways drive one to
moral bankruptcy very soon. Some ways take a while to come to rotten fruition.
Cheating on your spouse; even just flirting with the neighbors wife! (Flirting with the neighbors wife trades away personal, inner integrity,
while reinforcing fantasies in that lady) Lying to help yourself; Venting
in anger. In fact, anything that gives short term satisfaction at
the sacrifice of things valuable.
"Fun" is a huge problem for many losers. Many sell their souls for fun.
We can travel the world 'for' fun. Get into debt for fun. Choose not to have children for 'fun'.
It can become the whole pivot point and decision maker of our lives- "But is it fun?"; "Will I have fun?";
"But it is not fun"; "we wont have fun anymore". Of course there is no way of proving the following,
but I would guess that the present generation used the word fun more than any generation proceeding
it.
So, are you a loser? Check yourself out with this test: First make a
list of everything that is truly important in life. (You might have to check motives here, or
you may be so far gone you don't know what should be a priority
) Second, make a list of anything that may, in any way, and in your life,
try to undermine what is on the first list. If you are continually trading
those things, then you are a loser, like Essau who sold his birthright.
If you are not, but are holding to what is right, and to what is important,
regardless of the opposition of your foolish inner desires, Then you
are a winner!
Mt. 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my
sake shall find it.
HOME
BACK TO TOP