Ashton Kutcher and a Reality Check



  So, a few months ago an actor named (Chris) Ashton Kutcher won an award at the Teen Choice Awards and after winning that award he gave a nice little speech to the teens who had voted to give him that award.  The speech was basically three pieces of advice.  His advice, however, was so "not your typical Hollywood" advice that it caught a lot of attention.

The first piece of advice was simply that in order to get ahead in life you have to work hard.  Don't be lazy and expect good things to fall into your lap.

Second, it is better to be smart, thoughtful, and generous than to be "sexy".

(Thus far I pretty much agree.  Hard work and generosity, who can argue with that?  But number three took things off the deep end.)

Third: "And you can build your own thing, you can build your own life that other people can live in. So build a life – don’t live one, build one – find your opportunity, and always be sexy."  Build a life that other people can live in.

I have heard this sort of thing from him before, so I think what he means by this is that you can create your own reality.  You can dictate the rules by which you, and the people around you, function.

But that is b-o-l-o-g-n-a.  You cannot build a life from nothing.  You cannot create your own reality.  Reality is a fixed things.  The laws by which it is governed are not yours.  They are God's.  Unless He changes His mind the rules stay the same.

This is part of the problem with the world.  Everyone wants to make up their own rules.  They want to live according to their own desires, to do what is right in their own eyes, and not what is right in God's eyes.  And it is making everyone miserable.

You cannot create your own reality.  You are not God, as much as you may like to believe you are.  You can, however, find your spot inside God's created order and delight in it. 

You can see the reality that God has established and revel in its beauty.

You can see that you are not living in God's reality, but rather rebelling against it. 

You can repent, receive the forgiveness that comes from the reality of Jesus' death and resurrection, and rejoice.     

You can see the cross and empty tomb as the center of all reality, as the center of a life that God has built, and live your life around that.  That is a third point worth remembering.

Comments

  1. I'd just like to comment on celebrities and professional athletes offering guidance and advice to children or adults, or farm animals for that matter. It's easy for any of us to be enamored with their looks, wealth, and their particular talent. But, at the end of the day, the only person who receives any lasting benefit from their works is themselves. And as complete strangers, the only thing they should be offering your child guidance on is their skill. It's fine for your child to admire their talent. But as role models, expect failure. I believe a parent should direct their children's attention to the more modest, honorable, and tangible behavior of people in their community: volunteers, good neighbors, hard workers, the charitable - and not to mention the traditional obvious such as soldiers, firemen, policemen, teachers, and, of course, pastors. Point out the respectable works, deeds, and lifestyles of the people you know, in the community you know. You and your child are much less likely to be shocked or disappointed.

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