Since money is essential for living, this sphere has a major influence on our decisions, both short and long-term. The choices we make often depend on our financial capacity. If we run a business, our decisions will be guided by what we can afford.

I must point out that each of these spheres is interconnected. The way our family thinks and acts is influenced by education, culture, and beliefs.

Therefore, we must recognize the different types of spheres and understand that they are interdependent entities. Moreover, they exist within a unified system—our life. If you want to bring about positive change in your life, you must first admit that you cannot entirely ignore one or more of these spheres. You do not live in a vacuum. No matter what you do, you will encounter these spheres at some point.

However, you can limit their effects on your ability to fulfill your purpose by following the Word of the Lord. Every day, when you ask yourself how to accomplish what truly matters—pursuing your purpose—reflect on what might be holding you back.

Are you seeking acceptance from your surroundings? Does that mean reducing the time spent on your business or your job? Do you need advice from your loved ones? Evaluate your situation in the light of the knowledge you have accumulated. Also, seek solutions you may not have previously considered. Do not forget to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and remember that you will receive what you ask for when the Lord deems the time is right.

By learning to limit these influences, you can also learn to use them constructively. Once you have acknowledged these spheres, you must understand that they help keep you connected to the world. You are both an influencer and someone influenced by these spheres. Therefore, knowing these spheres can be beneficial in two ways:

When you’re on the right path: You can become an example, a role model for others. Share your experiences with your loved ones who see you growing as a person and child of God. Teach them what you know. Don’t keep your knowledge of God and His teachings to yourself. Not sharing it might prevent others from seeing the light and pursuing their own goals.

By mastering your spheres of influence, you can become a vessel to draw others closer to God. While it is important to pursue your own purpose, remember that you are on Earth to help others. You cannot simply care only for yourself—that would be selfish. However, be available to others only when you yourself are on the right path, for it is difficult to help others when you are struggling to help yourself.

It is therefore important to determine how you can help others in specific spheres of influence. We have established that you are as much a part of others’ spheres of influence as they are a part of yours. You don’t need to be a celebrity to make an impact. Even a positive influence on one person is a good deed. Evaluate your skills and see how they align with your purpose. If you want to grow while following the teachings of the Lord, you must be willing to help others through one or more spheres.

Perhaps you are an artist. If you excel in that area, you have the unique opportunity to write about the Lord, His teachings, and their impact on your life. This allows you to share complex ideas in a simple way that can touch many people.

“Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before obscure people.” (Proverbs 22:29)

If you are a politician, you can bring about meaningful change by integrating Jesus’ teachings into your political approach. This doesn’t mean restricting others’ freedoms, but acting in a way that promotes peace and inclusion. We must remember that the Lord asks us to accept others, regardless of what society thinks of them. Jesus, the Savior of all, performed humble acts such as washing the feet of marginalized individuals. He showed them God’s unconditional love.

“Peter and the apostles replied: We must obey God rather than human beings.” (Acts 5:29)

So, no matter what society thinks, what matters is what God asks us to do: love everyone, even our enemies.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

We must rise above conflict. If someone uses or despises us, it is in our best interest to wish them well and move on. Through your kindness, you may influence that person and calm their anger.

Knowing your areas of excellence also helps you adjust your expectations. You realize you have a unique mission in this world, which automatically reduces comparisons. Comparisons often give rise to unnecessary desires and feelings of jealousy toward others’ success.

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:16)

Jealousy therefore leads to further problems. It negatively influences us so that instead of helping others, we try to elevate ourselves. We forget to be humble, trying to inflate our ego and rise above everyone else, which reduces our chances of drawing closer to God. We go in the opposite direction, and that’s not what the Lord wants.

Let us also remember that jealousy leads to hypocrisy. We may pretend to be good children of the Lord, but act with selfish motives. Yet if we are to fulfill our purpose while remaining aligned with Jesus’ teachings, we cannot be selfish. We may want to do things that benefit us personally, but Jesus warned us:

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

We must first set our intentions straight and admit that jealousy is just a way of trying to be better than others. In addition to corrupting our intentions, hypocrisy prevents us from being honest with ourselves. If we do good only to show others that we’re better than them, we are not good people—we are liars, to ourselves and to others.

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:20)

Here, we can understand the word “brother” as meaning all the people we encounter. To love God means to also love His children.

The second type of help you can benefit from is identifying your limitations—the things that hold you back—so you can remove them from your life. You can also write down what troubles you in order to identify your problems. Writing also helps you not forget anything, because once it’s written, you can tackle each issue one by one. When you’re worried, remember not to let the worry take over. If your business and finances are struggling, it’s easy to fear lacking food, clothing, or money to pay the bills.

That’s exactly when you need to remember that the Lord told us He provides for our needs, just as He provides for all other living creatures on Earth. If we cannot take care of ourselves, our Heavenly Father will take care of us.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

Look at the examples around us. There are so many living beings besides humans on Earth. And all of these creatures also need food and shelter. Yet again, God provides for their needs. The sun rises each day to light our world and provide food to the plants that feed other living beings.

“If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30)

Therefore, we must maintain strong and steadfast faith. It is our faith, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and our determination to succeed—for our own good and for the good of others—that will allow us to prevail.

In pursuing all these goals, we must be clear about what we are trying to accomplish. If we feel the spheres of influence in our life are leading us in a different direction, we must remember what Jesus told us:

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

Thus, we must make the conscious decision to follow the Lord’s teachings, even when our thoughts try to lead us away. Remember that the path you follow will have obstacles and difficulties. It is in those moments that you must remind yourself that you serve the Lord, and if you serve the Lord, what He says comes first.

Of course, I’m not saying we should never question our understanding of His teachings. As human beings, we will never fully understand them. So, questioning our own ideas can help us reassess our knowledge and lead us toward deeper understanding.

Seeing critically how we follow the Lord helps us stay confidently on the right path. It helps us gain clarity of mind and take appropriate actions.

This text is an excerpt from the book “HEAVEN’S SECRET” written by GUERRICK MAKENGO.

We invite you to read the next article: “Suffering: A Choice in the Face of the Inevitable.”