Human beings are double-minded. There is no other way to explain how we long for something eternal, but try to fill that longing with something temporary. Endless books, television programs, movies, music, internet sites, electronics and the pursuit of other pleasures (material and physical) pull at each of us every day for our attention. We not only freely give ourselves over to these things, but we do so without thought of consequence. These things by themselves aren’t inherently evil or destructive, but the way in which we approach them and our actions regarding them can most definitely be both.
“… What shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
There are few Christians that set out thinking “how will I avoid God today” or “how can I spend my time today without God”, but yet it happens. Some of us go days without prayer, worship, thanksgiving or praise being lifted up to Him. It seems as if we want to identify God as just another thing or item we can come back to when the mood hits. It would seem we have failed to realize God is not a thing, but instead is the Supreme Being who is the Creator of all. How is it that we Christians have become so flippant about His very nature? Where is the reverence? Where is the acknowledgement that all life is sustained by Him? Where is the desperation to be with Him, walk with Him, and talk with Him?
I am angered not only at the Christian community, but also with myself for allowing so much of my time to go unchecked. “The lusts that captivate us and the thirst for unbridled pleasure, success, or material things have certainly taken on far more importance to many people than any considerations of eternity” (David C. Egner). Just as with any relationship, the quality time spent with the other individual is what allows for continued growth and closeness. No relationship can flourish or be nourished by spending only 2 or 3 hours a week with the individual—church on Sunday. For those Christians that don’t even attend regular worship service, I shudder to think of when their time with God comes. I truly believe that we sometimes forget we are not promised any more than this moment. Moments through which we can choose to spend time filling our longings with an eternal God or filling our longings with distractions. To think of these things as anything other than a distraction is to not take seriously the consequences of the amount of time some of us give to each.
When we fill every second of our time with worldly distractions, the consequence is a life lived without God. He doesn’t need us…He wants us. The Creator of all life wants to be in a relationship with each of us. He wants to spend time with each of us, to develop us into wholeness and completion. This requires openness on our part, openness of mind, heart and time. If the distractions of this world are preventing you from daily quality time with God, please reconsider the amount of time you devote to each. “It’s not worth the cost of your eternal soul” (David Egner).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Oh really??? Nah, I'm just kidding. I think it's beautiful that someone can be so conscious of how she spends her time that she sees the meaningful things she neglects. We waste more time than we need to and had we devoted that time to what matters(God), we would all have better relationships with him & our lives would be that much more complete. I agree with you with a certain amount of conviction. This is something I think we can all apply to our lives daily & end up with a better position eternally. Thanks for posting this:)
Post a Comment