Earthly Pursuits or Eternal Life
Hello Saints,
The Olympics, the Super Bowl, Golf Tournaments, Nascar. Choose your flavor of entertainment and it’s at your fingertips. It’s hard to not get sucked into our favorite pass time. I’m as guilty as the next person for wasting hours in front of the television, drawn into the allure of vicariously experiencing victory through my favorite competitor or team. And then I feel lousy for wasting all that time that could have been spent on kingdom things, the things of God – like making disciples or ministering to someone in need. Just allow me to ramble on for a bit about this observation I struggle with, which I see in my own life and in many other Christians. Does anyone else struggle with this?
Number one, we spend so much time on “working out”, “getting in shape”, chasing physical desires to look better and feel better. The diets, the gym, the training, the time. Does it have value? Sure. Some. We are convinced that “my body is the temple of Holy Spirit” so I have to look after the temple. In the twinkling of an eye, that temple gets a virus, a disease, an injury and then it’s unable to do that which we want it to do. In a moment, we realize that this flesh we drag around to cloak the Divine inside of us needs to shift and find a new way to be productive for God, if we are indeed living for God – everything we do should be for His glory, not our own. Paul writes to Timothy, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1Tim 4:8). If godliness has greater value and benefit than exercise, how much time and energy do we devote to becoming more like God? See, Paul nails it! My focus should be on the life to come which lasts forever, not so much on this life which is incredibly short in comparison. Big muscles and fast running have no eternal value, nor does wasting time on earthly and fleshly pursuits. I remember being young once and striving for a healthy, strong body and coveting what someone else has and can do. I look back and realize what an aimless activity that was. Paul tells young Timothy, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2Tim. 2:22). Oh, for a chance to tell a younger me what I know now. What am I spending my time on? “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16). Lord Help me use my time for your glory and kingdom purposes, not my own!
Number two, does anyone else struggle with the amount of money that is spent on sports, professional sports, the exercise industry, the “looking good” industry, the health industry, gym memberships, athletic apparel, personal trainers? Billions and Billions and Trillions, yet we don’t have money to help a nation whose people are starving, or our neighbor who is “down on his luck”. These sports events are money-generating machines. An average seat cost over $5000 at the Super Bowl, plus travel and lodging. Sadly, many churches have given into the consumeristic spirit spending exorbitant amounts to draw crowds into the “big show”. Money, money, money! Available for all kinds of pursuits, yet many Christian ministries struggle to get the funds to do what they sense God leading them to do. There is never a lack in the kingdom of God, but when the people who claim to be in the kingdom allocate their resources to fleshly pursuits, something has to give. Again, Paul cautions Timothy, this time about the dangers of pursuing money (1Tim. 6:7-10). And again, he gives a very similar exhortation as that above, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1Tim 6:11-12). Lord, help me use my finances for your glory and kingdom purposes, not my own.
I wrestle, I lament, I ask for forgiveness, I repent. I want all that I am and all that I have to be for Jesus. Twice I am commanded by Paul to “flee”. Lord, give me the ability to run in my heart, away from the things it desires. May all my time and all my riches be used for your glory, for they are from You and for You. All to Jesus I surrender.
“Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life.” (1Tim. 6:17-19 NLT)
Peace,
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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