Saturday, April 28, 2012

One Up


Hebrews 13:8   “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
I’ve heard it say that the only thing that doesn’t change is the fact that everything changes … except the Lord. I had lunch with the Pastor of our church this week and in the course of our conversation, he told me that, in his twenties as the Youth Director of a large congregation with a youth program totaling over 300 kids, the hardest part of the job was trying to find a way to “one up” the previous week. There was this mentality then that each gathering of the teens had to be fresh and new, a little different and more exciting and fun than the last or else. This put quite a stressful challenge on the church staff to come up with innovative, modern and original entertaining activities with exuberance and pleasure that would bring them back and bring their friends. Christ and the gospel were taught, but the progressive “one up” production in the pursuit of happiness and holiness was demanding and exhausting because boredom was not an option. Pastor said that the real challenge was developing young men and women that loved, served and found contentment in the Lord and not spoiled children that worship “fun”. Question: How many times does the word “fun” appear in the Bible?
1 Timothy 6:6-8 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”
Is there a tendency today, a desire of the flesh for the latest and the greatest, the newest and most popular things in life? I remember taking a class back in Junior High School, where the teacher taught us about how capricious and covetous people in general tend to be and how the market plays on this mentality with constant change and fads. Beer comes to mind as an example. Do you remember the craze changed from the old standard brews to “Ice” beer to “Red” beer, to European beer, to Japanese beer, to Mexican beer, to “Micro-brewery” beer? What’s next? What’s new and how will they “one up” those? These beers are so 2011. We’re bored and no longer content again. And this is just one example!  We suffer from a form of “affluenza” - the prizing of endless increases fueled by existentialism that lead to feelings of dissatisfaction rather than experiences of a 'better life'. It would be funny, if it wasn’t so serious. Fix your eyes upon Jesus, who is the same (everything we need) yesterday, today and forever. Contentment is found in not other person, place or thing and no “one up” necessary! Count every day from the Lord a blessing!
Brian

6 comments:

child of God said...

Hi Brian,
Isn't that just what our society is like today? One up. A better cell phone, a quicker smart phone, a car that travels longer on the same amount of gas, and we are now even going towards a younger and better spouse.

Sad, so very sad.

Only the love of the Father can truly satisfy, yet it is too simple and many over look it. A true servants heart in selfless serving is the way to show the freedom in Christ and set free the love offered for all.

Thanks for sharing this story although it deeply saddens me, it will also push me into more heart felt prayer for the lost and that will include the lost Christians.

Blessings brother,
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Nancy said...

Very good Brian! And very true. Our society is always on the lookout for bigger and better things...we never want to look at ourselves, deep down inside, and see what is really missing....a relationsip with our God and Savior Jesus Christ!
Have a blessed day,
Nancy

Brian Ray Todd said...

Child of God, This latest in fashion fad business had has been around as long as I can remember. I thought of the cell phone craze also ... and so many others that the public falls pray to constantly. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. We've lost sight of that and of Him. All this "one up manship" is just a distraction from the truth. Fun things are not evil in and of themselves. We can have fun times, but when the pursuit of "Fun" becomes our chief end, that is idolatry and you can not have two Masters. Denying yourself, taking up your Cross daily and following Jesus is the right recipe to true love, true joy, true peace and true happiness for the child of God. Then, as you rightly stated: "A true servant's heart in selfless serving is the way to show the freedom in Christ and set free the love offered for and toward all." Thanks for the great comment.

Brian Ray Todd said...

Great point Nancy that "we never want to look at ourselves, deep down inside, and see what is really missing". Jim Mershon always prayed, "Lord, May my thoughts, words and deeds be pleasing in your sight." How much does righteousness truly mean to us? Do we take our relationship with our God and Savior Jesus Christ for granted and lightly? What do our thoughts, words and actions demonstrate and prove about our Christian walk? Who really is sitting on the throne of our hearts? "One up" could really mean "One down". Thanks for your thought-provoking comment.

Alice said...

I only wish to be content.

Proverbs 30:8-9

Brian Ray Todd said...

What a great Bible verse Ma. Proverbs 30:7-9 And then he prayed, "God, I'm asking for two things before I die; don't refuse me — Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence. Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little. If I'm too full, I might get independent, saying, 'God? Who needs him?' If I'm poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God." Contentment is what we all seek, but only truly found in our Lord and Provider. Thank you for the verse that each of us need to say.