The Problem With Fitting God Into My Life

“Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’” – Matthew 8:21

Have you ever worked with someone who was told what to do, but then did what they wanted to do instead with an expectation that the “boss” would accept their work? Maybe it is your children who are asked to clean their room and when you come back to check on their progress, they are watching TV or Snap-chatting with their friends – room still a disaster area. In a similar way, many Christians struggle with the same issue.  When the disciple – meaning one who followed Jesus – wanted to do what he felt was more important – something that compelled him more than following Jesus – Jesus answered – “Let the dead bury the dead.”

My point is that our flesh and its desires are strong.  Our old nature is always in contention with our new nature.  We want the benefits of being a child of God, but we want to define the rules. We have a difficult time fitting God and His desires into our lives and decisions.  We are willing to compromise what we know is right to satisfy what our flesh craves.  We might toss the “scraps” to God – maybe go to church on Sunday morning – or pray before we eat – but we forget what the preacher preached about or what the teacher taught before we get out of the church parking lot. Praying before we eat becomes a ritual rather than an acknowledgement of the Lord’s provision.  You don’t think so?  Why is it that we don’t pray when the waiter brings the chips or bread or appetizer, but only when the main course is served?  Why don’t we thank the Lord for the snack we enjoy while watching TV? There are things that we have relegated to “Christian”, fitting them into our normal life.  I mean, we don’t want to be thought of as fanatics do we?

“One of them, an expert in the law, tested him [Jesus] with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:35-39

If we are having a problem with finding room and time for God because we are just so busy – we have a love problem.  A big problem for men is the tension between work and family.  We have obligations for both. The challenge is finding the proper balance and not communicating to the family that you love your work more than them.  Even if the job requires a lot of time – and jobs often do – working hard to support your family is not a bad thing – but it can become a bad thing if it captures your heart.  That is what your wife fears.  The same goes for living our lives in this world and not letting the world “re-capture” our hearts.  To make time for God requires that we be intentional about our devotion to God. You will focus on what you love. It doesn’t matter what you say – what matters is what you do. Like with Peter, Jesus asks us, “Do you love Me? Then show Me don’t just talk about it.”