What Kind of Life Do You Want?
I recently read this observation about today’s society: “Modern society wants entertainment instead of enrichment and a 'good time' rather than a 'good life.” Sadly, we see this played out in many people's lives, and none of us are immune to the temptation to want the same.
Instead of being spiritually enriched, many only want to be carnally entertained. Many are not interested in whether or not they are living a good life. Their priority is only to experience what they style “a good time!”
Hedonism is defined as “The self-indulgent pursuit of pleasure as a way of life.” The pursuit of pleasure and entertainment predominates the lives of many people. Having a good time has become the avenue of happiness for some. It doesn’t mean that I think all entertainment is wrong, happiness is wrong, or having the right kind of good time is wrong. The truth is that clean entertainment isn’t wrong and even has some value. Helen Keller said, “Many persons have a wrong idea about what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Thus, having a “good time” is not wrong as long as we don’t have to become less than good to have it!
We must acknowledge that it is foolish and short-sighted to be so caught up in momentary gratifications that we forget what is important in life. Serving the Lord is where true meaning and purpose in life are found. Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Knowing that one has forgiveness of sins, access to God in prayer, God’s Word for our daily guidance (Psalms 119: 105), spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), and encouragement of faithful people of God, we can have life in its fullness in this life with the hope of eternal life in Heaven with God after a while (Titus 1:3; 2:11-14).
What kind of life do you want? The choice is yours. Think on these things.
- - - - Dennis Abernathy – White Oak church of Christ
I don’t know the brother who wrote the above article, but I am in total agreement with his assessment of the type of lives some choose to live. Some Christians seem to forget that they made commitment to God when they obeyed the gospel. The choice they made was to forsake the things of the world, and cling to God and His Word. The Holy Spirit had the beloved apostle pen it this way in 1John 2:15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. This means that the Christian is to learn the Word, rightly divide it, and apply it in their lives on a daily basis. Could it be that some forget the admonition found in Jas. 4:8? It reads: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Perhaps some Christians fail to realize that God is not “close to them” because they are not close to Him.
Christ also warned of the fallacy of ‘divided loyalty’. This is when one is “straddling the fence”, or trying to follow God and also embracing the things of the world. In that same Sermon on the Mount He said: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matt. 6:24). Jesus was telling the Jews of His day that they were to make a commitment to God or to the world and the things “of the world”. They could not ‘choose’ to serve both at the same time. Neither can faithful Christians have one foot in the world, and the other in the church, and be pleasing to God. The Lord called the ‘religious people’ of His day that tried this hypocrites. The Spirit had Paul write the brethren in Corinth and warn against being “unequally yoked” with unbelievers. Things that are in opposition one to another are not in agreement and are not to be in fellowship with each other. What did they need to do in accordance with 1Cor. 6:17 to be ‘received’ of God? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,.
Why do some people (including Christians) have trouble keeping the commitments they make? Could it be they need more constant reminders? The wedding ring on the left hand is a sign of the commitment each of the participants in the marriage made to each other. Is it not also a constant reminder of that commitment? It should be. It is always present and should be ample evidence for others that the wearer of the ring is committed to their spouse and is ‘off limits’ and unavailable.
God did not provide for or command the wearing of an article or piece of jewelry so others would know that they are Christians. Jesus taught the Jews of His day about the pending kingdom, the church, in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matt 7:20 He said: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Christians are not to be “known” as followers of Jesus by a crucifix on a chain about the neck or a ‘fish’ symbol on their vehicle. Others should know what kind of life the Christian wants by the choice he/she has made. This should be reflected daily in the lives that they live.
As Christians, are we “rooted and grounded in love”? (Eph. 3:17). Are we “grounded and settled” in the hope of the gospel? (Col. 1:23). Do we stand strong, always bearing the “whole armor of God”? (Eph. 6:11-17). If not, what kind of life have we chosen?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
