We live in such a me-centered world. Everything is about the individual. Instant gratification is at our fingertips. We want things "now", and rarely are we willing to wait. We have high-speed Internet, call ahead seating at certain chain restaurants, express check-out at grocery stores, instant texting and express oil changes. We even have the capability to pay all our bills and do all our banking with one single click. The self-centered world that we live in is saturated with me-thinking that wants little to do with waiting and patience...the very things that Jesus modeled and wants in the life of His followers. We'll cheat everything else, but we don't like to be cheated. No one will cheat the almighty "ME". No way.
It brings me back to the book that I read a couple of years ago, "Choosing to Cheat" (which I've referred to in an earlier blog). When the most important collides with the less important, who or what wins? I work with high school students in my church and often times I find myself disturbed by the very things that students end up cheating. What's amazing is that there are some parents that aren't bothered by this "cheating". What I'm referring to is an ever increasing love for the things that really don't matter in the whole scheme of things and a lack of love for those things that will draw a student closer to the heart of God. Our high school sport culture is immersed in practice and winning so much that it has led to some students living unbalanced lives. Parents often urge their students to take a higher level of classes so that they can "pad" their resume...often times at the expense of their own students spiritual potential. Students become so busy and consumed with grades that they have very little time to give to God and fostering that relationship with Him. This is cheating.
Many students will spend hours upon hours at a field or on a court and have a hard time giving 2-3 hours a week to their local church. Now, I do believe in incarnating the gospel and believe that students can best live out the gospel of Jesus in their local school. However, the church plays a crucial role in developing, training and motivating students to take "the next step" spiritually. Without this crucial and essential training, students are often left with simply an activity-filled life instead of a life filled with purpose, meaning and opportunity.
I know of a family who will only let their children play one sport a year. Interesting...they may be on to something. Instead of cheating God and His Church, these parents have said, "we'll cheat sports so that Jesus can have a more active part in our kids lives". It's paying off too. Their children love God! I know that I've yet to parent a teenager, but even now as my oldest is seven years old, I find Mandy and I having to make some tough decisions. I refuse to allow sports cheat God and His mission for our children. Sports, school, and extracurricular activities will be cheated so that me and my family can do all that we can to love God and live congruent lives before Him.
Sound impossible? It's not, but its definitely difficult. I need the help of God and the help of other Christ-followers who think like this to encourage me and urge me to not cheat God and His activity in my life and my family's. I really want to live like this. I want my children to be involved in their school, their community and their neighborhood, but balance must be achieved. God must not be cheated. No idols will be erected in my house.
How about you. Are you balanced? Are you cheating God? Chew on it...
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