Enough?

Listening to another sermon this morning.

Another challenge.

Do you (I) have enough of God?

Now, before you answer that with what you percieve to be the obvious answer, really be honest with yourself.

Do your actions, thoughtlife, daily focus, what you do with your spare time, line up with your answer?
If you (at least initially) answered, as I expect most Christians would answer, "Of course not, no one can ever have enough of God", then what are you willing to do in order to have 'more' of God?

Jesus tells a short story (parable) of a man who discovers a treasure.....

Matthew 13:44


44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Are you willing to 'sell out'?   Give everything up in order to have the treasure that is God?

Or do you look at Jesus then look at your 'stuff' and think......"I'm OK, I have enough of Jesus"?  (Well, maybe not in those words, but....)

BTW...."selling out" is not about what you DO, not about 'works'.  It is not "I go to church instead of watching football" or "I get up early to go to prayer meeting".

What IS it about?

I don't pretend to know for sure, because MY actions are very often those of a person who has  'enough' of God in my life.

Here is another question.......Are you lukewarm?  (Christianese vernacular here)  Most Christians are familiar with the letter to the church of Laodacia recorded in Revelation chapter 3 in which God says that He is going to puke (OK, spit or spew) these Christians out of his mouth because they are neither hot nor cold.  And what made them that way?  Vs 17 says "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’     I know most of us can think of 10 things that we 'need'....but really, here in North America we don't NEED anything that we don't have.  Our needs are met - if not by our personal income, then by the social net that protects us.  We are rich.   We don't see our need for God. 


Yet, many of us (and I have been one, if I'm honest) are content to be lukewarm. 

In fact, we prefer to be lukewarm. 

Especially in Canadian culture - after all, who wants to be percieved as a 'fanatic'?

(Sidenote:  A preacher that came to our church once years and years ago offered this deffinition of a 'fanatic' that has stuck with me and convicted me a thousand times since then......"A fanatic is:  someone who loves Jesus more than you do" 

Ouch.)

Back on track to 'wanting to be lukewarm'......of course, we'd never put it that way, but I've been thinking..... as long as I prefer to watch certain movies or shows over steering away from them, I am choosing to be lukewarm.

The end of the letter to Laodacia, however, is FULL of promise........those that overcome (live a 'sold out', fanatical, HOT life) will sit with God on His throne.  The same throne before which the 24 elders constantly sing "Holy, Holy, Holy"  The same throne surrounded by a hundred million angels worshipping before the throne.  

I've kind of rambled here, and most of what I've said is just 'regurgated' from the sermon by Francis Chan - which you can watch/listen to at this link.

Let me close with this song which I was reminded of as I listened to the sermon.......

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

You can listen to this song performed by Sheri Easter and Ann Downing at this link