Skip to main content

"He wanted all the benefits without any of the commitment."

A thought by Mark Batterson, (2013-09-24) from his book, All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life (Kindle Location 780). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

That is so true in so many areas of our lives. 

We want all the benefits that our job gives us but we don’t make an all-out effort to do what needs to be done.  I mean if they ever asked us to work on Saturday we would tell them, “That isn’t fair.”   We expect them to sacrifice but not me.

What about being in a relationship?  So many want the benefits without the commitment.  If you really loved me you would give me this but no way do I want to get married. 

What about church?  I love the pastor and his sermons.  The music is great.  I love our building but, no way do I want to become a member or tithe, or serve.  I want the benefits but not the commitment.

What about friendships?  We want them to jump whenever we need them but what if they are having struggles and they need us.   

There are so many areas that this can be said but the main one is in my relationship with Christ.  I want the benefits that He gives me, forgives my sin, gives me grace, protection, health but no way do I want to go all in.  That is too much.  It seems for us it is all one sided but the reality is that is what He demands and one day we will suffer the consequences of benefits with no commitment.

Why not start today? 

Comments

  1. Thank you for this thought. It is very convicting, especially is regards to my job. I pray to the Lord for more security regarding finances, and then when it comes to my job I just want to be lazy and not work hard. But I need to commit to working hard at whatever it may be, because Christ calls us to do so.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...

“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...

“The gospel is good news, not good advice.”

A thought by Timothy Keller (2016-10-25) from his book, Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ (p. 21). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I’m glad you stopped to catch a glimpse of what this thought really means. Tim says, “Advice is counsel about what you must do. News is a report about what has already been done. Advice urges you to make something happen. News urges you to recognize something that has already happened and to respond to it. Advice says it is all up to you to act. News says someone else has acted.” He then gives an illustration, “Let’s say there is an invading army coming toward a town. What that town needs is military advisers; it needs advice. Someone should explain that the earthworks and trenches should go over there, the marksmen go up there, and the tanks must go down there.”   That’s advice He goes on, “However, if a great king has intercepted and ...