In part I of this blog post, I was discussing how we're inclined to settle for less than the best. I touched on some areas we may settle: our work, our love, our faith...and yet, sadly, there are more...
Some of us settle in our physical bodies, knowing we need to take better care of ourselves yet postponing the doctor visit, the daily walk or gym visit, or perhaps the (gasp) diet! We fall for the same lies: "It is too late to change" "I don't have the discipline." "This is just how I am." Perhaps too, we settle with our minds. (Yes, the mind is part of the physical so I am including it here!) Mark Twain said something along the lines of "I finished my schooling and began my education." Are you still learning, if not, perhaps you are settling on your (very limited) knowledge!
Still others settle in our character, taking the example of leaders who follow a different god: money, power, fame, influence, success or simply taking the path of least resistance whenever we can. Perhaps we let our outside appearance (especially easy for those of us who are young) carry us and we don't bother to develop the internal traits that will be most meaningful when beauty fades and life takes courage. Even if we are regulars at the gym, if we do not strengthen our character, we will fall when faced with the slightest temptation or difficulty: a job opportunity too good to be true, a movie, book, or internet site we've no business watching, reading, or viewing, the attention of an attractive coworker who belongs to someone else (or any coworker to you marrieds reading this!). And not only into temptation will we fall. To reverse scripture slightly (Rom. 5, 3-4) a lack of character could be assumed to result from a lack of testing, suffering and perseverance-if we avoid tests and trials we may never develop character! Without sufficient depth of character (necessarily including patience!)a traffic jam delay or flat tire can push you over the edge. How then, to weather a layoff, breakup, loss of a loved one, or bad health diagnosis? I could probably write an entire posting just on character...and still not more than scrape the surface!
...But all of this writing of ways that we/I settle is kind of discouraging and hardly seems the way to launch into the new year. Granted, scripture tells us that "God's mercies are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:21-23)so all the hype of the New Year is mostly just fluff, but as I was saying...
Many Christians get it wrong when they talk about being content and not complaining. Not that those are wrong attitudes: scripture is clear that we are to do all things without complaining (Philippians 2:14)and being content in God's Love and provision, no matter whether or not you get everything you want! Yet, where they go wrong is when they mistake being content and not complaining with settling instead of responding to a God-given yearning. They instead, as C. S. Lewis writes, busy themselves with happily making mud pies when God has far greater plans for their lives!
Jesus did not settle and was not too easily satisfied. The gospel writers don't say much about his carpentry but can you image the creator of the Universe doing shoddy work "just to meet a deadline" or "turn a profit." He loved even those who betrayed him to death and denied him in his time of need. He wept at the death of a friend-a friend he would bring back to life. His faith was shown in his willingness to do the will of the Father-even when that meant torture and death on a cross. He healed broken hearts, bodies, and families. He provided food to the hungry. His character did not change according to the audience. He did not tell people what they wanted to hear to edify himself or gain their approval. He challenged the religious leaders who tried to make themselves like God in outward action rather than growing hearts with His character. He acknowledged the outcasts in spite of the disproving eyes and words of others and he broke the legalistic conventions of man. He was hated and yet He loved.
In John 14:12 Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." Are you settling while your heart yearns for something more? I recall the oft-quoted words of C. S. Lewis: "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." Quite frankly, this world will never fully satisfy us but to have a life well-lived, I believe it is impossible to avoid the following question: Where am I settling that God has more for me on this earth? If you don't know, perhaps that is the most important question to ask Him!
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