Printer Friendly VersionThe words and music of “Never Gonna Let You Go”
can be heard in the background as the Michelin Man is inspecting tires from
the assembly line. The image is a little disturbing as his level of “love”
for his work is somewhat extreme. He seems to be almost “fondling”
the tires as the highly emotional song plays on. We giggle at his “obsession”
with Michelin tires and hope someday to be able to afford a set! It seems
a little extreme, but the impression is that obsession is required to produce
a safe product. One of the best-selling perfumes of all time bears the same
name. No, not Michelin . . . Obsession! Disturbing images of a deeply intertwined
relationship appear on the screen as “desperate” voices whisper
the product name. If you spray this stuff on, he will be putty in your hands,
is the not-so-subtle message! Then there is the Perdue Chicken guy who insists
he’s not obsessed with convenience. Yet, we see his ready-made chicken
recipes in concert with several odd convenience gadgets. We conclude he is
obsessed. Therefore we should buy his chicken and make our life extremely
convenient! Extreme commitments and obsession seem to be the answer to fulfilling
relationships and useful products. If you’re not living life on this
extreme edge, you’re missing out, I guess.
The trouble is that so many of us are in trouble because of our obsessions!
Obsessed with chocolate we struggle to sleep at night or button our pants
in the morning. Obsessed with relationships we barely have room to breathe
emotionally. We lack perspective. We drown in the sea of whatever happened
this morning. Or, we worry what someone else thinks of us today. Obsessed
with gadgets we find human beings somewhat boring and inconvenient. Obsessed
with our work we can never simply relax with others. We live to be so “productive”
that we simply work, eat, and sleep. Always our mind is working on a problem,
issue, or project. When everything is solved we spend our time thinking about
what the next project will be. For some workaholics, it’s about the
money. The more the better and there’s never enough. For some it’s
simply the busyness and the “sense” of fulfillment it brings.
For some it’s about the praise the work will gain us.
Obsessed with “the latest” we constantly scour the
internet. We must know what’s “NEXT” and how we can be ahead
of the curve. Today is just a snapshot that’s already old by the time
it’s developed. Even tomorrow seems to have a little age on it, before
it arrives. Many of us are afraid we will miss the next trend and be hopelessly
out of touch. Obsession robs us of our present. The future seems so much brighter,
why bother with today?
When we spell it out this way it seems absurd! But oh, when
obsession is cooking in our minds and hearts it seems so logical, so reasonable,
so fun! When you first settle in on a new obsession all else seems to fade
into the background. This is your new goody bag and it always seems bottomless.
Endless supply of newness and excitement! So much to be discovered! So little
time!
If this train sounds like a familiar ride, you know what the
last stop always is: disappointment. If only the conductor were more honest
at the start of our obsession. “All aboard! All aboard for disappointment!
Have your ticket to disappointment available!” Alas, he is not nearly
so honest and we can find ourselves as the Apostle Paul warns, “Engrossed
in this world.” Paul invites us to disconnect from these entanglements.
Corinth was a world-class city with many attractions and distractions.
Several languages could be heard as one walked down the street. International
cities present wonderful displays of culture and beauty. But they also offer
multiple ways to lose your way. The pull of culture can be strong. Usually,
it’s not pulling you toward the life of holiness. When Paul wrote these
words movie theaters and cable T.V. did not exist. Of course there was live
entertainment that could curl your hair, but access was much more limited.
If ancient Corinth provided an opportunity to get engrossed, imagine the challenge
we face today.
Bono, leader of the rock group U2, has written several songs
about the distractions of the modern world. “New York” is a song
that describes the moral drift that can happen in a world-class city that
never sleeps. Lyrics like, “In New York, freedom looks like too many
choices . . . In New York you can forget, Forget how to sit still, Tell yourself
you will stay in, But it’s down to Alphaville . . . In New York I lost
it all to you and your vices . . . I hit an iceberg in my life.” It’s
a product of obsession with experiences. Many people can’t stand the
thought of missing an opportunity. When freedom looks like too many choices,
integrity suffers. People immersed in modern culture struggle to hold onto
moral high ground. If you constantly and willfully expose yourself to questionable
situations, you will find trouble. Although the song treats moral disasters
with a simple “Oh well,” most of us have seen the pain and devastation
“obsession” lifestyles can bring.
Are hobbies bad? Should we never try to experience culture?
Paul is not saying that. Not all culture is bad. The Nazarene Covenant of
Christian Conduct gives a guideline for moral choices.
33.3. In listing practices to be avoided we recognize that no
catalog, however inclusive, can hope to encompass all forms of evil throughout
the world. Therefore it is imperative that our people earnestly seek the aid
of the Spirit in cultivating a sensitivity to evil that transcends the mere
letter of the law; remembering the admonition: "Test everything. Hold
on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
33.4. Our leaders and pastors are expected to give strong emphasis
in our periodicals and from our pulpits to such fundamental biblical truths
as will develop the faculty of discrimination between the evil and the good.
We suggest that the standard given to John Wesley by his mother,
namely, "whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your
conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual
things, whatever increases the authority of your body over mind, that thing
for you is sin," form the basis for this teaching of discrimination.
(33.2-33.4, 904.11-4.16)
(Romans 14:7-13; 1 Corinthians 10:31-33; Ephesians 5:1-18; Philippians
4:8-9; 1 Peter 1:13-17; 2 Peter 1:3-11)
I’ve avoided a difficult phrase long enough. What in the
world can Paul mean by, “From now on those who have wives should live
as if they had none” (7:29)? Unfortunately there may be some husbands
who have always lived what this passage seems to be saying, to their families’
disadvantage. Yet, these words come from the same man who wrote in deeply
poetic terms about the marriage covenant. Paul is not advocating marital neglect
or easy divorce. So what is he getting at? We’ve all seen examples of
couples who were so close there was no room for others at all. Psychologists
call this enmeshment, lives so intertwined as to be turned inward. God is
offering us a different version of reality, including marriage. Mark 1:14-20
says
14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming
the good news of God. 15"The time has come," he said. "The
kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" 16As Jesus
walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting
a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17"Come, follow me,"
Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18At once they
left their nets and followed him. 19When he had gone a little farther, he
saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the
boat with the hired men and followed him.”
The call to Christian discipleship is a call to a new, higher
purpose. That purpose is to reach out to others with the love that has changed
you. Marriage is a core commitment. Family is part of God’s foundation
for society. But a family’s purpose cannot simply be their own happiness.
Families exist to serve others through the church and to change the world.
The nuclear family provides precious pooled resources of love and strength.
These cannot be squandered. Today we often complain that family life drains
us of resources. The truth is that the love of an emotionally healthy family
provides for basic human needs.
Shelter, security, and emotional support provide a strong foundation
for pursuing higher goals in life. A strong Christian marriage provides intimacy
and mutual encouragement. Yet, it can’t remain healthy if it doesn’t
find a higher purpose. Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose-Driven Life,
reminds us of God’s plan for a fulfilling life. Paul is reminding us
of this key principle. There are moments and commitments that supersede the
marriage commitment. God would never call us to make choices which make the
marriage commitment weaker. But at times He calls us to set aside family concerns
to reach out. Paul’s language here is based on the urgency of the times.
The needs are so great that the label “Christian” should define
us, not any other label. But these words are balanced by Paul’s earlier
command from the same chapter for married couples to “come together
again so Satan will not tempt you” (7:5). In the gospel passage, James
and John left their business commitment behind, but not their relationship
with their father.
Distractions come in many forms. The pursuit of happiness is
ultimately an empty pursuit. The pursuit of a relationship with God will lead
you on a journey that ends in genuine happiness. Shopaholics will have a difficult
time maintaining a Christian commitment. Materialism can be all consuming.
But God reminds us this world is passing away. It is temporary. Paul is inviting
us to live with eternity in view. Make choices you can be happy with forever.
Advertisers will do their best to convince you that happiness is impossible
without one more purchase! Your heart knows better. Listen closely to your
conscience. Hear Jesus calling you along the shoreline. “Come, follow
me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark
1:17).
So how is that journey going for you? Are you smack in the middle
of something wonderful with Jesus? Are you tired, but fulfilled because your
higher purpose is aligned with His? Are you living out your commitments faithfully?
Are your commitments in balance with your higher Christian calling? Ministry
isn’t just for paid professionals. In fact, the best kind happens when
regular folks give themselves fully to God’s great fishing expedition.
How does your life stack up with God’s vision? This bright journey leads
us ever deeper into God’s light. No time for lesser things. If you give
yourself fully to God’s mission, every part of your life will grow.
If Jesus is having His way in your life, you are seeking to bring others into
the light. Paul shows us we can live in new ways. You can be a caretaker of
God’s property, instead of a slave to the things of this world. Your
heart can be broken by the things that break God’s heart. Your marriage
can serve others and build up the church. You can live with higher purpose.
You can bring others with you. No distractions.
This morning if you find yourself engrossed in worldly things, there is a way out. It requires a choice. Out of the darkness and into the light. You can always choose to disconnect from worldly distractions. Simply turn off the DVD player. Hit the power button on your T.V. Click the little red “x” in the upper corner of your web browser. Choose not to pull into the SuperStore parking lot. Keep your marriage and family in balance with God’s kingdom. Would you like to disconnect now? I’m with you. Let’s keep our Christian focus . . . together!
