Sermon Note | Ordering your priorities

Many if not most Americans are very time conscious people. We keep track of time on watches, cell phones, wall clocks, table clocks, business signage, television sets, and computer screens. We set alarms to wake us up and remind us of approaching meetings. We not only notice, but sometimes even take offense, when our friends and associates are late to get-togethers and meetings. If we wait too long in the ATM or fast-food line, we get edgy and irritable.

Over the years, as a pastor, I’ve been able to visit other places and visit with people of other cultures. I find it interesting how many outside of the USA don’t seem all that time conscious. They seem to have a vague idea of when something should happen, and are content to let it happen within a fairly broad chronological window. It’s also interesting to me that other cultures work daily times of rest into their already comparatively relaxed schedules – siestas and so on. If I didn’t like a good nap so much, this could all be so annoying!

With all of these differences in mind, I’m forced to ask – what is wrong with us crazy Americans!?! What makes many if not most of us so rushed and hurried? Why is it so hard and apparently unnatural for us to slow down?

I think that one reason we Americans are so time conscious and time neurotic is that we’re so time depleted. It’s an almost universal American complaint that “there’s not enough time in the day.” Too many of us spend our lives running from one obligation to the next, and not enjoying many of the things that we feverishly try to do. We cram too much into our schedules and wear ourselves out trying to meet these demands. Why is this?

One reason might be that a true American idol is achievement. We tie our sense of worth and significance to our accomplishments. We think that our degree of worth is directly proportional to our degree of achievement. If we do more, we’re worth more. If we experience more, our life will have more significance.

This is a dangerous game because no amount of achievement or number of experiences is ever enough to produce lasting peace of mind and true contentment. There are always other mountains to climb, other promotions to get, other degrees to earn, other accolades to amass.

So, what is the answer – doing more, more, and more until we finally take hold of the ever-elusive mirage of peace and contentment? No, of course not. The answer is Jesus Christ.

Look at your schedule. Why do you do what you do? How many obligations are born of a desire to impress others and curry a sense of significance? How many tasks result from caving into the imaginative, intrusive, and ultimately misplaced demands of others to build and maintain a good reputation? How many obligations result from trying to maintain a facade of the idyllic life so that you can feel adequate around, maybe even superior to, those around you?

If these are your motivations, perhaps you’re not serving Jesus as much as the idol of achievement.

Moving ahead into 2012, maybe this should be the year to realize that you already have significance in Christ. After all, you’re a child of God, right? You don’t need to run a feverish race to win the approval of others. Sure, it’s nice when people like us, but you don’t need their approval anymore. By grace, you have the approval and acceptance of God. You’re God’s kid! Doesn’t that level of acceptance make all other forms of acceptance seem trite by comparison? It sure should! In Christ, the God of the Universe loves you with an everlasting love. He adores you. So what if Bill at the office thinks you’re a moron?

Moving ahead into 2012, maybe this should be the year to realize that you now have an untarnished reputation in Christ. You are forgiven! God is pleased with you. You don’t need to chase after the carrot of others’ approval; you have God’s. You are free to say a gracious “no” when people bid you to compete for their approval. You don’t need it.

Finally, moving ahead into 2012, maybe this should be the year to realize that you don’t need to maintain facades and “keep up with the Joneses.” Hate to burst your bubble, but you aren’t adequate, and you aren’t superior. No amount of possessions, power, or prestige will change that. Thankfully though, Jesus is more than adequate and far superior for you. You can be yourself, trusting that – despite all of your weaknesses, failings, embarrassments, and inadequacies – God loves and adores you in Christ. In fact, the degree to which we’re willing to tear down our facades is often the degree to which we’re trusting in God’s love and acceptance.

More soon,

PK