From Self-indulgence to Self-examination
Happy New Years! Out with the old, in with the new! It's a fresh new year and hopefully a fresh new you! In the last blog, I introduced a 2018 challenge of turning from self-promotion to God-promotion. That is, to consciously remove yourself from the throne of your life and elevate Jesus to Lord and King over every area of your life. Today I complete the 2018 challenge by talking about turning from self-indulgence to self-examination.
A Concern for Christ-followers: Self-indulgence!
My concern is that followers of Jesus are assimilating so much of the ways and pursuits, the attitude and viewpoints of our secular culture, that we’re losing the flavoring power of Jesus Christ among our family and friends, co-workers, acquaintances and the community we live in. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13...
"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?"
The question has always been, "Who is doing the influencing, the culture or Christ through me?" Mimicking the self-indulgence of our culture is a temptation. And I get it. When you’re surrounded by people who aren't living by the truth of Jesus, it becomes a powerful force that can slowly erode the ways and will of God in your life. The Apostle Paul understood this, Romans 12:2…
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
Yes, you and I need something that will continually bring us back to the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. I often go back to the teaching of God and the words he spoke 29 hundred years ago. We need to hear this with renewed clarity, 2 Chronicles 7:14…
"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."
There’s only one way to turn from ways that are self-indulgent and that’s through sincere self-examination. I encourage you on this New Years day, to be factually truthful about the spiritual condition of your life. David Kinnaman, of Barna Study, says that “Most Americans don’t have strong and clear beliefs because they don’t possess a coherent biblical worldview.”
A Biblical Worldview
You can’t say you are personally committed to Jesus Christ, and then not believe what the Bible says about who he is. Millions of Americans feel personally committed to God, but at the same time are being swayed by our culture and renegotiating the definition of who God is. The spiritual profile of American Christianity is like the lukewarm church Jesus talked about in Revelation 3:15-19…
15 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference."
Yes, the real spiritual epidemic among Christians today may very well be indifference. Ask yourself on this New Years day, "Am I spiritually indifferent, lukewarm in how I live out my faith?"
Being Spiritually Lukewarm Is Never A Good Thing
When you’re parched and need to drink something refreshing, you don’t run to the closest Lukewarm water vending machine. It’s disgusting to drink! it’s not refreshing or useful for anything. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm; believers didn’t take a stand for anything and were falling for everything. Their indifference led to idleness toward people with needs. They became self-promoting, self-reliant and self-indulgent and as a result useless to the Lord. More and more today, that describes the condition of the American church.
Today’s church has one foot in the Kingdom of God and the other foot in the world. The shift away from a biblical worldview means you’ll see significant alterations to the spiritual landscape in your life.
As you begin this new-year, examine yourself. Don’t settle for following God halfway. Allow Jesus to fire up your faith and move you to a genuine love and obedience to him. If you want 2018 to be different for you; if you desire to turn things around in your life and allow Jesus to heal the landscape of your life, turn back to Him! If you've made a wrong turn, it's time to make a right one.
Next Step
1. This week, take a few moments for some sincere self-examination. Be factually truthful about the spiritual condition of your life. If you have allowed slippage and see more world in you than the Kingdom of God, identify exactly what the spiritual slippage is and make a plan to rectify it.
2. Are you spiritually Luke-warm? What is one action you can take to reintroduce more of Jesus into your life? What are some things you need to step away from that are not pleasing to God? Claim this promise from God: “Humble yourself and pray. Seek my face and turn from your wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive your sins and restore you/”
