I saw a great headline the other day in “The Onion,” a spoof newspaper. Went like this: “Nation just wants to be safe, happy, rich comfortable, entertained at all times—also healthy, fulfilled, successful and loved.”
The article went on to quote a supposed Maryland resident, Lena McCarthy who said, “It’s not that complicated. At the end of the day, all I want from America is a good job, a nice house, romantic fulfillment, beautiful sunny weather during the day, star lit skies at night, low gas prices, independence from foreign oil, free food, free healthcare, free media, everything free.”
At first I laughed. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought about it. This is exactly how most Americans feel, deep inside (or maybe not so deep). We want it all, and we feel entitled to it all, and we want that “all” all the time. Now that's bad enough for the public at large. But when Christians grasp at the same things for the same reasons, we have a serious problem on our hands. And increasingly, that's the case.
Look around and you'll observe that many Christians are as hot and heavy in pursuit of the good life as we are the God life. The truth is, we've all been sucked in to a lesser or greater extent. I wish I could tell you honestly that I myself haven't wished for the good life.
But such a longing is in direct conflict with the Bible. Scripture calls us to be salt and light in our culture—not consumers of that culture.
Why this doesn't bother us…OUGHT to bother us.
I think we need a daily reminder—I'm serious—that we do not belong here. Maybe it's a card we stick on the refrigerator. Maybe it's a graphic we put on our smartphone—or wall paper for our computer. Whatever you choose, the message ought to be this: We're here for a season—not for the long haul. So our ambitions, our affections ought to be—as Paul said, “on things above, not on earthly things.”