19Are You Praying to the False God of Unlimited Options?
Good Morning Friends,
Last year Burger King stopped offering the option to “Have it Your Way.” Maybe they realized that ultimate freedom of choice is a problem. The burden of decision making is shifted in our society and it is not all good. It is consuming our time. It is falsely raising our expectations. It is forcing us to make decisions sometimes in a state of ignorance of the issues as in our health care system. The demand of society forcing us to make decisions is everywhere. Look at Starbucks… way too many choices. Going to the grocery story one has to wonder how many salad dressings we actually need. And do not get me started with all the makes and models of cars not to mention the options once one decides on a make and model. It is maddening if you fall into the trap. A life can be consumed by such activity… lost. All those choices can be paralyzing… imprisoning. But the reason we have trouble with all these choice is not a processing problem. At its core it is a spiritual issue. The whole thing has gone overboard making us less happy. Are You Praying to the False God of Unlimited Options?
Scripture: I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NRSV)
27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
1 Corinthians 1:27 (NRSV)
13But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters* beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits* for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NRSV)
4just as he chose us in Christ* before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.
Ephesians 1:4 (NRSV)
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27For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant* Jesus, whom you anointed, 28to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Acts 4:27-28 (NRSV)
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6But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
James 1:6-8 (NRSV)
21Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ The people did not answer him a word.
1 Kings 18:21 (NRSV)
Message: Maybe I just need Watson Analytics helping me make decisions so I can feel less guilty. Then again maybe I need less choices and more happiness. Maybe I need to limit my options to the ones Jesus would have me consider. Maybe back when everything was worse it was actually better.
Friends, way too many people have way too many choices in our affluent society. There are too many choices about relationships, dating, marriage, money, family, and careers. Diversity is fine. Options are good. But just to a point. Who wants only black cars? The problem though is that we are worshipping the wrong things and still hunger thinking that more choices will solve the problem. It only makes it worse. I know from experience. You see, we are not able to choose because we are worshipping the wrong God. Elijah made it simple choose God or a False God and still people could not choose. When it came to that critical moment of decision they could not commit. So do you keep your smart phone on at meetings to avoid being 100% present and committed? Friends, I am guilty and the irony of it is that it robs us of the moment. Our culture tries to make us feel guilty about the choices we make. It should disgust us. We are losing happiness to a false god. He kills our joy in Christ because he tells us it’s better not to be thought of as too spiritual. This false god lies to us telling us no commitment is necessary. But friends, we need to worship a God who redeems choices. For this God, our God created us to commit. He created us to choose. So choose wisely. Choose Jesus. Friends, this Lent know that nothing narrows your options more than being nailed to a wooden cross. Repent and seek forgiveness before your life is lost.
Pray we choose this day who we will follow. Pray we choose God. Pray we follow Jesus. Pray we realize it is a gift to be simple…to live simply so others might simply live. Pray we realize that if we try and have everything and everyone, in the end, we get nothing and no one. Pray we believe that Jesus will redeem our choices if we commit our love to God. Pray we worship the God who has chosen us for salvation. Pray we realize that more is less when it comes to choice. Pray we realize that ultimate freedom is not having ultimate choice. Pray we are not paralyzed in decision-making. Pray we are not less satisfied and regret the decision we make regarding Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 