There is more to live for than comfort. Your life has so much more purpose in it than to simply get through your day and check out on the couch.
So often I see people striving for an easy life. Everything that is sold to us has this promise: life will be easier with this. Comfort. It’s an American obsession.
Churches stay stuck because to grow would require its current members to pay a price (and I’m not just talking about money, in fact its so much more than that). Relationships stay stuck because to get unstuck would require an investment of time and honesty that people aren’t willing to pay. Businesses don’t get started because the potential owner isn’t willing to pay the price of entrepreneurship (even though they hate their job). Books aren’t written because the potential author isn’t willing to pay the price of late nights and early mornings filled with writing (whether they feel inspired or not).
What You’ll Get With An Easy Life
Bad health.
Disappointment.
Uncomfortable comfort.
Lack of purpose.
Unhealthy relationships.
Serious difficulty following Jesus.
An Easy Life is Not the Best Life
My wife and I just welcomed our second little girl into this world. She’s an absolute blessing! But if you’re a parent, you understand the difficulty of parenting. You understand the sleepless nights in the early stages of their lives. You understand the tantrums of toddlers. You understand the unique blessing it is to raise and mold another human being. You understand that it’s not easy. Yes. Parenting. It’s not easy. It’s not for the faint hearted. Despite it’s lack of ease, it’s completely worth it.[shareable text=”Parenting. It’s not easy. But despite it’s lack of ease, it’s completely worth it.”]Parenting. It’s not easy. It’s not for the faint hearted. But despite it’s lack of ease, it’s completely worth it.[/shareable]
I am currently on day 21 of P90x3. It’s an intense workout plan and it’s been whipping me into shape. In these 30 minute workouts I sweat like crazy and struggle through finishing. My body is pushed way past where I would push it on my own. It’s HARD. It’s the opposite of what I truly want to do, but it’s what I NEED to do. If I chose the easy route I would continue being unhealthy and out of shape. But that doesn’t sound very good. Easy sounds pretty crappy, in fact.
Every week preachers across this world prepare a sermon (some may even prepare two or three). I absolutely love preparing sermons and delivering them. But they’re definitely not easy. Many times preparing a sermon is a struggle. The easy route would be to not pursue doing something that I believe God made me to do because it’s difficult, but I’ve found that the easy route is the purposeless route. So instead of giving up, I struggle through. Just ask a pastor if it’s easy for them to prepare a sermon. You may be surprised to hear them say it’s definitely not easy (despite how easy they make it look).
Following Jesus is not an easy endeavor. Jesus made it clear that the narrow path is the one that leads to life and few find it. He said things like, “deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). He assured His followers that they would experience troubles in this world (John 16:33). Jesus calls us to a life of purpose – an abundant life. He stretches us and moves us way past our comfort zones, for He tells us to get rid of our own will and adopt His. If you want an easy life, don’t follow Christ. If you want an abundant life, follow Christ.[shareable]If you want an easy life, don’t follow Christ. If you want an abundant life, follow Christ.[/shareable]
If you want an easy life, don’t be a leader.
If you want an easy life, don’t use your gifts.
If you want an easy life, don’t pursue anything that matters.
If you want an easy life, sit down and watch another episode of that television show.
If you want an easy life, play it safe.
If you want an easy life, don’t write a book.
If you want an easy life, don’t be bold and courageous.
If you want an easy life, don’t try to help anyone.
If you want an easy life, just get yours and don’t worry about anyone else.
If you want an easy life, do what feels good. Every time.
Want to live an abundant life?
Follow Jesus.
Become a part of His mission here on earth.
Use your gifts.
Parent with purpose.
Love boldly.
Give generously.
Lead courageously.
Serve all.
Take action.
An abundant life is the best life you could possibly live. But it’s not easy. Will you live it anyway?
