Too comfortable for comfort?

By Pastor Dave Stimers

I can’t help but thinking that a huge percentage of North American Christians are too comfortable for comfort. Many of us have made ourselves comfortable in many ways as we have been given good financial opportunities, or we’ve worked hard to earn a good living and save our pennies. Providing a good life for our families is usually associated with the kind of home you have, or car your drive or things you own. And why not? After all there’s nothing wrong with working hard and enjoying the fruit of our labor, right?

Sometimes our theology pitches in and reinforces our comfort level. We preach that once you’ve said the sinner’s prayer then you have salvation. There are, of course, things that a Christian shouldn’t do and so we make sure we don’t use profanity, we try to be honest in all situations and make sure that we don’t fight with others in public. Then there are the big ones, the things that every Christian must avoid at all costs: adultery, stealing, murder. This brand of Christianity makes us comfortable because as long as we avoid these (fairly visible) sins then we can ease through life enjoying our material comforts and luxuries while being assured of our spot in heaven and an eternal reward.

What makes me uncomfortable is that when someone asked Jesus what they had to do to receive eternal life, he didn’t tell them to say and prayer and enjoy a life of avoiding certain sins while enjoying their material happiness. After the man told Jesus that he was actually very good at following the rules, Jesus told him to sell everything he had and follow him. Then when the man went away discouraged Jesus made a convicting statement, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Living in Canada affords us many comforts and luxuries that most of the world cannot afford. We are rich. When I hear these words coming out of Jesus’ mouth it makes me cringe. His style of evangelism looks very different from ours. Instead of asking for a prayer, He asks for a life. And unfortunately those who experience the comforts of material prosperity also encounter the distractions that are part of the package. Things have distracted us and made us think that we can depend on them. The reality is that our comfort should make us uncomfortable. Where our treasure is, is where our hearts will be. So, get uncomfortable enough to desperately follow Jesus, to reallocate some (or all) of your wealth, to invest in the things of the kingdom, to forsake the lure of this world. Then remember what Jesus said next – “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” –Mark 8:27.