Living Weird: Embracing God's Desires in a World of Instant Gratification
Living Weird: Embracing God's Desires in a World of Instant Gratification
In a world that constantly pushes us towards instant gratification and self-centered desires, there's a counter-cultural call to live differently - to live "weird." This isn't about being odd for the sake of it, but about aligning our hearts and lives with God's desires instead of the world's.
The narrow path Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7 isn't just about belief - it's about obedience. Many people believe in God, but fewer choose to follow Him wholeheartedly. This journey of faith isn't always easy, but it's transformative.
As we grow in our relationship with God, something remarkable happens: our desires begin to change. The things we once craved lose their appeal, and we find ourselves longing for what God wants. This shift doesn't happen overnight, and it's often a lifelong process, but it's at the heart of what it means to follow Jesus.
The apostle John, writing near the end of his life, gave a stark warning about worldly desires:
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you. For when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world." (1 John 2:15-16)
This passage highlights two key aspects of "normal" worldly desires:
1. Wanting what we want now, not later
2. Willingness to trade the ultimate for the immediate
We see these play out in biblical stories like the Prodigal Son, who demanded his inheritance early, essentially wishing his father dead. Or consider Esau, who traded his invaluable birthright for a simple bowl of stew because he was hungry in the moment.
These aren't just ancient tales - they speak to the human condition we all face. How often do we respond in anger to a frustrating email or social media post, rather than pausing to consider a wiser response? How many times have we made impulsive financial decisions, choosing immediate gratification over long-term stability?
The challenge is to recognize our "bowl of stew" - those things we're tempted to choose over God's best for us. It might be a relationship that goes against His standards, a financial decision that prioritizes now over later, or simply a habit of impatience in daily life.
But there's good news: as we draw closer to God, our desires can change. The Bible calls us to be "weird" in the best possible way:
1. Recognizing that later is often better
2. Seeking God until His desires become our desires
Proverbs 16:32 reminds us, "Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city." This goes against our natural inclinations, but it's the path to true fulfillment.
The apostle Paul, writing to the Galatians, beautifully contrasts the fruit of living by our sinful nature versus living by the Spirit:
"The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions." (Galatians 5:16-17)
He goes on to list the results of following our sinful nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and similar sins.
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is what our lives begin to look like as we allow God to transform our desires.
It's important to note that this transformation is a process. Even as followers of Jesus, we still face battles with our sinful nature. The difference is that now we have the Holy Spirit empowering us to choose differently. We may take two steps forward and one step back at times, but the overall trajectory of our lives should be moving towards Christlikeness.
This journey of sanctification - becoming more like Jesus - is lifelong. Paul encourages believers to "nail the passions and desires of your sinful nature to his cross and crucify them there." (Galatians 5:24) It's a daily choice to surrender our will to God's.
As we seek to live this "weird" life, prioritizing God's desires over our own immediate gratification, here are some practical steps to consider:
1. Identify your "bowl of stew" - What worldly desires are you most tempted to choose over God's best?
2. Practice patience - In moments of frustration or impatience, pause and ask God for His perspective.
3. Seek accountability - Share your struggles with trusted Christian friends who can encourage and challenge you.
4. Immerse yourself in God's Word - The more we fill our minds with Scripture, the more our desires will align with His.
5. Celebrate progress - Notice and thank God for the ways He's changing your heart, even in small areas.
Remember, Jesus loves us enough to meet us where we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there. He's constantly drawing us closer, transforming our hearts and minds to reflect His character.
Living "weird" in a world obsessed with instant gratification isn't easy. It often means going against the crowd and even battling our own internal desires. But as we surrender to God and allow His Spirit to work in us, we'll find that His ways truly do lead to the most fulfilling life possible.
What area of your life is God inviting you to trust Him with today? What "normal" desire might He be asking you to surrender in exchange for something far greater? The journey of faith is an adventure - embrace the weird, and watch how God transforms your heart along the way.