December 30, 2018

Where Were You Today?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25

Once again they’d taken the boat and gone fishing. It was Sunday. She and her husband, their kids and their friends were all on the lake. It was a fun day.

They just felt so close to God on the lake, she explained. It was no different than being in church, she rationalized. They were enjoying God’s creation. It was all good.

Except it wasn’t.

Attending services on Sunday morning is about worshipping God. It’s about remembering who He is and all that He’s done for us. We pause and remember to praise God for all things.

Going out on the boat with friends and family for a day of fishing is all about us. It’s about enjoying ourselves. Sure, we’re enjoying God’s creation but it’s not about Him. It’s all about us. And that’s the difference between going to church and going to the lake.

I could substitute any number of activities for fishing on the lake. The beach is also a popular place for a Sunday trip. And we deserve to sleep in at least once a week. Doesn’t a lazy day watching movies sound good? We’re supposed to rest. Surely, God understands.

Do we understand when God delays in answering our requests? Do we make excuses when He says no? Do we believe that God is much, much more than a vending machine whose sole purpose is to grant our every wish?

It’s not about us. Oh, we know that. Except we don’t always act as though we believe it. We don’t live as though we believe it.

I’m all about having fun and enjoying life. God wants that for us too. But there has to be a balance. God must come first. Always. Because when you put the desires of the flesh before the worship of our Creator, your heart slowly turns away from God. He becomes an option and, well, options get moved further and further away from priorities.

What did you do today? Our services, and those at other area churches, had extremely low attendance. People are tired. People are traveling. People are otherwise occupied. Jesus’ birthday has come and gone and we’re back to normal.  Self is first. God is a distant option somewhere down the line.

The body of Christ is to gather regularly, to worship God and to encourage one another in our faith walk. When church attendance becomes an option, we’ve lost sight of our purpose.