“Career Christians”

I came across an interesting expression in one of Arthur Pink’s books—“Career Christian.” Imagine if someone were to ask you, “What is your occupation?” and you answered “I’m a full-time Christian.”

I don’t know about you, but what with setting my mind on things above, taking all thoughts captive, renewing my mind, putting off the old self and putting on the new, watching over my heart with all diligence, letting the peace of God rule my heart, walking in love, in unity, in light, and by faith, and don't forget walking worthy, speaking the truth in love, loving my brothers and sisters from the heart, loving my wife as Christ loves the Church, and making sure all I do, even eating and drinking, glorifies God, well… I’m fully occupied.

Is this what Jesus meant when he said “occupy until I return?”  Yes.  And, thankfully, He furnishes us with an infinite supply of grace to assure our progress and success until He does return (2 Cor. 9:8; 2 Peter 1:10).

Remember Lot’s Wife

Solomon, the greatest thinker whoever lived said, “As a man thinks so he is” (Prov. 23:7). Paul told the Colossians to think more about things above—thoughts of eternal value—than earthly ones (3:2). He told the Philippians to think about better things (4:8-9). And he flat out warned the Corinthians to “capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). Jesus often asked the question,“What do you think?”

If the first disciples had to be reminded not to be too occupied with earthly things, how much more do we! Earthly things can devour our mental energies and overwhelm our affections. And here’s a disturbing thought: what we think about reveals what we love. And John warns “if you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you” (1 John 2:15).

Lot’s wife loved the world. She couldn't stop thinking about the life she had left in Sodom; she couldn’t keep from looking back; and turned into a pillar of salt. In three power-packed words, Jesus warns, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Considering her consequences, we have to ask “what was she thinking?” Whatever it was must have been pretty important to her! What do you think?

Preoccupied: Me-occupied, or He-occupied

One’s occupation, or vocation, is that to which he or she is especially drawn and for which he or she is well-suited and qualified. Though today the concept is secular, it originated in the Bible. The nobility of one’s occupation is central to the doctrine that God has created each person with gifts to be employed for specific purposes that will fulfill God' purposes for him and Himself (Eph 2:10).

For this reason, Paul warns, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift(s) within you; take pains to be absorbed in them so that your progress will be evident to all, paying close attention to yourself; persevere in these things” (1 Tim 4:14-16, edited). In other words, we are to be resolutely “preoccupied” with our “occupation.”

What then keeps us from being so occupied? Is it perhaps that we are already preoccupied: “me-occupied.” This principle has been proven to me over and again: to the degree I am absorbed in my view of circumstances, I simply cannot occupy myself with His, and even worse, with HIM. Evidently, judging by the strength of his words, Paul must have known how challenging this would be. I wonder. Did he also find himself sometimes more “me-occupied” than “He-occupied”?

Living on Purpose

The other day I was talking to one of my former students, a bright young man full of ambition. But he confesses to wasting a lot of time—video games, TV, Facebook—none of which contribute anything to his life goals. I assured him his situation is not uncommon.  Our culture offers us so many empty things with which to occupy ourselves!  I call it "loitering."

Did you know that several years after Joshua and Israel had moved into Canaan, there were still seven Tribes who had not yet taken possession of their portions of the Land ? (Josh. 18)  So Joshua asked them, "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord has given you?" They were still living like wanderers. Here they stood, on the edge of God’s gift to them, loitering instead of occupying.

Jesus said “Occupy ‘til I come” (Lk. 19:13).  But like the seven Tribes many Christians have never taken full possession of God's plan and purpose. They may tell you they are waiting on God, but they are really just 'waiting around.'  Genuine waiting on God means occupying yourself with God's purposes (Col 3:2). That's hard to do when you are predisposed and preoccupied.  That's what the the seven loitering Tribes picture for us.  So, what did I tell my former student? I said, "Put up a sign in your heart  that says 'No Loitering,' and start Living on Purpose."

Please Be Quiet!

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer … Let my meditation be pleasing to You (Ps. 19:14; 104:34).

Almost 60 years ago, in his book “Pathways to Power,” Dr. Merrill Unger wrote:Meditation upon God’s Word is fast becoming a lost art among many Christian people. This holy exercise of pondering over the Word, chewing it as an animal chews its cud to get its sweetness and nutritive virtue into the heart and life, takes time… [And this] ill fits into the speed of our modern age. Today most Christians’ devotions are too hurried, their lives too rushed.

If that was true in the early fifties, how much more is it true today—in an age that has become faster than Unger could have imagined. Prayer and preoccupation are strange bed-fellows. Hurriedness and Holiness are incompatible. A deep knowledge of spiritual things can only come by the way of unhurried prayer and reflection upon the Word. The goal of our ‘quiet times’ is to internalize and personalize truth until it affects our thoughts, attitudes and actions.

Finding quiet time to meditate will not be easy as you attempt to pull away from the cacophony of modern media. But it is a much-needed Christian discipline. And as you reflect on God's Word during your quiet time, you will learn to recognize God's voice and really know Him.

"Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand: Make this World a Better Place..."

As I stood in the check-out line at Safeway the other day, a young woman whose groceries were being checked out was talking on her cell phone, paying little attention to what was going on around her. I wondered if she would get off the phone when it was time to manage the ATM machine and get her groceries. But alas, she continued multi-tasking. I observed what-I-thought was an expression of irritation by the cashier who was being completely ignored. Meanwhile, the whole check-out process was slowed to a near halt while everyone in line waited—albeit impatiently. In short, her preoccupation prevented her from paying attention to the people around her.

But you don’t have to be on a cell phone to be preoccupied. Who of us has never been so lost in our own thoughts, so self-occupied, we couldn't see someone God wanted to touch through us.

Each person who crosses your path today is important to God. Do you realize that God is working in their hearts, just as He is yours? Maybe He wants to use you to touch them with kindness. But if preoccupied, you won’t—and His love and kindness cannot touch them.

Try going into this new day with your eyes open for the people you'll encounter at the store, the office, the school, or wherever you're headed. When that Starbucks barista or grocery clerk asks ‘how are you?’ respond with a heart-felt “and how are YOU?” Give them your full attention and see how God uses you to touch them. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mat. 5:16).