I recently read a book titled Settle for More
written by former Fox News Anchor Megyn Kelly. The book,
autobiographical in nature, shows how she has overcome a variety of
difficulties and set-backs. Set-backs and obstacles are common to all
people, but the way we handle them is crucial. In Kelly’s particular
case, the untimely death of her father and the difficulties of career burn-out
greatly affected the course of her life. She was inspired one day while
hearing Dr. Phil on television saying “The only difference between you and the
person you envy is you settled for less.” She goes on to talk
about how that quote changed her life. The key to getting from where you
are to where you want to be takes determination and persistence. But it
also requires a person to pay a certain price; therefore it is necessary to
weigh out how much we really want something.
In reading this book, and reflecting, I cannot help but make a comparison
between this concept and the Kingdom of Christ and His church. After
pastoring for almost 22 years I can assuredly say I have seen overwhelming
numbers of believers “settle for less,” in their walks with God, when they
should only be settling for more.
Everywhere I look it seems there are people pursuing their dreams and goals
educationally, economically, in regards to their career, and in regards to
their family. People are adding to their personal collections of whatever
they collect, talking about trying a new restaurant, saving for a dream
vacation, and getting all their ducks in a row for retirement. But how
important are these things really? Certainly, they bring us some level of
happiness and that is fine. However, I must ask, “How much do they matter
in the long run?” Everything at a garage sale was new at one time.
Furthermore, everything at the city landfill was also new at one time! Your old
clunker probably was once a source of pride when you first drove it home.
Your new cloths quickly become old. We tend to pursue things with very
limited value with gusto while displaying a great deal of apathy about some
things that really do matter, and matter a lot, like the Kingdom of Christ.
I have observed many believers sadly settling for much less than God
desires. I grew up in church but I did not necessarily always want to be
there. In fact, I am confident in saying that I would not have gone most
of the time had not my parents made me go. But, there came a change
in me in my late teen years when I really committed my life to Christ. I
could not get enough church. I could not get enough preaching, teaching,
or reading from the Scriptures. The best way I can describe how I felt,
and still feel, is that it is like an “unquenchable thirst” that I have now and
have had for the better part of 30 years. I have since built a decent
size library of Christian books simply out of a desire to learn and know more
about God. It is very hard for me to understand how others are not
reacting the same way I reacted when first coming to know Christ. It
seems I am constantly asking myself about others, “Do they really know
Christ?” I hope so, but their behavior and lack of desire for the things
of God, sure makes it hard to tell sometimes.
So many Christians fall into a comfortable groove of settling for less, even far
less, than God desires. C. S. Lewis wrote “God is not so much offended
that we want too much as by the fact that we are satisfied with so
little.” Paul commends the church at Philippi to develop and keep a
joyful attitude about Christ that motivates them to ever-increasing service,
just as it had occurred in his life. He writes “Not that I have already attained,
or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which
Christ Jesus also laid hold of me . . . forgetting those things which are
behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the
goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)
Paul did not see this as merely for him, but he understood this
thirst/desire for the things of God to be a hallmark of all Christians.
He goes on “Therefore let us, as many as are mature have this mind . . .
Brethren join in following my example and note those who so walk, as you have
us for a pattern.” (Phil. 3:15; 17)
The modern day term “nominal Christian” is really a contradiction and would
have really caused the Apostle Paul to scratch his head. The word
“nominal” means “Existing in name only; small; far below the real value or
cost.” Sadly, that is the best way to describe many who would claim the
name of Christ. Their brand of Christianity does not resemble the
third chapter of Philippians, but instead the dictionary’s definition of
“nominal.” Paul wrote to young Timothy “Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
Word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)
In these difficult and morally challenging days in which we live, nominal
Christians are unfortunately bearing testimony to their neighbors, classmates,
co-workers, and extended families that there is little to “Christianity.”
It is just a moniker or title and means little to nothing. They wear the
name, without the changed lives.
Many of the great martyrs of centuries past went confidently to
their own deaths, proclaiming that “Jesus is Lord” with great boldness and
conviction. By contrast, many modern- day church members are melding with
the world and treating church as little more than a back-up plan when they have
nothing else to do. I assert the gathering together of believers for
church should be a top level priority. Christ Jesus died for the
church and will once again return for His church/bride.
In Christ there should be no shame but a consistent and unmistakable motivation
to only settle for more of Him. Paul confessed “For I am not
ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto
salvation.” (Rom. 1:16) Never settle for less. In Christ, only
settle for more!
In Christ,
Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor
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