Man with a Maiden Series....Part 2.....Joshua Harris
The title Josh's message was "Why Did God Make Me this Way?" He repeated the idea that Eric had said the previous month. Often, at Covenant Life, the idea that God should be glorified in our dating relationships has become twisted into a rules oriented thing that is wasn't intended to be. He gave the example of the game telephone, where the original sentence is passed from person to person and never ends up the same as it began.
For example, the original idea would be that "We want to see relationships that honor God."
This turned into: "You should court not date."
Which became: "Dating is EVIL."
This is now: "If you date, you will go to 'you know where.'"
Then: "Do not talk to the opposite sex.... ever."
Finally, when you don't abide by these "rules" it is "You should be ashamed of yourself...."
It can be easy to be a people that, instead of looking to God's word, we simply try to figure out what the rules are. A lot of times, this rule thing is something divorced from real faith and trust in God. We ask the question "Well, what does God think of relationships?" Essentially, a lot of people are really asking, "What do I have to do to get on the list of people God will bless with a relationship? How do I get in the relationship line?"
Instead, we should be asking ourselves "Is God enough?" Is He more than enough? For every thirst and every need? Not just spiritual thirsts, but physical and relationship thirsts? Is He more than enough?
Psalm 73:25-26 says:
25Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Upon reading just this passage from Psalm 73 you might think "Psh. I'm not there. Stupid spiritual man." It might be easy to gloss this over as someone who has just come back from a mountain top experience with God. They don't know what real troubles are like. Josh reminds us of the ever-important truth to look at the WHOLE passage...the context. Go back to v. 2.
2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.
This is a man LIKE ME!!! He has come close to stumbling and slipping. But why? Go on to v. 3.
3For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
He is looking at these worldly people and they are doing well. In the following verses, the writer goes on to say that they aren't dieing and they are healthy. They aren't in trouble. The people not seeking to please God are doing okay.
You might be thinking, "I'm a nice, Christian single and I'm really trying to do this whole Godly relationship thing. Be purposeful and waiting and praying. But I'm looking around all the world is engaging in more relaxed and fun dating things. And they're okay. They aren't covered in boils and sores. They are good." REMEMBER. Just because you are serving the King, this doesn't mean your life is going to be all hunky dory.
Here Josh went a little sarcastic. He became sarcastic unhappy single Christian man and said, "They aren't walking with God and they have money and a nice car and a great house and the relationship. But I'm sure on SOME LEVEL they are unfulfilled.... right? I mean, I'm trying to serve God and do things the "right way" and my life stinks and there's no relationship and they have it all. THANK YOU God. This is TOTALLY fair. Good job."
We have to ask ourselves-"Is this all in vain? All this sanctification stuff? All this growth in holiness? The author of the Psalm asks himself the same thing. In v. 13 he says:
13All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
But then, he says this in verse 15:
"If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children."
Were he to truly think holiness and sanctification were in vain, were I to truly think that, I would betray all the generation's of God's people that have gone before me...the people the He loves, that I am called to love.
It might not make sense. That they can live their lives totally without God in mind and yet they seem so happy. Verse 16-17:
16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
Their end is this-their final end. One day, these people who flaunt God will answer to God when He rouses Himself. Verse 18-20:
18Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. 19How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! 20Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
Back to relationships specifically. Do you view this GOOD way of doing this as more of a hassle than a blessing? If we are going to err, may we err on the side of upholding God's standards. Do not mock the grace that God has poured out in our midst.
When God is enough, we won't be making relationships a substitute God. I was made for God, I was NOT made for marriage. When that day comes, when I seem Him as He is, we will no longer be married. In marriage, enjoy the bond, but it is not the thing you are living for. Not only don't live for marriage when you have it, but don't live for the thought of marriage. Here, Josh gave an example.
He said to think about the difference of your attitude in these two situations. The first, is awaiting your paycheck in the mail on Friday. The check that you have worked for 10 days for, that you are expecting and, rightly so, feel that you have deserved. Think of the anxiety and nervousness that accompany it. Think now on the surprise check that comes in the mail from your great-aunt Hilda who just up and felt like being generous. Think of the joy in the unexpectedness.
God is enough. He is MORE THAN ENOUGH. Is that how you are living your life?
He closed by reading the lyrics to this song:
"Enough"
You are my supply, my breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You are my reward, worth living for
Still more awesome than I know
All of you, is more than enough for, all of me,
For every thirst and every need,
You satisfy me, with your love
And all I have in you, is more than enough
You're my sacrifice of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You're my coming king you are everything
Still more awesome than I know
All of you, is more than enough for, all of me,
For every thirst and every need
