On my Facebook Newsfeed today, one of my friends posted “All I need is Jesus. I want nothing more and I will settle for nothing less!” For some reason, these words pricked me. Such a simple statement, yet one that has dramatic implications to one who really means and lives it out. Unfortunately, I am afraid this is just another flippant statement we randomly blurt out when we think we have to say something or make a statement just because we’ve been silent too long. But we rarely know, understand or care about the ramifications or implications of such statements, personally or communally.
You’ve heard them, you’ve made them:
- I’ll pray for you. You never followed through, it was well meant but your mind went on to other things.
- Call me if you ever need me. But you don’t really mean it and if you do, you want the call at a decent hour of the day.
- If I were rich I’d help the poor, hurting and disenfranchised. Do you tithe to your church weekly? Would you be willing to set aside the money you spend for one coke and a bag of chips each day and then give to a charitable organization? You've seen the guy hold the sign up "Will work for food" have you ever just bought him a meal with no strings?
- I can’t believe he/she did that. It is an unforgivable sin! What about the sin in your life? You only commit forgivable sins? Judging others is much more easier than loving and bestowing grace.
- I am doing wonderful! The most repeated lie on Sunday morning. I have never met anyone on Sunday who replied when asked how they are doing, “I have had a hell of a week, my kids are driving me crazy and my wife thinks I never do any work around the house.” It's hard being authentic and vulnerable.
- It’s the Lord’s will. Oh, so the Lord willed a man to get drunk, get in his car and run over your friends’ 6 year old child! You just had to say something. We downplay the power of evil and presence of satanic forces.
- Boy, the preacher really stepped on my toes today! It was a great sermon! Oh, so you go to church to get beat up. Doesn’t the world do enough beating? Your idea of a good sermon is leaving bruised, wounded and feeling even guiltier? Or do you mean that you’re okay, the sermon was for the “other folk”?
- I would have loved to have lived in Jesus’ day. Do you really mean that? Do you think you actually have the strength to go against the world, go against the only church/religion you ever knew to follow someone the government and religious leaders labeled a heretic and blasphemer? What do you stand for today? Will you take a stand against the U.S. Government? Your church? Your friends?
The list could on for infinity because we are good at
talking without expecting to follow through and actually act. Is it any wonder
that politicians talk the talk but never walk the talk? We all do it, but back
to the statement that spurred these thoughts…All I need is Jesus. I want nothing more and I will settle for nothing
less.
All I need is Jesus.
I agree I need Jesus but I need other things as well. I need food, shelter,
clothes, a job and human relationships. Once I “get Jesus”, having gotten Him
should inform how and what I nourish my body with, what I wear, where I live,
work the purpose He has given me and associate with those I should be in
community with.
I want nothing more.
Really? You have no personal desires, ambitions, cravings, or dreams? Once “gotten”,
He will redirect your desires, ambitions, cravings, and dreams to things that
will bring honor and glory to Him. He wants you to want more. He just helps you
rediscover what the “more” is.
I will settle for
nothing less. Most Christians have settled for less. Most “get Jesus”, get
baptized, join a church, attend that church semi-regularly, tithe semi-regularly
and try to be a good person. Jesus doesn’t want us to be as settled as we are.
We forget that Jesus was not a “settler.” He was a radical that challenged the
way of life, challenged the traditions of the Church, didn’t expect anything
from the government and hung out with stinky fishermen, prostitutes,
adulterers, traitors, crooked government officials, and handicapped and
diseased folk. Basically, the Son of God liked hanging with the least, lost,
lonely and left-out of the world!
So the next time you say All
I need is Jesus, remember that may have more implications that you are
willing to commit to.
