lisa | 
12 23rd, 2008| 
I have decided as I have gotten older that I am no longer settling for the mediocre stuff…whether it is food, clothes, or entertainment. I want the good stuff…
How many times have I sat down in the last year, plopped myself in front of the tv to watch some mindless, less than entertaining show that is a waste of time?
How many times have I purchased a piece of clothing because I just had to have it but it really does not compliment me or look that good?
How many times have put some greasy, fattening food in my mouth without even thinking about how it tastes??
Last year I read a book, French Women Don’t Get Fat.
Apparently, French women are thin because they view eating as an event…something to be savored and enjoyed for at least 1 hour… not shoving food down their face while in the car or standing at the kitchen counter while everyone else is eating and then eating all the leftovers as well.
Everything they eat is rich and real….the creamiest cheese, the best bread, the most decadent chocolate and the richest wine…..every day!!!!!
But…….they only eat very small portions of each.
When this woman who wrote the book got off the boat after being in America for 1 year, she had gained 20 pounds and her father told her she looked like a sack of potatoes!!
She observed that as Americans we eat huge portions, we rush through our meals and we settle for whatever is put in front of us.
We think that 10 snack size Snickers are the “good stuff” when really 1 piece of decadent dark chocolate is much more satisfying.
We have been lured into believing what the “good stuff” is!
Power, position, possessions…. According to our culture that is the good stuff.
Even in our Christian life we are confused about the “good stuff”….
We think the “good stuff” is living a carefree life, being healthy, having good kids, attending a good church, being in a good small group
But what is the good stuff according to Jesus? In Matt. 19:16-22, a rich young ruler comes to Jesus and asks him what good thing he must do to get eternal life.
Jesus tells him if he wants to enter life he must keep the commandments especially the ones that have to do with social relationships and he must be perfect by selling all his possessions and giving them to the poor. The good stuff is entering into life with people and sacrificing that which we value the most for the sake of following Jesus.
What’s interesting in this text is that an “if” clause is used twice in this short story. Jesus does not give him the 5 essentials to eternal life nor does he judge him. Rather, he leads him to make his own conclusions about his life. He helps him to see that a decision is required.
Jesus’ style of evangelism should be informative for us. Jesus is not pushy, arrogant or self-serving. He is giving this kid options…if you do this…if you make this choice…if you decide to follow me this is how it will be. There is no arguing, defensiveness or trying to persuade this young man to follow. Jesus lays it out for him and gives him every opportunity to respond.
When we think about our friends who are asking the big questions of life, do we feel it is our responsibility to save them? Or, are we like Jesus, laying out the options and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in that person’s life?
Too often we have taken the burden of evangelism and made it a human centered activity. We think we have to convince, convict and conspire to get people to follow Jesus.
Evangelism is God’s work. He will do the drawing, leading and revealing. By the power of the Holy Spirit, people will see what is really the good stuff of life. We just need to cooperate with the Spirit and let him do his work.
