You have a Hummer in your heart. Yet, you may be forsaking it to hitch-hike on someone else’s ride.
Let me explain. Last Sunday, I encouraged the congregation I am leading, as a transitional pastor, to commit to reading the entire Bible next year. I reminded them that my message on a Sunday morning is a poor substitute for their own daily discovery of truth from the Word.
To illustrate my point, I asked if someone would go out out and hitch-hike on a cold day when they have a Hummer parked in their garage. Naturally, they wouldn’t. Why risk your life waiting at the side of road for a ride that might never come—or take you where you don’t want to go—when you can ride the comfort of your own car?
That certainly applies to Sunday messages that we’ve allowed to become our only source of spiritual nourishment. But it also applies to other areas of our lives where we’re tempted to take the path of least resistance. Consider the following:
- When I respond with a quick “yes” to requests to volunteer, only later to discover that I didn’t really want to do it. The vacuum of my undefined mission was filled by the charismatic agenda of another.
- When I join the 80% of Americans who didn’t purchase a book last year, relying instead on the regurgitated opinions of friends and colleagues to fuel my growth. How can I possibly remain inspired feeding off of other’s warmed-over reviews?
- When I’ve been asked an opinion about something and immediately turn to Google for an answer. The idea of wrestling through something on my own without outside research creates anxiety.
- When I remain in a job I don’t enjoy merely because I’ve been at it for so long I don’t know what else to do. My only aspirations are that my employer treats me fairly and makes my work more rewarding.
The Dutch theologian Soren Kierkegaard once said, “There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.” Far too often it seems we hitch-hike off of others because we are afraid to fire up that Hummer parked in our heart.
Comment below: What are other ways we take the path of least resistance and hitch-hike off of another?
Hi Leary,
Hummer in the heart – great title!
Loved the analogy as it’s fresh/new and life changing as well . Thanks for the boost.
Thanks Jonathan! You’ve got a great Hummer in that chest of yours. 🙂