By Clarence Hill
A frog loves the pond, where he can swim, eat and watch for predators. Birds love the high places where they can rest in safety and watch for their next meal. There are basic desires that drive the decisions of every living creature. In this respect, mankind is the same. There is a place where every creature on earth feels most comfortable and secure given the dangers of their surroundings. What a dilemma, to know that the place of absolute security and comfort is usually never the place of abundant provision. This being true, the place of security becomes a temporary place of comfort. For the discomfort of hunger and thirst will drive the weakest of beast into the most dangerous of settings.
Thus, all decisions become a constant consideration of how a certain choice will provide the greatest comfort and security. For even though a beast will subject itself to a life threatening circumstance while seeking food and water, be sure it is yet seeking comfort, even the comfort of a satisfied and well nourished body. Consider that the pursuit of comfort and security is the driving force of every decision made not only by animals but also by people.
For every job change, every move from one home or city to another and for every thing we attain with money, somehow we have found comfort and security. The Lord Jesus understood that this is the true driving force of every creature and he did not seek to change it. What he sought to change was where we found comfort and security.
There is one place that Christ, by the example of his life, teaches us to find absolute comfort and security. That place is the will of God. Jesus’ primary comfort was in always doing the things that pleased the Heavenly Father. To Him, there wasn’t any comfort in the earth that was greater than this. Neither money, nor status, nor power drove His decisions. The proof of His conviction is displayed when we see that He chose to suffer the torture of a Roman scourging and the unthinkable pain and humiliation of being nailed to a cross, over his very real option to refuse to die for our sins. Oh, how we thank God that He loved the comfort and security of doing the will of God more than any other thing!
This mindset is the key to a couple fulfilling God’s will for their lives. When Jesus was praying over his decision to obey the Father’s will concerning his death, he simply concluded, “not my will, but your will be done”. This is the powerful conviction that enables a couple to never be controlled by the winds and waves of life that do come. When life begins to take a turn for the worst through busyness, strife in the home or a myriad of things that result in a weakened or off-course marriage, this way of thinking produces prayer, direction from God and a decision.
Think about how Jesus’ conviction enabled him to continually choose what was best before God. It kept Him free from the snaring desires that control most people’s lives. Regardless of whether the multitudes of men and women were seeking to stone Jesus or make him king, he never made his decisions based on what the crowd thought about him. Some find comfort in knowing others approve of them. The Lord’s comfort was not based on losing or gaining friends. Also, he didn’t make decisions about his future with the slightest regard to money; he trusted God. Even death threats lacked the power to alter his course or deter what he would say. Some find comfort and security in being a part of something. Some find it in “being their own boss” and answering to no one. Some find it in homes, cars, jobs and riches. Some find it in family and close relationships. Even though these individual comforts are not evil in and of themselves, they are not the kind of thoughts that drove the decisions of Christ, our example.
Paul was a great example of one who followed the Lord. He told the believers in the city of Corinth to follow his example in Christ. His life challenges every individual and every couple to consider the fact that God’s will is often outside of our natural comforts. There are couples throughout history who, for the sake of the gospel, have moved to remote lands to spread the wonderful message of Jesus Christ. There are others who chose to live with less, so that they could give more to the poor and needy. But very few are these kind among the majority of couples in our day, for most sacrifice to the extent that they can hold on to their life comforts. God may not call every couple to what seems to be such great sacrifice, but be sure that God’s desire is that every couple that calls Him Lord would be willing to follow Him outside of their comfort zone.
Make the decision to truly seek God for His direction in your life. Willingness is the first necessary element to being able to hear what God’s desire is for your marriage and your future. A young boy was standing in the room opposite his mother when she called for him to take out the garbage on a cold winter day. Hearing no response, she waited about thirty minutes and in a softer tone called for him to come have cookies. He came running. Requests that challenge our comfort and our willingness are as hard to comprehend as we are willing to obey. The Bible gives numerous examples of how God’s will for us is usually outside of our personal comfort zone. For example, the young rich ruler, who Jesus looked at and loved, would not follow Christ because He didn’t want to live outside of the security of his riches. The comfort of money was, to him, greater than the comfort of fully pleasing God. The story of the good Samaritan shows someone willing to discomfort their own life to help someone in need. The Bible also gives the example of a shepherd with one hundred sheep. He loses one and will suffer the discomfort of leaving the ninety-nine to rescue the one lost sheep. Let our comfort zone be the will of God and our place of danger be anything else without Him.
Before the next decision for your life and marriage must be made, begin to seek God and consider doing the things that have come to your heart, but are outside of what is common to you. Some people don’t like venturing into unknown territory because they fear failure or they fear the unfamiliar. Don’t fear. When you obey God’s will for your life, you can be confident that He will neither fail you, nor forsake you. Once a couple surrenders to following Christ with all of their hearts, He will keep them and watch over His purpose in them. The submitted couple will quickly lose the desire for the many things offered in our culture to pacify bored and purposeless souls. They will find abundant life and great joy in the midst of the very trials that they probably would not have faced if they had not sought to totally please God. Make the decision to give your marriage to totally pleasing God. “If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him”. Outside of our comfort zones, there are many hurting and hungry souls that have yet to know the love of Jesus.
Finally, make the decision realizing that indecision is a decision. Some people claim that they don’t have time to make a decision. They say, “in about six months things will finally slow down, then we will change things”. Every vehicle with the ability to accelerate and go must also have the ability to slow down and stop. Who would put their children in a car with a faulty brake system? Indecision is a vehicle with jammed brakes. When you will not stop the momentum something else will do it for you. Either you will run out of gas or you will crash. It is not God’s will to lead His children by the crash and burn technique. He would much rather hear our prayer of willingness, answer with direction and see us make the decision to follow on with Him.
If you have never made the decision to follow Jesus with all of your heart and receive forgiveness of your sins, now is the right time. Even if you have made a dedication in the past and are not doing His will for your life today, make the decision to receive Him and serve Him as your Lord from this moment on. There will never be a godly marriage without God. Receive the gift of God today! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
If you have made the decision to dedicate your life and/or your marriage to the Lord Jesus, call someone that is serving Him and tell them about your decision.
Study Notes
1. Matthew 6:19-21
2. Philippians 2:8
3. Luke 22:39-46
4. 2 Chronicles 7:14
5. John 5:30-44
6. 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
7. John 7:16,17
8. Matthew 19:16-30
9. Luke 10:25-37; 15:1-7
10. Psalm 91
11. 1 Corinthians 2:9,10
12. Deuteronomy 31:6; John 8:29
13. 2 Timothy 2:12
14. Isaiah 55:12
