“Call it a plug-in, an add-on, or an extension that you installed, it will only delay a crash. Your system needed to be completely reinstalled.” Words you might expect from a computer engineer, but what if they came from a mature Christian and referred to your spiritual life. Far too many people receive Christ and treat Him like an add-on; He’s there when they need Him, but most of the time He is left in the background. When teaching discipleship, I’ve always emphasized the importance for taking time each day to read the Bible and pray, if it’s only 15 minutes. Some have replied with excuses like these, “I don’t have time.” “I guess I can try and get up 15 minutes earlier.” “I simply can’t find a place in my schedule.” It always frustrated me when I inquired about what was filling their day and heard scenarios like this. “I get up early and go to the gym—must have my exercise. Then go to work and stay so busy I never can think about God. After work, I take my kids to their ball practice, and I play basketball on Thursday night. When I get home, I’m exhausted and it’s time for bed.”
For individuals like this, Christianity is viewed as just another activity added to their life. They place it in its own compartment separated from their rest of life. Serving Christ doesn’t work this way. Christianity is all-encompassing and must become part of the whole, integrated into the fabric of our being. Living the Christian life is founded on a relationship with Christ, not an additional endeavor. Paul compares serving Christ to marriage. Every successful marriage is based on a relationship with one’s spouse. We can’t compartmentalize marriage as a detached endeavor. When we marry, it must incorporate every aspect of each other’s life. Even at my busiest times at work, my relationship with my wife never lessened. I didn’t go to work in the morning and leave behind my thoughts of her until I returned home in the evening. I may not have been actively generating thoughts about her, but she was still in my thoughts. Our relationship has developed to the point that when we are physically separated, she is still a factor in all that I do. Paul used the analogy of marriage to aid us in understanding our relationship with Christ. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church (Eph 5:32).
After the Lord gave Israel the Law, He instructed them that it was to be impressed on their heart and soul. They were to bind them on hand and forehead. They were to write them on the doorpost and gates of their house (Deut 11:18-20). The Law became their guiding factor concerning everything and not something, they did on the Sabbath at the Temple. Now after the death and resurrection of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit, believers have His Word in their heart through the person of the Holy Spirit guiding them 24/7—that is if they don’t shut Him out.
As Western thinkers, we have been programed to dichotomize life into secular and sacred; up there and down here; physical and spiritual; church and state. The Bible doesn’t address life this way. For the Jews there was no separation between sacred and secular. Everything was sacred—their work, their school, their business, their home, their marriages, etc. Note the phrase ‘whatever you do’ that Paul used in these verses, Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father (Col 3:17) . Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men (Col 3:23). Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1Co 10:31). This phrase embraces all of life. A moment never exists when we are doing something ‘secular’. For believers it’s all sacred.
When believers compartmentalize Christ, and shut Him out of what they consider secular, they operate in their own strength. When He is integrated in our lives, we have the strength of the Holy Spirit working through us, guiding our decisions, managing our schedules, etc. When we allow Him in every facet of our being, then He can take His role as Helper (Jn 14:26). Paul prayed, now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father . . . comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word (2Th 2:16, 17). If everything you do is as for the Lord rather than for men and to the glory of God, you can rest assured He is there helping.
When I work in my shop, I am constantly looking for a tool or a part. I’ve learned to pray, “Holy Spirit, show me where I left that tool.” I am amazed every time how quickly I find something. Often I look up and it’s in front of my eyes. Christ is interested in everything I do and desires to be part. I wonder if those who compartmentalize Christ would be as exhausted at the end of the day, if they would integrate Him into all of their life. This relationship doesn’t happen overnight, but like marriage, it takes time. We must daily practice letting Him in every aspect of life.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Is Jesus just an add-on? Ask Him to reinstall Himself as Lord of every facet of your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to integrate into ever fabric of your being.