Wednesday, January 20, 2016
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I had a mountain of work to do to prepare for some radio programs that I was scheduled to record, and the way things worked out I ended up doing it on the road. I was traveling by van about 12 hours with two of our team members. Now, let me make one thing clear. I like to drive; a guy thing maybe. I'm not the greatest passenger. I don't really like to ride, but I had so much work to do, I needed all the time we were driving on the trip to get it done. So they actually set up this little office for me in the back of the van, and they brought along a little power pack that would allow me to use my computer all the way. Very reluctantly, I climbed into the back of the van and settled in to work and watch someone else drive. At first it drove me nuts. But by the end of the trip, I realized how much creative work I'd gotten done in my office on wheels. What a productive day I had! All because I let someone else drive.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Control Freaks and Chronic Worry."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Matthew 6, beginning at verse 25. Now, Jesus is describing what happens when we live as a passenger instead of a driver. "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body what you will wear." Then He says in verse 26, "Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them."
He says in verse 32, "Pagans run after all these things. But your Heavenly Father knows you need them. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." See, when it comes to the important needs and issues in our life, we control freaks want to make sure we're handling it. Jesus says, "You're not driving. Get in the back seat. Your needs are your Father's job."
Worrying, which He cautions against three times here, if not commands against, is a sure sign that you're driving. Yes, worry says you're driving. You obviously have not turned over your trip to the Lord. In fact, Driver wouldn't be a bad synonym for Lord. We follow the Driver, Jesus Christ.
People without a relationship with the Heavenly Father have to hang onto the wheel, spending the best of their energies and their time looking out for their agenda. But Jesus nailed that controlling approach to life with these simple words, "Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. Quit trying to meet your own needs; it's His job." Then Jesus says you'll be able to focus on God's agenda, "seeking first His kingdom" to really get His work done, to live for what matters to Him. Why? For the same reason I was able to get so much done that day of a long drive. Someone else was driving.
When we're focused on driving our own life, driving those relationships, driving our ministry, driving our business, driving our children, driving our mate, we can't focus on serving and saving others. No, we're too busy driving.
It could be that the Lord right now is trying to pry your hands off that steering wheel of your life or some areas of your life that you've just got to control. He's inviting you to do what my team members invited me to do that day in the van. Just go to the back. Let someone else drive and focus your efforts on your Master and His work.
Life can be so much more productive if you relinquish the wheel. God has so much He wants to do in you and through you, but you've just been too busy driving. Take it from a driver who's finally learning to ride. It's so much better being a passenger in a life that Jesus is driving.
You know, actually the whole essence of our broken relationship with God is the wrong person has been driving. I guess that's why the middle letter of sin is "I". Because I'm running a life God was supposed to run. And when we relinquish that wheel and give it to the One who died for us, we begin a relationship with God that now starts to take our life where it was created to be.
Maybe you've never made that choice and you're intrigued with it. Would you check out our website and find out how you can begin to have a life that is driven by the One who gave it to you in the first place? Our website is ANewStory.com.
Jesus won't fall asleep at the wheel, He won't ever let go on turns, and He will never crash. And you? You'll finally enjoy the blessed peace and productivity of being the passenger. That's the passenger advantage.