Obedience. This is an area where I struggle.  Why is obedience so difficult?  The answer is simple.  I know the answer, but yet I still struggle to be obedient to God’s Word.  Now,  I’m not talking about the 10 commandments here.  Those are much easier to follow than some the other things I encounter like selfishness or laziness.  Ooo, how about gluttony?  That one is tough for me as well.  I LOVE food.  The Word says we are not to LOVE anything of this world.  Yet everyday is a struggle for me to be unselfish, to be active and not lazy and to not be a glutton.

Selfishness

As I write this, I am beginning to sound like a pretty lame christian here.  When I say I am selfish, it is mostly in my time.  I have no problem giving money or things that someone may need.  However, when I was asked to help lead youth group … well my first thought was, “Do I want to give up my Sunday evenings for that?” No.  No I don’t.  But I felt convicted.

And when Jeffrey told me he was going to help whether I did or not, I knew it was something I need to do.  To be honest, I am glad I did.  I have a lot to offer our teens in the way of bad choices I made and how the Lord used them to help me grow and be an overcomer of tough times.

I hope that my experience will help them, just as I hope All Things Genuine will encourage and help you.  That is my goal in life and with this blog.

Philippians 2:3 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Laziness

I am inherently lazy.  I always have been.  I love to just sit around, be on the internet doing what ever. All day movie marathons on a Saturday afternoon with popcorn and ice cream? I’m IN!   The last thing I want to do is be active.  I don’t want to cook and clean or get any kind of exercise.

Now that you know more than I’d care for you to know. I will also tell you.  I love to cook, I love a clean house and exercise once complete makes me feel great!  So, I force myself and pray, because I want to be obedient.  I want to be healthy and I want clean house.

Proverbs 19:15

Gluttony

UGH!  I think this is probably the worst one in my opinion.  Here is the selfish part … this one is the only one that directly effects me.  I guess laziness does too really.  Being a glutton first is sinful.  The word says,

Proverbs 23:1-3

Yikes!! That’s harsh and for good reason:

Proverbs 23:21

Obedience

So back to the original question.  Why is obedience so difficult?  In my opinion, being disobedient is second nature to us as humans.  Adam and Eve didn’t make it very far before the enemy tempted them and they gave in and sinned.  Why? Because they were selfish.  They wanted what God had. Complete knowledge.  They couldn’t just accept what a great thing God had already given them.  The Garden of Eden.  Perfect peace, protection and provision.   You can read about that in Genesis 3. Genesis 3The Fall

Another reason we find it hard to be obedient is because we are afraid of the unknown.  We do NOT trust the Lord.  He has proven Himself a dozen times over in my life.  That He can take care of every situation.  That He will provide for my every need.  Still I want control.  I want to do things my own way, then seek Him if I need Him.  Pretty lame huh?  But I think most of us are like that.  More than we care to admit.  Praise the Lord for grace and mercy.

A good example of this is found in Luke 10. Martha was simply selfish, fearful and untrusting.

Luke 10:38-42

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary,who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Response

Being obedient is something I seek everyday.  I know my short comings and I want what the Lord wants.  I want to trust Him and seek Him First, not last.  I love the song by Lauren Daigle – Trust In You.  I have attached the YouTube video here for you to check it out.

1 John 5

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  (bold italics added)

How bout you?  Where do you struggle most in obedience?  How do you work everyday to overcome those areas?