In the last two years, my entire life has been turned upside down. From everybody’s perspective, I was on top of the world: I had lost 40 pounds, had gotten in shape, had self-published a book, started riding my bike to work (saving gas, money, and the environment!), was working at the best job I’d ever had, and by all intents and purposes, I had everything going for me.
Except for one little problem. I had made this my god (little “g”). I was too busy to read my Bible, was too busy to pray on a regular basis, too tired to play with my kids, too drained to spend quality time with my wife. I scrounged cycling forums several times a day, and kept meticulous records of my weekly mileage (I clocked in 4000+ miles in one year, on my bicycle!) But it wasn’t enough.
I was trying to better myself, but in the process, I had lost what really matters. I no longer was doing what I needed to do. I didn’t really need to get healthier or save money. I wanted to because it made me feel better physically and mentally. But spiritually, I was sick!
The truth is, I was seeking approval from the wrong place. I was getting plenty of accolades, even from the people whom I was cheating time from. But I had walked away from talking with God. I was content that the relationship would stay on hold, and that God would be there, right where I left off, when I needed him again.
And then I got hit by a car that ran a red light. Shattered my life, shattered my femur, shattered my self-confidence. It shook me from top to bottom, and all of a sudden I realized I wasn’t as close to God as I had thought. I found myself unable to stand or walk, stuck with a hospital bill I couldn’t pay. I was completely helpless.
For a few days, I stuck it out. I was strong, I could deal with this. But after days of having my leg in traction waiting on surgery (and you don’t want to know how they did that… let’s just say, even on morphine, it was extremely unpleasant) I broke down and admitted there was absolutely nothing I could do. And then, when I realized all those pounds I lost and miles I rode were worthless if I might never walk again, God came to me. He was there, all along. He hadn’t moved: I had left Him behind. In my own quest for self-improvement, I had lost touch with my Creator.
I urge you, if you’re in a place where everything is going fine, don’t forget about God. It’s easy, but don’t do it. You cannot enjoy all the things in life you’ve been blessed with without acknowledging who allowed it to happen.
“But,” you say with your hands on your hips, “God didn’t give me fitness/money/whatever, I worked for it!”
Who gave you the ability to walk? Who kept you from being run over by a car running a red light? Who do you think blessed you with eyesight to be able to read this? God did. It wasn’t an accident. Who allowed me to get hit by a car? God did. Why? Because when you can’t walk, you can’t run away from your problems. God won’t chase you; He will make you stop running. That’s how He works.
Self-improvement for its own sake is pointless. Only when you replace the worldly approval with Jesus do you see benefits of doing good. You can obsess over simplicity just like you can be consumed with materialism. For some it’s a matter of obsessing over something good, like exercise, while leaving your spiritual condition in shambles.
Focusing on anything, even “good” things, outside of God, will land you in trouble. One day you may find yourself unable to run. Once you realize you are helpless, truly helpless, then you will be able to see God do miraculous things.
Good works are not a substitute for a relationship with God.