“Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”
– Matthew 21:21
Yesterday we talked about how egotism gets in the way of life in the Spirit. Today, I want to talk about the second thing that can hinder the movement of God in your life — pragmatism. I’m a pragmatic person and I think it can be good to be pragmatic, but when pragmatism becomes your highest value, it destroys your soul; it gets in the way of your best life. Now, when I say pragmatism, what I mean is that everything must be practical, and many of us are that way, especially in a modern world. But what’s practical about surfing or kissing or singing or Disneyland? The pragmatic person might say that surfing is exercise and that singing bonds a community in common value, or that kissing creates serotonin and love chemicals in the brain. But who really thinks about that? I guess my point is that the lens of pragmatism can ruin your spiritual life. Be pragmatic, but not at everything. Sometimes God will ask you to do something that makes no sense. Sometimes it’s good to follow your heart. Who knows? Maybe you will see a mountain throw itself into the sea! |
Prayer
God, teach me to follow your lead, even when it doesn’t make sense. Replace the lens of pragmatism with a heart of boundless faith.
Reflection
Do you find yourself being pragmatic in matters of the heart? If so, how might you press into faith?
One Response
Yes sometimes I can be pragmatic when it comes to matters of the heart for that GOD doesn’t want us to be pragmatic but have faith , hope, & love for all people to believe the best always & forevermore!