In high school, I loved my car. I had a brand new red, 5 speed, 2 door Chevy Cavalier. I had side graphics going down the side, tinted windows, spoiler designed for street racing, and a pioneer sound system. I LOVED THAT CAR! I also had a car payment. I HATED THAT PAYMENT!
My freshman year of high school (before I had the car), I met a girl. She would not give me the time of day. I move to another state and you would think the story with this girl was over. Junior year, I ask this girl to prom. When I say I asked her to prom, I mean I asked if I could fly her to another state to attend a one night event at a small school. Up until this point, I took the trash out more than I could take a girl out. That is saying a lot considering my dad had to threaten, bribe, and threaten me again to get me to take out the trash. Then the impossible happened. The girl who never said yes when I lived in her town, just said yes to me in another state. Within a year, I LOVED THIS GIRL. Over the next two years, we became best friends and I asked her to marry me. SHE SAID YES!!!! All my friends ask, how I was able to marry out of my league.
One week before we get married, the girl I love totals the car I love. My loves, my values collided. I was so mad, yet so grateful for this girl. Feeling the tension?
Philippians 3:8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.
This is the collision that happened when I started following Jesus. I loved my friends, and I loved Jesus. I loved parties, and I loved prayer. These worlds didn’t mix. I was one person at the party with my friend, yet I was another in prayer with Jesus. Very quickly, I knew I had to choose. Can I admit, it was a hard choice and it hurt? So I chose Jesus. My friends hated me and there were no more parties. I would spend hours praying and spending Jesus. Over time, my heart came alive and a strange thing happened. I realized that parties, popularity, and the things I used to value didn’t matter anymore.
I have been following Jesus for 14 years now, and you would think that I would have my values in order. Every year, I find myself redefining my values. Where do I find approval, time with family or at work, what is “real” success, or what does it mean to be generous? I am finding the roots in my values and finding Jesus wants to tear out these bad roots. So many are roots in pride, selfishness, or fear. Jesus wants to establish roots of love, joy, and faith.
What do you value? Friends, games, money, job, GPA, performance… What is the root of that value? Right now, list 3-5 things you are working for. Now write down next to each one why you want it? Fear of lack, fear of failure, trying to impress someone, prove yourself? Now ask Jesus what He wants you to do?
Recklessly, obsessively following Jesus
Brandon Sereg
