Are you having an affair?

“Are you having an affair?” Weren’t expecting that question here, were ya?

Let me take a step back and say that I’m not talking about cheating on your spouse… although, obviously if you are, then by all means seek help! Rather, I’m speaking to the adulterous spirit we often have within us… in relation to God and His Church!

Before I talk about what that means exactly, let’s look at what a “committed relationship” looks like:

When you’re in a committed relationship, you are concentrated on that one person. You think about them. You adore them. You want to spend more time with them. After that initial “dreamy” phase, the relationship becomes established on a solid foundation, built on trust with the expectation of being there for each other. Right?

But what happens when times get tough? Surely, love should overcome such obstacles. I mean, that’s what commitment is all about… getting through the thick and the thin, becoming stronger as a result. In an ideal world, everyone would come out just fine! However, too often we see the opposite, especially in today’s “me-first!” culture.

Divorce rates aren’t dropping anytime soon. Church membership, as a whole, is in decline. Single pregnant teenage girls are a current trend. Non-profits have trouble getting volunteers to help with even the most basic of tasks. Colleges have seen more dropouts than ever. Small businesses can’t keep part-time workers long enough to train them. All of this is a result of people not fulfilling their commitment!

So what does this have to do with God and Church? Because we are fast approaching the time of the year (summertime) where it’s seemingly perfectly acceptable to take the weekends off to the beach, mountains, wherever, to “escape”. Where “getting away” takes precedent over investing our lives in a community that needs us to surround them in love! This is not to say that vacations are off-limits, (God knows we need them!) but when spending time away (from Him) becomes a habit, then the relationship suffers!

When God needs us the most to change others’ lives, we’re off “sneaking around”, “having fun”, all the while the “unchurched” people that need a strong Christian believer to be influenced by, keep dragging on through life as if no one cares. We go on thinking our part-time commitment should suffice, when God really wants all of us!

1 Samuel 15:22 says,

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

God doesn’t want your “sacrifices”! That’s no better than the lousy dad that has been away, who buys his children’s love with nice, expensive gifts upon his return. It’s a temporary fix that doesn’t solve a deeper problem. The kids just grow up with “daddy issues” and that leads to more broken relationships.

Our Heavenly Father just wants our heart! In other words, He wants to be in a committed relationship with you so that He can trust you! (just like any other relationship)

Exodus 34 describes God as “jealous” and for good reason! He doesn’t want you spending large amounts of time away from Him!

If we are committed to God, then our attendance on Sunday mornings, the money we give, the volunteering we take part in, is just a normal result of a Spirit-driven life instead of being a “sacrifice”!

The moments we spend in God’s presence is time well-invested! It grows us closer to Him! Don’t forget that!

So where are you at now?

Can you say you’ve really been spending enough time with the One who loves you and desires your affection?

Have you been doing all you can to “feed” your (Church) family?

Or have you been engaging in an affair brought on by your own selfish desires?

These are questions only you can answer… but the conclusion should be: give God your all!

(He’s already done that for you!)