Chasing the American Dream

Chasing the American Dream

“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position ”

                                                                                    -James Truslow Adams (1931)

For the past several years, I have been increasingly chasing after the American Dream.  Everyday it seems like I desire more STUFF.  One of my greatest weaknesses is finding those great deals / bargains and convincing myself that I NEED it.  Over the past couple of years I have found myself consumed by increasing my 401k, investing in a house, paying off a truck, buying more and more tools, going through bikes that cost more than peoples cars, and yet I knew that these things would never satisfy my need for Christ.  Life had changed from chasing the American dream to living it. 

David Platt writes in his book Radical:

“We stand amid the American dream dominated by self-advancement, self esteem, and self sufficiency, by individualism, materialism, and universalism.”

Most of you have heard my story going to West Virginia looking at taking a job that was going to double my salary, give me federal benefits including amazing retirement, and secure employment.  It was during that trip that God opened up the doors again for a long-term missions opportunity to share the gospel with Palestinians through a unique, strategic ministry.  When I was contemplating the decision all the things that I had acquired became barriers once again for me to fully obey Christ.  

Preparation for a ministry and my new adventure has been exciting over the past couple of weeks.  At first I threw my self a pity party telling myself that God could not really ask me to give up all these things.  I worried about if my STUFF would be taken care of and in perfect shape once I get back.  Slowly, the Spirit convicted me of several things through the process and after I started selling things I felt that burden completely lifted.  God provided me with people to buy almost everything that I have and the rest I have been blessed to give to family and friends.  What a relief!

In Mark 10, Jesus tells the rich young man to go home that he lacked one thing.  Jesus tells him to go sell everything he has, give it to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven.  And then He said then come and follow me.  Jesus has asked us to come, follow me, trust in me, abandon everything that you have for me. Before I go to much further let make a note that it is not wrong to have nice things, own property, or have a 401k.  But if those things keep me from fully obeying Christ then they must be trimmed back or cut off in order that fruit may be produced. 

Little did I know when I started processing and thinking through these things I had a friend recommend reading a book by David Platt called Radical.  This book has been amazing in reinforcing my decisions and has helped challenged me greatly in my relationship with Christ.  It has been instrumental in helping reminding me of my single purpose on this planet: extend His glory to ends of the earth. 

Platt asks some hard questions throughout his book and makes some great challenges.  I encourage you to ask yourself these questions and then invest in the book Radical and see where God takes you.

Do we really believe that He is worth abandoning everything for?

Do you and I really believe that Jesus is so good, so satisfying, and so rewarding that we will leave all we have and all we own and all we are in order to find fullness in Him?

Do you and I really believe Him enough to obey Him and follow Him wherever he leads, even when the crowds in our culture – and maybe our churches – turn the other way?

There a lot of things that I can do on my own.  I could even move to Palestine and try to do everything on my own.  But what would life look like if I got past imagining what I want to accomplish and ask God to do what only he can accomplish.  As for me I have less than 4 weeks before I leave and I cannot wait to see what God going to accomplish through my life.