I remember when I read Crazy Love by Francis Chan, I was surprised and grateful to read his thoughts about God’s will in our lives. He was using the example of praying for safe travel and, essentially…comfort. He then said, what if we quit praying for safety and started praying for God’s will to be done, however it needs to be done.
Now, that is my horrible paraphrase of his comment, because I don’t have the book at my desk, but nonetheless, you get what I’m saying. We often times have this deep sense of needing to be comfortable, and we quit chasing after God. Dare I say, if you are comfortable, you are probably not in the will of God. I came across this quote on Church Marketing Sucks discussing church branding. Very interesting.
But some “felt needs” are inherently unbiblical. The “need to be entertained at all times.” The “need to be safe.” These are not biblical imperatives, they are cultural ones. And the church is not obligated to meet all the demands of a worldly society. Evaluate the felt needs of your congregation, and ask whether they are truly biblical. Sometimes they feel a need, and it is your obligation to explain to them that there is something greater. Church marketing demands we put the gospel and lifestyle modeled after Christ above all else.
It is imperative to ask God’s blessing divine protection over our lives, but when that becomes our focus, we have lost track. Our focus must always be His kingdom, and how we establish our place in the success of “your kingdom be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That is our focus, and everything else are merely benefits. May we seek first the kingdom of God.