Are you obsessed with Jesus? Francis Chan says that, “Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. Obsessed people care more about God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.” Are those statements a fair summary of your life?
If you’re like me, there are times when I can identify with that level of obsession, but far more times when I can’t. More than anything else, true followers of Christ are obsessed with Jesus. They can’t get close enough or learn too much about Him. While it can be uncomfortable to ask these questions of ourselves, we must evaluate whether or not we are obsessed with Jesus.
Which parts of Chan’s definition are the most difficult for you? In our Western culture, there is strong pressure to conform, to do what is expected and keep up with the proverbial Jones’s. We are encouraged to buy things we can’t afford to keep up the appearance of succeeding in our pursuit of the American dream. Many fall into this trap without ever realizing it. I’m not against anyone owning nice things, but when those things own you, you aren’t living in obedience to Christ. A good test of whether or not your stuff owns you is to give it away. If even the thought of living without something causes some consternation, you are probably treading on the dangerous ground of idolatry.
It’s not just our stuff or status that can get in the way of being obsessed with Jesus. It can also be our comfort. Most people I know (including myself) are inordinately consumed with their own safety and comfort. The irony of living in one of the most comfortable and secure places on the planet is not lost on me. Yet still we fret about personal security and engage in a never ending quest for comfort in our lives. Jesus said we would have trouble in life (John 16:33), that people would hate us (Matthew 10:22), and if we lived like Him we might even find ourselves homeless (Luke 9:58); so much for security and comfort.
What keeps you from being obsessed with Jesus? What’s holding you back? Are you afraid to give up the things you have worked so hard to acquire? Does the thought of surrendering your social status seem like too much to ask? Whose Kingdom are you building anyway?
To be obsessed with Jesus means letting go of everything we think we own. It means giving up on trying to fit in or keep up with our neighbors. When we’re obsessed with Jesus we will focus our entire life on building His Kingdom and forget about building our own. We’ll stop caring about our own comfort and seek the comfort of others instead. We’ll give away what we have to care for those in need. And we’ll spend our days basking in the love of our Savior. That is what it means to be obsessed with Jesus.