Devotion 3.2.19

We’ve in a series based on a book called, “King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine”.  If you have any questions, thoughts, and comments, email me and I’d love to incorporate them.

What’s the difference between a fan and a fanatic….?

This is the question that we need to ask ourselves as we consider those things in the world that God has made us passionate about.  This is the question the book I’ve been reading would have us ask as we look at the difference between a “lover” and someone who’s become “addicted”.

In both cases, there’s some thing in this world, some tangible thing that fills the senses.  It can be cars. It can be a sports team.  It can be food, drink, love, clothes, working out, fishing…. The list can go on endlessly.  But what’s the difference?  It can be hard to define, and it can be hard to speak.  Others may see us fanatics, but we tend to think of ourselves as fans.  Of course I love______, I’m a big fan.

I would define the difference in this way.  Whatever the _____ is, it’s not intrinsically bad, but the fan does not get lost in the subject and is able to set up boundaries around their passion for it to keep their most important values first.  “Seek first the kingdom of God” is not just a nice passage, but a mantra they can live by.  They can love food but set limits on money and calories if they see harm coming.  They can love classic cars, but don’t skip church to go to the car show.  They get a rush when working out, but it is not the primary/only thing they talk about with others.  They love their kids, but they know that if there most important goal is their kids following God, their schedule should reflect following God and not other kid activities.

They will not let the pleasure of a moment in the ___________ surpass their core values and relationship with God.

Take a moment to talk to God about the things you love and enjoy.  Consider if you keep them in place.  Consider the time, money, and energy you contribute to them. Consider the things you would say are your highest values as a Christian man.  How are the two coming together?  Are their places they’re not working together? Be willing to let yourself have some honest conversations on this topic and set a goal coming out of it.

Blessings!

Dan Borkenhagen

Associate Pastor

Hope Lutheran Church & School