Contributor: Ryan Moffat, BS, Teaching Pastor at Vast Church
Until recently my strategy as a consumer has been targeted on value, not quality. Why get the real shoes when Wal-Mart is selling the generic shoes for $9.99? Why get the name brand car when I can get the upcoming “Kia: Optima” for a 1/3 of the price? This narrative has played out most clearly every spring when the sun starts coming out again and I need to purchase my sunglasses.
I’ve always loved the idea of spending $100+ on a nice pair of Oakley’s, Natives or Bolle’s but the no-name $15 glasses are just too hard to say no to. Until two years ago I would just go through a pair or two of generic glasses every year.
The Value We Place on Things
The major problem (besides the horrible glare, terrible discomfort, and minimal sun blockage) is the minimal price I paid for the glasses coincided with the minimal value I ascribed to them. I care far less about losing or damaging a $10 object than a $100 object.
It seems to me that sometimes we are looking for the same thing from God. We want more activity from Him, more direct involvement from Him in our lives. We think that if He really cared and really loved us He would make sure to be more blatantly involved. I think this is exactly what Paul was bringing clarity to when he said in Romans 8:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[a] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
The Infinite Value
The stunning, life-changing reality that Paul is unpacking here is this…Since God gave that of infinite value (His own Son), how will He not give us EVERYTHING ELSE that is good? The answer to Paul’s hypothetical question is this; God won’t withhold any other good thing!
God doesn’t focus on the quantity of the gift like a frantic father choking his kids with candy and cheap imitation and junk from the dollar tree. God, the Ultimate Father, gives the gift of supreme quality and beauty, His own Son, Jesus Christ.
The implications of this truth are life-altering if you let this reality sink in. We keep looking for the quantity of cheap imitation and God keeps pointing the radiant quality of His own Son.
Finding the Quality in Everything
Three years ago I finally had enough of cheap glasses that break easily, get lost without any thought and do very little in blocking UV rays from my eyes. I found the perfect Bolle’ glasses and reluctantly dropped the cash to become the proud owner of these beauties.
Three summers later here I think I have finally learned- QUALITY ALWAYS TRUMPS QUANTITY. The object of my faith in the midst of addiction, difficulties, trouble, and pain is MORE important than the amount of my faith. Too many of us functionally believe that we have to clean ourselves and be “good little boys and girls” before we come to God. Jesus says the opposite: “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest”. If I learned this in the trivial matters of eyewear how much more should we consider the implications for our faith in God?
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
How has our faith changed during your recovery? Do you believe it is the quality of faith or quantity of faith that is important?
About the Author:
Ryan received his BS in Bible and Theology and a minor in counseling from Multnomah University. He has pastored students, families and is passionate about Christ-centered recovery and healing.
He’s been married to his beautiful wife Michelle for 13 years and they enjoy raising four crazy, unique and special kids together. Ryan is the teaching pastor at Vast Church in Sisters, OR and is currently working on his Masters in Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, OR
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of addiction. These are not necessarily the views of Addiction Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on March 21st, 2015
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