title

Are You Settling?

August 2nd, 2011 Filed under Intentional Living 2 Comments

It was early evening and the restaurant was not too crowded when a family of four came into the restaurant.  You could see the dynamics before they even spoke a word.  Dad’s Windsor knot was open to about the third button on his shirt.  Mom was still in her workout clothes from her morning aerobics class.  The teenage boy was riveted to his handheld video game and his little sister just wanted someone to talk with her.

Once seated it was not long before the waitress had brought their drinks and were awaiting their orders.  Dad, mom and son were Johnny on the spot but the daughter was really struggling.

“Just pick something, Amy.”

“But, mom, there is nothing I really want very much and I am not that hungry.”

“You have to get something.  It doesn’t matter.  Just decide.”

“Ok, I guess I will take the chicken fingers.”

We have all been there, seen this and have played the role of Amy and mom in this story.  Just pick something.  Anything will do.  It is really not that important.  Average or just above will work.  It is good enough.  Settle on something.  And in many ways what Amy chose for dinner would not propel her down the path of destruction or happiness but there are many times in our lives that the choice will greatly affect us.

Or how about when others settle for us?  “This is what you are going to get – be satisfied with it.”  Now don’t get me wrong…there is a level of truth in that statement and we can’t complain and be disgruntled about everything that comes into our lives.  But, when fine is good enough all the time or when we are afraid to wait out for the best – for the promise land of God – and chose to settle for the ordinary, our lives will be impacted.

When I think about settling, I can’t help but think about a house settling.  As a home is being built, the foundation is poured, the framing is done, the roof is laid and the walls are established.  In five or maybe ten years, the home settles into the ground and the cracks in the walls begin to appear.  The foundation of the home is hard as a rock but the ground under the foundation is sifting sand.

When we settle and are content with mediocrity, day in and day out, we limit God’s blessings in our lives.

Is there an area in your life that you have already settled?  “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”  Joel 2:25

Are there areas in your life were you are tempted to settle?  To not wait on the best?  “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him!”  Lamentations 3:25

In your work, do you have an attitude of settling?  “B- work is good enough.”   “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.