Why Christians Settle for Less Than God’s Best
Why Christians settle for less is a common occurrence among God’s people (heirs through Jesus Christ). They compromise on God’s plan, take detours or ignore Him altogether. Every once in a while, we need a never-settle-for-less biblical sermon like this post (wink).
One of the funniest and saddest moments in Abraham and Sarah’s life was when they took control of their circumstances. They looked at their old bodies believing there was no way to produce a biological child. God didn’t stutter when He promised Abraham at age 75 that through his seed and Sarah’s womb (Genesis 18:10) Abraham’s descendants would occupy Canaan (See Genesis 12:4-7).
Along the way to seeing God’s promise come true, a really dumb idea went off in Sarai’s head—Genesis 16:1-4. My book, Cheating Spouse Help Book for Christian Men, hadn’t been written but it’s one Abraham needed to read!
Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Can’t you see Abram standing at attention, saluting Sarai and saying, “Okay, I’ll do it for you.” Then, he hightailed it to his tent dragging Hagar along with him. Abram was 86. The promised child Isaac from Sarai’s womb was born 14 years later. What woman in her right mind would give another woman to her husband (as a present)? However, the story provides insight into why Christians settle for less.
Problems Caused by the Couple’s Disobedience
- Immediate discord between husband and wife occurred when Hagar became pregnant (Genesis 16:5). Then, the blame game started. Abram and Sarai rebuked each other for their indiscretion. I can imagine the dialogue went something like this. Abram: “Well, you said I could” and Sarai: “Old man, when have you ever listened to a word I said?” Sarai’s anger escalates. Abram remains passive.
- God predicts Ishmael’s future. “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him (Genesis 16:12). Not long after Isaac’s birth, his mother now called Sarah demanded that Abraham release Hagar and Ishmael. As would happen with any parent, Abraham grieved because he loved his son. Nevertheless, God promises that from Ishmael a great nation would come because the boy is Abraham’s seed.
- Ishmael was born out of fleshly efforts. Isaac was born from the spirit of God. God’s covenant with His people is through Isaac, not Ishmael.
Why Christians Settle For Less: They Discount God’s Instructions
I totally understand how Abram and Sarai messed up with God. It’s hard to wait 25 years for a promise to come true when there’s no convincing physical evidence. This wasn’t the first time Abram chose to settle for less.
God told him to leave Haran and his kin and settle in Canaan. Instead, they took along kin (his brother’s son Lot). In time, fights broke out among herds owned separately by Lot and Abraham.
Here are other Biblical stories about settling for less than God’s best. They thought settling was a better idea than staying close to God and hearing (and believing) His instructions.
- Adam and Eve disobey God to eat a juicy piece of fruit.
- Issac and Rebecca each choose a favorite child contributing to the rivalry between Esau and Jacob.
- Esau exchanges his birthright for a bowl of soup.
- Jacob marries two sisters because their Dad tricks him on Jacob’s wedding night. There’s a lifelong feud between Rachel and Leah to produce children.
- Even with Solomon’s wisdom, he marries women from nations other than Israel. Seven hundred wives and 300 concubines turned his heart to other gods.
Have you discovered it’s easier to follow your own way but doing so comes at a price? Once I left one job because it was totally wrong only to accept another one that was worse. I paid a dear price because that bad decision (without God) affected my health.
I spent years fighting anxiety because I stayed in a job God told me to leave two years before I actually did. Yeah, pretty dumb. My devotion to God wasn’t what it should be.
Most of us mess up once and most likely many times before it sinks in that God’s ways are better.
Why Christians Settle for Less and Fail to Pursue Excellence
What you pursue tells others what or who is most important in your life. Abram and Sarai craved having a son. They took extreme measures when discouragement set in. Their desire fueled their hearts rather than trusting God’s promise to come true. Eventually, the couple figures out to follow God’s plan.
How about you? Do you chase down things and people to reach goals? Maybe your lifelong goal is to own a home by age 30 (actually the bank owns it if you don’t pay cash). So, you take on the debt for 30 years and live like a pauper to pay for it. Did I mention you didn’t ask God before you take the plunge?
He might ask you to wait (He knows an inheritance is coming), save money, trust Him with your finances or use the money for other people. His reasons always relate to building excellence in your life. Most times, the initial desires of your heart are fulfilled later or change completely.
Perhaps you’re single, want children, and the right person never seems to come along. You’re tired of waiting and remember the guy or gal in high school. They aren’t married either and thought you were great. After striking up a relationship, you marry the wrong person. Children are born from the marriage but you’re miserable. God had someone else in mind, a more excellent match.
Don’t settle for less. You’ll miss God’s excellent plan.
Why Christians Settle For Less Than God’s Best
Passion for anything other than God causes internal conflict between your flesh and spirit. Most Christians don’t even know what God’s best is for them. They accept whatever comes along as from God and live broken-down lives. Strife and discord are just as prevalent as disharmony experienced by their unsaved neighbors.
Without intending to point blame, have you ever been in a church that dumbed down God’s Word? I have. God’s power was nowhere in sight. Worship felt more like a social gathering minus the Holy Spirit. You and I are responsible for our decisions. However, a lot of times settling for less has to do with what we learn in church.
When you commit to God’s best, you know that what He wants for you is just over the horizon. His best may be a spiritual revelation, a breakthrough you’ve waited for or something else.
God’s best means you believe with all your heart what Jeremiah told Israel in Jeremiah 29:11.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Keep in mind Jeremiah wrote this when Israel had been taken captive by Babylon and Jerusalem destroyed. You and I live in an ungodly world but that doesn’t mean we cave because of what we see.
Why Christians Settle for Less and What To Do
Live knowing that God has more for you than you can imagine. You won’t know what you miss when you settle for less until in heaven—but it’s plenty. So, while a citizen of heaven keep your faith stirred up by connecting to the Spirit of God. Avoid religious teachings. Retrain your mind so that when God’s best is just around the corner, you’re ready to receive what He has.