The Danger of Comfortable

If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan. Numbers 32:5

For many years, I remained unwilling to get up early to go to the gym before work. I wanted to be in shape, but waking up early was too much work. I liked staying up late and I liked sleeping in as long as possible. I knew going to the gym early would mean sacrifice and I found that sacrifice to be too much. The comfort of my bed prevented me from getting where I wanted to go. Now, I go to bed early so I can get up early and go to the gym. I’m in far better shape than I was 10 years ago, and I don’t miss sleeping in. I now recognize that the thing I didn’t want to give up just wasn’t that important.

I’ve struggled with this same concept regarding my faith though. I have a comfortable life. I like my comfortable life. I’ve often had this fear that completely surrendering to God’s would mean giving up my comfortable life. What if God asks me to be a missionary in some third world country? So, I’ve clung to my comfortable life, being hesitant about truly following God and his will for me.

This is where some of the Israelites found themselves in today’s passage. In the story, as the Israelites approached the Promise Land, they conquered the Midianites, just outside the Promise Land. Two of the twelve tribes of Israel decided they wanted to stay there instead of crossing the Jordan River into the land of Canaan. Why? This side of the river was already conquered. No, it wasn’t the Promise Land, but it was safe. It was comfortable. Invading Canaan meant more war, danger, and sacrifice. So, these two tribes asked Moses if they could simply stay put. We want to follow God, but that seems like a lot of work. We like it here.

Comfortable can be dangerous for me. In my comfort, I don’t really see my need for God, and I don’t want to do anything to disrupt my comfort. Living for myself though, has also led me to the disaster of my addiction. In recovery, I’m learning that following God has meant embracing some uncomfortable situations. Working in jail was not consistent with the comfortable life. I can tell you this though – I’ve never once regretted following God and I like my life infinitely more in following God than I did following myself. Any comfort I may have sacrificed pales in comparison to the joy and peace I’ve found in seeking God’s will.