More, Quicker, Now

Unmasking the Perils of an Accelerated Lifestyle

We are living in an age of more, quicker, and now. This is a dangerous slope to slide down as the more, quicker, and now is never satisfied but keeps getting hungrier and hungrier. The mentality, I believe, arose from the Industrial Revolution and just continued to breed more when things we now take for granted become accessible to nearly all.

The Roots of Acceleration & Luxury of Slowing Down

When is the last time you thought about clean drinking water? Unless you were in Flint, Michigan, in the US, or somewhere else in another country without it, this is something that does not cross your mind much. This common luxury is just that—a huge luxury. When we slow down, want less, and can delay, we transform our minds into a realm that is downright unparalleled and, I believe, biblically sound. For Christ made his own time to draw away from crowds of people to connect with the Father, to slow down and understand what matters the most: His Father's will. When we transform our thinking, our identification of more, quicker, and now can be flipped upside down.

I remember the first time shopping at a Goodwill and not understanding that most people don't shop there, and I didn't understand at that time what the whole fuss about Abercrombie and Finch really was about at all. I grew up in a way where I was always told we don't have enough, or we are poor. These words stuck with me when I was younger because I knew I couldn't count on my parents for college, but I knew I wanted to go. I knew that I didn't want to grow up like them, but I didn't know what I was missing until high school. That's when I went over some friends' houses and saw that their entire garage was bigger than my house. I remember the hurt and shame I felt when I saw this because I felt as if I did something wrong in life and that my parents really were poor.

Journey to Self-Discovery- Stress to Spiritual Transformation

What took years of journeying through more, quicker, and now I wanted to justify my worth beyond poor to rich. I wanted the nice car, house, clothing, vacations, and everything I could get my hands on to say I'm worth something! What I didn't realize was when I chased harder after those things, the more stress and endless crappy crap cycle my life became. When the light bulb clicked, and I truly met Jehovah Jireh, my life changed. Not overnight. But Jehovah worked in me through years of a revolutionary thought process. Now, that same old Goodwill is my friend, and I believe environmentally better for us in so many ways. It is funny how sometimes life can teach you things full circle.

A Purpose Driven Life - The lies Corrupting Influence of More, Quicker, and Now

A life without purpose in God is more, quicker, and now, but a life with Him is slow and grateful, less of self and delayed gratification. When we truly see and let Jehovah allow himself to work in us, we can become poor in spirit, and blessed is that individual for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. The word transforms us to not be so different in a way that causes attention to us and takes away glory from God, but in a way that allows others to see what our priorities are all about—God, thus truly glorifying Him. How much more can we say with our faith that what really matters to me, and my household is doing the purpose that He sent me out to do on my day-to-day life. I have never felt better in my life knowing I plant a seed of God in a life, as my heart, mind, and soul were full of overwhelming excitement and emotion because that's better than a trip to Italy or a 5000 sq ft house.

Inherently, there is nothing wrong with having luxury in life or enjoying the abundance of His blessings. When we are ungrateful and chasing more, quicker, and now, we are never spending time being slow and grateful for every little blessing that our source Elohim created. Our fast-food nation has transformed our thinking in all aspects, and I personally believe money is the most corrupt of it all.

A Modern Parable: Rethinking Wealth and Relationship

A man is a best-selling author, real estate mogul, and billionaire—a true rags-to-riches story. He worked his way through life, acquiring all that he could possibly dream for his family and himself for a better life than what he came from before. Private jet flying, private school buying, went to church, treated people well, didn't commit adultery, did not murder, was not a liar, honored his mother and father, didn't defraud people to get his riches—a by society's book a "righteous" person, one would call him. He was even voted the most outstanding citizen among his peers. When going on the road and his limo blew a flat tire, a humble servant of God, a lowly tire maintenance man, spoke the words of God to him.

He simply asked the rich billionaire, "Are you sure you will inherit eternal life? The man, flustered by this question, looked at the lowly man and entertained him, and said to him, 'What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?' His mindset was thinking of earning and deserving, not a relationship. He even repeated all the things he did by God's law for his community and others, a just model citizen, as to say, 'What more could I possibly do or be missing?' The lowly man didn't respond to all the claims he made but simply followed up with another question: 'Don't you believe you are lacking one thing? Will you go away from here and sell all you have and give it to the poor?' Silence.

Before leaving, the man said, 'To inherit eternal life, you will have to put your treasure in heaven and follow Jesus.' The man looked dumbfounded and immediately enraged but quickly turned sorrowful because he realized he had many possessions. The story isn't meant to be a word-for-word from Mark 10, the rich young ruler parable, but a concept of what I believe is our modern time story versus ancient times. Sometimes it's easier to place examples and stories in the context of today to have an appreciation and better understanding of the past.

That billionaire would have a hard time selling everything he worked for and giving it to the poor. Jesus is not saying this because he wants everyone to sell every possession they own to get to heaven! That's far from the point. The point is Jesus is making is he wants a relationship! Yes, Jesus is literally asking this man to do that, but why would he ask him? He knew the state of this man's heart. His own ignorance of his spiritual condition was only fueled by people around him, giving him praise for what he was doing and not glorifying God.

The Desire for Relationship over Possessions

He wants to be the first and only thing we worship and to know The Father is the source of the billions and all this billionaire thinks he owns. God could allow for someone to give it all possession away, and a person of God would gladly do it because they know that Jesus is the SOURCE! (John 5,26) That same God didn't take his talents away that got him the billions but wants us to use them for his Kingdom. Jesus even said there will always be poor people among us. Why does he need this billionaire's money? HE DOESN'T! That's the point. He needs our trust in Him and not in the riches for his protection or anything. Everything is possible with God and nothing without him.

Conclusion: Choosing Faith Over More, Quicker, and Now

He doesn't need us; He WANTS us. He wants to be FIRST before money, possessions, and accolades. When we have Faith and Trust in our Source-God, He can replace it all 3X, 10X, or 70X over. He is Elohim the creator, but He cannot replace a heart that doesn't submit. It should not matter what we have in this world as we cannot take anything with us. How foolish do we live our lives like this billionaire or the rich young ruler? You have a choice. If there is anything that stands in your way to take up the cross and follow Christ, let it be given up. More, quicker, and now seem to be less and less in line with God's teachings.