Creature comforts abound here in the United States. Despite the broken promises of the American dream, our society still runs on its founding premise of pursuing life, liberty, and happiness. We adhere to its values of working hard and striving for more. We participate in the system: work, play, eat, sleep. Get a better job. Get a better house. Get better clothes. Get better gadgets. Then repeat. And repeat, and repeat again. There are always more creature comforts to be had. And more is always better.
Or is it?
The painful truth is that more is never enough. As I’ve pursued the increase of my creature comforts, it has kept the focus of my life on me, myself, and I; it keeps me oblivious to the needs of others. It builds the buffer of my comfort zone so thick that I don’t have to be affected by the world beyond.
God’s people, however, are called to something greater. Our lives are not meant to feed only our own needs and serve only our own whims. Our lives are to be a source of nourishment and comfort for others.
The American dream has taught us to trust in the world’s kingdom to comfort and satisfy. We exploit the old kingdom to build up mini-kingdoms of wealth, power, and prestige. But God’s people are to grow God’s kingdom, inviting others into his love and mercy. We are to share God’s comfort with the world—not hoard it. As God’s kingdom grows, his comfort abounds “as far as the curse is found.” This truly is the more our hearts long for.
Erin Straza is the author of Comfort Detox: Finding Freedom from Habits That Bind You (InterVarsity Press). Learn more at ErinStraza.com. Adapted from Comfort Detox by Erin Straza. Copyright © 2017 by Erin Straza. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426. www.ivpress.com.
