God asks us to live with urgency. But what makes up that urgency? How do we get there? Why should we be urgent? Is this just another way to get me to volunteer?
Those were some of the questions that went through my mind as I thought about this issue. Especially that last question. But when I think about life two realities strike me.
1.) We only have so much time to live.
Even the longest lives last only 90 or 100 years. In the grand scheme of things, that’s just not much time. Our lives are a blink of an eye compared to trees, the planet, or Spam. And as morbid as this may sound, many of us won’t make it that long. We constantly tell ourselves “I’ll get to it tomorrow.” But we can’t predict the future. We can’t be sure there’s a “tomorrow”, let alone a “future!” If you want to live urgently, don’t count on being able to do things years from now. Do things now.
2.) The desperate need of people.
At any given moment there are people in desperate need of a loving God. They are also in desperate need of another human showing them just what it means to live out a life of faith. They don’t want theories or theology. They don’t want empty promises or distant gestures. What they want is to know God is real, and that he hasn’t forgotten them. When we don’t act, people suffer, often alone. As much as I love my freedom, my individuality, there may be nothing more terrifying than suffering alone. The more I think about this, the more I feel a sense of urgency. I don’t want my inaction to be why someone suffered alone.
How you can live life with urgency:
- Find a way to help someone achieve their dream
- Invite someone out for a drink, even if it’s just coffee
- Talk to someone this week who thinks you don’t like them
- Buy dinner for a friend
- Listen, really listen, when people are talking to you
Advancing the kingdom, living life with urgency, living a life of faith, aren’t always big things. We don’t always need to give tons of money or move to Africa. Sometimes it’s just enough to be there now and to be engaged.
