Perhaps, in today’s society, people’s free time is valued more than ever before. If left unchecked, both Christians and non-believers alike can get trapped in unhealthy cycles of self-indulgence.
Some people spend numerous hours each day engaging on social media platforms, watching television, playing video games, and doing other recreational activities that drain the limited hours they have to be productive. In a recent sermon, Pastor Matt Chandler called men out about this potentially destructive behavior. The lead minister of teaching at the Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas said, “Why are men going to bed these days with so much energy? That’s not what God designed you for. God designed you to go to bed tired.”
Chandler shared his belief that God wants men to discover fulfillment while working for something more significant than themselves. The lead pastor of teaching at Village Church divulged that he feels this work should focus on building a relationship with God, one’s spouse, and one’s family. Scripture reveals God intended for men to work hard and provide for their loved ones. I Timothy 5:8 states, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Sadly, today, so many distractions get in the way of men’s service to their wives, children, and jobs. Chandler reiterated that men weren’t created in order to sit around thinking about ways to spend their free time. Rather, he communicated that God delegated that men should lead their families spiritually. Chandler said, “There’s the call to our wives. There’s the call to our children. There’s the call to our church, all of which must be answered and will be empowered by the Holy Spirit for us to operate in that.” The co-author of The Explicit Gospel said, “God has not designed you for a bunch of free time. He has created you to make war and you’re punting on that.”
The lead pastor of teaching at the Village Church also warned the audience about the pitfalls of a bored man. Chandler stated, “a bored man is a dangerous man.” Fortunately, the co-author of Creature of the Word: The Jesus Centered Church shared that he believes men who put every fiber of their beings into their relationship with God, their wives, and their kids won’t have time to get bored. Chandler divulged that men may feel susceptible to walking into their houses burdened with heavy hearts after a tiring day of work. But, he reasoned, “what this weight does is push you into Jesus.” Even though Chandler is a minister, he said he must beseech help from the Holy Spirit every day before entering his home.
The co-author of The Explicit Gospel stated, “I pull into the driveway and I have to ask the Holy Spirit for strength. I have to breathe, open up the car door, walk in, ask what I can serve, not measure what [my wife has] done versus what I’ve done today. Figure out how I can serve her, and check on the hearts of the children.” Chandler shared that occasionally “I still feel like I’m going to burn out.” However, he explained that Jesus holds the keys to burnout. He said, “Rest is found in Christ. Not in a nap, nor in a pina colada on the beach.”
While people flock to beaches and other vacation spots to recharge their bodies, they often come home feeling tired. Chandler provided the reason for this seemingly confusing phenomena. He said, “They will not restore your soul the way Jesus Christ will restore your soul,” The lead pastor of teaching at the Village Church said, “Everything works right when men are being men instead of boys who can shave.” Both men and women can glean wisdom from Chandler’s warnings about the pitfalls of unproductivity. Everyone should strive to follow Colossians 3:23, which states in part, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”
~ 1776 Christian
