RU a Spiritual Hobbit

RU A Spiritual Hobbit

One of the reasons I love running is the time it affords me to meditate, pray, and think through issues.  On today’s 8 mile run I had many thoughts coursing through my mind, but the thought I kept coming back to was how much believers have become like the Hobbits in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  The comparisons are uncanny.

If you have not had the opportunity to watch the movies or read the books, allow me to give the comparison.  At the beginning of Frodo’s quest (not his uncle, Bilbo Baggins … that is the original book – The Hobbit), He and his three friends, Sam, Merry, and Pippen, are thrust out of the Shire (the comfy homestead) and into the battle for Middle-Earth.  Evil is sweeping the land, and the fate of man is at stake.  Unknown, at the time, to Frodo, he is going to be pivotal in the salvation of mankind from the throes of evil that has been building in Mordor, which was just outside of Ministereth (a type of the church).

The quest takes them on many adventures that, otherwise, they would have never experience.  These events gave them a greater appreciation for the blessings of the shire (when they would eventually return). 

My point in the comparison is that only 3 (4 if you count Bilbo) Hobbits became intimately involved in the battle for the salvation of mankind.  During their quest they realized that it was necessary to give up niceties and comforts if the quest was to be successful.  They could not be selfish.  They had been used to breakfast, early lunch, lunch, afternoon lunch, and supper.  They had a set schedule (back in the Shire), and would not let anything get in the way of accomplishing that schedule.  It was the same thing day in and day out. 

This is when thought of how believers compare to Hobbits come to mind.  I am writing a book called – RU FIT, Curing Spiritual and Physical Obesity in the body of Christ.  It is almost finished.  The main Idea is that most believers are physically obese, and that is a problem.  But just as much a problem is our obesity in the area of spiritual matters.  Let me explain.  The average evangelical believer comes together for 4 spiritual meals at the gathering place each week (Sunday school, Sunday AM, Sunday PM, and Wednesday).  On top of this, hopefully, believers have another spiritual meal everyday day … this is called our daily devotions.  So, the average believer is getting 4 banquet meals prepared by another, and then they each another “meal” everyday.  That is a lot of spiritual eating … if you consider all the doctrine and teaching involved in each of those meals.  That is a lot of spiritual “calories and nutrients” being taken in by our spiritual bodies.

The latest statistics tell us that the average believer does not have anybody (that is unsaved or not growing) that they specifically pray and fast for on a daily and weekly basis.  It is important that our spiritual bodies GIVE OUT what we are TAKING IN so that we do not become spiritually obese.  It is like running … I can only stay healthy as I PURPOSEFULLY USE what I have TAKEN IN on a daily basis or I will become unfit.  If I do not USE what I TAKE IN spiritually I WILL become an obese Christian … and that is unhealthy for you  and the body of Christ.  We need FIT Christians … Christians who are PURPOSEFULLY engaged in the spiritual warfare where they live, work, and play.

Our churches are geared for you to BRING people in so that the PULPIT can influence them.  Let me challenge this … you should pray, seek, and live to influence people yourself … and then bring them in so they can be encouraged to become a spiritual warrior.   If not, they will become an obese Christian that wobbles from service to service while become spiritually unhealthy. 

Hobbits love to talk about the food they are preparing or are eating … it consumes most of their time.  They believe they are good hobbits because of their “stocked” pantries.  Believers can default to this very easily, and talk about how much they have “eaten” this week and how good it was … while their workmates, family members, and friends continue their journey to hell, or continue living unhealthy lives as an obese believer. 

Let’s wake up!  There is a battle for mankind taking place all around us.  Many of us live like Hobbits … oblivious of what others are giving up so that they can take part in the battle for the souls of mankind.  We are like the Hobbits who were merrily going about their business when Frodo, Merry, Pippen, and Sam returned from their quest.  They were aware that no one was even aware of what they sacrificed for their benefit.  They were living in blindness just as always.  But not the four friends … it changed them forever.

RU a Spiritual Hobbit?  Do you eat and eat and eat without purposefully having people in mind for whom you are praying and fasting that God will allow you to influence with the truth?  Don’t just be a good person (like the good ole Hobbits) that eats and talks about how good the “food” is … get involved in the daily battle for souls and make a difference.  Use the nutrients and calories that our “food” affords and get hungry for more because of your activity.  Make “eating food” serve a purpose.  Don’t become one of the many who are spiritually obese.

Live OUT LOUD!

Mark Harrell – Habakkuk 2:2