Have you ever found yourself wanting one thing but doing something totally opposite?
Like maybe after spending an hour at the gym, you decide to eat a Sprinkles cup cake. Chances are, you’ll never reach your goal on the bathroom scale that way. Or you want a good marriage, but you want to keep being selfish. You want to make impulsive purchases at the mall and have financial growth and security. Or you’re not ready to let go of your private addiction (eg: Scandal night), but you want a growing relationship with God. Stop! It doesn’t work that way. These things can’t co-exist, and it’s double-mindedness to want them to.
Notice three things the Bible says about double-mindedness:
First, double-minded people are everywhere.
There is double-mindedness in all of us. There are competing things we want that we try to make go together. And we have to begin to think differently about this.
If I really want this, I’m not going to have that. I have to get off the fence and stop with the in-between. No more half-measures. I have to settle this. What do I really want?
Second, double-mindedness creates instability.
Are the friends wondering which You is coming out today? Is the extended family worried about how that uncle is going to act at the next family gathering? Are all the employees on edge anticipating what the office will be like when "she" or "he" arrives?
Or maybe it’s you. You’re unstable, and you know it. The people around you sure know it. You’re unpredictable. You might try to hide it in public, but people close to you see it and they never know what to expect from you. The bottom line is that you want two things that can’t coexist, and it makes you unstable.
Third, double-mindedness affects everything.
Seriously, everything. The Christian who is double-minded about daily bible reading and prayer? It's affecting his relationship with God and eternal security. The guy who is double-minded about his marriage? It’s affecting his career. The woman who’s double-minded about her finances? It’s affecting her parenting.
You might protest, “I make some bad financial decisions, but I would never do anything to hurt my family!” Well, you actually are. Double-mindedness affects everything.
Ending double-mindedness isn’t easy, but it’s pretty simple. You have to want to think differently. And you have to take action that reinforces your desire.
Later in that same chapter of James, we read, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22, ESV).
Are you ready to put an end to double-mindedness?
Want what God wants.
Seek His ways in His Word.
Confess your desire for two things that cannot coexist, and put off the behavior that is keeping you from doing the thing that will make you more like Christ.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Holy One , I confess that I don’t always want what You want. Sometimes I desire one thing but act in a totally different way. I confess that my behavior can create instability in other areas of my life and hurt those around me. Thank You, Lord, for opening my eyes to my double-mindedness. Help me to think differently. By Your grace, help me to do the things that reflect Your power in my life. In Jesus’ character changing name, amen.
Doppio to Go!
Robbs
