How do I love Jesus more than Facebook?

Have you ever noticed how skilled Christians are at coming up with really smart sounding spiritual comments? I myself made an impressive one earlier today. I quoted a verse as my status on Facebook (Philippians 3:8) about discarding everything in this world as garbage compared to the worth of knowing Jesus, and then I boldly claimed this to be my daily goal for 2011. Now, I know that you are impressed already - but wait, it gets better. A friend made a funny comment about not discarding Facebook, and I came up with this doosy of a holier than thou remark: As long as I love Jesus more than Facebook I think we're good. Wow. Amazingly spiritual? Yes. The only problem that has been plaguing me since I wrote that is this:

Does anyone know what that actually means?

Seriously! I mean, it sounds good. I think its probably something most passionate Christians would agree with... but what does loving Jesus more than Facebook actually look like?

I believe that this is where we sometimes lose our way. We know the right things to say, but we never dig deeper to figure out what those things actually mean, or what they're supposed to look like in our lives. We find a verse that satisfies our spiritual appetites and then move on and live as usual.

My guess as to why we tend to do this is that we are afraid of what will be required of us if we actually apply God's truth to our lives. If I really love Jesus more than Facebook (or Target, or my kids, or money, and on and on), then how will my life have to change?

The verse I quoted from Philippians is a passionate cry of absolute surrender and total commitment to God and His purposes here on earth. It communicates a deep, heart felt belief that Jesus really is more meaningful and more important than anything we might try to find fulfillment in here.

I'm not going to build some comprehensive list for how to tell if your love for Christ outweighs your love for the things of this world (Facebook or otherwise). Far too often we try to boil these things down to a tidy list, and we end up with a legalistic and inadequate formula for walking with God.

If you read further on in Philippians, however, you'll come to some verses that might help to define the boundaries for a heart that loves the world more than Christ:

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. Philippians 3:18-19

That's pretty intense, right? Truthfully, though, how often does that describe me? Or you? How often does our conduct show that the true state of our hearts is an obsession with things and people and an apathy towards our Savior and Maker?

I don't know what loving Jesus more than Facebook looks like exactly for you. I have some friends who honestly have quit it altogether because on some level it pulled their hearts and minds away from Christ. For others, it is great platform for communicating their love for God and sharing His love with others. I don't think it matters so much the conclusion you come to, only that you are honestly living out your faith from a heart that sincerely longs to honor Christ and serve Christ above all else.

So, how will I love Jesus more than Facebook?

I'm going to have to dig a little deeper, ponder a little more, and get back to you on that. . .

Here's to another new year; a chance to take God's word to the core of who we are and allow it to change us from the inside out. . .

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. Phil 3:8