Affection is a deep word. The dictionary defines it as a fond attachment or devotion or love. Though we may not think too deeply about our affections, it doesn’t dismiss that we have them. As people, we were designed to care and think about the things we care about. We were knit together in order to love.
Our broken condition exists because of our inability to choose the love that would make us whole. In Genesis 1 & 2, we walked with God unashamed and only needing His presence. Despite these sweet moments, in Genesis 3 we began believing a lie that has handicapped us to this day– that God isn’t enough.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25-26)
Everything we were created for– our purpose (to glorify God) our mission (to be fruitful and multiply) was lost in a moment. Our eyes were no longer fixed on God and the path of life He had established for us. Because of this, we do not know how to truly live. In fact, some of us will die having never lived.
This is the reason for the strain in our relationships and the mishandling of our possessions. Think of your closest relationships– they may be great and even God-glorifying however, when they tank, if your sense of identity goes with it, then you have successfully misplaced your affections. For some, it may not be our relationships but our possessions. The new Toyota Tundra that you saved up for years for now has an untraceable dent on the passenger door. If you lose your mind over such finite things, your affections have gotten hold of the temporary. This is a very dangerous place to be. Even in the midst of trying to pursue Christ (or morality) all of us struggle with giving our love and attention to things that don’t really matter (even if you say you want to follow Christ).
And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:16-22)
Our dilemma begins when we deeply love things that were never meant to be loved in that way. We cling to people that were never meant to be our rock. This creates tendencies that the Lord never intended us to have, which exposes us to a life that we were never meant to live. The root of our problems is simple– we are the problem. We misplace our affections. We give them away.
So what is the solution?
If we were made for the Lord then this means our affections are as well. Affections which are rightly placed is the only solution. A change of situation will never make our lives more joyful, because joy was never created to be sustained by gifts. God is not only the source of the gifts but the source of our life. Affections centered upon the one whom they were designed for will not only serve us well when trials come but also redeem the way we view our relationships with others and how we view our possessions. Consider the joy of this man:
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)
The presence of the Lord is so fulfilling that it can lead us to count everything we have as a loss! However, this fulfillment comes after our priorities are back in place. After we admit that we are the very reason why we don’t have a growing relationship with the Lord. We must address the dust on our bibles and the current condition of our heart– only then will we be in a place to view Jesus as the one who saves us (because we need saving) and our sustainer.
We must take captive of our thoughts. What we think about the most is what we care about the most. I’m sure you know by now, we need help–serious help.
When was the last time you prayed to the Lord to stir and control your affections? When was the last time you asked Him to help your unbelief? It’s time for us to figure these things out so that He may become our portion forever. How liberating would it be to gladly give everything up because of the joy of following the Lord?
Jesus in John 4:14:
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
mitchjay 