Have you ever heard the admonition: “Don’t settle for less!” Unfortunately, in our day and age, many people do not heed such good advice. Some folks are too willing to find self-satisfaction merely being better than others even if most are better than they are. They generally hold others to a much higher standard than they hold themselves.

This reality even finds its way into the spiritual fabric of many people. Casual Christians have somehow grown accustomed to offering to God nothing more than a “good effort.” Twenty-first century Christians are not the first of God’s people to fall into this lethargy, however. Numbers 32 tells the story of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh requesting to settle on the east side of the Jordan River rather than the west side, or The Promised Land. Simply put, when it came to God’s plan, they were not “all in.”

Think about that for a moment. The reason the Hebrews fled Egypt was to take residence in the land God had promised them for an inheritance, yet they desired to establish their homes short of that goal. The reasons are various. In some cases, it was self-centeredness. Rather than gamble on the fact that the Promised Land was as fruitful and fertile as reported, these tribes who were rich in livestock wanted to play it safe and remain in a place where they knew what they would get. They valued their herds more than their faith in the promise of God.

Another reason some did not want to leave the east side of the Jordan was fear. These were afraid that their wives and children would perish in a land filled with unknown enemies and elements. They heard the stories the majority bloc of spies had told of giants and other perils in the land. They were not willing to believe that the promise of God would not only be beneficial, but also safe.

Another reason some decided to remain behind was nostalgia. Reading the Old Testament account of dividing the land may seem boring, but one interesting highlight is that many of those clan leaders from the tribes who remained on the east side were men who had led in great conquests over the Edomites and Moabites encountered along the wilderness journey. Undoubtedly, these men still basked in the glow of victory. They continued to live on the emotional high of what they had experienced in their past rather than expecting to experience the power and glory of God in even greater measure.

What about you? What keeps you from being “all in” with your commitment to Christ? Are you more concerned with your own well-being? Do you value your “stuff” more than a radical disciple relationship with Jesus? Do you think for one moment that your plan is better for you than His? Do you doubt that the provision of God would also accompany the plan of God? Are you relishing the emotional highs of past experiences rather than seeking a fresh touch from God today?

Why not turn loose of the ball and chain of mediocrity and follow Christ daily with a radical abandon that motivates you to be ready and willing to do what He says do and go where He says go. The payoff is incomparable. You can have so much more than what you are clutching if you will offer yourself daily as a living sacrifice.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?” – Matthew 16:24-26