This World Has Nothing For Me

Phillip A. Bishop
Exercise Physiology,
University of Alabama

[Nov 22, 2009] —

We sang a song in church recently with the words, “This world has nothing for me.” I thought, “They must be kidding! This world has lots for me.”

I’ve spent all these years in school, and thousands of hours studying so that I could squeeze as much out of this world as possible. And squeeze I have.

I worked my way through school. I put in lots of hard hours. What the world has given me, I have earned. After all, I was smart enough to be born in a free country. I chose my parents wisely enough to inherit enough basic intelligence. I was skilled enough to be in the right place at the right time.

I Want More

I have a doctoral degree, a great job, nice students, a wonderful family, and a house in a nice neighborhood. I have just been nominated for a prestigious (well-deserved, in my opinion) professional award. A student and I are in the final stage of negotiating a research contract with an international corporation. I get to travel lots of places on other people’s money.

Sure, this world has plenty for me. And I want more.

I’m not greedy, understand. Well, maybe I am a little greedy, but I deserve it.

God intended for me to be happy…. I think Scripture says that somewhere. God surely must have wanted me to have all this stuff.

Of course I have to keep working hard to hold onto this stuff. I have payments due, you know. And I certainly don’t want to jeopardize my job. That puts food on the table so that I can go to church on Sunday. That’s what God wants, right?

And I am extremely busy. After all, I teach two classes a term! I am so busy that I can’t be expected to meet with other Christians on campus, and I sure don’t have time or energy to minister on campus. That’s why there are professional campus ministers, right?

My Reputation

Plus in our academic culture, Christianity is definitely uncool. Religion is superstition, many of my colleagues say, and I don’t want to upset them. I sure don’t want to be known as a Christian. That could hurt my reputation.

I’m a helper, too. Just the other day, I helped out a colleague by pointing out that an award he had won was just due to luck, and the vote had been really close until I cast the deciding vote for him. Got to help them stay humble right?

….I hate to admit that I actually do think some of these things from time to time, but God sets me straight. Sometimes God corrects me through sermons, sometimes through the authority of Scripture, sometimes through Christian colleagues. I’m just glad He hasn’t lost interest in me.

He has given me all that I have. Everything.