It May Not Be Convenient
True spirituality requires sacrifice and discipline, and convenience leads to mediocrity.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that true spiritual growth and service to God often require personal inconvenience and sacrifice. He argues that if our faith does not challenge us or disrupt our comfort, we are likely settling for mediocrity in our Christian walk. Tozer reminds us that the path to spiritual maturity is not convenient, much like the journey of mountain climbers who face peril and hardship. He calls for believers to embrace the discomfort of true discipleship, as convenience has no place in genuine faith. Ultimately, he urges us to seek God's will and serve Him faithfully, regardless of the challenges we may face.
Text
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. --1 Corinthians 9:27
What must our Lord think of us if His work and His witness depend upon the convenience of His people? The truth is that every advance that we make for God and for His cause must be made at our inconvenience. If it does not inconvenience us at all, there is no cross in it! If we have been able to reduce spirituality to a smooth pattern and it costs us nothing--no disturbance, no bother and no element of sacrifice in it--we are not getting anywhere with God. We have stopped and pitched our unworthy tent halfway between the swamp and the peak.
We are mediocre Christians!
Was there ever a cross that was convenient? Was there ever a convenient way to die? I have never heard of any, and judgment is not going to be a matter of convenience, either! Yet we look around for convenience, thinking we can reach the mountain peak conveniently and without trouble or danger to ourselves.
Actually, mountain climbers are always in peril and they are always advancing at their inconvenience. I Talk Back to the Devil, 48.
"Lord, I don't know what You have in store for me today, in Your sovereign plan for my life. Help me to serve You faithfully, with full discipline, whether it's convenient or not. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Inconvenience of Spiritual Growth
- The Consequences of Convenience
- The Call to Discipleship
- Discipline is necessary for spiritual growth
- Faithfulness is more important than convenience
Key Quotes
“If it does not inconvenience us at all, there is no cross in it!” — A.W. Tozer
“We have stopped and pitched our unworthy tent halfway between the swamp and the peak.” — A.W. Tozer
“Actually, mountain climbers are always in peril and they are always advancing at their inconvenience.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be willing to inconvenience ourselves in order to grow spiritually.
- Faithfulness is more important than convenience in our relationship with God.
- Discipline is necessary for spiritual growth and serving God faithfully.