SPACE Program, Book 09

Lesson 9

THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS EMOTIONSDEALING WITH BOREDOMINTRODUCTION:

Sometimes on the road to spiritual maturity, we find ourselves sidetracked by boredom.We find a certain dullness and indifference creeping over us. Our zeal and enthusiasm may not be what it once was, or the activities of our day may lack a bit in excitement. Boredom is theloss of zest or the absence of sparkle. Boredom in the Christian life is linked to spiritual dullnessor indifference. See Hebrews 6:11-12.

I.THE REASONS FOR BOREDOM.

The reasons are many. It may well be that we are simply weary from overwork and lack of rest. A confusion of goals or lack of progress toward those goals may leave us without asense of purpose. We may also have unreal expectations. We also suffer boredom because our concerns are turned inward. Or still yet, we may be attempting like the children of Israel togather enough “manna” (spiritual food) in one day, such as Sunday, to last all week, and thus our spiritual life becomes stale.

II. BIBLICAL PREVENTATIVES AND CORRECTIVE STEPS WE CAN TAKE.

A.Seek something fresh from the Lord each day. There are few things quite astantalizing as the smell of freshly baked bread. The same is true for our spirituallives. Nothing gives renewed energy like fresh “bread” from heaven, a verse of Scripture which the Holy Spirit uses to quicken our hearts. This first step in preventing or overcoming boredom is to begin the day with at least a moment of prayer and a few verses of Scripture. Psalms 59:16; Lamentations 3:22-23.B.Establish well-defined goals. When it comes to knowing where we are going asChristians, many of us do a lot of meandering, and this brings confusion and boredom to our lives. Even when we do have established goals, they may seemso far away that the present day loses its meaning. As important as long termgoals are, we need to break them into “day-sized” pieces to keep our perspectivesclear. A person does not become a doctor or an effective teacher in a day's time.But you can move closer to your goal by doing each day what needs to be done.See Psalms 118:24.C.Let your efforts be done as service to the Lord. In Colossians the Apostle Paul iswriting to Christian slaves, a group of people who no doubt had difficulty seeingtheir work as meaningful or fulfilling. They were probably chafing under bondage, wanting to be really “free” to do God’s will. Paul instructs them tochange their attitude, not their circumstances. Colossians 3:23-24. The twoelements mentioned in these verses give meaning to even the most mundanelaborer. Put your heart into your vocation, and do it as a service to the Lord.Lesson 9 (cont’d)D.Learn to expect God in the ordinary. While God meets people in the church215

where they gather to worship Him, He also surprises us by appearing in the midstof the ordinary. The woman at the well was simply drawing water for her needswhen she was introduced to the Water of Life. John 4:10. Matthew was engagedin commerce when Jesus said, "Come, follow me" in Matthew 9:9. Peter and his brother Andrew were washing their nets when Jesus called them to be Hisdisciples in Matthew 4:18-20. The ordinary becomes extraordinary when God isin it. He does not often speak out of burning bushes, yet He speaks continually.Sometimes He speaks through the words of a small child, a rebellious teenager,or even through our business associates, or our spouses. We will discover this for ourselves if we will became aware that he walks with us through the day.E.Make a habit of turning your concern outward. Each day do something for someone else. Become concerned for someone else's need. Nothing brings our own need into true perspective like seeing what others have to deal with.

CONCLUSION:

Boredom is not only unnecessary, it can and should be overcome. Consider carefullywhat you have studied this week and let Christ “who is our life” truly fill you with thatabundant life which He so graciously promised to all who trust in Him. John 10:10.216

Lesson 9 (cont’d)Answer the following questions:1. How many reasons for boredom can you find?2. Under “The reasons for boredom” can you find the one that causes you to experience boredom the most?3. What is the first step in preventing or overcoming boredom and how do youaccomplish this step?a. b.4. It is good to have long range goals but to help overcome boredom we need short“day-sized” goals, why?5. Psalms 118:24 tells us what kind of attitude we should have concerning the day theLord has made, what is it?6. Paul instructs the Colossians to change their what and not their circumstances?7. What two elements are mentioned in Colossians 3:23-24 that give meaning even tothe most mundane laborer?a. b.8. Boredom is not only unnecessary, it can and should be overcome. List the fiveBiblical preventatives and corrective steps we can take to overcome boredom?a. b.c.d.e.