May 25

Written by Bill Grandi on May 25th, 2023

Have you ever heard of compartmentalization? I think many people, especially Christ-followers, are experts at it.

So, what is it? Compartmentalization is the art of “sectioning off” our lives. This goes here. That goes there. It is good if you are purging your house or office, but I see it way too often in church people. Sunday is…well…Sunday.  That’s the day you go to church and do “church things.” I can remember once asking my grandfather to play cards when I was visiting with he and my grandmother one Sunday. His response was like this: “Bill, my dad and mom were not very religious in any way, shape, or form, but I asked him one Sunday to play cards with me and I was told Sunday was not the day to play cards or any game.” He went on to say, “We never did play cards on Sunday. Every other day, but not Sunday.” Sunday, even to a non-believer, was a sacred day.

It’s easy to get trapped into a religious vs. non-religious mindset. It is easy to say, “I listen only to Christian music or a Christian station. Never anything…wait for it…secular.”

Do you see what I just did? I compartmentalized religious music vs “secular” music. How easy it is to do that and to justify it.

But let’s look at it a different way. Years ago I memorized  a Bible verse and used it whenever I signed anything. It was Colossians 3:17;“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  That verse tells me that no matter what I am doing-singing praise, cleaning a toilet, cutting grass, reading my Bible, helping my neighbor, riding my bike or working out, WHATEVER-I am to do it FOR and IN THE NAME of Jesus. No religious vs secular. No matter what I do, it is to be done for Him and for His glory. A Christ-follower singing a rock song (within reason, of course) and doing it for His glory, is following the same path as a Christian singer singing, “To God be the Glory.”

Let’s see all we do as an opportunity to honor God.After all, what good is our faith if it does not affect every area of our lives? Let’s stop compartmentalizing.

 

12 Comments so far ↓

  1. Pam Williams says:

    So true Bill! How much greater is our witness when we are consistently living out our commitment to Christ in EVERY area of our lives!

  2. Amen, Bill! May our belief in Jesus Christ carry over to every aspect of our lives.
    Blessings!

  3. Ryan S. says:

    Bill, I think you hit that nail. It’s not about what we are doing (within reason), but it is about the motive and reason we are doing it. If I am striving to be dead to self and fully given to God, then everything I do should be about Him and not me. There would be no compartmentalizing. Obviously, as Christians, we are all at different mile markers on this path. Sometimes we even take detours. The key is the more I give of my self, the less self there is to compartmentalize. I still think we will battle with old self and new self and perhaps that is why it gets so compartmentalized…

    • Bill Grandi says:

      i get your point Ryan. I would also add that there seems to be no end to the struggle to compartmentalize.

  4. gail says:

    Well said Bill, absolutely true. Every aspect of our life as a Christ follower should reflect that we choose and want to follow Christ, and that should be evident in the way we live. If it is not, than as James states we are living a life of being double minded. Father help me to honor You with all areas of my life, and in all things I do, may I do them for Your glory. When I choose to defend my actions and compartmentalize areas of my life, remind me to repent, open my heart back to a life of a servant.

  5. Ed says:

    That’s the only way to do it… Do everything for the Lord…
    The only problem I have is singing along with “My Sweet Lord.” George Harrison could have edited that song years later to sing “Hallelujah” instead of…well you’re old enough to remember. LOL

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Agreed Ed. And what do you mean I’m old enough to remember? 🙂 I never cared for that song anyway, although the words could be used to refer to a relationship with Jesus.

  6. Cheryl says:

    Wow! This was so beneficial to me and helped me put something that has been troubling me in perspective. I wish I could really grasp this truth. Please pray for me.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Thanks for sharing this with me Cheryl. I most certainly will add you to my daily prayer list. I ask you to do the same.