Warning his audience about the coming Day of Judgment, Jesus said, "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day will come upon you suddenly like a trap" (Luke 21:34, ESV).
A dissipated life is a life squandered by the pursuit of pleasure. Pleasure, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. But dissipation takes place when your primary committment, your first love, is to "make merry" as they used to say. So Jesus is telling us, "Beware, don't let your life be marked by squandering your time with pleasure and drink and anxiety over all that won't last because a day is coming when it will be obvious these things don't matter."
How can you tell if you are obeying Christ's command to "watch yourselves" or if you are squandering your life away? Take some time to answer the following questions:
- Is personal pleasure (food, drink, entertainment, sports) more important to you than private devotion (disciplines of grace: Bible reading, prayer)?
- Do you regularly confess your sins to the Lord, admitting your need for Christ to both forgive you for the ways you squander time and empower you to watch your life closely?
- How often do you long for heaven, either because you feel weighed down by the sin in your own life or the sin in the world around you?
- How often do you weep for the lost, burdened by the fact that without Christ they are pursuing worthless, dissipated lives?
- Do you lean on the body of Christ to help you love the Lord (and not the world) with zeal?
My friend, Jesus died on the cross for sinners like us and he rose from the dead so that we could be confident that he is the Savior of all who repent and believe. Take his words to heart. Watch yourself. Pursue Christ prayerfully and passionately. Live for his glory and this day will most certainly not be squandered.