Fighting FOMOનમૂનો

It’s a Friday night, and you’re planning on chilling and watching Netflix. Just you and your TV. None of your friends have texted you to hang out, but that’s cool. You didn’t feel like hanging anyway.

You pull out your phone and start scrolling through Instagram. Wait, what’s this? Some people went pool-jumping next door? And what about the group who went to the last One Direction concert ever? Why is everyone having so much fun? What’s wrong with you?

BAM! FOMO!

We get it. No one wants to miss out on fun. According to your social media, someone always seems to be sky-diving into a Kanye concert. Meanwhile, you’re doing something pretty average—like eating.

The truth is that most of us are more concerned with looking like we’re having fun than actually having fun. We’re afraid of our lives looking normal, so we filter and edit and post the days away to make everyone think our lives are “OMG, SO MUCH FUN.”

Now the big question: Is it possible to follow Jesus and have fun? Even crazier—is following Jesus more fun? Let’s scroll through the Bible real quick. We will use a “Before Jesus” and “After Jesus” filter:

David
Before: Shepherd and annoying little brother
After: Killed a giant and became king (1 Samuel 17:45-50)

Solomon
Before: Semi-spoiled little child king
After: Became the wisest and richest man who ever lived (2 Chronicles 1:11-12)

Peter
Before: Fisherman
After: Walked on water and lead a church movement (Matthew 14:29)

Paul
Before: Murdered Christians
After: Church leader and walked right out of a guarded prison—TWICE (Acts 12:6-10, Acts 16:25-26)

These guys (and so many more) realized that the fun they had been searching for could only be found in a life lived with and for Jesus. You want some REAL fun? You want Jesus.