When we say “I’m bored” we are really saying “I am entitled”. When we demand to be entertained or stimulated, we express a demand for others to take responsibility for our happiness. The prophet Malachi chastised the priests, Judah’s leaders, for not following God’s instructions: receiving (with gratitude) a partial share of the meat offered as sacrifices by the people.
They got tired of “eating leftovers”. They developed “weariness” for it and wanted something different. God commanded the people to give a “tithe” or tenth to the Levites for their sustenance. The Levites were not allocated a portion of land. Instead, they ministered before the LORD and lived off of donations from the people.
People ate the sacrifices and the Levites were apportioned a part. Apparently, they got tired of eating the same thing. They found it boring. In the days of Eli the priest, this same thing happened. Rather than taking part in the sacrifice after it was “barbecued”, they insisted on getting raw meat to make their own recipes. They insisted on having things their way and were severely judged as a result.
Boredom is an early warning sign – it is a symptom of self-seeking. Since self-seeking leads to serving our appetites, and serving our appetites leads to self-harm, we need to pay heed. When we are bored, it tells us “Danger, I need a new perspective.”
The cure for boredom is to shift from a mindset that “I am entitled to have other people or circumstances work to make me happy” to “I am responsible for choosing to be content.” In the first installment of this series, God urged His people to “Return to Me and I will return to you.” Part of the “return” is to choose a true perspective.
A major aspect of adopting a true perspective is to set aside the notion that God owes us opportunities we do not have. Instead, we should focus on how to be the best steward of the opportunities we are given. Then, we can live a life of adventure that will never be boring.
“But you profane it, In that you say, The table of the LORD is defiled; And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’ You also say, ‘Oh, what a weariness!’ And you sneer at it.”
Malachi 1:12-13