Status Quo Bias

Tired woman sitting at table reading the Bible.
 

Move your heart closer to God and He will come even closer to you.

James 4:8


We are inveterate creatures of habit. Our natural tendency is to think what we’ve been thinking and do what we’ve been doing.

On the one hand, engaging in these habits allows us to have a rhythm and regularity to life. For example, I don’t have to give much thought to brushing my teeth or taking a shower.  I don’t have to create a new route to the grocery or come up with a new way of mowing the lawn.

This is an example of a phenomenon called status-quo bias. The term was first coined by two psychologists, William Samuelson and Richard Zeckhauser nearly three decades ago. Simply put, it’s the tendency to keep doing what you’ve been doing without giving it much thought.

Status-quo bias is so common that Madison Avenue leverages it against us. For example, have you ever been offered a free one-year subscription to a magazine?  It’s because the magazine is so generous, right? Wrong! Magazine companies and cell phone companies and cable television companies and credit card companies all understand the power of status quo bias.

They’re betting that after their generous introductory offer is over, you’ll forget to cancel. And even if you do remember, you’ll never get around to making the call to cancel the product or service.

It’s human nature to keep doing what you’ve been doing, and that creates a problem. Because, as the old saying goes, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” To expect otherwise is the definition of insanity.


Spiritual Status Quo

Here’s the thing. While status quo bias can be costly monetarily, it can be even more costly spiritually. It’s one thing to put our continuation of a magazine subscription on autopilot.  It’s another thing to put our relationship with the Lord on autopilot.

Yet it happens all the time.  Believe me, I can testify to that.

I know that I want to spend time with God in the morning before I start my day. Yet, I’ve seen that practice degenerate into something as mindless as brushing my teeth.

In going through the motions of skimming a section of Scripture, mouthing a few general prayer requests, and offering a bit of distracted worship, I may have the appearance of a spiritual encounter but don’t have the reality of a spiritual encounter.

Such is the threat of status-quo bias. And before I know it, this mindless behavior has become a habit.

Oh, if challenged about the quality of my private time with God, I would have to admit it left something to be desired. But that’s the problem.  There’s no one to challenge me.


Challenging the Status Quo

If you can identify with this, let me be the one to challenge your status-quo bias.  Or better yet, let the Apostle James challenge you. “Move your heart closer to God and He will come even closer to you.” (James 4:8)

James calls us to reject our mindless behavior and to take action that would move us closer to God. And, if we needed any motivation, he tells us that as we do, God will come closer to us.


Reject your mindless behavior and take action that would move you closer to God. As you do, God will come closer to you.


I don’t know what steps you need to take to challenge your spiritual status quo bias. Perhaps it means you need to change your location. For example, what if rather than letting your mind wander in prayer from a chair in your home you went on a prayer walk and allowed what you see and sense to prompt prayer.

Maybe it means adjusting your Bible reading regimen. Perhaps by reading a modern translation or adding a devotional book such as Jesus Calling to make it more personal.

Or to get some help in finding your worship voice. One way might be to find an online worship song and join in the chorus.  

It’s been said that variety is the spice of life. And while that’s true, it’s also true that variety is the source of life. I encourage you to add some variety to your relationship with the Lord that you might defeat spiritual status-quo bias.


It’s been said that variety is the spice of life. And while that’s true, it’s also true that variety is the source of life.


PRAYER

Lord, I have to admit that all too often, when it comes to my devotions, I just “mail them in.” It’s as if my goal is to assuage my guilt rather than to really connect with you. I confess that You deserve far better. And I ask You to help me do far better.


 
 
 

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