Those are two guys that don't show up at my dinner table too often. In all honesty, I've realized that a lot of issues I have stem from my lack of both. Whether it's eating too much or spending too much money, I'm reminded that I definitely have issues to work out in this area of my life.
Recently, Proverbs 21:5 was brought up at church: "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." To me, this says that we need to have a plan and have the integrity to follow through with it. Conversely, it says that our haste (the New Living Translation uses the word "shortcut") can bring us down.
Looking at my life, I can see the damage that haste and poor planning has caused. It's not an easy or comfortable thing to bring up, but it's important to see where I've come from and where I'm going. Making sacrifices, planning a course and following through is a long journey. But it's one that I pray that God will let me make.
11.24.2011
11.18.2011
Priorities
Today in my quiet time, I was reading 1 Kings 3, the passage where King Solomon asks God for wisdom to govern his people. It's one of my favorite stories from the Old Testament. In it, Solomon was just crowned king of Israel, and he was concerned with the responsibility that he faced. Rather than pray for riches or death for his enemies, he asked God for wisdom to govern his people properly. God responded in force, making Solomon the wisest king of the Old Testament and increasing his wealth many times over.
So what does this mean to me? It's one of my favorite stories because it admonishes us to check our heart conditions. Often, we're praying for wealth, power or status with little concern for God's Kingdom. Jesus tells us to "Seek first the Kingdom of God ... ." So we see in scripture that God rewards those who keep their priorities in order.
Sadly, it can be tough to maintain. Later, we read that Solomon's heart eventually drifted from the Lord, and the Kingdom was torn in two after he died. It's a reminder that "seeking first the Kingdom of God ... " isn't a sprint, but a marathon.
So what does this mean to me? It's one of my favorite stories because it admonishes us to check our heart conditions. Often, we're praying for wealth, power or status with little concern for God's Kingdom. Jesus tells us to "Seek first the Kingdom of God ... ." So we see in scripture that God rewards those who keep their priorities in order.
Sadly, it can be tough to maintain. Later, we read that Solomon's heart eventually drifted from the Lord, and the Kingdom was torn in two after he died. It's a reminder that "seeking first the Kingdom of God ... " isn't a sprint, but a marathon.
Weary of worry
These days, there's no shortage of things to worry about. Since I've worked at a newspaper, I've been acutely aware of this. I don't have to remind you of the headlines that come across my desk every day. That's on top of the personal problems you might face on a daily basis. Worry is the one natural resource Americans won't run out of any time soon.
So when Jesus talked about worry, he chided followers for getting caught up in it. Perhaps the most famous admonition about worry is Matt. 6:34: "So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." I'm reminded of how much I struggle with that scripture — especially when God requires a faith that's almost reckless by worldly standards.
God wants us to walk a tightrope of faith that stretches across the Grand Canyon of doubt. There's no safety net — just the reassurance of a Heavenly Father that he will catch us if we fall. He wants us to be 100 percent vulnerable and dependent on him. From an outsider's perspective, it's moronic. Some folks can trust God with a few prayers, but they're hedging their bets. They'll still continue to battle the problem from a carnal standpoint.
I continue to struggle in terms of tithing. God wants 10 percent, but I'm reluctant to give at all. This time, however, I realize that I can't let worry and fear stop me from living the life God wants me to. I'm worried and stressed, but I'm working on giving that up to Jesus. After all, one of the things that Jesus said to his disciples was, "Ye of little faith." I'm thinking it wasn't a term of endearment, but a sigh that grieved his spirit. I say it's time to keep pressing ahead.
So when Jesus talked about worry, he chided followers for getting caught up in it. Perhaps the most famous admonition about worry is Matt. 6:34: "So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." I'm reminded of how much I struggle with that scripture — especially when God requires a faith that's almost reckless by worldly standards.
God wants us to walk a tightrope of faith that stretches across the Grand Canyon of doubt. There's no safety net — just the reassurance of a Heavenly Father that he will catch us if we fall. He wants us to be 100 percent vulnerable and dependent on him. From an outsider's perspective, it's moronic. Some folks can trust God with a few prayers, but they're hedging their bets. They'll still continue to battle the problem from a carnal standpoint.
I continue to struggle in terms of tithing. God wants 10 percent, but I'm reluctant to give at all. This time, however, I realize that I can't let worry and fear stop me from living the life God wants me to. I'm worried and stressed, but I'm working on giving that up to Jesus. After all, one of the things that Jesus said to his disciples was, "Ye of little faith." I'm thinking it wasn't a term of endearment, but a sigh that grieved his spirit. I say it's time to keep pressing ahead.
11.13.2011
A warm welcome back. Again.
After being a prodigal son several times over, I'm tempted to think that I've burned through my last chance. Humanly speaking, it's easy to get angry at someone who breaks off a relationship repeatedly. Divorce lawyers bank their careers on this practice. Yet when I come back to Jesus, I'm surprised at the warmth of the reception when I finally return. And that's just from the church.
The prodigal son parable is one of my favorites because of its redemptive message. The son steals off with half his fathers wealth, blows it all on prostitutes and booze and comes back stinking of pig feces. Instead of brow-beating the son, the father throws his arms around him and throws a huge party.
On one hand, I'm thankful for a God who's willing to show such mercy and forgiveness. On the other, I'm ashamed at my pride and ungratefulness. I'm grateful for God's mercy, but I can't get caught like a bridesmaid without enough oil for her lamp.
The prodigal son parable is one of my favorites because of its redemptive message. The son steals off with half his fathers wealth, blows it all on prostitutes and booze and comes back stinking of pig feces. Instead of brow-beating the son, the father throws his arms around him and throws a huge party.
On one hand, I'm thankful for a God who's willing to show such mercy and forgiveness. On the other, I'm ashamed at my pride and ungratefulness. I'm grateful for God's mercy, but I can't get caught like a bridesmaid without enough oil for her lamp.
11.08.2011
Back again
I haven't looked at my last post to see when I last wrote it, but it's been an embarrassingly long time. So what happened? Needless to say, I slipped off the spiritual wagon for a while. It's humbling to admit that I failed so quickly.
Let's rewind: About August 2010, Christ got a hold of my heart in a mighty way. It was like being born again — again! It was as if years of spiritual malaise had been erased, and I was finally making Kingdom headway again. I joined a home group, went to church weekly, did daily quiet time and devotionals, allowed God to change my attitude and speech — I was really gaining ground. Yet something happened during the winter. The spark got snuffed almost as quickly as it had ignited. I felt like Matt. 9:22 had happened in my life ("The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.")
I spent the better part of that time since then living in a place of indifference and cynicism. Once you shut Christ out of your life, it's easy to ignore how he's blessed you. I wrote off a lot of blessings in my life as coincidence. I was wandering dangerously close to agnosticism or atheism. Of course, I don't mean to disrespect those who don't believe in God, but I know who I am, and that person is in Christ.
So what makes me think I believe in this "God stuff" anyway? Why bother running back into Jesus' arms? The answer is simple: Because I know he's real. I know the change that happens when I'm close to him. I know how I push people away when I turn from him. I know the mistakes that I make when I don't bother to pray, attend church or study scripture.
So I'm left with a harsh reality: I've failed. Consistently and totally. Willingly. Yet I'm reminded of Luke 17:4: "Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” God expects us to forgive each other, even if it's seven times a day. So how much more can we expect God to forgive us and take us back when we're willing to humble ourselves?
There's a saying that always helps keep me going, even though it's cliche: A failure isn't someone who falls down, but someone who refuses to get back up. I may have failed in the past, but I refuse to be a failure.
Let's rewind: About August 2010, Christ got a hold of my heart in a mighty way. It was like being born again — again! It was as if years of spiritual malaise had been erased, and I was finally making Kingdom headway again. I joined a home group, went to church weekly, did daily quiet time and devotionals, allowed God to change my attitude and speech — I was really gaining ground. Yet something happened during the winter. The spark got snuffed almost as quickly as it had ignited. I felt like Matt. 9:22 had happened in my life ("The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.")
I spent the better part of that time since then living in a place of indifference and cynicism. Once you shut Christ out of your life, it's easy to ignore how he's blessed you. I wrote off a lot of blessings in my life as coincidence. I was wandering dangerously close to agnosticism or atheism. Of course, I don't mean to disrespect those who don't believe in God, but I know who I am, and that person is in Christ.
So what makes me think I believe in this "God stuff" anyway? Why bother running back into Jesus' arms? The answer is simple: Because I know he's real. I know the change that happens when I'm close to him. I know how I push people away when I turn from him. I know the mistakes that I make when I don't bother to pray, attend church or study scripture.
So I'm left with a harsh reality: I've failed. Consistently and totally. Willingly. Yet I'm reminded of Luke 17:4: "Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” God expects us to forgive each other, even if it's seven times a day. So how much more can we expect God to forgive us and take us back when we're willing to humble ourselves?
There's a saying that always helps keep me going, even though it's cliche: A failure isn't someone who falls down, but someone who refuses to get back up. I may have failed in the past, but I refuse to be a failure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)