Monday, April 25, 2016

What is God's version of prosperity?



Dominick Santore recently wrote a powerful piece titled The Prosperity of the Gospel.

He used  Jeremiah 29.11 as his cornerstone scripture reference.

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope..."

One of Santore's main points is that "God doesn't always promise happy endings in this physical world."

Which got me to thinking: When it comes to this life, what does God promise us?

God doesn't promise financial or material success.

In America today, dollars and cents seem to be the most common way of measuring success in life. Quite often conversations about success are nothing but a listing of current salary, what neighborhood we are living in and how much money we will make in the future.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with money or a good career, these aspects of life don't capture the total picture of how a person is doing.

Jeremiah quoted God during a time when the Jewish nation was being held captive in Babylon, and God was telling his people that they would have to endure 70 years as captives until they could come back home. God was encouraging them to continue to seek him wholeheartedly. That was God's version of success.

God doesn't use the same yardstick to measure success that we do.

In Jesus' day, many religious leaders looked at health, business savvy and other possessions as signs of God's favor. But Jesus told them that they were mistaken. In fact, from what the bible shows us, God's Son had a very modest carpentry business that He learned and inherited from His dad. (It was so modest that there isn't much mention of it at all.)

Jesus didn't use his trade skills to build a mega-house for His Mom or set up a huge carpentry business with His siblings.

When God's Son began His public ministry, quite often the things He said elicited the response of, "Isn't this the carpenter's son?" A direct reference to His material insignificance.

God promises us that if we follow Him, we'll be challenged.

If we follow God, we're going to come against the prevailing wisdom of of the day.

It was true when Jesus walked the earth and it's just as true today. The human race hasn't changed its essential nature over the centuries.

We don't live in a nation that's inclined to follow God. So following God is going to cost us something because following God has never been popular.

God does promise us fulfillment.

So if God isn't promising us a materially satisfying and financially successful life, then what is God's version of prosperity or success?

Peace that isn't dependent upon circumstances. Security that isn't based on stock portfolio performance. Love that is eternal and non-conditional.

Jeremiah went on to say (after 29.11) that God's promise is that we will find God when we seek God with all of our hearts. God will hear us when we pray. And God won't forsake us.

Sometimes it takes great faith to believe this. Sometimes it takes outrageous hope to hold on to this. (Philippians 4.6-7). And ultimately such faith and hope bring us to ever-deepening relationship. Which is God's ultimate promise.

Photo Credit: www.livepurposfullynow.com











Monday, April 18, 2016

The Practice of Being Thankful



Earlier this morning I had some lab work done as part of a follow-up.

The lab technician asked me if I had anything planned for the day. In response I told her, "no, I'm retired."

She asked me how retirement was going. I said, "Fine, if you don't mind living on half of the income you had while you were working."

Afterwards, I wondered why I answered the lab tech's questions so negatively.

Is this really how I feel?

Once I got home, I sensed God motivating me to think about this.

The fact is, I have plenty to be thankful for.

Like having affordable health insurance. And living about 10 minutes away from the hospital where the lab work was done.

Last winter I painted every room in my home. That's another thing to be thankful for: I have a nice home that's comfy, suits me and is in a diverse neighborhood. I live less than a ten minute walk away from one of the most beautiful public parks in the city.

While I'm not financially rich, I have enough.

I've written a book, 20 Short Ones, that's been published and people are actually reading it.

I go to a great church that's got solid members and the teaching regularly challenges me.

All that is more than enough for starters.

Ann Voskamp has written the definitive book on the subject of being thankful, called One Thousand Gifts.

I've written about her book a few times.

But it's interesting how easily taking things for granted can tarnish the ability to be thankful.

Since this is an election year, I've been writing a lot more politically focused pieces on my blog, and I'm sure that all the negativity surrounding the Presidential campaign has exacted its spiritual toll.

But that doesn't excuse the fact that I haven't been as thankful as I should be.

If we allow life's circumstances to dictate how we feel we'll never be happy enough, or joyful enough, or financially secure enough. We won't be satisfied or content. We'll be forever looking over the fence comparing ourselves to others.

And you know what? That's really not much of a life.

On the other hand, if we choose to look up from what's around us and be thankful it offers a totally different perspective.

Being thankful doesn't deny challenges, but it helps give us the energy to creatively tackle them.

If you need some biblical encouragement to give thanks, here's a a few scriptures:

Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good! And the Lord's mercy endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16.34)

It is good to give thanks to the Lord (Psalm 92.1)

Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High (Psalm 50.14)

Actually, the bible is full of verses that speak about thanksgiving and ways to give thanks.

So I'd like to offer a suggestion: Make a conscious effort to give thanks today.

Get alone with God in your quiet/prayer time and speak out the thanks. Let God know what you're thankful for. Be specific.

To help keep in the habit of being thankful, why not do what Ann Voskamp suggests, and begin a journal of thanks, writing down what you're thankful for each day?

It may not seem like a big deal, but believe me, it works. I'm already beginning to feel a whole lot better by getting back in the habit of being thankful. So can you!

Photo Credit: www.theodysseyonline.com









Monday, April 11, 2016

The Good Samaritan & Social Justice





"We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for their actions."
- Ronald Reagan

While on the surface, the above statement may seem like a worthy goal, it's important to note that it was said by a president who claimed to be Christian and often appealed to them.

So let's take a moment to look at what Mr. Reagan said, in particular the second part of his statement about removing societal accountability, and see if it stands up to what Jesus said on the subject.

When Jesus was on earth, he didn't let society off the hook.

In fact, God's Son didn't spend a lot of time talking about the poor and downtrodden being held responsible for their plight. And he didn't seem to be interested in distinguishing between the 'deserving' and the 'undeserving' poor. Jesus called them all blessed (Luke 6.20, Matt. 6.3)

He talked about loving our enemies (Luke 7.35), and being compassionate (Luke 7.36). 

About the only group that Jesus singled out fairly consistently to criticize were the religious leaders of His day. He told them to quit placing burdens on others (Matt. 23.4), and offering false wisdom
(Matt. 23.16). Jesus went on to tell them: "You’re like tombs that have been whitewashed. On the outside they are beautiful, but inside they are full of bones and filth."(Matt. 23.27)

Ouch!

Far from pointing fingers at the downtrodden, God's Son encouraged his followers to go the extra mile (Luke 6.41), turn the other cheek when hit (Luke 6.39) and give those who want to sue us the shirt off our back (Luke 6.40).

That doesn't sound like someone who was interested in blaming those in need of help or advocating societal abandonment of responsibility.

Double ouch!

To sum up what God's Son had to say on the subject, He imagined the "final judgment" being a separation of those who helped other people out, from those who didn't. (Matt. 25: 31-46)

When those who had helped their neighbor asked Jesus: "Lord, when did we ever see you" in serving those who were thirsty, hungry, homeless or in prison? God's Son replied: "I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me" (Matt. 25.37) 

To be fair, maybe certain followers of Jesus mean to imply that if you have a relationship with God's Son, you'd be inclined to help your neighbor. But even then, it's interesting to note that one of Jesus' most famous parables (The Good Samaritan) involved a religious leader and a temple worker who both walked across the street to avoid helping someone who was beaten and lying right in from of them. (Luke 11.31)  

It wasn't until a Samaritan (who would have been the modern-day equivalent of a Hamas member) saw the poor fellow that any assistance was given.

Triple Ouch!

What point was God's Son making?

Quite possibly that we are all each other's neighbor. And as a society, God's Son was calling us to act like it.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts!

Photo credit: www.lds.org



















Monday, April 4, 2016

Walking on Water



Remember the story of Jesus' followers being caught in a storm at sea? (Matt. 15.22-33).

In the middle of the storm they saw Jesus walking towards their boat, on the water.

At first, his followers think it's a ghost. But Jesus calls out to them.

In response, Peter calls back: "Lord, if it's you, command me to come to you on the water."
(vs. 28).

Initially Peter was fine. But then the wind "was boisterous" and kicked up waves, so Peter began to be afraid, and started to sink.

He shouted out: "Lord, save me!" (vs. 30).

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught him and said: "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

In so many ways this story serves as a template for a walk of faith.

God's Son calls, we step out of the boat; we keep our eyes on him, and we start walking on water. It’s that simple. At least it should be.

But then the storm comes and the doubts and we're sinking. Oftentimes we start to sink because it feels like we're losing control. And in a real sense, we are.

Most days, I have no idea of what the day will bring. Neither does anyone else for that matter. That's reality on earth.

Most followers of God's Son, including myself, don’t like living with uncertainty. 

When something happens that appears to go against our plans, we tend to get anxious, or try to overcome obstacles on our own. Either way, there is no chance for change or adjustment because our eyes aren’t on God. Our eyes are on the things that are mucking up our plans.

The irony is, sometimes what we perceive to be an obstacle is actually God inviting us to get out of the boat and trust him.

But if we keep our normal mindset in place, life's obstacles become stumbling blocks instead of opportunities. 

On the other hand, with the correct vision, a follower of God's Son can choose to agree with what Peter later wrote about trials. He saw them as opportunities to draw closer to God as our faith is strengthened. And if anyone knew about trials, it was Peter. (1 Peter 1.6-7.)

It all begins with awareness. 

It begins with awareness that brings a new mindset. A mindset that allows for a follower of God's Son to keep their eyes on him and not on the thing that seems like an obstacle.

Yes there are trials. The apostle James says to "count it all joy" when we run into them. (James 1.3-4.) Make no mistake, life comes with challenges. However, it’s how they are viewed that makes all the difference. James says we can be joyful in trials by remembering they ultimately strengthen our faith and our character. 

We all stumble over this. We're not alone in this dilemma. Which is why James reminds us that if we don't understand the purpose of trials we can cry out to God for wisdom and receive liberal amounts of it. (vs. 5)

The apostle Paul (who knew a thing or two about facing challenges) wrote about the thing that he asked God to remove from his life three times. God didn’t. 

Eventually Paul got the bigger picture and quit asking.

Theologians have speculated on what was Paul’s “thorn in the side.” Was it something physical? Was it epilepsy? Was it something spiritual? But that’s not the point. The point was: Paul learned to view that “trial” from God's perspective and grew spiritually because of it.

Is there anything in your life, right now, that's challenging? Do you feel like your drowning? Be encouraged. God is right there, reaching out his hand to you, inviting you to walk on the water with him. 

Photo credit: www.tmrichmond3.net



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