Godgrown

Updates from January, 2011 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Mark 10:24 am on January 24, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Piles of Money 

  Isaiah 60 is all about the economic development of Jerusalem as they begin to return from exile.  The promises of vast, global wealth are almost unbelievable for a pitiful, beaten nation who doesn’t even have a wall of protection built around its perimeter…and at least for the rest of Biblical history, there was never any major comeback for the Jews; they were more or less passed from one roaring empire to the next.

  So what’s with all the predictions on incredible influence and wealth? Did God “over promise and under deliver?”

  There are hints of this prophecy fulfilled; specifically when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:11) Somehow I don’t think that the exiled Jews of the 5th Century BCE were satisfied with this interpretation – they wanted piles of money! They wanted the honor and recognition of the nations!  ”The flocks of Kedar!  The rams of Nebaioth!  The camels!  Where are my camels?!”

  I wonder if this is how Christians understand their relationship with God.  They sense that there is a pile of blessings, maybe even actual money, waiting on the other side of a “right relationship with God.”  They think that if they love God hard enough, if they believe the right things, if they just do it all right, then they’ll have life right where they want it.

  Trouble is, life is never quiet as we want it – but its right where God has it. He has sprinkled the fulfillment of his promises to bring blessings to his people from the far corners of the earth – he does it in the birth of Jesus; secretly, and its just enough money to keep a family of three out of the cold and filthy stables and enough to get them down to Egypt, where they can safely escape disaster.

  THAT is the blessing of God…the wealth of heaven.

  Yes, wealth seen in the light of God’s nature is not something that we can put in a bank account, but something that gives us another chance to dive deeper into him – knowing that we may not have enough to survive on our own, but plenty to keep following…for one more day.

  But why would God make all these promises of very specific assets that exiles would gain from as they returned to the holy land of Jerusalem?  I think its important to remember that each of us come to God for personal, selfish reasons.  God knows this, he loves you for it – and he wants you to know that the things you care about are important to him too – even if he sees how short-sighted they are.

  So he’ll help you get out of debt if that is something you see as important – and then he’ll remind you that you’ll always be in debt to him.  He’ll help you with as much worldly wealth as he’s called you to…then he’ll call on you to give it all back to him…

  In other words, our tangible gifts are only whispers of the real gifts he hopes to give us. The question is, can we let go of the tangibles in order to receive what truly matters…?

  
   

  Reply Cancel reply

  Required fields are marked *

  Name *

  Email *

  Website

  

• 

  Mark 9:36 am on December 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  His Healing was His Curse 

  The rollercoaster of King Hezekiah’s life continues in chapter 39.  He has recovered from a life-threatening illness, he has overcome a seige of his capital city Jerusalem, and now in chapter 39 - he is faced with still a greater threat; himself.

  Upon hearing that Hezekiah had recovered, the King of Babylon sends Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift.  Not just a “get well card” but an envoy comes to Jerusalem and begins to get the royal tour of the city.  Babylon was the emerging power in the southeast, while Assyria was the bubble-Empire to the north.  Assyria was extending its reach far into distant lands, which included trying to wipe out Jerusalem and Babylon.  Now Babylonian ambassadors are in Jerusalem working to convince Hezekiah to join them in an alliance to overcome this dominant threat from the north.

  And Hezekiah seems oblivious to the seriousness of his situation!  He takes them around the town, showing the Babylonians ancient artifacts and special buildings and all the storehouses - letting their eyes see the piles of cash and the family silver. They note the combination locks on all the safes, and watch as Hezekiah pulls the extra set of car keys out from under the rock by the garage.

  Hey!  This seems idiotic Hez, don’t do it!

  True to form, his quick recovery from sickness in chapter 38 has brought him to pride.  Though he does respond to God’s healing with thankfulness, Isaiah clues him into the obvious notion that showing your treasures to other nations will lead to invasion and ruin!   Isaiah paints a picture for Hez, telling him of all the horrors to come.  His sons will become eunuchs in Babylon, all of the artifacts of his ancestors…ransacked…  And through this, Hezekiah is obtusely happy…

  Why? Because it won’t happen in his lifetime, not on his watch.

  Talk about missing it. How can a guy go from a desperate plea to God, watching God heal him from sickness, then focus so totally on himself when he’s given news of his country’s downfall?

  Unless – Hezekiah’s problem was his healing.

  Here’s the point:

  His healing was his curse. It made him selfish, prideful, obsessed with his own life. It is the story we see all over the Bible.  Abraham is given a promise from God, that he will be blessed, in order to be a blessing to others. God always uses the gifts he gives his children to give to others as well.  When you become obsessed with the gift, rather than the goal of the Giver, it consumes you – and you lose the gift in the process.

  I’ve heard it once said, “God’s greatest challenge is to love us without destroying us.” Meaning – God wants desperately to love us, and give us his love in infinite ways – but in receiving his love, we can quickly become convinced that its all about us – and not about him.  Much like a child pushes his mother away for favor of the toy truck he’s just been given.  For the child, the mother is now in the way of the real thing, my own needs.  This is what ultimately drives wedges in any relationship – and your relationship with God is certainly not exempt.

  “Seek the Lord while he can be found,” the Scriptures say.  Its not as if God is going to run off hiding anytime soon, this Scripture is about the short window of time your heart will be open to the raw love and power of God, and the propensity our hearts have toward settling for idols.

  Every time you receive a gift, remember: The gift of the receiver is to remain focused on the giver, to keep at the front of  your thoughts that it is about the love we share, not the things we get…

  

  
   
• 

  Mark 9:28 am on May 21, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: future perfect, John White, Kent Smith, LK10 Community ( 3 )   

  The 9:11 Question 

  “Since we have invested in you spiritually, isn’t it right for you to invest in us financially?”

  So many churches invest in things other than apostolic church planters – some even working off unfathomable debts for things like parking lots and new foyers.  One church in a major U.S. city purchased a parking lot for 80 million dollars!?!!?  Sounds like a scene out of an Austin Powers movie!  These are not inherently bad things – they are just not given much precedent in the earliest Church.

  Many missionaries are left barely holding their bills together, while others enjoy lavish upgrades to this or that wing of their giant building.
  
  But what would it take to see a vibrant family of Jesus in close reach of every person…geographically and culturally… on the planet…and in our context in Chicago?

  What if this ACTUALLY happened?  This is our “future perfect” – our miracle we’re waiting for and working toward.

  It would truly take a new mindset toward budgeting.  It would take a re-orientation toward how a church invests their money.  It would take asking the “9:11 Question.”  (1 Cor 9:11)  “Since we have invested in you spiritually, isn’t it right for you to invest in us financially?” It would take a spirit of generosity toward those who truly were called to do mission work, coaching, and church planting.  It would take putting the interest of others over my own interests.

  I think it is happening.  I see green-shoots of hope appearing across the landscape.  Churches willing to put aside their traditional budget-line items and think again about what is most important for the sake of the Kingdom.