How Do We Truly Flourish?
Good Morning Friends,
Yesterday we were discussing the two by two relationships between order and abundance in nature and culture and the two by two relationship between authority and vulnerability in the act of creating. The setting was an Andy Crouch lecture and musical performance. It was creative and filled stories of the importance of the images and sounds we bring into our life to give meaning to life. It was about what we make of life…what our life redeems. What we did not fully get to unpack was the whole issue of poverty. We figured that people who are vulnerable and have no authority might be considered poor and that God became poor so we might become rich. The depth of meaning behind this we only touched on. Suffice to say that if God moves the authority needle and gives even the poor the courage to change, they too can live a life abundant too. They, as we, are to learn that we can grow in a way that glorifies God. God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life that is wholly yielded to seeking the King and submitting with praise and purpose to a plan that recognizes the dangers of taking shortcuts. Friends, if your life is out of order you will be frustrated. The problem is that we do not put things in proper order. So today we look at what scripture says should be the focus of our actions not the size of our pocketbook. Today we look at how creating and ordering things properly brings abundance both in meaning and substance. Today we seek to understand the fundamentals. How Do We Truly Flourish?
Scripture: And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
Genesis 1:9-13 (NRSV)
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart,
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NRSV)
Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44 (NRSV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
John 10:10 (NRSV)
No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Matthew 6:24 (NRSV)
Message: How far can you see with your emotions? Do you see past your anger, greed, guilt, envy, or thoughts of revenge to something more lasting beyond the horizon? Do you permit Jesus to open your blind eyes so you might seek and see desire and devote yourself to a straight path and a righteous course toward a resilient and flourishing life? There are so many ways that seem right but only lead to death in our search for joy and satisfaction in our lives ordered for a creative and redemptive purpose.
Today’s scripture on widows giving helps us to understand the message about change. Today widows may indeed be very wealthy, but widows during the time of Christ were not highly regarded. They did not inherit wealth or typically make it independently. Today’s scripture reaches beyond these changes in society to teach us the power of being totally dependent upon God. It challenges us to go out and risk it all…to be vulnerable within the authority granted to us. Friends, in ministry I am surrounded with people society calls rich (retired executives of corporations) and poor (unemployed victims of economic realities and natural disasters, immigrant farm workers and children.) Sometimes they get together and amazing things happen. Jesus shows up and we learn firsthand about the rich being poor and the poor being rich. Christ’s transformative presence in culture knows something about influence and power that we typically miss. In today’s scripture we are told a story about how those with nothing to lose are prepared to take risks that the wealth encumbered are not. We are given a story to instruct us in the emotions of giving and living. Friends, because Jesus did not hold anything back and put his entire life onto the cross to pay for sins, we have the opportunity to experience the Kingdom of God. Friends, God wants all your life not just part of it. God wants you to experience all of life. Here is the deal…Jesus came so we might have a life in the light of His presence…a relationship that puts our life in order. In this relationship he holds up both the cosmic and moral order so we might have an abundant life connected to a divine plan. Order makes things possible but the freedom of love brings forth the abundance. If God gives us the courage to change we can live a life abundant. We can grow in a way that glorifies God.
Pray we realize that our priorities need to be in order for our lives to flourish. Pray we realize that God creates a physical and spiritual order that sets the stage for a physical and spiritual abundance. Pray we realize that Jesus creates something out of nothing…light…breath…life and brings order out of chaos so we might have abundance. Pray we realize that this world is under a divinely ordered destiny. Pray we understand that God holds the world together. Pray we realize that we are in His hands. Pray we have a lifestyle that puts it all in. Pray we be prepared to give it all up for the sake of God. Pray we are never lukewarm for God. Pray we understand the nature of influence and power in new ways. Pray we are challenged, but love anyway. Pray we are faithful. Pray we keep our minds in Christ Jesus always. Pray we understand the power of real giving. Pray we are empowered by the indwelling Christ to make faithful decisions that lead to positive returns. Pray we are faithful to those who trust us. Pray we are not afraid. Pray we be a parable of potential realized in our families and faith. Pray we know our assignment. Pray we know the person making the assignment. Pray we are prepared, prompt and not afraid to perspire. Pray we realize it is a sin to have an unopened gift from God. Pray we be creative in a way that honors God in our marriage and community and church.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 