Is Life Still Good For You Or Are You Stuck In A Rut?

Is Life Still Good For You Or Are You Stuck In A Rut?

Good Morning Friends,

Today at the beginning of the Advent season we contemplate the trap of some rich fools and the surprising freedom of a poor old widow. We contemplate the importance of giving and risking and to stay engaged with God in the best of what life can offer. The point is not about power, money or reputation but living in the presence of God. It is about risking enough to live the best of each moment. So we check under the hood for a look and ask: Is Life Still Good For You Or Are You Stuck In A Rut?

Scripture: These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan—in the wilderness, on the plain opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. (By the way of Mount Seir it takes eleven days to reach Kadesh-barnea from Horeb.) In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the Israelites just as the Lord had commanded him to speak to them. This was after he had defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei. Beyond the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to expound this law as follows: The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. See, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land that I swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their descendants after them.” At that time I said to you, “I am unable by myself to bear you. The Lord your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars of heaven. May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times more and bless you, as he has promised you! But how can I bear the heavy burden of your disputes all by myself? Choose for each of your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and reputable to be your leaders.” You answered me, “The plan you have proposed is a good one.” So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and reputable individuals, and installed them as leaders over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officials, throughout your tribes. I charged your judges at that time: “Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether citizen or resident alien. You must not be partial in judging: hear out the small and the great alike; you shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. Any case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.” So I charged you at that time with all the things that you should do. Then, just as the Lord our God had ordered us, we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness that you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, until we reached Kadesh-barnea. I said to you, “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us.

Deuteronomy 1:1-6, 8-20 (NRSV)

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1-4 (NRSV)

Message: When our worship life gets in a rut or worse yet starts to rot we need revival born out of our commitment to love relationships more than things and fear God more than people. Sometimes the problem is a case of staying too long in the same comfortable place. We need to risk receiving the best in life by taking on a new challenges. But we also need a sound plan. We need to give to get and understand that God delights in the small things as well as the epic events of history. Friends, here is the point, God is interested in the heart of things and getting us to understand that if we step out in faith with a Godly purpose that things will typically work together for our good but that we must be discerning in the process. For when we risk and plan both, God will typically fill the role of protector and provider. Here our attitude of gratitude is an indication of our trust in Jesus. Here we are willing to risk because we love to be generous in life living into the promises of God. Here we realize thankfully that the way of our world is not the way of God nor of God’s Kingdom. Here we find meaning for our life in small things done with great love.

Pray we not become complacent in our lives or our worship. Pray that when we give we really feel that the person receiving needed whatever we gave more than we did. Pray our identity is defined by our relationship with God and the purposes of God. Pray we find security in God. Pray we have spiritual wealth. Pray we trust God to provide what we really need. Pray we are generous in our giving and living. Pray we are patient and purposeful in our planning. Pray we are loving and continually learning how to follow the leader of all life.

Blessings,

John Lawson