When Does Contrary Thinking Serve God The Best?
Good Morning Friends,
The message from Jesus to each of us is always consistent but always also unique to our own lives. Sometimes the message is to listen and at other times for individuals the message is to act, but it is all based on who we are. Peace through our response is always hoped for but the harsh reality is that controversy is much more likely in a world where the good and the bad are all jumbled up in a way that can confuse our decision-making. But even this challenge serves a purpose that prompts today’s question. When Does Contrary Thinking Serve God The Best?
Scripture: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
Matthew 10:34—11:1 (NRSV)
Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites, and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.”
Exodus 1:8-14, 22 (NRSV)
Message: Doing the same thing repeatedly and not getting a positive response is one definition of insanity. Maybe that is why Jesus, taking the words of the Commandments — the words of God — gave them new life. Jesus said again and again, “You have heard that it was said … but I say unto you.” Friends, Jesus was a contrarian. So if you don’t fit the mold…If you’re tired of adjusting to other people’s definitions of spirituality…If traditional spiritual disciplines just aren’t working for you…If all the standard answers aren’t enough…but your deepest desire is to be closer to God, maybe you should try it and discover that it makes us to look on the inside as well as the outside and that is a very good thing. It makes us realize that we all are sinners in need of a Savior. Many are jaded, but dogma did not just happen, and great relationships don’t just happen either. There is work here. But realize this, if you go to one extreme in a position to prove a point, others might just go to the other extreme in retaliation. Sounds like Washington. Maybe that is why Jesus said to love our enemies. Maybe that is why Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Peter Marshall put it this way,” When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.” “Confucius said, “When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” Samuel Butler said, “If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to reason.” And Jimmy Carter had this to say, “I hate to see complacency prevail in our lives when it’s so directly contrary to the teaching of Christ.” Friends if spending and saving is not getting you the desired response, try giving.
And So, rewards matter. Listening matters. Actions matter. Generosity matters. Thankfully God sees, God cares, God calls, and God delivers so we might experience God being glorified in our lives and for us to receive some surprising rewards. And that is why God gives us challenges that seem insurmountable. And the process is not always peaceful, but it is always purposeful. Therefor we should be who God made us to be and if that is to offer some contrary thinking it might well serve God better than a traditional approach. The fullness of God’s timing not our own is the key. And so, if we release the things of this world we can change the world and that is contrary to how most people think but might well be the best way to serve God and be not just spenders and savers but givers.
Pray we lose our life, so we might find it. Pray we put time and energy into the needs of people seeking answers that they have not found in traditional approaches to a relationship with God. Pray we grow closer to God through Jesus and his unorthodox approach to the problems of life. Pray we become more generous in helping to meet the needs of others. Pray no night is so dark as to hide His face and no storm too rough to be calmed by His grace. Pray no wind is so strong to stay His hand. Pray no mountain so great as to resist His commands. Pray we embrace the contrary virtues. Pray we fight with humility against pride. Pray we fight with kindness to defeat envy. Pray we practice abstinence to battle gluttony. Pray we embrace chastity against lust and patience against anger, and liberality against greed, and diligence against sloth. Pray we live in the world but not be of it.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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