I was chatting to a friend recently about how to balance the desire of ‘living life to the full’ and the cost of discipleship.
As we chatted we commented on the irony of how many Christians try to turn the teaching of Jesus into a guarantee of a blessed life. And, how the ‘blessing’ they are thinking about is often the expectation of financial or material blessing, or the ‘blessing’ of an easy life. This view of the Gospel doesn’t work in places where there is extreme poverty, persecution or where life is just tough.
I heard somewhere that something is only Truth if ‘it is/can be true for all people in all places at all times.’ So clearly, this idea of ‘blessing’ is ridiculous! Alternatively, I guess I could say that this idea of ‘blessing’ is wrong but I try not like to use words like that too much…
Just to be clear, I’m not saying that God doesn’t want to bless us. What I’m saying is that some people:
- Seem to limit God’s ‘blessing’ to money and stuff, and I think He bless us in so many other ways.
- Get a bit confused with the words success and ‘blessing’, and think that they mean the same thing.
And, I know this because if I’m totally honest, sometimes that’s exactly what I find myself doing… getting ‘blessing’ all muddled up.
So, please if you catch me and I’m a bit confused about this, do me a favour and tell me I’m getting it all ‘wrong’!
Truth is Truth only if ‘it is/can be true for all people in all places at all times.’
I like that! That kinda sums it all up for me. I want to be ‘out there’ ready to be whatever God needs me to be at any given moment. I need to be open-minded enough in order to understand how to make the Truth true to anybody and everybody. One way doesn’t work for all.
A friend of mine, who is extremely messy, once said that she feels really uncomfortable and intimidated if she goes to a house that’s really tidy and minimalist. It could be the same for christianity. Some people’s lives are so dirty and coarse and poor, whether they like it that way or not. If they see Christianity as too clean and polished and rich, then what is there that they can relate to? I would hate to intimidate anyone by the way I live out my faith. I would hate to send people running by my clean and crisp exterior. I WANT TO STICK MY WELLIES ON AND GET INTO THE MUD!!
I was reading 1 Timothy 17 onwards in The Message:
“Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage – to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build up a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Overwhelming grace keep you!”
Just watching Danielle now…
HUveQY qgumbnzjdqxq
Yo, blessings are so often immeasurable. I’m certainly not financially ‘blessed’ but am surrounded by people who make my life so super rich by their lives revealing and refecting God.
I often get myself too busy and forget to stop and just be. Freakfest ( an awesome festival in the Czech republic) and the people there helped me to just be and I am so blessed to have a fiance who reminds me to stop and see the beauty in the clouds or elsewhere in creation.
I’ve also just had an awesome conversation with a teenager who I used to work with. She and her mum really inspire me with their hospitality and open natures. I had planned to do ‘stuff’ tonight but her convo on msn made me stop and think and realise the richness and difference people bring when you are open to friendships.
I think if we all stop and just be with Him, we’ll realise the blessings and the truth and beauty that we have.in our lives I’m concious of not doing this enough and a walk through south London early this morning in the beautiful sunshine woke me up spiritually a lot.
Thanks for this Wendy. Lovely!
Wendy,
Yes the blessing can be misunderstood with receiving material stuff I liked how brought up the cost of discipleship being a Christian we are going to face trials God can use those moments to mature our growth in walk with the Lord.
Nathan
Wendy you are a legend! Missing you lots,
Been watching compassionart and thinking lots.
Writing an environmental policy for work and figuring out how to get disengaged kids engaged in community issues.
Any tips – need to get across to these kids the richness in life without patronising.