We recently finished watching the Radical series online in our small group. And I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the truths I have been learning. We have been doing a lot of thinking, a lot of praying, and a lot of soul searching.
Radical has been about what Jesus really said about the Christian lifestyle; what it really looks like to follow Him. And I am discovering that my life doesn't match up. This comes as a shock to me! All my life I have been in church, raised by a family who loves God and spent a lot of time teaching me the Bible. So how have I missed so much?
If you would have asked me before we watched Radical if I thought I was living the way God wants his children to, I would have said yes. There are many verses in the Bible about Christian character that I am aware of and try to follow, such as the fruits of the spirit, loving others, having joy, etc. These were all things that I heard many times growing up and still strive for today. But I am learning a whole new side of Jesus and I am shocked that I have never understood this before.
Jesus spoke a lot about giving. We view our money and possessions as blessings from God to be used on ourselves, but 2 Corinthians 9:11 says
"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in Thanksgiving to God."
Jesus said that it is hard for the rich man to enter the kingdom of God. I have never really paid attention to that verse before. And it is partially because I have never viewed myself as rich. And if I look around me, I'm not. But what is around me in the suburbs of America is not what most of the world looks like. I am exceedingly wealthy compared to most people in the world.
Jesus said to help the poor, feed the hungry, care for the orphan and widow. Even the old testament has many verses that say that.
"If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
"Then those righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" Matthew 25:37-40
Clearly, the heart of God is with the least of these. And somehow, I translate those verses to mean that I'm doing good when I tithe and sponsor one child for $35 a month. I spend many more times that amount on myself without thinking twice.
Paul said that we should be content with food and clothing and that those who desire to be rich fall into a snare. I have so much more than food and clothing, and I struggle with being content with what I have at times.
Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything he had to follow Him, but he went away sad. If I am honest with myself, would I have responded any differently?
The Bible says that our money is God's and we are just stewards. Then how do I justify selfishly spending it for myself when there are so many people in extreme poverty?
It has become apparent to me that I am not following God in this area of my life. I am following my selfish desires and the American dream. It is true that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I am identifying deeply right now with this beautiful prayer from the Book of Common Prayer:
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will,
and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of Your name.
Amen.
I truly want to be a Christ follower. I thank the Lord for His grace and forgiveness and that my salvation is not dependent on works, because I fall so short. I pray that my heart will always be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and that I will have the courage to follow through with my convictions, even when they are counter-cultural and scary.
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