What does it look like?

From our earliest years we are taught to look at things in an "analytical" manner.  We are asked to describe objects in intrinsic detail, everythings from color and shape to texture and compostion.  We are great at looking at objects and describing them in detail, but what about our lives, how good are we at describing our lives to ourselves, to others, to God?

As the group at church has been studying the scripture that led David Platt to write his book Radical and the challenges that David presents in this book, we really got to the heart of the matter last night.  To me it was very powerful, very difficult, very demanding, but very rewarding. We have been studying this for about 8 weeks (one lesson lasted two weeks) and we will finish up next Wednesday night (session 8 also is taking two weeks) and all of the discussion up to this point has been deep, but not to the bone.  It has forced us to wrestle with many questions, has promoted much thought process and has impacted us tremendously.

Last night, however, was different.  Last night we began to wrestle with the question, "What does it look like to die to self?" the lesson was based on scripture from Matthew 10:24-39 and the focus of the study was on living when dying is gain and we adresses Jesus comments on taking up our cross and following Him, even into the arms of suffering. As we talked the issue of what it looks like when we truly begin to take up our cross and follow Christ.

I began to get cliche answers such as "to put Christ first", "to die to self" and others.  Do not misunderstand, these are great pat answers and very good broad concepts that cover a range of things, however, I found that while this covers many things we tend to reserve it for the big items in life. We see this in this way, instead of buying that 55" Flat Screen refuse myself that pleasure, purchase the 42" flat screen and justify it by giving the rest of the money to charity, pat ourselves on the back and say well done.....

So my question to you to day is where in the Gospel of Jesus Christ does he EVER say that we only have to die to the big things in life, but the little pleasures are okay, where does He say that it is okay to live in both worlds.  Remember the rich young ruler, the one who wanted to enter the kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus did not tell him "Go sell SOME of your stuff and come follow me" he said to him "Go sell ALL of your stuff and come follow me". He did not tell the 70 that he sent out to pack a light bag of stuff then go proclaim my name, he said don't even carry a travel bag.

You say, well I am not the rich young ruler, or you say I am not one of the seventy, or you say God has not told me to sell everything I have, or you even get Biblical and say what about the verse that says he gives us all good things to enjoy.....

First off, I will agree that God has not necessarily called you to sell off all your things, what he has commanded you to do is to use the gifts he has given you for the Kingdom of Heaven, do not waste what He has given, rather leverage your resources for the kingdom of Heaven.

Secondly, you may not be one of the 70, but according to Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 you have been called to be a minister of the gospel to the entire world, not asked to go, not given as a suggestion, COMMANDED to go.

Thirdly, so you're not the rich young ruler, really? Did you have food to eat yesterday, will you have food today, how about tomorrow? Do you have a roof over your head? Clothes on your back? Yeah, well CONGRATULATIONS you just made the top 15% of the Wealthiest people in the WORLD, never thought you'd be on that list did you.  Well you are!  When was the last time you bought an order of fries from MckyDee's (McDonalds for those of you who don't understand my lingo)?  Do you know that there is a very large percentage of people in the world who will have to live off what you paid for those fries per day?  WE spend more on one meal than they will make in a week!!

Finally, what about the part of the Bible that says that God has given all good things to enjoy.  The actual scripture reference there is 1 Timothy 6:17.  When you take it into context and read it all together with verse 18 and 19 it reads something like this:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (HCSB)
¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.
¹⁸ ⌊Instruct them⌋ to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share,
¹⁹ storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real.

 So now, what does this passage say, well first off we are not to be arrogant, we are not to put our faith in money or wealth.  Yes it says unequivocably that we are given all things by God to enjoy, but look at what follows, do what is good, be rich in good works, be generous, willing to share, stor up treasure in HEAVEN.  Remember "Do not build up for yourselves treasure where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, but rather stor up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy".  God does provide us with all things to enjoy, but that enjoyment comes from the joy derived from living for Christ, and doing the things that are listed above.

So what does it look like in your everyday life when you die to self...only God can truly show you but I would say that if you are not thinking through every decision you make (yes right down to what kind of soda you should buy in the store or whether you should stop at all) then you have not died to self.  Did you get it because you needed it (in order to survive) or wanted it?

That is just my View from the Corner.....

Blessings, Pastor Brad Jordan