Jesus talked about being “rich with respect to God.” Intriguing phrase, but what did He mean? This is the final segment of a Thanksgiving message. If you missed them, you can find the first section posted HERE . The second section is HERE.
Before I go fix a leftover turkey sandwich, I thought I’d let you know I’m thankful for YOU and all the others who regularly read this blog. And I hope you had a great Thanksgiving Day.
What do many rich guys have in common with toddlers? You can find out in this continuation of the Thanksgiving message posted last time (See Happy + Thanks + Giving).
Have a great Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. I’ll post the conclusion to this message on Friday.
Next time you are arguing about politics (or anything else…) pay attention to what is going on in your mind when the other guy is speaking. Most people spend that time putting together their next argument and mentally rehearsing it, while only halfheartedly listening to what is being said to them. They may hear a word here and there, enough to get the gist of what they assume the other person is saying. And when they get a chance to reply, the same thing happens in reverse. Which is why arguments are rarely constructive. Nobody is listening.
James, the brother of Jesus wrote this good advice:
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,…” – (James 1:19 (NIV84))
Real listening is more than registering noises in one’s ears. Listening means attempting to truly understand the emotions and meanings being conveyed. Real listening has not happened until you can restate what you heard, in your own words, to the other person’s satisfaction. That last part is the key. The idea is for them to look startled and relieved, with the realization that you really understood it, your really got it. If you work for that to happen, before you state your position, then you will have a better chance of being understood, too. But as long as two people simply lob angry slogans at one another, without listening, not much is accomplished.
It seems to me that much of the hostility and divisiveness we experience in our culture could be reduced or even eliminated by the simple act of listening. Real listening. Give it a try and see if James wasn’t right. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. And slow to get angry, too…
“…for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” – (James 1:20 (NIV84)
There wasn’t much my mother and I agreed on during my adolescence. Especially music (Yeah, I know: big surprise…). She was into lofty, classical refinements; I tended toward Four Strong Winds and Mr. Tambourine Man. So when she announced that she had bought me a ticket to a performance at the local university, I groaned and protested. With great reluctance I slumped down the dusty halls of academia, preparing to sleep my way through some tedious Elizabethan minstrels or something. But it was legendary blues great, Josh White playing! Far from being tedious, he held the audience captive with his plaintive, rich baritone voice. His soulful guitar work, replete with amazing, raspy slide licks with his leathery thumb, put the whole experience over the top. An experience I almost missed because I assumed I knew what to expect. Score one for Mother.
So frequently when I try to communicate the exhilaration and joy I’ve found in Jesus, I am met with the same indifference. Usually, I am convinced, it is because they hear the name, Jesus, and immediately associate it with dusty, boring, irrelevant religion. But I’m talking about lighting the afterburners on life and blasting into a whole different reality.
Of course, this is nothing new; you can hear a bit of similar frustration in Paul’s words:
“I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
– (Colossians 2:1)
He goes on to say that the purpose for his struggle is:
“… so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
– (Colossians 2:2b-3)
If you have kept yourself a safe distance from Jesus because of dull religious experiences (or worse), don’t let what you assume you know keep you from experiencing the “One in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!”
It is a good time for those of us who follow Jesus to remember His example. In His day, the most highly respected people were the super-religious, the ones who made a lifestyle and outward display of doing everything they thought God wanted them to do. The least respected people were prostitutes and tax collectors (generally considered to be traitorous and dishonest). And yet,
“Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. – (Matthew 21:31b)
Make no mistake: it was not that Jesus approved of the things such people were doing. To the contrary, He had compassion on them, knowing how much they were hurting inside. He did not condemn them or marginalize them; He loved them and offered them a new way of life.
Whoever you believe are the lowest and least respectable, the type least likely to be welcomed into religious circles, those are the people among whom you would have found Jesus. When He engaged in angry rhetoric, it was against those who puffed themselves up with religious pride and looked down upon those who were suffering from destructive choices. If we become known for angry rhetoric against the ones Jesus came to seek and save, we do not represent Him well.
The biggest Swiss Army knife would never fit in your pocket. It is 9″ wide and weighs 2 pounds. It has 141 different tools folded up in it, including a hook dis-gorger and a snap shackle. If you bought it, you might have more room in your pocket though, because it lists for $2100. I suppose this thing is a joke, but before it went to seed, the idea of having one tool with which you could do most things was attractive.
Paul lists a bunch of new behaviors for followers of Jesus to put into practice:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. – (Colossians 3:12-14a (NIV))
That’s quite a list – a nice list, to be sure – but a lot to remember. And, even at that, it is not comprehensive; it doesn’t include everything for us with which to “clothe ourselves”. However, there is a “Swiss Army Knife” of attitudes for Christians, one tool for most circumstances. Here’s the rest of what Paul wrote:
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. – (Colossians 3:14b)
If you understand that love is an act of will with which I put away my self-interest to minister to what you need, all of the attitudes listed in the first passage really are bound together under the one tool called love. Better yet, you will discover that “Love” fits in your pocket. It’s not free however; it costs you, maybe even more than $2100 in some circumstances. But it is a great tool, worth much more than the biggest Swiss Army Knife.
I’ve always admired the calm attitude of a master mechanic. When something breaks, if you don’t know what is wrong or what to do, most people respond out of a reservoir of great stress. Bang your head on the steering wheel, pace back and forth, throwing your hands up in the air, utter a few choice phrases – you know what I mean, I’m sure. But a mechanic, one who knows what is wrong and exactly what to do, proceeds to work on the problem with a steady peace about him. An infectious peace.
Jesus, Almighty God in the flesh, must have had the peace of a master mechanic. And then some. He always knew what was wrong. Moreover, He always knew exactly how to fix it. Imagine how His peace must have settled those around Him as He set about His work.
“Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” – (Matthew 8:24-26)
Movies about Jesus tend to make Him seem slow of speech and unemotional, as though He was reciting from a dull script. But His peace must have captivated and instilled confidence in the hearts of those present. Can you imagine how thankful they must have been to receive the service of the Master Mechanic? If you can see that, check out this bit of Paul’s letter to the Colossians:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – (Colossians 3:15)
Jesus knows what is broken and He knows exactly what to do. Let His peace rule!
Smartest thing I ever did was take a lesson from an expert in organizing clutter. His name was… let’s see, it’s around here somewhere… Well, anyway, one of his tips was to take two big boxes and label them, “Keep” and “Pitch.” Then, everything you pick up, toss it into one box or the other. I discovered this system only works if you actually get rid of the “Pitch” box.
A similar task confronts those who are given new life through faith in Christ, sorting through the elements of their old nature and new, keeping the new and discarding the old. Paul explained this process as the logical extension of our having “died with Christ” (Colossians 2:20a) and having been “raised with Christ” (Colossians 3:1a – See the previous post, “Refocus”). In a sense, he said, get yourself two boxes, a “Death” box and a “Life” box. Toss the parts for which Christ died and keep the parts for which He was raised.
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
(Colossians 3:5)
“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. – ( Colossians 3:8)
New things Paul listed to put in the “Life” box and keep included:
“…compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” – (Colossians 3:12b-14)
Clutter can be debilitating; it feels so free to finally get it sorted and cleaned out. Similarly, the clutter of old habits and attitudes can wear us down and tangle us up with guilt and shame. Instead of fighting that battle, Paul says, drop all that old stuff into the “Death” box and haul it to the dump. Of course it is not entirely as easy as that. You will probably have to repeat the cleanup from time to time (just like you do in the basement closet!). But the boost you experience each time is worth it.
A mechanic told me the air conditioner on the engine of my old RV was shot and would cost over $2000 to fix. After one summer trip across the Midwest, I was ready for a second opinion. I found a guy who was a certified instructor for truck mechanics. He fixed my a/c for $200 and it has been working fine ever since. It is tough to know who to trust when your truck breaks down. It boils down to who has the best information and training. And the stakes can be pretty high.
The stakes are much higher when your communication with God has broken down, when you need a “soul mechanic.” I did a quick Google search for “spiritual advisor near me.” I got 261,000 options, from psychics to witches, faith healers and such. With such a variety, how do you know who to trust? Here’s what you need to know: Basically, all “soul mechanics” can be sorted into two categories: those who base their teaching on human opinions and Jesus. Paul compares the two like this:
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
But what makes Jesus’ teachings more trustworthy than all the others? It is the Source of His information. The good mechanic got his information directly from the actual manufacturers of the equipment, passing their tests, so he would be qualified to train other mechanics in a reliable way. That other guy was just guessing. What is the Source of Jesus’ information?
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” (Colossians 2:9,)
Nobody else comes even close… Who will you trust?
A catalog of toys for the very wealthy features a hammer, so well made and balanced, it costs nearly $200. It comes with it’s own display box. You can set it on the desk in your office, smugly showing your clients and colleagues that you own a better hammer. Big deal! That’s not what hammers are for.
In the previous post, I explained how you can have spiritual wisdom and understanding that surpasses that of a mountaintop guru. (See: Without Boots or Beard) But so what? What on earth would you do with such wisdom and understanding? What’s it for? It’s not just for putting on display, not even on some Tibetan peak.
Paul prayed his friends might attain spiritual wisdom…
“…so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…” – (Colossians 1:10)
Spiritual wisdom is for using, for living. You’ve heard the old saying, “He’s so spiritual he’s no earthly good.” Rubbish. If you have spiritual wisdom and understanding, you live better, more fully. Peyton Manning excels at football because he has studied the game. He plays with wisdom. People who have wisdom, from God’s Spirit, understand this gift is meant for living, really living. Jesus didn’t sit around humming and pondering his belly button. He lived a robust, energetic life, filled with purpose.
But what does “worthy of the Lord” mean? It almost sounds as though Paul wants them to measure up so God won’t be mad. That’s not it. It means to live in such a way that the advantages of spiritual insight are fully brought to bear in everything you do. If you own a Ferrari and only drive it down to the corner store for milk, you’re not using it in a manner worthy of the power under the hood. If you have wisdom and understanding from God and don’t do anything but sit around singing hymns, you’ve wasted His power.
Spiritual wisdom is for “bearing fruit in every good work.”. That may be as simple as giving a cup of water to someone who is thirsty. Or, it could look like the good work of a guy I know who goes around the country, helping people clean up after a tornado or a flood.
By the way, I’ve seen that guy’s hammer. He doesn’t keep it in a display box…
FRESH BREAD OF LIFE 