Guaranteed return on investment

After a 5 day hospital stay and surgery, I was thankful for my medical insurance. Without it, I would have faced a bill in excess of $50,000!  Insurance is in place for things we hope never happen - accidents, fires, or floods. It is a 'just in case' monthly expense that I do not enjoy paying but appreciate when needed. I also send money each month to my 401(k) account in preparation for that time when I will no longer be working. That money is not an expense; it’s an investment.  I anticipate receiving my money back, plus some accrued interest, 15 years from now.

How do regard your faith? Is it ‘fire insurance’ or is it an investment?  Some serve Jesus Christ just enough to feel insured! They attend church just to be sure they 'keep in touch.' They give offerings not to joyfully participate in God's Kingdom work in the world, but to create a resource of Divine favor. Almost superstitiously, they hope their religion will keep tragic events from them, or at least, allow them to ask for divine assistance in a crisis. What an adventure in missing the point. Christianity is not about ‘appeasing God.’ 

True disciples invest themselves in God’s kingdom. Their wealth, their health, their happiness, their children, their sense of purpose are all secured - not by Merrill Lynch or Morgan Stanley - but by Jesus Christ! If you think I am mistaken, read the words of Paul which he penned to Timothy, near the end of his life, from death row in Rome. He is not in despair, nor does he express regret for putting his entire life under the management of Christ. "I am not ashamed, (embarrassed by my present circumstances) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (the Day of Judgment)" (2 Timothy 1:12, NIV) "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8, NIV)

They read the prospectus found in the Scripture and are sure of a rich return on investment. They pour their resources into His work - worshipping, serving, giving - with joy, fully expecting that what they are investing will provide true wealth for their lives - present and future. And, they are right! Jesus gives this investment advice- "Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them." (Matthew 6:19-20, CEV) In the middle of a talk about generosity of heart that reaches beyond money, Jesus promised this - "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." (Luke 6:38, NLT)

Here's the question -
How do you think of your Christianity,

as insurance - minimal outlay to secure present wealth the in event of catastrophe; or

as an investment - maximum participation with assured return in Eternity?

I’m investing!
"It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." (Matthew 6:21, The Message)

Be quiet and hold my hand

My Mom, who is critically ill, called me to her bedside at 2:30 am.  She was feeling anxious in her illness, the darkness of morning’s small hours bringing on an acute sense of loneliness. “Don’t leave me,” she whispered. So, I stayed with her, holding her hand.  No words were necessary. Several years ago a young man died suddenly. His family called me to come. I found his father kneeling by his body silently crying, in profound grief, so I stood next to him with a hand on his shoulder for a long time. It would have been an offense to try to offer explanations, to quote Scripture. He just needed me to be there, giving a silent message; “I will steady you; you’re not alone.”  It’s called the ‘ministry of presence.’ 

There are times when words, even those of good intentions and from the heart, can be offensive or irritating to the one who is grieving or suffering. There is a time for wise counsel or comforting words, but often we minister best simply by being available, by demonstrating love rather than professing it! Job’s suffering was terrible- lost family, lost fortune, lost health. As he sat in the ashes, with a broken heart and aching body his friends came to be with him. We read that "When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was." (Job 2:12-13, NIV)  Then, like so many of us when we are confronted with great pain, they felt the need to try to rationalize it. In the end they made two great mistakes: they blamed Job for his plight, saying that surely he must have brought it on himself. And they declared that God was punishing him.

Our ministry of presence finds a model in the Holy Spirit Who comforts us. When Jesus returned to the Father’s glory, He said that He would send the “Counselor.”  “You will not be left as orphans,” the Lord promised. The Spirit is with us. The question is, ‘are we with Him?’  The Psalmist exults: "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." (Psalm 139:7-10, NIV)

Disciple, learn the ministry of Presence! Know when to speak and when to keep silent. When you find yourself alongside of one who is in a rough place, refrain from using clichés that dismiss their pain. By your very presence offer loving assurance. A simple, heart-felt “I’m praying for you,” is often the best expression of caring.

__________________

Tomorrow morning if you wake up,

And the sun does not appear,

I, I will be here.

If in the dark

We lose sight of love,

Hold my hand and have no fear,

'Cause I, I will be here.

I will be here

When you feel like being quiet,

When you need to speak your mind,

I will listen.

And I will be here

When the laughter turns to cryin',

Through the winning, losing and trying,

We'll be together, I will be here.

I Will Be Here

Chapman, Steven Curtis

EMI Christian Music Publishing

© 1989, 1990 Greg Nelson Music
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) / Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.  / Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License No. 810055

Me, Myself, and I

I like doing what I want to do, when I want to do it. I like spending my time in ways that I find personally pleasing. I enjoy using my money to buy things for myself. I do not like rules imposed on me. I dislike cleaning up messes made by others. Second place in line is not where I naturally choose to be.  Right about now, you are likely thinking: “Jerry is a selfish man!”  I confess that, by nature, I love me! (By the way, years of dealing with people makes me certain that I am not unique.)

This morning, I chose to live against my nature, with God’s help. I take very seriously the call of Jesus that challenges the bent of my sinful nature. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:34-37, NIV)  Jesus calls us to a cross-centered life. Die to yourself so that you might truly live in the Spirit. It sounds so noble, when put like that, doesn’t it?

Yet, a Cross-centered life is a tough sell in an age when Self is king and in a culture that holds personal happiness as the highest value. In order to keep people in our churches, we pastors are tempted to turn upside-down making the Gospel into a self-help project, emphasizing that Jesus will enrich our lives as we choose to live them, that He will make us more of ourselves. Jesus promised those who came and followed Him ‘life to the full’ but a deeper assessment of His words reveals that His promise has little to do with making us fatter, richer, more self-satisfied. He invites us to become people full of the Spirit, abundant in love, peace, joy, patience, and endurance.  

Dying to Self, practicing humility, and becoming a servant are messages mostly unheard. Christians who willingly choose to endure a difficult place in the call of God, who stick with a hard assignment, who give up personal pleasures to follow the way of the Spirit are often publicly lauded for their ‘idealism,’ but secretly pitied for their ‘silly religion.’

The primary reason most Christians refuse their cross is that they have no real sense of eternity. Many are totally immersed in the present, creatures of here and now. Even St. Paul admits that we cannot live an authentic Christian life without the sure hope of our Resurrection and Heavenly home. Why give up pursuit of the best life (defined by creating pleasure) if there is no Heaven, no reward? There are few rewards in the present for those who really give up themselves to serve God and others!  It’s a little like being a great Mom. The best Moms care diligently for their families in such a way that their efforts are just taken for granted, missed only if Mom goes AWOL.

Are you claiming to follow Christ, but reserving great chunks of your time to do what you want to do?

Are you hoping for a Heavenly home, but ignoring the reality of Eternity in the present?

Consider the claims of Christ and the call to a Cross-centered life.  Go to Christ and "give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him." (Romans 12:1, NLT)

Here’s a word from the Word, both challenging and filled with hope. May it be a life-guiding passage for us all. “Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.”  - The Message - Galatians 5:24-25)

Pull Up to the Table

Studies repeatedly show that kids who regularly get to pull up to a family dinner table do better in school, stay out of trouble, and form more lasting relationships. Kids who regularly have supper with Mom and Dad are significantly less likely to smoke, drink, do drugs, or suffer from depression. The real pay-off comes during the turbulence of the teen years when the habit of the family dinner becomes a kind of anchor. It does not matter much what is on the menu. It’s the time to talk, the reconnection that occurs at the table, that makes the difference. Curiously, if parents attempt to establish the habit in the teen years when it is needed most, they will almost certainly fail. The habit must be formed from the toddler years.

Yesterday, Bev and I got the kids off to school and went to breakfast together. We sat talking over our coffee and pancakes, just enjoying each other’s company, catching up. It’s been a while since life allowed us this small pleasure. How refreshing it was to spend an hour or so at the table.

Do you regularly sit down at your Heavenly Father’s table? Jesus, after seeing a great faith in a Roman centurion, prophecied that "many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 8:11, NLT)  God’s table is not closed! It is an open table, one to which people of faith are invited, regardless of race, background, sex, or economic status. We have the privilege of enjoying His company, but do we enter in?  Our lives can become so busy, so packing with activities and responsibilities, that days may pass without us having a meaningful conversation with the Lord. Find time to pour a cup of coffee, pick up your Bible, and invite the Holy Spirit to be present. Just listen to Him. Change up your prayer and ‘chat’ with God, talking over life with Him. It’s your privilege to pull up to the table.

John’s eyes were opened by the Spirit. When he gazed across time to the End of all things, he envisioned a great dinner for all the saints, a reception for the Wedding of Ages. "Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” (Revelation 19:7-9, NLT)  What a dinner that will be! Can you imagine the stories that will told around that long, long table?  Stories of triumph, stories of grace. I’ll be there. How about you?

_____________________

Jesus has a table spread

Where the saints of God are fed,

He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine”;

With His manna He doth feed

And supplies our every need:

O ’tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!

Soon the Lamb will take His bride

To be ever at His side,

All the host of Heaven will assembled be;

O ’twill be a glorious sight,

All the saints in spotless white;

And with Jesus they will feast eternally.

“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;

You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;

He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,

To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”

-       Charles Widmeyer