I was blessed to be born into a nice family. My parents had a good marriage and they provided for us kids. Compared to American standards we were definitely not rich, but we weren’t poor either. I never worried about where my next meal was coming from or whether or not I could afford a new pair of shoes. I was involved in soccer, swimming, and music…..because that’s what every child does, right? I got a car my senior year in high school, it wasn’t brand new or fancy, but it ran well enough and got me where I needed to go. I was raised in the church, every Sunday, without fail, we filled a pew and every night we read the Bible around the dinner table. I’ve always been thankful for all of these blessings, but looking back I see that I wasn’t thankful enough. I saw myself and the world through this distorted worldly suburban lens, which has been shattered, and I’m grateful for the new view…..it’s much clearer now.
I see children that come to school with miserable looking sneakers and torn pants, but they smile and they learn. My students’ backpacks all have broken zippers, but they don’t go out and buy new ones, they use what they have. I walk through barrios where all you see are tin roofs, wood slat homes, and barbed wire, and I’m accustomed to it. A friend of mine walks everywhere, or gets a ride from someone, because his family could never afford a car or a motto.
Living here in the Dominican Republic has put into perspective how much God blessed me. I took so much for granted and because of that I am ashamed. I imagine how hurt I would be if I gave someone a gift that I knew was perfect for them and they weren’t thankful for it. Ungratefulness hurts God, and though I’ve hurt God in the past, I strive to be more grateful. I realize that God, in his infinite wisdom, intentionally placed me in my family with the advantages that I had growing up. I didn’t deserve any of it, yet he freely gave it all to me. Why was he so gracious to me, maybe because he trusts me to be a leader, a world changer, a disciple? I don’t know, but what matters is that I use all the talents that he gave me to glorify him.
In Luke 12:49 Jesus says this, “From everyone whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” I’ve known this lesson for as long as I can remember, but it was just head knowledge, I didn’t live it out in my heart or my life. I was careless, wasting God’s gifts and his time. God, the creator of the universe entrusted me with much, and I’m guilty of wasting his gifts. Because Jesus died for all of us by shedding his blood I’m also guilty of wasting his blood. WASTING HIS BLOOD….. I’m ashamed of that, but I’m also forgiven and I choose to live differently now and in the years to come.
In Matthew 25:14….. we find the parable of the talents. Through this parable Jesus teaches us that God has entrusted all of us with this world and he holds us accountable. I see that he entrusts me with my talents, friends, family, money, opportunities, time, etc….. I know that God has entrusted me with much, but I have fallen short so many times. I’ve wasted money and time. I’ve been superficial in my relationships and not invested in people the way that God intended for me to. I’ve let opportunities pass me by and I’ve let my gifts go unused. I know God didn’t create me to be idle, he created and equipped me to be active…actively seeking him and reflecting him to the world. I’ve definitely fallen short and not lived to the potential that God intends me to, but I’m growing and learning how to be more responsible with all that God has given me.
I find it funny that in America we are so concerned with recycling and conserving water/electricity/resources, but as Christians we so easily waste all that God has given us. I imagine that spiritually a lot of us represent an ugly landfill full of plastic bottles, waiting to be reused. How much do we waste what God has given us? This image saddens me because I know how much I’ve wasted. So I’m collecting all the empty bottles in my life and I’m using them for God and his kingdom.
I’m grateful for all that God has given me and for the person that he intends me to be. I’m learning to be responsible with all that God has given me. He trusts me to use all that he has given me. He trusts me..…I think about that and I’m awestruck, to think that God trusts ME. He trusts me with music, friendships, money, leadership, relationships..…he trusts me to use all that he has given me and I want to be a good and faithful servant. When I see God face to face I want him to be pleased with the way that I used all that he entrusted me with.
I know that because much was given…..much is required, and I’m excited for the challenge.
We sure miss you guys! Just cause you don't hear from us doesn't mean you are not on our minds or in our prayers! Love what you wrote here. I especially was taken by the sentence you wrote.... "Imagine if someone gave you a gift they thought was perfect for you.....and yet they were ungrateful".....
ReplyDeletelots to think about....
always asking the Lord to change me and make me more like Him!
Jeff, I really appreciate how your perspective has changed. Hospitality is not possible unless those who offer it are also deeply aware of their needs, frailties, and dependence on others—weakness. I’m not here because I’m helping them. I’m here because we are helping each other. A person, actively engaged in the hard work of hospitality, comes to the understanding that I myself am poor, that I myself am needy. That I walk the same pilgrimage that many of these people walk, just in a different format. Perspective!
ReplyDeleteJesus makes hospitality more complicated for Christians. We offer hospitality within the context of knowing Jesus as both our greater host and our potential guest. The grace we experience in receiving Jesus welcome energizes our hospitality while it undermines our pride and self-righteousness. The possibility of welcoming Christ as our guest strengthens our kindness and fortitude in responding to strangers.” This is so true and where the perception needs to dictate the proper response. I see you wrestling with just this tension as I do.
We gather together to have a meal, share resources, break bread and say that Jesus is Lord. It is in the bread and wine that Jesus is Lord. In weakness, in suffering and in the pain we see God. And all that’s beautiful, because in the middle of all that he’s in the weakness and there is strength and beauty in that weakness.
Why do we do what we do (vocation)? When we use power to not help or do something for another person we are essentially saying we don’t get it.
But the way of Jesus is better.
What are we scared of? Why do we need to use power to protect the illusion of strength? When we look at the weakness of Jesus and imitate him then and only then are we showing true strength. He (Jesus) simply revealed the limit and the frontier of all these things—the freedom of the kingdom of God.