Oh my, the 70’s and 80’s are retro! Gisele Baxter writes about the class of 2013.
Author: Craig
urban tsunami
Mike Harcourt, a former mayor of Vancouver, likens the global movement of people into cities the beginning of an urban tsunami that will jeopardize the well-being of many people. Tyee has his comments in an article on the Resilient Cities conference last week in Vancouver.
when everything is not enough
A wealthy, influential man came to see Jesus to ask about the good life, eternal life (Luke 18:18-30). He asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He likely had everything his context could offer him: wealth, a good reputation, a growing family, comfort, influence, respect, and servants. When confronted with God’s commands–do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother–this big-name-family-business-man, revealed his desire for a principled and ordered life. “All these I have kept since I was a child.” And yet, even though he was living out their local vision of being good, even though he was living the “good life” that others coveted, this man could not escape the dis-ease in his heart, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
If you have ever noticed that you get no lasting satisfaction from the stuff of this world, you may understand the darkness and emptiness that was in this man’s heart. He had it all, but was not satisfied. Perhaps, he was uncomfortable with the temporary nature of all that he was investing his life in and began to contemplate what was really out there in the future and what could really fill his heart, and if there was a really meaningful life to be had.
Please don’t miss the profound nature of the spiritual life contained in the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” A big-name-family-business-man in Jesus’ day would understand the two realities required to be the beneficiary of an inheritance. It requires that you are born into a family of some means and second, that somebody dies. The Christian view of the good life believes that Jesus makes both of these requirements possible.
When a person receives Jesus as the central commanding and provisionary figure of life, s/he is born into or adopted into the family of God. Therefore the person now is part of a household of faith that shares the rich provisions, blessings, influence of our Heavenly Father. You become a child of God with the full rights and privileges of His household not via creation but through spiritual rebirth. (See the related verses below.)
And in regards to the second requirement of an inheritance–someone must die, the Christian view of reality holds that Jesus’ death was meaningful for the execution of God’s will for the benefit of all who would receive Him. Jesus was going to die for this man on the Cross. Jesus’ death was full of meaning. His death secured an inheritance of forgiveness of sin, fellowship with God, and the gift of the Holy Spirit so that His followers might enjoy the grace of God by faith in Him. (See the related verses below.)
I relate to this man, not because I actual enjoy the status he had, but because I know that the attraction of money, wealth, power, and reputation seem to have death grip on us, even though our devotion to them is so futile. We all seem to want our own kingdoms of comfort. Jesus asked this man to exchange his devotion to wealth and himself for devotion to Jesus and service to others in Jesus’ kingdom. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Give up your rights to it, give it away, and follow me.
Even though his heart was dissatisfied with all this world could offer him, the cost for satisfaction seemed too high and the man went away very sad, “because he was a man of great wealth.” He could not yet see that Jesus far outweighed the value of everything he had. For on the other side of the transaction Jesus called for, this man could have enjoyed life as a child of the King: valuable relationships, meaningful living, and eternal life. Jesus saw into this man and sympathized with the struggle and tells him, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
I hope the man reconsidered the offer. Jesus secured an inheritance for this man. Jesus did die to fulfill the will of the Heavenly Father. Jesus does have a family into which we can be born by His Spirit. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead seals the deal and marks His triumph over death and over the emptiness of living for what the world offers without God. Whatever you are holding onto as “the thing” that will make your life full and meaningful, I urge you to loosen your fatal attraction and grip on the stuff of this world and to embrace Jesus Christ as your Lord–your Provider, Saviour, Redeemer, and your very Life. Through Jesus, God will cleanse you of every shameful and empty thing, and will gracefully fill your life with joy, assurance, meaning, and new confidence as His child. He will give you a new way of living with the stuff and people of this world, so that by His Spirit you may overcome its never-ceasing competition for the allegiance of your heart. When everything is not enough, Jesus is enough.
Jesus fulfills the requirements required so we can inherit eternal life.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shield by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kids of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again….the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:3, 14-16
“…giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:11-14
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviou. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemishand free from accusation…” Colossians 1:19-22
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that it is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.'” Romans 1:16-17
The Challenge of Generosity
Here are the notes from Sunday’s message at Cityview in our series, The New Testament Challenge. The audio will be available later this week.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
The Big Idea: Generosity relies on the abundance of God.
1. Jesus believes you can afford to be generous.
2. Jesus confronts us with an alternative economy.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Matthew 6:19-24 NIV
See Luke 18:18-33
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
Common Challenges to Generosity
A. “I’m not sure I have enough.”
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his posses- sions.” Luke 12:15
Generosity challenges our vision of success.
B. “I’m in too much debt.”
“The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is servant to the
lender.” Proverbs 22:7
Generosity challenges our addiction to stuff and lack of restraint.
C. “I’m not sure the other person deserves it.”
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:12-13
Generosity challenges our judgmental nature.
D. “I’m overwhelmed; there are just too many people with needs.”
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17
Generosity challenges us to act now.
E. “I don’t want to be part of the problem.”
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” Galatians 6:1
Generosity challenges us to seek wisdom.
F. “I didn’t know.”
“They will answer, ‘Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you.” Matthew 25:44
Generosity challenges us to see Jesus.
G. “I just need a little bit more.”
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with every thing for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Generosity challenges our greed.
4. Beware the temptation to make godliness and generosity a formula for this world’s vision of success. Beware the temptation to make generosity another system of divine credit.
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:3-10
5. Next Steps
A. __________ Enter the Kingdom of Jesus and His new economy of the Abundant Life.
B. __________ Memorize the verse. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
C. __________ Determine to give from what you have.
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42
D. ___________________________________________
God’s Economy by Jonathon Wilson-Hartgrove
Author Jonathon Wilson-Hartgrove challenges people to enjoy the abundant life promised by Jesus Christ. Jonathon’s book , God’s Economy: Redefining the Health and Wealth Gospel, is not your typical Health and Wealth Gospel being flogged by many in the Church today. Rather, it is an attempt to express what Jonathon and others who are living in new monastic communities are experiencing as they take Jesus at His Word. Jonathon understands Jesus’ call into relationship with Him as a salvation that secures not only forgiveness of sin and eternal life but also a salvation that secures participation in an alternative economy so that the abundant life is lived now.
Each of the “tactics” of the alternative economy presented by Jonathon enliven me and make me nervous. Fortunately they are not Jonathon’s tactics, but Jesus’ commands to those who follow him. The alternative economy moves according to these commands:
Tactic 1: Subversive Service: How God’s Economy Slips In. “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
Tactic 2: Eternal Investments: How God’s Children Plan Ahead. “Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven.” Matthew 6:20
Tactic 3: Economic Friendships: How Real Security Happens. “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves.” Luke 16:9
Tactic 4: Relational Generosity: How We Share Good News. “Give to the one who asks you.” Mathew 5:42
Tactic 5: Gracious Politics: How to Live Under Occupation. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Mark 12:17
I only completed my first reading of Jonathon’s book today. But, I heartedly recommend God’s Economy to anyone who has handled money, to anyone who has been troubled by their own selfishness and greed, to anyone who wonders if Jesus really means for us to live better on less, and to anyone who is committed to being a Acts 2 community with a group of Christians. God’s Economy is not really a how-to manual. It is a confessional work, full of stories and testimonies of others who have entered into a generous and abundant life with Jesus and sought out, sometimes painfully–, how to live by faith in the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
urbanfoot 