Joy – but not today

The life of God’s servant Paul was dramatically changed by Jesus Christ. His purpose for living became solely based on the mission that Jesus gave him. Paul said:

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

Few Christians rise to that value system. Our lives are too precious to us and comfort is more important than sacrifice. If doing the will of God is going to be difficult, unpleasant, or cost too much, compromise prevents the completion of the course.

Jesus had a different perspective. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this:

. . . let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Jesus understood delayed gratification. Small children do not -- and unfortunately, many small children do not grow up to this understanding. Yesterday a man expressed his concerns over an 18-year-old girl who gets what she wants and never has to make major decisions. He said that when she has to face the real world, she will not survive because she has never been allowed to grow up.

Many people in North America are into instant gratification. Thousands who were employed in oil-related industry were making big money but spending it all. Their lives were all about ‘I want it and I want it now.’ Sadly, they must grow up. Many of them are selling their toys to buy groceries because they didn’t consider that one day their source of wealth could run dry.

Christians also need to beware of this desire for instant gratification. Sometimes the results of Christian ministry are not seen until eternity. The attitude of ‘I must have it right now’ has produced much discouragement and drop-outs in the kingdom of God. Unlike Jesus, it is far more prevalent to want our joy right now, rather than “set before” us, and if the joy isn’t there, to go elsewhere looking for it.

These thoughts were prompted by today’s devotional. It was based on a version of the Bible that contains two words that are not in the most reliable Greek manuscripts. In them, this verse says, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

At first, I objected, knowing that particular version used more recent manuscripts and those two words were likely inserted by copyists who thought they should be there. They seem to make ‘ultimate joy’ Paul’s motivation for doing what he did. However, Jesus also did what He did for the joy set before Him. Those verses in Hebrews could be the reason “with joy” was inserted in Acts 20:24!

Either way, the point is that I need to think about life with eternity in mind far more than what is going on right now. This is pointedly practical today. We are attending a funeral this afternoon. The person who died believed in Jesus and according to God’s promises, he is absent from the body and present with the Lord. For that we can rejoice. However, we see some devastation remaining in the life and people he has left behind. Much needs to be done to sort it out and some of it cannot be sorted or changed, only wept over.

In the middle of the night I woke in tears, asking God what to do, how to think. He gave me another look at Jesus and I heard these words, “for the joy set before Him, He endured.”

Endure. Being happy right now is not my goal. Do what God wants me to do, but be aware that gratification is usually delayed when it comes to kingdom living. Later when we are in eternity, those of us involved in what seems so tragic now will have forgotten all about it -- or we will recall it with joyous and grateful laughter.

Priorities

Genesis 25:19-28:22

My test for true priorities is asking myself about delayed gratification. If I really want something, or think it is valuable, am I willing to wait for it? If God promises to do something that I want, can I wait for Him to do it, or do I try to ‘help’ make it happen?

Before the birth of her twin sons God told Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, that the older twin would serve the younger. Rebekah later favored the younger twin. Was it because she believe the promise, or was this preference due to the boy being less of a ‘jock’ than his outdoorsy brother, and more of a stay-at-home?

Another part of the story tells how Esau, the older, sold his birthright—his right to inherit the covenant God made with Abraham—to his younger brother Jacob. He had the right to inherit most of his father’s property and also any intangible possessions, such as title or position, but he came in from the fields hungry and traded it to Jacob for a bowl of stew.

Years later Jacob and his mother schemed to steal Esau’s blessing, through which the birthright would be transmitted anyway. Had she forgotten God’s promise? This scheme antagonized Esau to murderous thoughts, forcing Jacob to flee. However, he fled to Bethel, had his first direct personal experience with the God of the covenant, and committed himself to serve the Lord.

This story is sad in many ways, yet filled with instruction. The lesson that caught my attention today is the importance of values and being willing to wait for what I want. Esau couldn’t do it. His hunger was more important than the birthright. On a much smaller scale, I want to lose a few pounds but the desire for chocolate cake or a piece of peach pie with ice cream can mess up my plan to eat less sweets. What is more important? Am I willing to wait for it, even go hungry? Actually, I don’t need to go hungry; I could eat an apple or have a salad!

Rebekah had a problem with waiting also. God told her that Jacob would wind up usurping his brother. Did she really need to use deception to ‘help’ God accomplish what He said would happen?

Before the twins were born, the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)

But later, as Isaac asked Jacob to hunt for game and prepare him a meal, Rebekah was listening. When Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebekah said to Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau,  ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you.  Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” (Genesis 27:5-10)

She could not let God fulfill His promise without ‘helping’ Him do it!

When God tells me His plan, the principle of delayed gratification is important. I might want that plan to happen NOW, but God’s timing is always right. Waiting on Him is vital lest I mess up what He intends to be perfect.

Values also are part of this, for if I go ahead of God, then I value my ideas and methods more than His. This is a no-brainer: nothing could be more ridiculous!