Consequences

He said to him, “Go in peace.” But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi followed Naaman. 
And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 
And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’ ” 
And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 
And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 
He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” 
And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” 
So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow. (2 Kings 5:19–27)

There is much more to this story. The prophet was significant when this Syrian man was healed from a serious case of leprosy. Naaman was on his way home and thought he should reward Elisha but Elisha refused because God did the healing, not him. However, Elisha’s servant liked the idea of a reward and decided to go for it, behind his master’s back. When Elisha found out and confronted him, he told him the consequences of his lies and greed.

I’ve often thought how we are free to make choices but we cannot choose the consequences. This OT story is an example. More can be seen in many of the fictional dramas in the movies and television. Sadder still are those from real life. Individuals, families, co-workers, all people suffer for choosing selfishly. Broken relationships, illness, jail time, accidents, and all sorts of tragedies and unhappy situations are only a few of the many outcomes of ‘my way’ instead of God's way. And even if these unhappy results do not happen, after filling a shopping cart, every person must go through the checkout.

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! (Psalm 73:16–19)
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. (Psalm 37:1–2)
Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed— and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:16–20)

When young, life seems long and filled with opportunities and many choices. Now that I am older, it seems short and much of what I thought I wanted seems without value. Only God knows what will survive the judgment seat of Christ and have value for eternity. This makes me much more cautious about my choices and values.

Jesus, it is sobering to realize that even those who serve You or support Your people like Gehazi did can become greedy for things that do not have eternal value. Today, the food I cook and the chores that are done have value in this life, yet are “wood, hay, straw,” unless I do them in the grace You provide. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Enable me to keep my focus on what matters for Your glory rather than satisfying my selfish desires.

Choose carefully. . . .

   

Last week Jesus had me doing something for a family I met that day and will likely never see again. The person who brought their need to my attention took pictures of the results. This, and the occasional time I’ve seen certain “Christian” television shows, raised a question: Is serving God a spectator sport?

Piper’s devotional raises a similar question. Is it God’s will to advance biblical truth through human institutions such as seminaries, colleges, parochial schools, mission agencies, publishing houses, journals, newsletters, hospitals, relief agencies, musical groups, drama troupes, conferences, camps, counseling centers, evangelistic associations, coffee houses, and radio and television networks, stations, and programs?

Piper reasoned that institutions by nature develop self-sustaining power as opposed to God-sustained power. There are human expectations, human employees, procedures, traditions, money, brainpower, real estate, facilities, reputation, and a constituency. These all can keep an institution going even if the Holy Spirit has withdrawn. In other words, the rules and traditions that are not part of God's will too easily become part of the way these institutions do things to the point that He is no longer the divine power behind their activities.

This happens in individual lives too, but not always and if the people are involved and growing in their faith, He will address it just as He spoke to His OT people. The danger is not so much that anyone can slide into human motivations and methods, but that the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater. We need to see opportunities rather than slide into sinful behavior.

I recall a discussion about serving God and one man said that the curling rink was his mission field. He got involved in that sport as a means to meet new people and share the gospel with them. Another said they did the same with their activities. I belong to quilt groups and realize that these are also mission fields, but also realize how easy it is to ‘enjoy the sport’ and forget about sharing Christ.

The Bible warns against relying on anything but the Lord, but does not forbid me from using outside help as He leads. These verses speak of where I must get my strength:

The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. (Psalm 33:17)
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31)

That is, institutions like those above, or sports, or even quilting can be a vehicle to share Christ, but don’t rely on the vehicle; rely on the Holy Spirit and God’s leading. He could have put me in the art world, or even into showing my horses, but His leading has me where I am. The point is to “bloom where planted” and not decide where that is or how to use it without His leading.

Piper’s point is to be aware of the line between God-ordained, Spirit-sustained institutional life and human-designed, human-sustained institutionalism. That goes for all of life, not just institutions. I can quilt to bless those who receive them or I can quilt to glorify me.

PRAY: Lord, I know the line most of the time. My current challenge is what to do or say to those who think I do this just for the enjoyment I get out of it. They have no idea that serving You brings sweat as well as joy. Yet defending that puts the focus off Your goodness too. Wisdom is always needed, as is a heartfelt reliance on You rather than feeling I should be put on a pedestal. I want You to be glorified.

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131:1–2)

 

Oblivious to the obvious

Years ago someone asked, “If money, education, or any other circumstance was not an issue, what would you like to do with your life?” My selfish ambition gave what I thought was a noble response: “I would like to start a Bible school.” I later found out that several prominent schools had begun because of a woman, so that justified my ambition. At the time, I didn’t consider the will of God nor what changes my life needed to make that ambition happen.

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” (Matthew 20:20–22)

These two boys didn’t realize it either, nor did their mother. It didn’t matter what they thought of themselves. The reality was that their present lives contradicted what they asked for and they seemed oblivious to the obvious, just as I was in the same state of oblivion about my ambition.

Eventually they figured it out, just as God opened my understanding to the difference between such ambition and the humility required — plus a great many other character qualities and learning experiences. Another Christian servant and a half-brother of Jesus wrote this:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18)

Sometimes I feel the pull of selfish ambition just by wondering why God didn’t give me much in the arena of important work, or at least how I would define important. This passage always convicts me. The description “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” puts me in my place. God isn’t looking for people who want to set the world on fire, or make headlines, or even do outstanding things. He wants an entirely different list of accomplishments — none that can be obtained by my efforts.

First, some self-examination. How am I like James and John? How do my words, attitudes, and choices contradict the very gospel that I love and defend? Am I impatient with people? Do I talk unkindly about others? How could I lead an educational institution if I was not able to live up to the principles that would govern the curriculum? What would my staff do with my weak faith or my  rudeness, or insincerity, or my irritability with them or others?

PRAY: Jesus, You are my patient teacher. To lead others requires far more gifts and a deeper character than I have. I’m just grateful to be in your classroom, gifted with your righteousness, and secure because of Your grace. Each time I eat the bread and drink the cup, You remind me of Your death and that I am united to your life. You call me to your likeness and I’ve no right to be upset over anyone’s sin but my own. Keep working to make me less oblivious to my obvious need for your transforming grace and change all my ambitions to the most important one — that I will always listen to You and obey what You say.