Bring It On!
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Luke 21:1-4
1. He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; 2. and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. 3. And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4. for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had."
Romans 12:1-2
1. I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
It may not seem as if these two passages are related, but the more I read over them, the more closely the connection in my mind developed. In Luke, we see the wealthy doing what is required. The poor woman would certainly be excused from offering the last of her money in order to provide for herself. But reading through Paul’s letter to the Romans, we see that he clearly feels we are to do more than the minimum. In fact, we are to step out in faith and do more—give everything.
Perhaps because I’ve begun leading a spiritual gifts class that I view these two passages from that perspective. Society has many pre-determined ideas about what the prestigious occupations are. Notice that attorneys and doctors are referred to as “professionals” and plumbers and those in the construction business are referred to as “workers?” It’s a subtle distinction, but it exists nonetheless. We do tend to respect those with more education and training, and hold in lower regard one who is a skilled laborer.
But I ask you, who do you respect more when your septic tank backs up, or you who would rather have building a cabinet or a piece of furniture for you? Sure, we need attorneys and doctors, stock brokers and bankers, politicians and judges, and many other “prestigious” individuals. But Paul is chiding us to not get too hung up on a title or a “place in society.” Especially if we are one of the “more respectable” ones!
Each of us is gifted, skilled, in specific ways. And each of us serves everyone else. My service is just as important as yours. Without one of us, the other would be lacking. Without attorneys, our laws could not be upheld or tested. Without plumbers, we wouldn’t be able to live very comfortably or conveniently. More than that, though, we are implored to give our “all.” Be like the widow—and give the best, the most, the last of what we have to give—whatever that might be. Make our service an act of worship.
Offer yourself as a living sacrifice. Dig down deep and look for the next thing you can do, the more challenging, the more generous, the absolute limit. Because, after all, everything you have, everything you are, everything you will ever become, is because of God’s grand design, the gift of His Son, and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit! Trust that God will use you to serve his world. Believe that God’s will for you is abundance and you will have it! Perhaps you won’t have wealth, but you’ll have love, and generosity of friends, and peace of mind, and gratitude for those blessings.
I think I’m really leading myself down a path this morning that I’ve been avoiding. I’m at a point where I know I need to “kick it up a notch” in terms of my obedience to God. And I’m struggling with taking that next step. It will require that I give up some of the activities I participate in now, and rearrange how I spend my time, and certainly expenditure of energy and effort. But I know God is leading me to take this next step—go deeper, discover more so I can give more. Find answers so I can share wisdom. Trust in him that he will continue to bless me with abundance of love, encouragement, friendship, and peace of mind.
I hope today you listen as God calls you to take the next step. And that you’ll jubilantly respond, “Yes, bring it on!”
Mary
