The Responsibility of Privilege
We want everything for free. Have you noticed wanting something but not wanting to pay the price for it. Maybe you want six-pack Abs, but do not want to go to the gym. Maybe you want to be wealthy, but do not want to do what it takes to amass that wealth (which is to spend less than you earn). We have become obsessed with getting things for nothing. We do not want them to cost us anything. But that is not the way that the world is created – or the way that God will let you live.
You must choose. You must choose to be fit, or sit in your lazy-boy recliner and do nothing. You must choose to spend less than you make or keep buying the latest toys that do not add to your net worth. You must choose today and determine the cost you are willing to pay for what you want – or need. If you want something for nothing it usually means it is worth nothing. A fortune not earned honestly will be lost quickly.
Jesus is clear that our faith MUST cost us something if it is to be real. We cannot claim faith and it not cost us something. Most reading this article today do not let their claim of faith even cost them an hour on Sundays to gather for worship – much less infuse the rest of their lives. We want faith to be convenient and easy – never a choice that is difficult and costly.
Jesus said: “…, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”
His words haunt us, because we do not want anything to have a real, tangible cost and yet he challenges us to see that our decision to follow him – to believe in God – MUST have a cost if it is to be real and legit. That just rubs the wrong way it seems. Faith should be about receiving forgiveness, grace and mercy – RIGHT?
While we do receive a great deal in faith we also have to make choices that cost us something. What is most important to us? What are we willing to give over to God? What is so important to us that we will not let God redeem that part of us? There are legitimate questions we must grapple with. They are questions we will wrestle with for our entire lives and must actively answer and respond to as we seek a real faith that transcends just our needing something to our being something of worth and value.
Have you heard the saying: “As useful as Teats on a Boar Hog?” It speaks to how something is not useful, helpful and in fact is often distracting. Sometimes we have things that do not help our faith, but in fact show that there is precious little of it in us. A person who is only looking for something from faith and never gives to that faith is – pardon the expression: “As useful as Teats on a Boar Hog.”
Faith is not privilege – it is responsibility. A mutual responsibility that leads us to a higher plane of existence and openness. Today I pray that you take that responsibility so that you may have the full joy of it’s privilege.
Blessings,
Pastor Greg
You must choose. You must choose to be fit, or sit in your lazy-boy recliner and do nothing. You must choose to spend less than you make or keep buying the latest toys that do not add to your net worth. You must choose today and determine the cost you are willing to pay for what you want – or need. If you want something for nothing it usually means it is worth nothing. A fortune not earned honestly will be lost quickly.
Jesus is clear that our faith MUST cost us something if it is to be real. We cannot claim faith and it not cost us something. Most reading this article today do not let their claim of faith even cost them an hour on Sundays to gather for worship – much less infuse the rest of their lives. We want faith to be convenient and easy – never a choice that is difficult and costly.
Jesus said: “…, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”
His words haunt us, because we do not want anything to have a real, tangible cost and yet he challenges us to see that our decision to follow him – to believe in God – MUST have a cost if it is to be real and legit. That just rubs the wrong way it seems. Faith should be about receiving forgiveness, grace and mercy – RIGHT?
While we do receive a great deal in faith we also have to make choices that cost us something. What is most important to us? What are we willing to give over to God? What is so important to us that we will not let God redeem that part of us? There are legitimate questions we must grapple with. They are questions we will wrestle with for our entire lives and must actively answer and respond to as we seek a real faith that transcends just our needing something to our being something of worth and value.
Have you heard the saying: “As useful as Teats on a Boar Hog?” It speaks to how something is not useful, helpful and in fact is often distracting. Sometimes we have things that do not help our faith, but in fact show that there is precious little of it in us. A person who is only looking for something from faith and never gives to that faith is – pardon the expression: “As useful as Teats on a Boar Hog.”
Faith is not privilege – it is responsibility. A mutual responsibility that leads us to a higher plane of existence and openness. Today I pray that you take that responsibility so that you may have the full joy of it’s privilege.
Blessings,
Pastor Greg
posted by Covenant of the Cross at
11:35 AM
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