Posted by Dominic
Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:35:00 GMT
As Jesus is on his way from Judea, he is approached by a young man: ”Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”
The answer he gets is a bit puzzling — ”Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
The ruler thought this part easy, and he promises he has done this all his life. Not quite satisfied, the ruler asks: ”All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?”
And here’s the really uncomfortable part — Jesus issues a challenge to the ruler, ”If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
This young ruler was rich, you see — and when the challenge sank in, his spirits fell and he walked away grieving.
Most people are familiar with the story of the rich young ruler — but I wonder if we don’t fully understand what the challenge means, in terms that seem applicable to us today….
Over the last few weeks, I’ve come across several passages that all seem to point back at the same core tenet: Seek first God, all else is secondary.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, ”If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)
My fear is seeing people who read this passage and turn it into some weird twisted legalistic thing. They end up needlessly keeping themselves from doing things because they think blocking themselves from doing those said things is to deny themselves.
Take ice cream: I enjoy ice cream. A lot. I find it rather enjoyable to eat. Now, I don’t think that the passage is telling me to deny eating food. Or deny myself eating ice cream, or even deny myself enjoying eating said ice cream.
So what does it mean?
I think the passage refers to denying ourselves the things that we put ahead of our relationship with God. The challenge to “deny yourself” as issued by Jesus, is really a challenge to deny sin. That can be a difficult struggle to live out, but also a very fulfilling one.
For the rich young ruler, the challenge was to give up all his carefully collected riches. His most important things he was asked to give away.
Some are afraid of losing money. Others their big house, car or boat. Maybe it’s prestige and social standing…. Idolatry. We put other things before God, stupidly thinking it will do us good.
For me, it’s often trust: Silly as it may sound, my brain tries to twist reality into me thinking that I can take care of myself better than God, and so I don’t trust that he has what’s best for me in mind.
But just as with the rich young ruler, we are issued the same challenge:
Let it go. Give it up.
Of course this is all easier said than done. But we have a helper — He is more than willing to help us through the struggle. He’ll give us strength when it’s difficult, he’ll give us comfort when it’s tough, and through all it, there is love.
Posted in God, Soap Box, Wandrings of the mind | 1 comment | no trackbacks
Posted by Dominic
Thu, 14 May 2009 16:58:00 GMT
The following has been standing out in my mind a lot this last week:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
— Matthew 6:25-34
Posted in God, Wandrings of the mind | Tags donotworry | no comments | no trackbacks
Posted by Dominic
Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:43:00 GMT
After reading some interesting entries on the girl talk blog - I have a few food-for-thought questions for the handful of girls that actually read my blog.
Many Christian girls have a view of life where marriage is equated with the beginning of motherhood - you marry, and… the babies. Your life afte marriage is spent rearing and caring for children, at least until they move out. (And yes, I am generalizing here.)
In the Bible, Proverbs 31 describes what a “worthy woman” is to look like - a much different description than being a “baby factory.”
In the description, the woman is a craft maker, property manager, clothier, she cares for the needy… the list goes on.
My first question is: What does a modern ‘Proverbs 31’ woman look like? Do you all think that the purpose of life after marriage is by-and-large to have children, raise and care for them?
What about situations where the woman might have a better job, more income, etc - should there always be “stay at home moms,” or can “stay at home dads” substitute? (This could be challenging, depending on the man, I’m sure)
What about career - does your career end when you have kids? Does your career end when you get married? (I would think no to the latter)
I strongly believe that it’s the parents job to raise children, not nannies/daycare/school/teachers - how do you balance raising kids with work… or is a balance even possible? Afterall, raising kids and running a household is a full time job (or more than a full time job.)
Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions? Comment below.
Posted in Just me, God, Wandrings of the mind | Tags christian, god, proverbs, women | 2 comments | no trackbacks
Posted by Dominic
Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:06:00 GMT
I have often wondered what it would be like, to live life in complete transparency.
Hiding not one thought, not one idea, not one of the deep, dark secrets that we all have hidden away, deep down in our subconscious. Sharing them, free to float on the wind like small gray pigeons - beautiful as they fly, but each individually full of dirt and filth?
Would the world be a better place if they knew that I sometimes think mean things, really mean things, without even meaning to?
Would the world be a better place if they saw the sadness, depression and the incredible depths of pain and despair that sometimes wrack this mind?
In relationships people always talk about how it’s important to communicate - Would the world be a better place if it heard every single thought, doubt and indecision that gets filed away, each in their very own dark place?
Would the world be a better place with all the introspection, the self-doubt, the concerns and the worries?
Sure, there are the positives.
There is the love, the smiles, the warm memories… But those are often shared, especially during this high season of loving and sharing with others. We live our lives sharing all the warm fuzzyness, and shying away from revealing both sides of the coin.
Sometimes it’s for fear of rejection, sometimes it’s for fear of hurting others, sometimes it’s your own selfish pride that gets in the way.
So tell me this, dear readers…
Would you like to spend a week in my mind?
I don’t. :)
Posted in Just me, Lunacy, Wandrings of the mind | Tags introspection, lunacy, thinking | 1 comment | no trackbacks
Posted by Dominic
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:49:00 GMT
As I step outside, a momentary chill envelops me. I shiver once, lock the door, and stride purposefully toward my mount.
I turn the ignition, and the big cruiser springs to life with a growl. After a few seconds of rough idling, she settles in to a low rumble.
I stretch, and finish putting on my helmet and gloves as I watch the fog swirl in the triple beams of my headlights.
First gear. I slowly roll through the fog, leaving swirling trails of emptyness behind me. The fog is so thick, I can’t hear the engine echoing off the buildings - I might as well be in the middle of nowhere. Silence and dark all around me, as I glide through the dark, an island of light.
I twist the throttle, and the powerful engine snarls as I accelerate away. I work my way through the gears, moving along like a rocket - pointed on one end, red glow from the taillights behind me.
I pull over at a gas station to fill up - even as I’m standing there under the bright lights, it feels like I’m alone out there.
I merge onto the highway and into traffic. The fog has lifted in a tunnel-shape that follows the highway… I suppose enough cars go by to continually fight it back.
I drop back into the thickness of the fog as I exit the highway. In a split second, I go from almost no fog and light to pea soup and darkness. Once again, I am a rocket, roaring through the dark.
I pull into the parking lot, and let her idle for a few minutes. The tendrils of fog caress the headlights, as if they are calling out to the machine….
“Come run with us… run….”
Posted in Just me, Motorcycle, Wandrings of the mind | Tags fog, morning, motorcycle, ride | 1 comment | no trackbacks
