I remember being at lunch in elementary school. I remember all the guys pulling out everything they brought and offering to trade for the things other people had everyday. Cookies for fruit rollup, pretzels for chips, that sort of thing. Every once in a while you would have something that someone else REALLY wanted or was REALLY craving, and you could get something much more valuable in the trade. But they never complained because what they got was so valuable in their eyes. Seylar Elementary… Economics 101.
During one of the teachings this week I realized that as Christians we have the opportunity to be a part of the most unfair, lopsided trade of all time. God so desperately wants our hearts that He is willing to give us eternity in His presence in a place where there is no sickness, no pain, and no heartache in exchange. And not only that, but He wants to give us abundant life today. This is not always abundance like the world defines it. It's so much more than that! He wants to give us hope, joy, and purpose.
When it comes to that last part, the abundant life on earth, I feel like we like to exaggerate the sacrifice and minimize the reward. People act like serving the King is so hard and we are giving up soooo much to do it. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. We give up fleeting pursuits at fulfillment for the One who fulfills. We give up over drinking for the One who quenches eternal spiritual thirst. This is no sacrifice at all. This is our great privilege. And all because he finds our hearts unimaginably valuable.
Now that’s unfair.
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38
lovin our privilege, lovin the p.s.
ReplyDeletewhy would you ever give up chips for pretzels.