A battery is truly a wonderful
thing, an invention from the late 1800’s that brought about so many, many
different technological advancements and operative independence. I remember reading about the control function
a battery operated radio had in the hands of the Nazi’s and how it was central
in brain washing the German nationals in order to dominate all stake holders
for many years. The same radio waves have
been carrying the magnificent Gospel, reaching people’s hearts beyond physical
means and all sorts of barriers. In my handyman-husband’s
life, cordless just makes things happen faster.
The nice thing about batteries is
that they are most convenient when you need them.
You can choose from a variety of expensive rechargeables that gives
power shot after shot, or you can buy a quick fix and chuck it away after it has
been used up. Batteries are there for you
to use until there is nothing left of their energy value. I was wondering if you think that Jesus thinks
of people as batteries?
Do you think God creates humans and
determines us as useful or adequate energy sources so as to extend His Kingdom?
He is after all the One who gives us every single thing we have as well as the
means to acquire lots and then some more. How we spend His providence is an interesting
point of discussion often touching believer’s sacred cows. For our discussion
we accept that strategizing to begin a Kingdom project and sustain it, depends on people's funding and them volunteering for its functions and duties.
There are a myriad of factors that motivate
people to put shoulder to a specific wheel or not, it really depends on an
enormous range of variables. For some it might be honoring a good friendship,
or perhaps a privilege to co-partner with our Father in His work. For others it is a vehicle
of interest to utilize their own gifts and talents. Getting involved with Jesus’ earth-work is
always a good time to grow ones faith and character of course, the infamous plan & purpose that we so often
refer to. Whichever way, there are projects
and movements happening, there are believers and non-believers alike out there and
somewhere in a 7 day week they hopefully meet to produce something of value in
God’s hands that is precious to Him and Life giving to us.
The point is, what happens to a
person or a platform if they rate another brother or sister in Christ on their perceived
usefulness because of the amount of resources they are yielding towards a project or not? With other words, if people decide to give funds towards a cause but stay
personally uninvolved then they would be seen as ‘batteries’ because they are perceived
as merely supplying a means to an end and not laying down their whole lives for
a Kingdom cause. And so, should people
donate and volunteer of their time, money and other resources to this or other
initiatives, then they are valued as true Kingdom workers and partners, worthy
of after-life rewards.
Let’s look at what Jesus does: He invites
and welcomes all to participate in His Kingdom.
First he invites the most influential and upper crust of society but
they were too busy. Then He extends the invitation to the next level
of influencers, but yet not all responded reasonably and so there was still
room for more. This time He also invites
all the others that are not of the norm, those who haven't worked hard and necessarily
laid down their lives for others. But
then He can do that because He knows for us to be a shining Lamp is to let Him through and in us drive the darkness away. He rates our relationship with Him supreme
because in that secret place we are changed into His image. The result is a change of heart, something He
alone really knows. Humbleness is
another biggie for Him. Aaa and then there
is Agape love – supernatural and of His kind. Ours is unfortunately cockeye,
dependent on maturity and runs out at some point. But seriously, the bible says in Romans that it
is God’s kindness that brings people to a change of heart, not man’s facts, strategies
or how right he is. Paul writes in 1
Corinthians that it is Love that never
fails. For God so loved the world
that He gave Jesus. Love one another as you love yourself. If you don’t love
your brother whom you can see, how can you love God that is unseen? ‘And let us consider how we may spur one
another on toward love and good deeds.’(Hebrews 10:24)
Father God enjoys it a lot when we
are involved in something that is bringing Heaven to earth, as long as it is with Him. He gives us a wide hand to choose from, and ag
how He uses people in spite of their strengths (or is it weaknesses?) and their
uselessness! He also prefers those who
hungrily follow Him to be an attractive force, instrumental in acts of reconciliation,
exercising the fruit of the Spirit (sic!) usually when we need to portray it
most and are least capable. His redemptive
methods factors in the always present head-winds and as much as we will to do
it ourselves, we can’t. We need His Spirit
in us to manifest that kind of behavior
and Love through us so that it has a
God outcome for all people in the end.
Viewing people and thus rating them
as batteries is a major dysfunctional and fundamental
flaw in one’s thinking. Unfortunately everything
starts to slide from here, distorting reality and viewing the Lord’s church and
its people critically to the point of becoming a dividing factor as well as the
accuser of the brethren, which is Satan’s preferred pre-occupation. And so one cannot and does not want to see their own blind spots prohibiting detection of toxicity within one's own theory about how things are in God’s Kingdom on earth. Without a paradigm shift, churches, people and their
provisions will be used and abused without remorse or accountability.
Missing God’s heart for your own kind is missing it big time.
Jesus came to put a face on God and
Christians are there to put a face on Christ. Without unity among ourselves and Agape love
for one another, the world and other Christians cannot see His love in our
hearts and lives. Gandhi said ‘Whenever
you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.” And Jesus said ‘But
I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father
who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love
you, what reward do you have?’’ (Mathew 5)
I say “whom you fight you can’t
win”.
