It's NOT About Me?!

"Greek Slave Girl" by Whistler

Here's a reflection I wrote several months ago after reading a devotion.

The Scripture passage was 2 Kings 5:1-14, the story of Naaman the leper who went to Elisha for healing. I’ve read this story before, but here’s what the devotional writer in my “Upper Room” book had to say about it:

IF this story were being made into a Hollywood movie,

the title role of Naaman would probably be played by

a famous, handsome leading man. On the other hand,

the part of the nameless captive girl would probably be

played by a less-than-famous, less-than-glamorous

character actress. But in fact the girl captive is central

to the plot. God chooses to heal Naaman through Elisha

not because Naaman had won any particular favor with God;

Naaman's healing was to demonstrate to the unnamed,

doubting king of Israel that "there is a prophet in Israel,"

that God was active in that time and place. In this story,

the lives of both the captive girl and Naaman reveal

God's power.

We are often told that the world does not revolve around us.

But the story of Naaman and the captive girl suggests

that even our own lives do not revolve around us.

We are not stars of our own biographical movies but

players in the larger story of God's kingdom.

"What have I done to deserve this?" is not the right question

in times of either blessing or tribulation. Instead we can ask,

"How can I be useful in God's kingdom in my present circumstances?"

(written by Michael McDonald of NC)

Wow. I found this to be very profound, because the truth is, I want to be the star of my own show. I’m a product of the “Me Generation.” (or is that the Pepsi Generation? Ha ha)

We’ve all grown up with this idea I think, that our life is our own to do what we want with. From Frank Sinatra’s “I Did it My Way” to Billy Joel’s “My Life,” that’s the message we’ve received in this individualistic culture. We believe “It’s all about ME!” (to quote another song--I’ve a got a million of ‘em!)

To be told that this is not so is a radical idea. To accept that my life is not about what I want flies in the face of every natural instinct that I have.

But Jesus Himself said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:35, also in Matthew)

So clearly we’re being instructed to let go of our own plans for our lives and let God work what He wills for us. This is obviously not the first time I’ve heard this idea; it’s a familiar one to most Christians I think, on an intellectual level.

But on a personal level, to think of this servant girl so many years ago, to realize that the ENITRE PURPOSE OF HER LIFE was in that one conversation with her mistress about the prophet of Israel who could heal her master; well, that’s astounding.

I mean, this was a real girl, with a family and friends back home in Israel, plucked from her homeland and sold into slavery to a bunch of heathen foreigners. She probably suffered quite a bit: loneliness, confusion, even physical deprivation. She was a SLAVE! That’s probably about the LAST plan anyone would choose for their life! It’s a tragedy of a life, by any rational standard.

But God allowed all of that to happen in order for her to fulfill her purpose. And she herself stayed faithful to God… and how do we know this? Because she did not allow herself to become embittered by her circumstances; she had compassion on her master (her oppressor to put it bluntly!) and she remembered that there was a prophet in Israel who could help him.

But again, I keep coming back to this: That’s ALL her purpose was? One conversation to set in motion the events of 2nd Kings chapter 5?

My reaction here is, What is gyp! (not very spiritual, but there it is!) You know, my instinct is to say, if I'm going to give up all of my plans and follow God's plan, then He'd better have something REALLY COOL for me to do!

I find it difficult to accept that an entire life can exist for one simple moment. Everything she went through, all her trouble and suffering, and that’s all it was for? One sentence recorded in Scripture for us to read thousands of years later? That's IT?!?!

But what if she hadn’t said it?

She would still have gone through all that trouble; it had already happened. And God would still have fulfilled His plan, because He is sovereign and that’s what He does. But she wouldn’t have been a part of it. She wouldn’t have done what she was meant to do.

And THAT’S a real tragedy.

That’s what I DON’T want for my life. So even if my purpose is something as small as hers was, I want to fulfill it. God give me the strength and wisdom to do whatever it is You have for me to do. And that’s my prayer for today.

What Should We Boast About?

The Conversion of St Paul by Peter Paul Rubens

In 2nd Corinthians 11, Paul is trying to refute the teachings of those false apostles who are leading his flock astray. Apparently they were claiming to be more qualified to teach than he was, and he decided to list his own credentials in verses 21b-28:

If they can brag, so can I, but it is a foolish thing to do. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Jews? So am I. Are they from the family of Abraham? Well, so am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a fool to talk this way, but I serve him better than they do. I have worked harder and have been put in jail more times. I have been beaten with whips more and have been in danger of death more often.
Five times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes with a whip. Three times the Romans beat me with a big stick, and once my enemies stoned me. I have been shipwrecked three times, and I even had to spend a night and a day in the sea. During my many travels, I have been in danger from rivers, robbers, my own people, and foreigners. My life has been in danger in cities, in deserts, at sea, and with people who only pretended to be the Lord's followers.
I have worked and struggled and spent many sleepless nights. I have gone hungry and thirsty and often had nothing to eat. I have been cold from not having enough clothes to keep me warm. Besides everything else, each day I am burdened down, worrying about all the churches.

It’s interesting that when Paul begins his “boast”, what does he spend most of his time boasting about? About his trials! All the bad things that had happened to him since he’d begun following Christ.

Hey, um, Paul? News flash! There are cooler things to brag about than getting whupped up on by the Romans.

But apparently this is what we are all called to do: to boast, not in our accomplishments, but in our struggles. (Not exactly the best way to pad the old resume, right?)

Consider James 1:2-4:

My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.

And as Paul himself wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:9:

But he replied, "My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak." So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.

I wonder how that would look, if all of us as Christians spent time boasting not about our strengths, but about our weaknesses.

It would certainly set us apart from the world, wouldn’t it?