Abandon means to give up control with the intent of never again claiming a right or intent, to give oneself over unrestrainedly. Reckless means lack of caution, careless of consequences. These seem extremely radical to ask of someone or to describe something. God asks us to live with reckless abandon and everything that comes with it. Missionary, and world renown author, Elisabeth Elliot says, “I have one desire now – to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my energy and strength into it.”
1 Kings 19: 19-21 says, “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. (No that does not say,“Snapchat”.) He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself driving the twelve pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye, and I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.” You may be saying, now what does that have to do with the words, “reckless abandon” and what God has asked of us but it has everything to do with it?
Elijah was chasing after the Lord and leaving everything behind to follow God and His call for his life. Elisha is you and me. Elijah took Elisha under his “cloak” – or arm – and tried to encourage him to seek after the Lord with his whole heart and leave the mundane life behind. But Elisha wanted to go back and finish up what he had going on back home and make sure he had what he needed for when he came home like his oxen and his work. God doesn’t want us to rely on ourselves, our job, or our family. That was never anyone’s burden to carry. God wants to carry that burden. He wants to provide for you. He wants to direct your path. He wants you to step and He’ll direct your feet. He wants you to jump into the deep water and He’ll keep you afloat. Now this may be scary but the freedom, peace, and joy that come with it make it all worth it. The freedom of knowing and trusting that God will provide your every need and that He has your back no matter what you face. He has HUGE plans for you but if you’re holding on to something you can’t fully rely on Him. You won’t be fully blessed. You won’t be living out your calling. He calls us out into the deep, scary water to trust him. You must burn what you’re holding on to, so there’s no turning back. Elisha killed his oxen and burned his plowing equipment. He killed what he had put above God and burned his only way to make money to provide for himself. Despite the consequences and no matter what anyone else thought, he was fully dependent on the Lord. There was no possible turning back because he got rid of it. “A life of reckless abandon knows to abandon everything else.” Don’t hold on to what keeps you from your kingdom calling. Don’t put something above God that’s never going to fill the void – only God’s love can fill it. You’ve heard this countless times, I’m sure, and so have I. Finally it hit me, that nothing in this world matters, but how I live for Jesus. I’ve found it hard to set aside all of the voices in the Christian world that say you have to be a certain way. My God says I have to abide by the scriptures and that is where the truth is found (James 1:22). Not in what others think or say you ought to be or look like. The truth is simple, we must love God and love others (1 John 4:7,8). It is us, who made it so complicated. I know, honestly I can’t do it but He can and He is showing me how. He truly has my and your best interest at heart and He wants to see us succeed. He wants to give you the desires of your heart. He loves you, more than you ever could imagine. He’s calling you in the deep water because He wants a deeper relationship with you. He wants to blow your mind and bless your socks off. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
The powerful words, “reckless abandon” are how I want to live my life. That’s how I want to go about the World Race and anything that follows. These words can be scary for some people and they definitely are for me too but I know who I have in my corner. He already knows everything I’m going to face and He’s looking out for me. He wants to take me to new heights. He wants to bless me more than I’ve ever imagined and He already has and I’m so thankful that He pursues and loves me with reckless abandon. No turning back. We press on with reckless abandon. “I am learning, day by day, to rest in the peace of knowing that the One my soul loves also calls me Beloved. And in that Truth, I find a freedom to live with reckless abandon.”
What is God asking you to burn to live with reckless abandon?
