Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
So why do we all sing about getting to Heaven and waiting around until we die? Why aren’t we doing anything now? We pray “your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven” but many just sit around singing about when we all get to heaven. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We are the body. We need to work to bring His kingdom, His community, to earth. His kingdom is NOT found in pews for an hour each week, especially when they are filled with people there out of obligation, and those who forget to live out what they were taught (if they listened at all). His kingdom is found in the eyes of the starving child, in the streets of the ghetto and the communities of outcasts. Why aren’t we looking to the Scriptures, to the early church, to model what a Christian life should look like? Why do we think that the way we live now is satisfactory to God? Can we really pick and choose which parts of the Bible to follow? A few weeks ago I read 90 Minutes in Heaven (recommended reading) and for a few days I was interested in finding out what heaven is supposed to be like, and hearing different opinions about getting there (the sleep theory, purgatory, just arriving at the gates). Now I realize that it doesn’t matter. We live for a reason. God could kill us as soon as we become Christians, if that’s what it is all about. He gives us life! And He teaches us to bring His kingdom to earth. It would seem as though that’s what we should be doing. Would you still follow Jesus if there were no heaven or hell? Would you follow Him simply for the joy and satisfaction that He brings to day to day living? (These questions are paraphrased from a super awesome book I am reading called Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne- you should read it). How many poor people have you helped today? Are you simply a Christian, or are you following the way of Jesus?
Solomon worked hard, and he had lots of money and treaures. However, he realized that he was still miserable. He realized only God can bring you joy. Matthew 6:24b says you cannot serve both God and riches. Verse 33a says the thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants. This would imply that riches, and the “American dream” are NOT what you should be striving for. What you should strive for is bringing God’s kingdom on earth. Having God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven (sound familiar?). Solomon in all of his wisdom came to this conclusion in Ecclesiastes 4:6 I say it is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that’s like chasing the wind. Solomon also asks God in Proverbs 30:8 Don’t make me rich or poor; just give me enough food for each day. Does this remind you of another verse you likely pray regularly? Matthew 6:11 Give us the food we need for each day. God will always provide you with enough. The first commandment God gave, even before the 10 commandments was to the Israelites when He told them to only collect what manna they needed (Exodus 16:16). Christians are called to live in comunity with one another. A community in which we are all brothers and sisters, and when one has excess they naturally share it with those who do not have enough. That way we can all live. Two sayings we should live by and take seriously: The opposite of poverty isn’t wealth, the opposite of poverty is enough. The other: Live simply so others may simply live.
(It’s all about breaking the mold, like writing on the right side of the page)
