offerings...
Talked about the idea of offerings at hungry Sunday night, how fractured relationships require some form of sacrifice, whether it be an apology or a gift or a service, to make things right.
The question I asked people to respond to was this:
“Can you remember a time when you hurt somebody or they hurt you so badly that it required either an apology or a gift of some sort to make things right?”
I hit a girl in the head with a croquet mallot on accident
What was needed to make things right?
I apologized and visited her in the hospital
Was caught by two of the girls I was dating with another girl at the skate rink
What was needed to make things right?
Got kicked by 2 of the girls with skates and ask for forgiveness from the third
I shot my roomate with a BB gun. It was an accident.
What was needed to make things right?
I bought him dinner.
I think Abel really got it. Abel really lowered himself before God in an admission that he owed God everything. I think Cain was bringing this offering not in an attempt to lower himself, but to raise himself up in his own eyes, in God’s eyes, and in the eyes of others. I do that all the time. I use my spiritual life to prop myself up, to make me and God and everybody else think I’m ok and I’m acceptable. It’s probably not all that often that I come to God like Abel did and any type of offering or worship that raises me instead of lowering me probably just takes me further from God instead of restoring me to Him.
And I think Abel did it because he understood that the wages of sin is death. That when God said, “Eat from this tree and you’ll die”, He wasn’t kidding, and He wasn’t punishing out of anger, that’s just the way it had to be, for reasons we can glimpse but only God can understand. And until we come to grips with that, these first 4 chapters, the rest of it won’t make sense.
posted by jeff @ 2:54 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Well put. In general, I'd say I compare myself to others quite a bit--consciously or subconsciously trying to somehow elevate myself above them, to prop myself up as you say so that people think I'm ok and acceptable.
I wanted to throw something out that could possibly be tangential to your point, but maybe you could draw some parallels from it. In Mere Christianity, I'm pretty sure (been a while since I've read the book) that C.S. Lewis makes the point that sometimes in order to be consistent with something, you have to intentionally schedule it into your day, even if you don't really feel like doing it. He suggests this technique for prayer, Bible reading, and attending church. I don't think he specifically mentions tithes/offerings, but I guess one could argue that those things mentioned previously are some form of offering of ourselves to worship.
Now, I do believe that a life changing relationship with Christ will create a natural desire inside of you to pursue prayer, Bible reading, etc., but at some point, doesn't discipline play a role? And I think Lewis was possibly suggesting practical steps to form disciplines. In my mind, this somehow seems to relate to your point, but maybe it's just me. Any thoughts?
Also, I'm going to be honest and tell you that I left two comments today, mainly out of excitement that you started a blog. I'm sure I will continue reading it if you keep posting, but I tend to not have the discipline of writing, hence me never starting a blog of my own! :-)
Well played Jeff, well played...
It's honesty like that and messages like the one you delivered on Sunday that make 9 out of 10 dentist...I mean hungry attendees, recommend listening to Jeff Ramsey to their own family.
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