Gratitude Adjustment- Tweaking Our Perspective

What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving? The food? Football? Time off ? Family? All of the above? Me too. Notice anything missing from that list? Like the actual giving of thanks? Isn’t it funny that we can create a holiday around gratitude- and go to great lengths to pull it off- and still not feel or express a lot of thankfulness? For the next couple of weeks we’re trying to open our hearts up for a little “gratitude adjustment”. With a couple of tweaks from God we’ll be able to settle into a grateful place and embody the spirit of the season.

Realizing Just How Blessed We Are
The way we see things often determines the way we live our lives. Adjusting our perspective gives us a chance to live differently. They key to maintaining a grateful perspective? Realizing just how blessed we are. Of course, it’s easy to lose sight of that. Whether we’re striving for more and more- or simply trying to hold on to what we’ve got in a challenging time- it’s tempting to take our blessings for granted. The solution? Zoom out a bit. Look past “our world” to “the world”. And in global terms- every one of us is very, very blessed. For example, did you know that only 8% of the people on the planet own a car- any kind of car at all? Or that the US spends more on trash bags every year than nearly half of all countries spend on everything? Or that the same amount Americans spend on ice cream annually (about $20 billion) could be used to provide all of the world’s poorest people with clean water and basic nutrition and medical care? We’ve got a lot to be thankful for, huh?

This isn’t just true in a global scale but in our city too. Want to realize how healthy you are? Walk through a hospital today- or call a friend who is sick. Want to appreciate your home? Take a walk downtown and talk with some folks who don’t have one? Want to be grateful for your job? Listen to your friends who are stuck in the middle of a job search. If we look around a little, all of the sudden our lives look pretty good by comparison.

Realizing Why We've Been Blessed
When we see all that we have to be thankful for we might begin to feel a bit guilty. Why should we have so much when others have so little? Great question. God’s answer? We've got it so that we can share it. Check out this passage in 1 Timothy 6:17-19. The right responses to God’sblessings aren’t guilt, idolatry, or arrogance- but rather gratitude, enjoyment and generosity.

THINK/TALK ABOUT IT:
Q: What’s your favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday? Why?

Q: How good are you at maintaining a grateful perspective? What helps you stay in or get back to that place?

Q: Where could you go or who could you spend time with this week to remind you just how blessed you are?

Q: Look back at 1 Timothy 6:17-19. Notice the ratio between God’s commands to enjoy His blessings and to share them. Why do you think it is so lopsided?

Q: What opportunities will/could you have this week to share something good in your life with someone else?

LEANING HARD On God's Faithfulness:

PART TWO

One of the greatest lessons we can learn from Moses and his journey with Israel is fairly straightforward: The only way to live the life God has called us to is by leaning hard on His faithfulness. Moses understood that if he were to successfully lead Israel onward, God would need to take the lead and go with him. 

Like Moses, God has entrusted each of us with the responsibility of stewardship. And although it might be encouraging to know that God believes in us enough to trust us with His belongings, it can feel a little overwhelming, too. Like we're trying to stack a bunch of stones on top of each other, hoping they don't fall. Fortunately for us, we have been invited to rely on God to do the heavy lifting for us. 

Isn't it encouraging to know God isn't expecting us to manage our lives on our own?   

Sometimes WE NEED TO ASK BIG: Exodus 33:17-23 

What do you normally ask God for? Good weather? Traveling mercies? Rest? Financial security? Strength just to get through the day? Ever wonder if you ask big enough of the God who promises so much? 

Moses realized that Israel's survival depended on one single factor - God. Without God's constant investment, there was no assurance. No provision. No direction. No future. Verses 12-16 offer us some pretty incredible imagery - God assuring Moses that He will remain committed to him despite Israel's disobedience. 

God had granted Moses everything he had asked - rest, assurance, favor. But Moses' response to God's promise only intensified - Now show me your glory. Moses had seen repeated glimpses of God's glory throughout the journey - the parting sea, the plaques, Egypt paralyzed by inexplicable force. And although he was grateful for the assurance of God's commitment and faithfulness, his ultimate desire was to see God's splendor. God's provisions only magnified the beauty of the Giver, and he realized there was no limit to God's beauty. How much different would our lives be if we were less wrapped up in the things God gives and more concerned with God Himself? 

Why didn't God reveal His glory to Moses? Because he wouldn't have been able to withstand the entirety of God's glory: no one may see me and live. But the story doesn't end there. God is so delighted by his request that He makes alternative arrangements, and Moses' life was changed forever - all because he excepted God's invitation to ask big. In the same way, asking big of the God who promises much has life-changing rewards for us, too. 

Sometimes WE NEED TO SEEK HARD: Exodus 34:1-8

While there is no way of knowing how long it took Moses to chisel out two stone tablets, it's safe to assume it was a difficult and draining project. Just imagine how exhausting it would have been for him to stay up all night, chisel out two stone tablets, get ready early in the morning, and climb a mountain full of thorns with a stone tablet each hand - all the while still sleep deprived from his recent return from his last forty-day Mount Sinai adventure with God. Yikes. Sometimes I find it difficult enough just seeking God in the comfort of my home.   

Mount Everest is the tallest point on earth - a little over 29,000 feet. It takes a little over two months to climb because of the need for acclimatizing and adjusting, and it demands a strict diet and top physical shape. Yet during Everest's prime climbing season, five people die each week on average. From a distance, it makes you wonder why people would even try, doesn't it? Israel probably thought the same thing about Moses. 

But Moses understood that stewarding well the life God had called him to often required sacrifice. Hard work. Discomfort. And he was willing to make the climb because he realized that the success he hoped to achieve was a product of relationship. Jesus said it this way, For the Pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them. Seek first the Kingdom of his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:32-33). Jesus is making a life-changing distinction: Everything we need to live according to God's will naturally flows from a relationship with God. Like the Pagans, sometimes we try to achieve "these things" without seeking the only One who can provide them. We need to get into the mindset that successful stewardship is found in God alone.    

Conclusion? 

WE NEED TO LIVE THE MESSAGE: Exodus 34:27-29

Did you know we've been entrusted with a message that has the power to change the world? And did you know the most effective way we communicate this message isn't with our mouths? That's right - it's by the way we live our lives. And just as Moses' face radiated God's glory, when we spend intimate time with God - when our lives demonstrate His values and standards, people sense God's presence in us. Successful stewardship always directs people back to Christ, because it is a product of Christ. We need to remember that we are called to live the message, and when we do, our lives become a living testimony of hope to a broken world.  

REFLECT / TALK: 

Q: What do you typically ask God for? Do you think you ask big of the God who promises so much? 

Q: Can you remember a time in your life when God answered a "mountain-size" request? How was your life changed? How did it change your view of prayer?

Q: Do you feel you sometimes get more wrapped up in the things God provides rather than God Himself? Why do you think this is? 

Read Jesus' words in Matthew 6:32-33 and explain how these verses speak to you. Do you sometimes find yourself trying to achieve "these things" without seeking the only One who can provide them? What are some practical steps you can begin taking today to "seek first the kingdom of his righteousness"?   

Q: Do you feel your approach to stewardship represents God well? Do you feel your life is a living testimony of hope to a broken world? 

Q: Do you know someone who tends to radiate God's glory by the way they live? Do you ever find yourself hopeful and encouraged by the way they live? Do you find yourself challenged? 

Q: Becoming like Christ is a life-long process, and God is faithful to encourage us with areas of our lives that need some work. What areas in your life has God clearly outlined as needing some work?   

LEANING HARD On God's Faithfulness:

PART ONE

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the things God has entrusted you to do? Like you're trying to stack a bunch of stones on top of each other, hoping they don't fall? 

If you answered yes, you're not alone. 

Although it might be encouraging to know God has trusted us with His belongings - finances, time, seasons of life, bodies, relationships, hope, emotions, community and power - it can feel a little overwhelming, too. Like us, God had trusted Moses with a great deal of responsibility. He was called to lead God's people - the Israelites. This story reminds us of a powerful truth: Leaning Hard On God's Faithfulness is our only way to live the life He's called us to. God is simply more invested in our lives than we could ever be, and our greatest response to stewardship is relying on God to do the heavy lifting for us.

 

Moses had been away with God on Mount Sinai for forty days. God was giving Moses His teachings and commandments for the Israelites. But Israel had become impatient, so they asked Aaron to make a god to go before them to the place God has promised them - the Promise Land. Without any hesitation Aaron made a golden calf, which become their god and led them to disobedience.

WE NEED GOD'S WORD: Exodus 32:15-18

God had a purpose and plan for Israel. They were to be a people set apart from all other nations - a living representation of God's love. It was God's commandments and instruction that would set Israel apart, giving them a blueprint for life. 

We live in a world where truth has become relative. Today's younger generation has especially been challenged with a godless culture - a culture that has produced an unbiblical view of what it means to live for God in our modern age. Did you know that 65% of teenagers want a relationship with God? But 63% of teenagers who consider themselves Christians don't believe that Jesus is the son of the one true God, 58% believe all faiths teach equally valid truths, and 51% don't believe Jesus rose from the dead. Although teenagers are interested in Christ, they have purchased a distorted view of God and what it means to be a Christian. 

 

This can equally be true for us. Without the accountability of God's Word, like Israel, we have no direction in life. We become distracted and lose focus of God's standards. God's Word is our only source of complete stability in a world that is ever changing: All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like a flower of the field. The grass dries up and the flower drops off, but the word of the Lord stands forever (1 Peter 1:24). If we're going to live unlike the other peoples of the earth by the way we manage God's belongings, we need to live by different standards of life. 

WE NEED GOD'S VOICE: Exodus 33:7-11

It's incredible to think that the God who performs the inexplicable, who spoke life into existence, who faithfully provided for Israel in ways beyond our comprehension, also makes Himself available to us personally, speaking to us directly in time of need. But what is equally staggering is that while it is natural to lean on our own understanding in time of need, Moses relied on prayer to find God's will for Israel. What would our lives look like if we relied on prayer instead of trying to manage it ourselves? How would our marriages be different? How would our children be impacted? How much healthier would our finances be? How would our approach to stewarding God's belongings change if we made a point to pursue His will for us daily? For Moses, it was prayer that made all the difference in his journey with Israel. 

Last Saturday I settled into a small prop plan in Philadelphia. While waiting for departure, I was thinking about how life on the ground can seem so busy and complicated. But as we became air born, life below - what once seemed overwhelming - had become motionless and straightforward. And it dawned on me that prayer allows us to break free from our small perspective to an elevated view - God's view. Prayer allowed Moses to hear God's voice, which led him to God's will for Israel. Not only does prayer allow us to tap into God's power, it also redirects our focus to Him - His standards and purpose for us, which is critical to following His will. 

WE NEED GOD'S FAVOR: Exodus 33:12-16

Moses realized and underlying truth: God's favor is the only way to live the life He's called us to. Moses understood that if he was to successfully lead Israel onward, God needed to take the lead and go with him.  

God's favor is what enables us to achieve godly stewardship: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). 

Several months ago I stumbled across a song written by a worship pastor who had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The song became an instant encouragement around the world as it offered hope to thousands of people who had been battling illness and disease, and it had become a personal favorite of mine, too. A couple of months after the album was released, authorities announced that this pastor had never been diagnosed with terminal cancer. It was a scam for profit. 

Seems like an ugly story with a terrible ending, doesn't it? But is it? When we look deeper, it should remind us of an incredible reality - that even in the midst of our unfaithfulness, God is still beautiful. God is always faithful. Although the song had been written and produced out of brokenness, God brought hope and healing from it. In the same way, we need a God whose favor exceeds our broken and flawed lives. 

REFLECT / TALK:

Q: Can you remember a time when you didn't rely on God's Word for direction? What happened?

Q: What comes more natural to you, reading God's Word or praying? Why do you think that is?

Q: Do you make a point to seek God's will through prayer? If so, explain a time when God clearly directed your steps through prayer. If not, what holds you back?

Q: How do you think Moses' journey with Israel would have been different if he didn't make a point to seek God's will through prayer?

Q: How do you think your life would be different if you relied on God's Word and prayer instead of trying to manage it on your own? How would your approach to stewarding God's belongings change if you make a point to pursue His will for you daily?

Q: Can you remember a time when God's favor clearly exceeded your efforts? When there was no other explanation but that God had intervened? How was your life impacted? 

Q: Read James 1:5 and see how this simple advice can help with your approach to stewardship. How does this verse speak to you? 

Trusted WITH POWER

POWERFUL.

Does that word describe you? My guess is most of us would say no. We don't see ourselves wielding great influence- either physically, economically, socially, politically or in the workplace. Although we may not be powerful according to traditional definitions of the word, each of us has been trusted by God with power. Once Jesus told a story about a master who trusted 3 of his servants with significant sums of money before he went out of town. Take a minute and read it HERE. While it is possible to read this story and take away a lesson about God trusting us with money, I think this parable also describes an exchange of power. Specifically the master trusts each servant with several different kinds of power- much as God does with us.

THE POWER OF OPPORTUNITY
When the master puts his money in his servant's care, he is giving them a chance- to do well, to prove themselves, to impress, to advance. We're not told how many employees this man had, or if every one of them got this opportunity. But these three did. Funny thing about opportunity- when it surrounds you, you can't really appreciate it. My wife was talking to a friend last week who was wishy-washy about whether or not they'd accept free tickets to the Superbowl this year. Why were they debating an opportunity many would jump on? This friend can go pretty much any year they want. This opportunity is almost a given for them. That's the danger most of us face. We are surrounded by opportunities that many around the globe would drool over. Education is a given in our country. Did you know that only 1% of the world has a college education? Information is a mouse click away on the internet. Would it surprise you to hear that about 1% of the world owns a computer? Even in an uncertain economy, we can find work. Would you believe that an income of $50K per year would rank you in the top 1% of the wealthiest people on the planet? (By the way, the median income for US households in 2007? $50,233.)

THE POWER OF RESPONSIBILITY
"I want to be the boss." We've all said it- either under our breath or out loud. We've wished for positions of leadership and authority. The servants in Jesus' story were trusted with this kind of power. They were put in charge. They could lead in any direction they saw fit. I don't know if any of them felt capable, but their master thought they were. And God must think the same of us since most of us have been given responsibility. We are being trusted to lead someone or something- at home, at work, at school, in our circle of friends, in our church communities, etc. How are we handling this power? Are we taking our best shot at it like two of the servants in the story- or are we abdicating our responsibility like the third?

THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIP
When the master returns, he evaluates how well each servant handled the opportunity and responsibility he trusted them with. The reward? Relationship. They gained the master's trust and grew closer to him- which seems to have been the master's goal all along. Ever stop to think that the Creator of the universe wants a relationship with you? So much that He'd give His own life to make it happen? Do we realize that God wants to pour His power into our lives- to save us, change us, encourage us, and empower us to live for Him? Need a reminder? Check out just a few of the things the New Testament says about God's power:

I'm not ashamed of the Good News. It is God's POWER to save everyone who believes, Jews first and Greeks as well. (Romans 1:16)

God's kingdom is not just talk, it is POWER. (1Corinthians 4:20)

Glory belongs to God, whose POWER is at work in us. By this POWER he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

Finally, receive your POWER from the Lord and from His mighty strength. (Ephesians 6:10)

With this in mind, we always pray that our God will make you worthy of his call. We also pray that through his POWER he will help you accomplish every good desire and help you do everything your faith produces. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

God didn't give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of POWER, love, and good judgment. (2 Timothy 1:7)

God's divine POWER has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This POWER was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity. (2 Peter 1:3)

REFLECT/TALK:
Q: _________ is power. Put as many words as you can in this blank. Which describe traditional forms of power? Which describe more subtle forms of power?

Q: Which of the three kinds of power described above speaks most about what God is trusting you with right now? Why?

Q: What opportunities has God given you in the last week? Month? Year? Which have you been seizing? Which have you been taking for granted?

Q: Who/what has God made you responsible for right now? At home? At work? In your relationships? In our church community? In other volunteer roles? In each of these situations are you acting more like the two servants who embraced the responsibility and took a shot at investing the master's money- or like the one who was overwhelmed by it and buried the money?

Q: Go back to the verses above about God's power and us. Which speaks most strongly to you and why?

Q: Do you think much about the access you've got to/via a relationship with the God of the entire Universe? How have you seen God's power work in your life? How do you want to see God's power work in your life?