False First - Earned

Whatever the case, he wanted to follow Jesus, just not first.  We're not any different.  If we were honest with ourselves, could we fill in what it is that we put a higher priority on than God?

"Lord, first let me earn my way to you."

Then I can properly follow.  Once I have fixed my faults and cleaned myself up a bit.  Spent a little time on self-improvement.  I can't stand to be in your presence in my present stage.  I must do something first to earn my healing.

First

I feel like a lot of us hear “first fruits going to God” from the Bible and it translates into the idea of giving 10% of our income back to God by tithing.  The money is supposed to go first, ahead of other spending or budget concerns. 

God has given us stewardship of much more than just money, however.  Every Christian is created with skills and abilities and given spiritual gifts by God, different things that they are meant to use to help others as we follow Him.  There are times, though, when following God as our first plan of action becomes a challenge for us.

“[Jesus] said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” - Luke 9:59-60

At first glance it looks like Jesus is being pretty harsh; is there really such fault in wanting to care for loved ones?  But perhaps he has simply put his finger on the exact stumbling block for this particular man.  Maybe the man’s father had not just died, but instead the man meant that he wanted to wait until his father grew older and passed away before he joined Jesus.  

Whatever the case, he wanted to follow Jesus, just not first. 

We're not any different.  If we were honest with ourselves, could we fill in what it is that we put a higher priority on than God?  

What's our own  “Lord, first let me ____________________”?

Lesser

I want to help people.  I don't want my husband, or sister, or mom, best friend, etc. to struggle through anything.  I am a do-er, a fixer, I want to swoop in and enact some power that I think I have and cease their struggle.  Kind of like a spiritual ninja.

I'm 100% sure that there are times when God calls me to act in assistance of someone else.  I have no doubt that he works through us in the lives of those around us in real and powerful ways.

However....

It is a dangerous thing to try to remove someone else's struggles.  This is where the built-in necessity of God in our lives comes in.  If we're not connected to him with our ears open for his direction, we can go wildly outside of what he desires.  If God tells me to help someone, I'd do well to obey.  But if that wasn't his instruction, I'd better come to a screeching halt.

I was reading a Bible study today and this section reached out and grabbed my face with both hands:

"When we jump in to rescue our floundering [loved one]...when we enable, we volunteer to become a lesser refuge for that person."*

My intentions may be good, but the same loving God - who allows me to struggle sometimes in order to grow my faith in him and to strengthen me spiritually - wants that exact thing for the people we care about.  When the storm comes, he is the refuge that we should seek.  We need to get out of the way so that others can find it also.  Why on earth would we present ourselves as a substitute for all he is - restorer, healer, savior, peace, love and so much more?

Our own offer of rest and security, our so-thought "refuge," is so much the lesser.

*"Trust Training" by Dionne Carpenter