Abdicating our thrones
Sophie - January 18, 2010
This past Thursday night I finally - FINALLY - started Beth Moore's Esther Bible study. I have wanted to do this study for almost a year, so I may have been just a wee bit over-the-top excited when I arrived at my friend Mary Jo's house Thursday night. To my credit there were not any hitchkicks involved, but I'm pretty sure that I clapped my hands about seventeen times too many.
I loved the introductory session, and it totally piqued my interest. But I can totally tell that the homework - OH, THE HOMEWORK - well, that is going to be the thing that pulls me into the Esther's story more than I can even imagine. I love how Beth points out the parallels between Esther's culture and ours, and I'm just so curious to see where this study is going. Can't wait.
Yesterday I was finishing up the homework for day two, and Beth asked us to list the reasons why "prioritizing wealth and strutting riches are wastes of precious time." She pointed us back to Psalm 49, and as I was reading I thought about how much time I've wasted wanting STUFF. It was an especially big struggle for me in my 20s, and while I'm so grateful that God has shown me over and over again that a blind pursuit for things is absolutely meaningless, it is easy to lose perspective in our culture. Which is why I was so grateful for Beth's perspective at the end of day two's homework:
"I can tell you something that will never be a waste of time: ascribing to God His measureless worth. Oddly the most freeing thing we can ever do is to abdicate the throne of our own miniature kingdoms. Our status is infinitely higher as a servant in God's kingdom than a ruler in ours."
What are some practical ways that you address or handle the world's emphasis on wealth and riches? Do you feel like you've had some victory in terms of keeping materialism at bay?
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (3)
Sophie,
This has definitely been a growing year for me in this area. With my husband losing his job in April and now working on a contract basis when there hasn’t been any work over the last year, it’s been a time of truly laying down things on the altar of His will. Especially at Christmas this year. I had to come to grips with how much into the gift and material side of Christmas I had bought into. I can’t say that I’ve had total success, but I’ve been learning that it won’t kill me to go without.
Oh, and just you wait, girlfriend. I did Esther toward the end of the summer ‘09 and there were a couple of things that just really rocked my world. I hope to hear more about what God has in store for you through that study.
Donna
Posted on January 18, 2010 2:08 PM
Having quit my job this year, “stuff” has been an issue at times. After the first few weeks of tears because we did not stop by the store EVERY TIME WE DROVE BY IT, they have adjusted. I was concerned Christmas was going to be hard because gifts were few and handmade. Much to my delight, they were totally fine with it. I think I was more concerned about them having stuff than they were.
Posted on January 19, 2010 6:10 AM
We have been reading the Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn in our adult Sunday School classes. It is an amazing reminder as well to put our treasures where they will last for eternity.
Posted on January 19, 2010 4:20 PM