Decisions Decisions…

It is better to have little with fear for the LORD than to have great treasure with turmoil. Proverbs 15:16

If you happen to live in a country that allows you to choose what you’ll eat for dinner tonight, consider yourself blessed. But isn’t it strange how the privilege of choice can actually become a burden?

There is so much junk to sift through in order to find the treasure (at 50% off, of course). A ‘more for less’ mentality is behind countless daily decisions we’ll make this week: when to wake up…where to eat lunch…who to spend time with…what book to read, etc. Maximum benefit with minimal commitment has become the new golden rule. ‘More for less’ may sound like common sense in it’s purest form, but is it really a full-proof philosophy?
I have nothing against a good bargain, but I’ve wasted way too many priceless hours trying to save a few pennies. It’s not an easy balance. We all want value, peace, and meaning in our lives, but are we willing to pay the price they require?
Yes, I realise that God offers us the gift of salvation for free, but it actually costs alot to keep it. Don’t think so? Ask an Iranian citizen what the cost of being a Christian is lately.

Jesus walked through the occupied territory of Judea speaking to people with limited freedom. He offered them a few simple choices: “Follow me (or not)!”…”Do you want to be healed?”…”Who do you think I am?”

Jews of his day wanted a ‘more for less’ Messiah who would heal their diseases, hand out free lunches, and overthrow oppressive governments. They wanted all of this and more for the cheap price of a semi-committed compromise on their part. Do we ask more or less from our leaders today?

Christ chose to lead from a simple Kingdom principle called, “Less is More”. He baffled crowds with poems about mini-mustard seeds and celebrated a widow who freely gave all of the ‘little’ she had. Jesus, the embodiment of God’s values, did much less than his peers and critics expected.
He also accomplished far more than anyone could have ever hope for.

This week there will be many choices set before us. Let’s remember that every choice we make is essentially a vote for what we hold valuable. Over our lifetime, what we buy and where we get it from actually determines more than any ballot ever will. Who we decide to love and who we choose to ignore will effect eternity…

So will we spend our lives constantly striving to squeeze out more for less? Or like the old hymn, can we discover that little is much when God is in it?

Christ will continue to reign from a perfect throne of peace and justice, no matter who is chosen to sit on the earthly version.

Let’s decide wisely this week.

Sincerely,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk