Dec 20, 2009
Advent: God’s Plan to Save Our World on a Budget
Over the past four months we’ve down-sized quite a bit. We took our stuff in an 1100 square foot house with an oversized garage and storage loft and crammed what we didn’t sell or give away into a small one-bedroom apartment without extra storage space. It’s not a tiny place, but it sure feels that way when you’re downsizing.
Having gotten rid of so many things, I have a sense that I never really needed them all that much to begin with. In addition, since we have our storage space filled with skis, snow shoes, and camping gear, we really can’t buy much else for want of room.
Without wanting to overly romanticize simplicity or downsizing, I’m beginning to feel like we can almost do more with less. In fact, our recent downsizing has freed me a bit more to try to figure out what exactly God would have me do. Based on my own experiences and my interactions with others, I’m learning that the way of God’s Kingdom not only starts small, but operates on the cheap with God providing what we need at just the right time.
I’m impressed with the humble inauguration of God’s Kingdom by bringing Jesus first into a manger, then hanging out in the wilderness, and even telling people not to talk about his miracles. When Jesus told people to get rid of their possessions and to follow him, Jesus told them to give their money and possessions to the poor.
Jesus didn’t want their resources.
In fact, Jesus didn’t bring all that much by way of materials to his ministry. He did most of his work without a significant bankroll, even if he had Judas “keeping track” of their funds and a few women took care of his needs. However, with the kind of popularity he had, it would not have been hard to hit his followers up for their money.
Throughout the ministry of Jesus we see God’s Kingdom emerging on the margins, among the poor, and challenging the followers of Jesus to leave their possessions behind for the sake of the Kingdom. God’s salvation began in the humblest of surroundings, almost appearing to be doomed from the start, but the odds never seem to change over time. Jesus always appeared to be the underdog, taking the hard road to victory through the cross.
This Advent season I pray that we’ll be open to letting go of what holds us back from God’s plan and God’s work. God’s Kingdom works on the margins with limited resources, and therefore, let us remain open to God’s unexpected ways of bringing his Kingdom into our world.
