Finding God’s Will (4)
Brokenness: Finding God’s Will (4)
The nature of finding God’s will is similiar to
decision making process that we know in today’s
management practices. Unfortunately, the similiarity
presents a dangerous pitfall that can be very counter-
productive. Choosing God’s best is not merely
choosing the best option offered on table. In fact,
many times "the best option" is not what God has in
mind. This means that the right decision does not
necessarily "profitable", and it can cost us
something.
Paul says "But whatever was to my profit I now
consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I
consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing
greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose
sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish,
that I may gain Christ" (Phil 3:7-8). Basically, the
decision that Paul made has literally cost him
everything that he has.
One can argue that Paul is different and that he is
one of his kinds. And perhaps it is a very true
argument. But it does not rule out the
fact that Paul (aka Saul) was a mass-killer. In our
modern vocabulary, Paul was a terorist. His life was
even far from so-called "a normal life." In average,
we have "better life" than Paul. So I strongly
argue that even though Paul is indeed one of his
kinds, by the same Grace, we can be used by God, if we
walk the same path as Paul. For
Paul what matter is "to gain Christ." And that’s God’s
will. By choosing God’s way, Paul’s life was
brokenned. The question is whether we are willing to
do the same thing.
In our daily life, decision that we have to make might
not have the same ramification as Paul’s. But still
the concept is the same. God’s way is always the way
of Cross. As we live in a sinful world, we tend to
choose the most comfortable and convenient way. Even
though the "worse option" is not automatically God’s
preferred way either, I would like to suggest to be
more "suspicios" to any easier, looks better, makes
more sense type of options. Theology of suffering is
always less popular than theology of blessing. But
through the suffering, Jesus Christ has brought to us
the eternal blessing.
Phil 3:10 "I want to know Christ and the power of his
resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death"
Are you about making an important decisions? Just take
a moment and ask this question, "For whose’s sake this
decision I make?" Let’s learn to be obedience and
choose God’s way of suffering. It’s not promised as an
easy road, but it’s assured to bring us closer to the
real reality: God Himself. Psalm
34:18 "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and
saves those who are crushed in spirit." (yhs)
