A Paradox

Matthew 10:39 “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

The Word of God is filled with ideas and concepts that causes one to stop and consider the implications. What may seem like a straightforward thought is drawn deeper when placed into a spiritual context. In certain circumstances, people tend to measure reality from a position of where it can be experienced with the senses, then suddenly the Lord changes their perspective and replaces it with a view towards the eternal.

Jesus liked to change people’s perspective.

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

The Lord used all forms of imagery to relate God’s truth to His people. He wanted them to understand and so He related it practically.

When looking beyond the obvious, the more I see the hand of God moving, I realize He is everywhere and it seems no detail is too small to overlook. When I notice the Lord’s work in something that seems too small or insignificant I begin to gain a perspective that for God everything is important. When His handprint is on something I cannot see, I realize there is much more going on than I could ever know or understand. When I consider the reality of how big this universe is, how many people are in it, how many thoughts, and words, and actions are happening every second of every day and then I see the Lord taking notice of these small things….wow, how Great is our God….how Great is His majesty….He is worthy of our praise.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

We must view God as He is and not by the limitations of our reality.

A Time to Consider

A paradox is a statement that might seem contradictory or absurd but finds itself to be true. When examining spiritual truth we can tend to recoil when we hear something that conflicts with our idea of reality. Jesus was often found making statements that made people recoil upon first hearing, yet His statements were often given as a test for the hearer and as a revelation of things to come.

Take for example Jesus’ parable regarding faith and duty. In Luke 17:6-10, we hear Jesus recount the attitude of a servant in regard to his master…

“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

The servant is subservient to the master and it is under the master’s authority, power, and supervision by which the servant acts. Any good thing that comes as a result of a faithful servant is a direct result of the master, therefore the proper attitude is not one of pride but humble obedience.

We see another aspect of the servant and the master in Ephesians 2:10 as it reveals a paradox.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

The paradox is the worker doing good works. Only God is good, therefore if the worker is to do good works it must be wrought in God.

What may seem like a paradox in regard to the servant moving from a position of being unprofitable to profitable becomes more of a revelation of how God’s people become effective in His Kingdom. When placed in the hands of the Master (Jesus), the believer becomes profitable by way of God’s authority, not according to anything they have done by their own strength but according to God’s power working through them. Any attempt to do the work apart from Him becomes a practice in pride and self-righteousness.

The Road

The way of the Master might seem difficult at first but by walking the path of freedom the pilgrim is relieved from striving and allowed to appreciate the clarity that comes with obedience.

For example Jesus speaks of the yoke of working for God:

Matthew 11:29-30 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The yoke is a restraining device used for oxen plowing a field. The field of God is the world and all He has called His people to do. Overturning false precepts, taking out the rocks of indifference, and planting seeds that produce the fruit of righteousness is the labor He has called His people to partake in—then we see a little different perspective in Matthew 7:14.

“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

The paradox reveals that in one instance the yoke of walking with God is easy, He seems to do the majority of the work and then in the next thought we find the walk treacherous and difficult.

The truth is revealed in how you walk.

If you are yoked with Jesus, He leads you in the way, He does the majority of the hard work, and makes the way straight as you go.

When we attempt to go the path alone it becomes impossible to complete. The labor is more than one can handle, the ability to stay on track becomes a practice in perpetual frustration, and the fruit of the labor never comes to fruition.

Do we see a pattern here?

We must ask ourselves, are we in Christ or living apart from Him?—this is a paradox of life. The true dilemma is for those who claim to be in Christ but attempt to work apart from Him. The agenda is a man-made, personal gain agenda and not a purpose that is meant to glorify God. There is yet another paradox in regard to meaning and purpose in God’s Kingdom.

God’s Purposes

Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

In one instance it seems everything we do is only chasing after the wind or a prideful display of personal adoration but then we read Paul writing on good works and we see life in a different light.

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Life is more than pleasing ourselves or getting an advantage in this world.

The excessive display of pride is the mark of one doing a work for themself. Ultimately, the fruit will bear out in the end.

Vanity is the headline for the path of the prideful, the glory of God is the headline for the one living for Christ. ‘Good works’ are only those by which God works His glory through His people.

Tossing Pearls

Do we strive to encourage others in their faith or plant seeds of God’s testimony that might grow into a life of faith in Christ? As a servant of the Lord, we are compelled to do as the Master instructs and once He says enough, then we move on with Him to the next field. Along the way, the people He instructs are His servants called to minister, those who are designated by Him for a purpose—He prepares the field—He gives the pearl of great price(the gospel)—He plants the seeds and waters them in their infancy—and ultimately the Lord is the One who brings in the harvest.

What may seem like a paradox becomes a lesson in understanding.

• “Give to the one who asks you.” (Matthew 5:40-41)
• “Don’t toss your pearls before pigs.” (Matthew 7:6)

Giving a cup of cold water to one who is thirsty isn’t tossing a pearl before a swine. The acts of compassion and mercy are benchmarks of a believer. Presenting a spiritual truth to someone who is not spiritually inclined allows for them to stomp all over something they don’t understand, therefore God’s people are told not to do it. Everything God’s people are given, the Lord instructs them in how to use His gifts. This is what it looks like to walk in Christ…He literally does it all. The more we understand what it means to live for Christ, the more we will see the majesty of His hand in our lives.

God’s pleasure is revealed through the faithful servant. The servant submits to God’s authority and then relishes the joy of walking with Him—there is great joy for those who get to see the Hand of the Lord working through him/her.

Is this life for you?

If you desire to be filled, the Lord has what you need.

• “Blessed are those who hunger.” (Matthew 5:6)
• “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry.” (John 6:35)

This final paradox is a reminder that If your desire is for Jesus, He will fill you. Come to Him not expecting to bring anything other than a willing and humble heart, then watch what He will do.

Dying that you might live becomes a reality for those who trust in Him.