Beholding the Lord Vs. Beholding Money
Its a wee early for implementing a New Years resolution, but its never too early to start doing some of the things I’d like to do. One of the reasons that I moved from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) in 2004 and relocated my family to Denver was to go to a church here. It was a big move with some big implications. We left friends there in DFW but we hadn’t found a church we felt comfortable calling ‘home’ and after giving up (we were notably picky and have since learned to mellow out… but that’s another story) we looked at a few places to move and finally picked Denver. At our church we have learned a major amount of things about our relationship with Christ. One of the passages that has rocked my world since moving here is Second Corinthians 3:18:
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. [New American Standard]
This passage describes a relationship with Christ that is intimate and unencumbered with the normal distractions of life, but instead lends itself to the illustration of a bride and groom looking at one another, gazing with nothing between them. I recall standing on the stage in our wedding ceremony and looking at my wife-to-be and thinking, “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful - I must continue to behold her, to gaze at her and enjoy her beauty.” If anything had come between us I would have known it! Money can be one of those things that draws your gaze away from beholding. It can act like a hand that sticks out between you and the Lord and blocks your gaze. If money becomes one of those elements then its time to move on. It is time to get rid of the distraction that has interfered with the beholding of the Lord.
The consequences of beholding the Lord is that money and wealth get their proper place in life. You don’t find them to be worth beholding because they don’t hold a candle to the glory of the Lord! The consequences of beholding the Lord also include our spiritual growth. As we meditate on God’s glory (the emanating character of Christ) this passage tells us that we’ll be transformed into His likeness. Money can barely transform us into anything, and at best plastic surgery is temporary… but beholding has eternal benefits - I like that.
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December 31st, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Spot-on observation, Randy! And very topical at the beginning of this new year. I hope I can be more disciplined this year and behold Him more.
As for moving, many folks move from church to church, trying to find that perfect one, but I think we’re to serve where we are at the time, and let God work it out. (Obviously following God’s lead may take you away, as He did with you, but generally speaking…)
Thanks for another great post.