The Power of God's Word: A Different Kind of Standard

At church this morning Barry Heib gave a reflection on the beatitudes, and it struck me that I was looking at them as he explained he did at first. I was looked at it as a sort of standard to achieve. Ok, so I have to be that way. I have to do that. Well, it's true that God is guiding us in this passage, but Jesus is doing more than that... when He could've chosen to rant about the government or complain about the people and each one of their failings (which He knew well), He chose to bless. In fact, the telling of the beatitudes in itself becomes a beatitude... for blessed are those who bless and do not curse.

^1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

³"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

⁶"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

⁷"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

⁸"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

⁹"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

¹⁰"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

^11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. ~Matthew 5:1-12

This morning I really appreciated hearing this familiar very in the Message version, with words that seemed to explain why and how it might be a blessing to mourn or to suffer or to be content.

As I mentioned in the preceding paragraph, I often have read the beatitudes as a "to do" list. The problem with this is that you always end up frustrated and downhearted. How can I ever possibly live up to all of this? Can I really be a peacemaker in a true sense of the word? And how much is enough? I mean, the beatitudes don't give you a clear cut off point, so it seems like you must be that way all the time... 24/7. Oh, no... I'm just too weak to be that wonderful....

But the good news is what God says about the weak...

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. ~1 Cor. 1:18-30

Right now I live my life surround by some who are considered very 'wise.' Yet those who I consider the wisest know better. They know that compared to the massive amount of knowledge in the world, what they know is little... humbling even. The most reknown regents professor is often the most humble, because he/she knows what there is still left to know. And so when we feel weak, looking at the Beatitudes, perhaps it is a good sign... and acknowledgment of that which we still have to gain. In acknowledging our own weaknesses, we open ourselves up for God to work in our lives... to "shame the strong" (who think they are everything already without God). So we gladly boast in our weaknesses and appreciate that we fall short of the beatitudes, but we let them guide us toward the refining power of Christ in our lives.