This Sunday – 10/10/10

This Sunday – 10/10/10

“As long as you are trying to earn your salvation by controlling God through goodness, you will never be sure you have been good enough for him.”

Tim Keller, The Prodigal God.

 

Scorecard or Gift?

Is your life more about keeping score about how you are doing, or is your life more about accepting and celebrating the gifts and blessings of God?

I guess, to even ask the question like that is to lean in the scorecard direction.  How’s your score on enjoying life as a gift?

I am being rocked by Timothy Keller’s analysis of the elder brother in the story best known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15.  The elder brother has lived a do-good life out of obligation, fear and control.  His pride and sense of entitlement totally disconnect him from the joy of his father.

Sounds too familiar.  I wonder who told Keller about me.

Although, I take some comfort in the adage, “If you think you are, you’re probably not.”  You know that one?  If you think you’re crazy, you probably aren’t.  Part of being crazy is not knowing.  So, maybe if you are afraid that you are the elder brother in the story, you probably aren’t.  The elder brother was blind to his lostness. 

But, Keller does talk about the possibility of being elder brother-ish.

This Sunday we will identify the signs of elderbrotherness.  We’ll step away from those things that kill our potential joy in God, those things that also make us judgmental and competitive with others.

I am excited to be learning with you how we can enter into God’s great celebration.  I know one thing already:  its’ not by trying harder.