August 24, 2010

REWARD OR REVIVAL?

Recently I've been reading the story of Gideon again in Judges 8.  What was accomplished through Gideon makes outstanding reading, and it seemed to me we could get caught up in the wonder of what God did and miss the important aspects that are about Gideon's humanity which is just like ours!
Gideon wasn't too good on blind faith, he wanted to see something to prove God was in this before he took the big step!  However, God in all His greatness and grace, went along with Gideon and helped him to be part of what had already been accomplished in God's heart and purpose.
Most will know the battle story .. nothing short of spectacular, and accomplished with such a small band of warriors, hand picked for the job. When the battle was over, and Gideon was going back home, the true test came, and it even looks like he passed the test!  The people wanted to make him their ruler, but he wisely said no and reminded them that the Lord alone would rule over them.
Then comes the point that leapt off the page at me.  Having got it all right so far, suddenly Gideon asks for some of the gold from the enemy as a reward.  He takes it home, turns it into a golden ephod (priestly garment), and everyone bows down and worships it.  We are told in a little short sentence at the end of the story that this became a snare for Gideon and his family.  Gideon didn't let the people raise him up as a ruler, but instead put something that looked spiritual before them (priestly even!) and that was his mistake.  The victory was in fact God's and all the worship and gratitude belonged to him.

Here's my point.  We live in a society that is totally geared towards success and achievement, and there are definitely expected rewards for both.  In fact, if I am not paid what I think is a right reward for the effort I give, then I pack up and move on to somewhere I am appreciated more!  (Or, as we've witnessed lately on TV, we call in the unions to come and shout at the problem with us.)
On the other hand, God's kingdom sees it a little differently, and He will even put us in places we are not appreciated at all, but will be accomplishing EXACTLY what He had in mind, something that will not be a temporary reward but counts for all eternity.  If we leave because we do not feel appreciated or rewarded, then we have aborted that possibility.
So, we need to constantly remind ourselves that we do not need to reward ourselves for what God has done for us.  God can bless us anywhere, anytime He wants to.  When Gideon took the gold it really symbolises that he took some of the glory that belongs to God alone.
As many cry out and look for God to bring revival to nations suffering and dying, we need to remind ourselves that there will be no reward for our crying out ... it will come as we enter into a different mindset that gives everything to God, rather than constantly demanding from Him, or looking for reward rather than leaving Him the freedom to bless. 
Great men in the past really got this principle, and I love the prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola, it rings true in my heart and spirit:
Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous:
Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that I do your will.

As we are able to make the Lord alone our reward, as He is, and always intended He should be, then we begin, hourly, daily, to give to Him thanks for what He has given us in that hour and day.  Strength to accomplish the tasks of the day, favour to move ahead in the areas He calls us to walk, provision, peace, comfort, compassion, love .... He is constantly pouring out of His greatness and goodness, are we grateful?
With this mindset He is assured that He has all our love and friendship, people with hearts open for Him to move in any way He desires, who will not touch and mess with what is not theirs to own.
This, I believe, opens the way for God to move through a people wholly His own and bring what He most desires into their midst.
I want to end with another prayer of St. Ignatius - are we courageous enough to pray it?
Receive Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will.  You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me.  Give me only your love and your grace.  With this I am rich enough and I have no more to ask.