For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (Matt. 16:26)
Jesus’ question presupposes a certain value system. Our souls are more valuable than what the world offers, like pleasure, money, power, or fame. Who we truly are—our identity before God, our capacity for love and relationship, our ability to hope and grieve, our calling to honor and represent God—matters more than what we own and the vacations we take.
But there is something else behind his question: We cannot buy a healthy soul with worldly goods, and yet the commodity we spend to get worldly goods is the same commodity that could be spent for a healthy soul.
It is probably obvious that we can’t buy a healthy soul with worldly goods. (Look at the rich and famous if you need evidence.) Diamonds, stock portfolios, and fame can’t be exchanged for a healthy soul. Even money, the ultra versatile commodity, can’t be exchanged for soul-health. (It promises to, in the self-care industry, but fails to deliver.) But the commodity we spend for money and for those worldly goods is the same commodity that could be spent on the health of our soul—our time!
For most of us, time is the most plentiful commodity we have at our disposal. We have far less of it than we would like, but we still have hours every day that we get to choose how we use. Those hours may not occur all together—they more likely occur in 5, 10, and 20-minute snatches, or while we are driving to work or school. But put these bits and pieces together, and most of us have a fair amount of time at our disposal. We fritter it away, but it could be reclaimed for the health of our souls.
In both Colossian 4 and Ephesians 5 Paul counsels us to “make the best use of our time.” He uses a marketplace word, urging us to buy time up wherever it can be purchased and value it highly. I imagine that reclaiming those bits and pieces of time is exactly what he had in mind!
What would it mean to use these snatches of time for the sake of our souls?
There are obvious answers, like prayer and Scripture. Instead of reaching for your phone when there is a 5-minute gap in your schedule, be quiet before Jesus in prayer or wrestle with a Bible verse you remember. But some of the other answers aren’t as obvious, and some might even feel like wasting time! Consistently, when the Bible gives lists of what to do in these moments, it includes things like “rejoice,” “do good to each other,” “give thanks,” and “be at peace.” The Sabbath itself is evidence for the fact that God wants us to use one seventh (!) of our time resting!
For the sake of your soul, snatch up these moments! Use them to turn towards, enjoy, and trust Jesus.
In Christ,
Steven+
Scripture Reflections
“But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
Jesus’ question for his disciples is one of the chief questions of life. Recognizing Jesus is more important than success, power, pleasure—even than scrupulous morality, personal freedom, or family relationships. Perhaps the only other questions that are equally important are, “Will you trust Jesus?” and “Will you obey him?”
That is why it is so strange that Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah! Recognizing Jesus is of primary importance, but people were not ready to recognize him, and so rather than saying, “Work hard to persuade them,” Jesus said, “Keep this a secret!”
The big hurdle was Jesus’ suffering. Jesus was aiming at the cross—it is how he would redeem his people. And yet the cross looked like defeat and folly, even to his disciples. The people simply were not ready for a conqueror, judge, and king who would be captured, condemned, and defeated. “Dead” and “Messiah” could not fit in the same sentence. And so, Jesus said, “Keep this a secret.”
After the resurrection, many were able to fathom that the Conquering One went through death for our sake. Many came to realize that the only answer to sin was for Jesus to swallow it all, allow it to work its poison in him, and then rise again on the other side. But this was still too farfetched for most to believe then (Paul calls the cross “foolishness” to the world), just as it is too ridiculous for most now. They are willing to believe that Jesus was a good teacher, a wise man, someone to emulate. But the Son of God, God’s answer in the flesh to the evil of the world, the one who swallowed death and conquered sin so that each of us could live in the freedom of a new life of glory, holiness, and love? The one who is coming again as judge and king? The one who let himself be ensnared and killed by the devil to catch the devil in his own snare? That is a little farfetched, the stuff of fantasy!
When Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus declared that the Father in heaven had revealed this to him. In the same way, none of us will ever truly recognize Jesus unless God allows us to. As you consider those around you who cannot (as of yet) confess Jesus to be the Living God’s answer to their own sin and the sin and death of the world, pray that the Father would open their eyes. And as you consider the places of your own heart where you struggle to believe, pray that the Father would open your eyes!
Steven+
Fall Schedules and More
If you have been paying attention to the newsletter, you have likely noticed a flurry of announcements over the last few weeks. Helping immigrants work towards citizenship, moving the church scheduling to Planning Center, new members class and small groups, Sunday School for elementary, middle, and high school, Bible studies for men and women—there is a lot that is happening!
As you think about all these things, please don’t hesitate to ask us if you have questions. Incarnation is going through a period of transition due to growth, and we are working on our systems and common life together for the sake of both the incorporation of new members and our discipleship as a body. This is an exciting time in the life of the church as we grapple with the ministries and administrative systems that fit this moment in the church’s life.
Beginning this fall, we are also going to incorporate regular fellowship times for the church. After church every other Sunday (on the Sundays when there is Sunday School for the children and youth), we will have coffee and snacks in the fellowship hall. This is a great way to strengthen friendships, bring visitors into the church, and simply enjoy each other’s company. As the year progresses, we plan to also incorporate Sunday School for the adults into the mix, so that we have a chance to grow together as disciples of Jesus through conversation. This will be focused on a variety of issues, but the basic goal is to address the intersection of faith and culture during these times. Stay tuned—we will announce the specific dates and topics as we iron the details out!
In the meantime, use the beginning of fall, which is a mini-New Year in our culture, as a time to invite those without a church to visit Incarnation. The beginning of the school year is one of the best times for people to consider returning to church or coming for the first time.
In Christ,
Steven+