Reordering your life

Today: Lamentations 3:37-5

I've reordered a lot of things--my closet, some sentences and living room furniture. But reordering an entire life? That's pretty radical. And perhaps that's exactly why God wants us to do it.

As we discussed yesterday, Lamentations is actually a sad book of the Bible. God's people are in exile, largely because they disobeyed and deserted Him. However, this part of today's passage stood out to me:

Doesn't the High God speak everything,

good things and hard things alike, into being?

And why would anyone gifted with life

complain when punished for sin?

Let's take a good look at the way we're living

and reorder our lives under God.

Let's lift our hearts and hands at one and the same time,

praying to God in heaven...

Isn't that good?!? Often we complain about things in our lives that are the consequences of our own actions--instead of being grateful and enjoying the gift of life God has given to us.

I also like the verse that talks about reordering our lives under God. One theme that's clear to me in Scripture is that order matters to God--He wants to be first in our lives, not just our words, our songs or our prayers: He wants to be first in EVERYTHING.

I wish that more of us realized the importance of order before we got to a low point of facing harsh consequences. However, the good news is that even in the worst moments of desperation, God is more than willing to help us. All we have to do is accept His grace and submit to His authority, asking for His help to reorder our lives.

Tomorrow: Ezekiel 1-4

Builders and bullies

Today: Jeremiah 18-22

What are you building?

You may think this is a bizarre question if you're not handy with tools (personally, I haven't ever built anything...unless you count a gingerbread house). But I assure you--this question applies to us.

Every day we're building something--perhaps we're building the people around us, businesses, churches, savings, political causes, knowledge--you name it. Building any of these things can be positive, but as we've discussed in other posts, order matters to God.

In today's passage, He continued His discussion with Jeremiah and the people of Israel about their bad behavior. Let's review God's words here:

Doom to him who builds palaces but bullies people,

who makes a fine house but destroys lives,

Who cheats his workers and won't pay them for their work,

Who says, 'I'll build me an elaborate mansion with spacious rooms and fancy windows.

I'll bring in rare and expensive woods and the latest in interior decor.'

So, that makes you a king—living in a fancy palace?

Your father got along just fine, didn't he?

He did what was right and treated people fairly,

And things went well with him.

He stuck up for the down-and-out,

And things went well for Judah.

Isn't this what it means to know me?"

God's Decree!"

But you're blind and brainless.

All you think about is yourself,

Taking advantage of the weak,

bulldozing your way, bullying victims."

Yikes--these people seriously messed up. They thought they were building wealth and financial security, but they were doing it in a way that bulldozed over something much more important--other people.

It's important to point out that in this passage, God doesn't necessarily criticize wealth. When He talks about past leaders who lived correctly and treated people fairly, He said, "And things went well with him." I don't think God would have necessarily made that blanket statement about leaders who struggled financially, dealt with constant conflict, etc. Other parts of the Bible point to leaders God loved and blessed who were extremely wealthy (e.g. David, Solomon, Abraham).

However, when we are driven by greed and a self-promoting thirst for wealth or power, it's out of line with God's order. We become bullies--builders of own designs instead of building according to God's plans.

Consider what you're building, the order you're following and your motivation. If it's out of whack, the solution is simple: Go after God first with all you've got. The other stuff can follow that (see Matthew 6:33).

Tomorrow: Jeremiah 23-25

Where do you look first?

Today: Isaiah 18-22

Imagine an airplane inspector who forgot to check the engine before take-off. Picture a tailor who forgets to ask a bride to try on her dress before the wedding day. Envision attending opening night at a new Broadway musical featuring a cast that didn't attend any rehearsals.

Oops!

These major oversights seem absurd, but they pale in comparison to forgetting about God in our day-to-day lives. Take a look at a portion of today's passage--His message to Israelites trying to defend a city:

You assessed your defenses that Day,
inspected your arsenal of weapons in the Forest Armory.
You found the weak places in the city walls that needed repair.
You secured the water supply at the Lower Pool.
You took an inventory of the houses in Jerusalem
and tore down some to get bricks to fortify the city wall.
You built a large cistern to ensure plenty of water.
You looked and looked and looked,
but you never looked to him who gave you this city,
never once consulted the One who has long had plans for this city.

Yikes! God was upset because His people were looking everywhere else but their obvious source: Him! Instead of first looking to God, they tried to find answers all on their own.

It's kind of like Christians who search Craigslist for jobs, but forget to ask God to provide for their needs. It's similar to Christian singles who spend time surfing eHarmony or going on blind dates, but forget to pray for their future spouse. Or it's like people of God who seek every kind of medicine, but forget to consult the Great Physician.

Hear me out--there's nothing wrong with looking for a job on Craigslist, going on a blind date or visiting your doctor. But order matters to God. He does not deserve to be picked last, especially when He's proven Himself as THE all-star in the past. In all your searching, assessing and doing, look to Him first.

Tomorrow: Isaiah 23-27