Let us run with endurance

Jesus told a parable about a hardworking, forward thinking, ambitious, successful man.  He had planted crops, and they grew in such a way that the barns (think storage areas) that he had at present would be too small to handle the harvest.  So he tore those barns and built larger so he could store all his crops and goods and kick back and rest. (“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat drink and be merry.”)  In today’s way of thinking this would be a great thing, but in God’s economy it isn’t.  

Why not?

First, look at the preface Jesus gives to this parable: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”  The world prints bumper stickers that read, “He who dies with the most toys wins.”  God says, “Have this mind (way of thinking) that was in Christ Jesus.”  An attitude of service and humility to meet the needs of others.

Second, all that the man had come from God, yet no credit or praise is offered to the one who provided the seeds, the soil, the rain, the sunshine and the bountiful harvest.  Instead, the man reminds me of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings — MINE, MINE, regarding the One Ring.  The ring wasn’t his; in fact, it had twisted and destroyed him, just as this man’s greed and covetousness had to him.

Third, the focus was on the here and now, what is right in front of him, not on the eternal.  He was not focused on using all that God had placed in his hands to lay up treasures in heaven, but to kick back, relax and take it easy.

I think it is easy for us apply this only to money and possessions, as this is the context of the parable in that day.  Today, however, we prize and even covet and focus on making life as easy and comfortable for ourselves.  And I believe the parable speaks to us in our context of all that distraction and gives us pause or excuse to kick back, rest and take it easy.

Admittedly, I cannot go as long or as hard as I could years ago, but I can still go.  And by go I mean living out the calling, the race that God has laid out before me to run for His glory, praise and Kingdom.  I could easily look back and live life by saying, “I’ve been there and done that so let someone else do it now,” but God has more laid out more for my race.  I don’t want to stop until I cross the finish line established by God, not because running is harder.  The last part of Hebrews 12:1 is a call to young and old believers alike, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”  And I am challenged more and more by the first part of that verse, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us — (then) let us run the race . . .”  I desire to bust the tape at the end of the race (my life) with everything I have, even if all I have is a crawl, I want to crawl with my best for my Lord and Savior.

Pressing on…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor