Listen to this challenge that Dr.Bilezikian, a New Testament scholar, gave to his students in light of Mark 8:34-35 which reads “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” This is what he shared with his class:
“For 6 months, take the great gamble. Follow the model of Jesus with reckless abandon. Take advantage of every opportunity to serve—even if it seems like something insignificant. Be the one who opens the door for others. Choose the back seat of a car so your friend can sit in the front. Take out the garbage even though it’s not usually your job. Volunteer to stack the chairs after the meeting. Take the arm of the elderly woman negotiating the stairs in the department store. Open your eyes. Keep your servant’s towl handy. Monitor the condition of your heart week to week. Then ask yourself: AM I GAINING OR LOSING?
”And if you want to, try it the other way. Every chance you have, put yourself in the center, be demanding, ask the world to revolve around you. Push your way to the front of the line. Disappear when it’s time for the dirty work, the menial tasks. Bow low every morning in front of the full length mirror. Then step back and honestly assess. Are you becoming closer to God and people or more isolated? Is your life fuller or emptier? ARE YOU GAINING OR LOSING ”
What do you think?
Willing to take the gamble? Even for a week? Perhaps for just a few days?
If you decide to try–post your conclusions on this blog.
Dihan
October 15, 2008 at 8:57 am |
I don’t think Jinhee will let me make it through day 1 for the second gamble. Maybe through hour 1. Then it’s game over at hour 2.
October 15, 2008 at 10:18 am |
Hahaha.
True. Married brothers–good luck on the 2nd gamble!!
October 16, 2008 at 1:00 am |
Thank you for this post.
For some reason, I was reminded of the “The Hollow Men” after reading this entry,
“Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow”
and I thought to myself, we need impetus! How often do we put sermons into practice and actually MOVE with it?
I made some feeble attempts at Bilezikian’s initial challenge today … and came to several conclusions: 1) People can be extremely grateful. 2) Some people will never let you do things alone and 3) Serving is partly incidental.
As for Bilezikian’s second challenge, speaking from experience, I either almost always feel a) defensive or b) nagging guilt
And I’m not so sure if it’s a matter of gain or loss. I don’t think servanthood is meant to be utilitarian in nature … rather, it is a show of great love, compassion, and presence of mind. Serving in the biblical context should be implicitly free.
October 18, 2008 at 8:58 pm |
You are a better man than I. The only place I’ve really chosen to take the gamble this week is within my own family, and even with that I only managed a few spurts.
All I know is that when I am selfish and demand my way, the stench of my noxious attitude eventually comes to my attention, and I have to change.
The problem of course is that when it comes to my selfishness, I’m never a good learner. I make the same mistakes over and over.
Still learning to apply my own message,
PD