Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” Isaiah 55:2a
This is
a good question for us all. Granted, it’s an uncomfortable inquiry, but only if
we pause long enough to consider the Lord’s compassionate concern. Why would we
proceed down a path so unpleasing? Why would we toil toward a target completely
incapable of gratifying our inmost longings? Better question: Why do we?
My
guess is that as we read this verse, the text becomes more tangible. It is
illustrated in our mind’s eye as the very things that staunchly soak in life's dissatisfaction. But what if we did more than visualize these misguided
moorings? What if we responded to our regretful misgivings of finances, time,
energy, and effort, by observing the rest of this passionate plea? The Lord
continues through His prophet…
“Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and
delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear that
your soul may live.” Isaiah 55:2b-3a
There
is something more available. There is something greater being offered. Delight,
satisfaction, and fulfillment are on the table before us, ready to be found.
Though life weighs heavily upon the soul with daily demands that drain us of
all vitality, there is a way of hope. But we must act now; we must gravitate toward
the grace that is being extended and acknowledge the shallowness of our
strivings.
An obedient response will most assuredly translate into change. Perhaps it
means adding intentional time into our week. It could also involve cutting back
on things. While different for each of us, it is quite certain that maintenance
of the status quo has no place. If we are drowning, we must cry out for help and
purposefully ponder when and where we are to get back into the pool. If our
maddening pace of life has made loving and discipling our families an
unfortunate impossibility, then for the sake of our souls and the well-being of
our households, let us pull back for a season. Regroup, revaluate, refocus - we
must do whatever is necessary, but we must do so promptly. If we’ve been
striving and struggling, only to strikeout and stray the course, let us hear
our Lord’s call to come.
The
past several months have humbled us in ways I’d never hoped to experience. Not
the fun kind of humbling – you know, the kind where you’re extravagantly
spoiled with surprising showers of blessings. Though we’ve received more of
those than we could ever deserve, I’m referring to a different kind of humbling confrontation with reality. My wife and I recognized that we were out of rhythm with
each other, out of sync with our children, ineffective in our ministerial
efforts, and ultimately buried beneath a slammed schedule of events. The
absence of time and margin left no room for forgetfulness, flexibility, or unplanned
overlap. It was our fault, and prayerfully, we will learn from this past season
and be better for it in the future. But would it not be ridiculous for us to
carry on calendaring as if all was well after our desperate, joyless state of
affairs had been revealed?
“Why do you spend
your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not
satisfy?”
If our
jobs are robbing us of joy…If the demands of little league sports are sucking
our savings account dry…If our patterns of life allow no time for us to fulfill
the demands of a disciple…If we have bitten off far more than we can chew…Will
we continue cramming more down our throats until we choke? Will we be so ignorant
as to stay the course, thinking that things will change or that we’ll toughen
up and adjust? But we say, “The mortgage is dependent upon our paycheck”; “our
children need these experiences”; “we’re
just always so busy!” Seems we have
an excuse ready for just about everything… Meanwhile, the Father beckons us to
come, to incline our ear to hear the tenderness of His gracious offer, to draw
near and discover real life.
In the
New Testament, Jesus frames the question like this: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his
soul?” Where vanity and meaninglessness have been revealed, may we concede,
repent, and be obedient to change. The bread of life has been broken for us.
Might we feast on the only One who can satisfy. There is never-ending,
unspeakable joy to be found and much glory to be given in return. So then, why
would we refuse to yield? Why would we endure another single moment of bondage,
when through Christ, we’ve been set free? Why would we settle for anything less
than the delightful provision given us from the Savior of our souls? Why would we chase after bread that's not
It
stinks to see when we’re stuck; spinning our wheels but going nowhere is incredibly
disheartening. It’s troubling for life’s trivialities to become so blatantly
apparent. Yet even such glances at our own shortcomings are glimpses of His
goodness. It’s His mercy that shows us where we are and His grace that provides us with a chance to change. With this in mind, may we seek the Lord while He can still
to be found, calling upon Him while He is yet near (v.6).
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| Matt Fowler Associate Pastor of Missions & Students matt@nbchurch.info @fattmowler |
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