Brokenness

The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

Psalm 51:17, HCSB

WE STRIVE FOR SUCCESS and prosperity, but when we achieve even the smallest measure of it, we can find ourselves in a spiritual danger zone. When Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24), He wasn’t discriminating against the wealthy. Instead, He was revealing a tendency in man that separates us from God. When things are going well and we feel self-sufficient, we tend to let our spiritual disciplines slide a bit. But when we’re poor in spirit, convicted of our sin, or struggling through a hardship, we’re forced to admit that things are not perfect. We are not perfect. We need grace and mercy. We need help. And it’s this very posture that God desires from us.

Too many people make the mistake of thinking that we must get our lives together before approaching God. But this verse, and many more like it, tells us otherwise (e.g., Isaiah 66:2).

One of the best ways to share your faith with nonbelieving friends or coworkers is to “look for an open nerve.” Pay attention for the comment or complaint about something happening in their lives—a relationship, finances, schedule demands, whatever. Then probe into that a little further. Ask what they think the root of the problem is. Then offer the following invitation: “Would you like to hear how I find help in that area?”

BOTTOM LINE

God didn’t choose us because we were the strongest and the bravest and the noblest. He chose us because He loves us and we need Him.

Moment of Strength: 1 Corinthians 4:7