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The treasure of sufferingSunday, February 27, 2005
Romans 5:1-2, 5-6 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly ... While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Talent is God-given. Be humble. The undefeated Illini basketball team has them all. The players each deal in their own way with God's gifts, our accolades and their temptations to arrogance. Roger Powell Jr., the team's licensed minister/power forward talks often of staying both humble and hungry. In his letter from prison to the Romans, Paul says the end products of suffering should be character and hope; or as Roger calls them, humility and hunger. This understanding does not come out of success or comfort, nor out of premature acceptance of pain and loss (commonly called denial and bargaining). Its truth becomes apparent only in my experience of powerlessness over time, over a much longer time than I either want or expect. There are some things I just can't do. I am like God, a creator, but I am not a god, I am not God at all. That truth dawns only slowly on me as my complete inability to change myself or the world gets shoved over and over into my face. God knows me better than I know myself. He knows what I need, what I cannot do on my own. Here is how Eugene Peterson's Bible paraphrase The Message treats Romans 5:6:
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for his sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. This "Christ-ian-ity", so easy to take for granted, teaches me the value of suffering as it tells the story of Jesus. The suffering I endure allows me to develop a capacity for faith and hope in Jesus Christ, whose own suffering has made it finally possible again for me to come home to God's garden, a place I could never otherwise know again. Stay humble, stay hungry. Jesus, you have removed the guards from the gates of Eden. In my life, Lord, be glorified. In my death, Lord, be glorified. Live in me. |
Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber, quoting John Wooden: