Made Anew: Reckless Spendthrift of Grace

06 April 2011

Reckless Spendthrift of Grace

In The Prodigal God Timothy Keller tells us in the introduction "The word 'prodigal' does not mean 'wayward' but, according to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 'recklessly spendthrift.' It means to spend until you have nothing left. (Yes, I barely got into the book and it changed my understanding of the parable of The Prodigal Son and God Himself!) When I think of the word 'prodigal' using that meaning and place it in front of 'God' I gain a whole new understanding His gift of Grace! God spends all of his Grace on undeserving sinners, knowing that we will continue to fall short of His Glory again and again, but He gives all that He has for us. The Lord recklessly spends until He has nothing left to spend...except that the Lord's well of Grace never runs dry. So He continues to give and give and give to those who believe, regardless of whether we have earned it or not!

In light of God's free gift of Grace and His recklessly spendthrift attitude about Grace, shouldn't we strive to be the same? I can't help but think that I should pray for a more recklessly spendthrift heart in regards to care, compassion, grace, mercy.... I should be striving to be more like Jesus, and if that means I have to be recklessly compassionate to those around me, then let it be so!

Reckless Spendthrift

Reckless spendthrift.

What a radical thought,

in terms of grace.

Let me take a page from

Your Book.

Let me recklessly give my love,

compassion & mercy to those

around me.

After all, that's what You ask of me.

I no longer wish to pass by

stranger without so much as

a kind smile.

I want to change this world by

being so recklessly compassionate

to my neighbors.

Let me be but a raindrop in

Your life-giving river,

so others will feel & see.

I wish to lose track of my

selfishness.

Focusing on the severe needs

of others,

rather than the superficial wants

which consume me.

Let each bump in the road &

pothole in my path be

an opportunity.

No longer shall I swerve around

or take an alternate route.

Let me spend recklessly

the Love and Compassion

You have taught me by example.

1 comment:

Bondservant said...: This reminds me of the passage in Matthew 11:12 where Jesus says, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."

I don't think this passage is talking about a negative violence either. It's good to read the whole context. I did a little more research before I commented and Jesus is possibly alluding to the fact that His Kingdom was now being ushered in and receiving great resistance.

Of course we know there was a lot of tension between Christ and Israel when he did this. Particularly the Jewish leaders didn't like the idea of repentance and needing forgiveness. Just as through one violent act our Great Shepherd was crucified, God's grace is now flowing like a violent rushing river that breaks through a dam. We have become a part of this violent grace just like the theme of your blog post. I can't answer with complete certainty that, that is the clear meaning of this passage. However, I like the concept. ;); April 8, 2011 at 9:40 AM