On Being Productive…

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

“Yvonne is still working on being a productive member of society.”

Those were the words of closing benediction from last night’s Hallmark movie. A story chronicling the woes of a homeless woman and her rescue therein. A good watch, and why I would have liked some follow-up details, the post script told me all I really needed to know.

Yvonne still struggles with her demons and with her freedom accordingly. A painful pull between the lonely wanton of the streets and the welcome embrace of a sheltering purpose. Of belonging, of fitting and of making her mark in a world that has embedded its indelible marks across her weary and well-torn heart. She’s still working on being a productive member of society.

So am I. How about you? What benediction could be written over your now? Anybody feeling a little well-worn and less than significant as it pertains to kingdom business? Is the call of the streets drowning out God’s call upon your life for discipleship? How is the pull, pulling?

For the past couple of weeks, my pull has been pulling tight. I’ve felt the profound strain between my “nothingness” and my “mattering.” The world has screamed its resistance at my feeble attempts at faith, causing a dissonance that strikes at the root of my identity as God’s workmanship. And while I understand that my sacred significance is not based on man’s opinion, my heart is easily swayed by man’s judgment.

God has created me for good works. For his good plan and for his kingdom come. Long ago, I surrendered my limitations and my plans upon the altar of his will and invited his presence into my life. I continue to do so. Why?

Because my full perfection and his full purpose for me has not fully lived its finish in me. There is still work to be done—in me, with me, and, ultimately, through me. God continues to seed my heart with a yet to be realized harvest. I cannot tabulate the eventual return, but I am feeling the cost of its current sowing.

God allows me the struggle; not because he delights in my anguish, but rather because he desires for my faith to prove genuine (1 Peter 1:6-7). To be real and relentless in the midst of difficult times that call for a resolute faith. A faith that doesn’t waver according to the daily news but a faith that stands firm and with the confidence of an abiding Holy Spirit and a determined consecrated purpose.

Faith based on the shifting sands of our uneven times is a faith that will eventually fall prey to the lure of the streets.

*To the sifting through the garbage bins for leftovers that feed rotten rather than lasting.
*To pushing carts filled with the cast offs of a fleeting treasure.
*To begging for an unjustifiable wealth.
*To sleeping beneath the covers of a dangerous and unattended dark.
*To addictions that soothe temporary and last indefinitely.
*To an uncleanliness that breathes sour and offends accordingly.

How does this “homeless” and wandering faith play itself out in our lives? What does street living look like for a Christian?

Garbage bin feeding: gaining our nourishment from the television, the internet, and the radio, instead of from God’s Word (John 6:26-27, 35; 1 John 2:15-17).

Pushing carts: filling our lives with the religions and philosophies and “truths” that produce temporal answers instead of “leaning not unto our understanding” and, thus, receiving the mystery of an eternal Truth that fills lasting (2 Tim. 4:3, 1 Cor. 4:1-4, Proverbs 3:5-6).

Unjustifiable wealth: asking for the bounty of another’s blessing instead of receiving what is ours as children and, thus, benefactors of our Father’ rich inheritance (Romans 8:15-17).

Sleeping without protections: giving into the lures of a dangerous dance in the dark where we assume no one can see, much less hold us accountable for our sin (1 Cor. 4:5; 1 John 1:5-9; Matthew 6:19).

Addictions: lining our flesh and mind with all manner of prescriptive measures meant to mask instead of lining our hearts with the sacred perspective that is intended to free (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 3:17).

Uncleanliness: wearing our sin out loud and in charge so as to cause our brothers and sisters to follow suit (Romans 14:19-21; 1 Cor. 10:31-32; 1 John 2:9-10, 3:7-10).

God hasn’t designed us to be a street people, at least not here. He’s called us to be on the streets; not as dwellers but as pilgrims. A people on an intentional journey—on the highway of the King headed to an eternal street living that lines golden and ripe and laden with the treasure of heaven’s richest fare. And until we arrive there, we are given the consecrated privilege of contending with the boundaries of a lesser road.

Lesser because everything short of our going home to be with Jesus breathes with reduction. Privileged because the road boasts the feet of those who are homeless and are in desperate need of following God’s sacred lead. Consecrated because it is our high and holy calling to take that lead … to be God’s light and his ministers of reconciliation as though God was making his appeal through us (2 Cor. 6:20).

Consecrated street living is hard living. Rarely is it convenient or comfortable. Rather, it is costly and contrary to the fleshly pulse that beats in isolation for self-preservation. Thus, I am still working on being a productive member of society—God’s society, where self-preservation takes a back seat to kingdom preservation.

These have been difficult days for many of us. We are tired and weary from our well-worn worry. Accordingly, we are tempted to fill our carts with an aimless wandering devoid of sacred perspective. We are pulled in a thousand different ways, with a thousand different thoughts, and with little anchor to hold us as steady. We are taking to the streets, rather than taking to our knees and to our need for a helping hand to guide us in the right direction.

And while I want the pull between my “nothingness” and my “mattering” to be less, I want my faith to prove genuine even more so. Thus, I concede to the struggle, knowing that my perfection hangs in the balance. Perhaps, like me, God’s workmanship in you has been a difficult striving. I understand.

You are not alone, ever. God is with you. I am with you. We are walking this road together … to our eternal rest at our Father’s feet where our lingering “demons” will finally give way to our lasting freedom. Where the streets of our current dinge and dark will be buried beneath the blistering gold of a perfected glory. We need not fear its certain coming, for it is God’s promised ending to us as Christians. We simply and profoundly need to embrace its sacred worth on the front side of its arrival.

The backside will breathe with understanding, but if we can, even now, get our thoughts anchored in the truth of why our striving matters and what awaits us accordingly, then we are well on our way to being the productive members of a kingdom society that God intends for us to be. Thus, I pray…

Make us a productive people, Father, not for ourselves but your mighty end. Forgive us our self-focus. Encourage us with your purpose. Strengthen us with your promises. Enliven us with your Spirit and work in us your perfection, all the way home to our final rest. May our knees find the floor before our feet find the streets. You, alone, are our Anchor, our Sustainer, and the Perfecter of our faith. Encourage us with this certain truth as we walk each step of this day. Amen.

Copyright © November 2008 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved

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23 Responses to On Being Productive…

  1. You are right. The headlines make me doubt. But when I seek the Lord, I find Him faithful.

    Why is it that I know the end of the story, but I grow weary and worry?

    Why is it that some days I am on the top of Carmel… and other days I am lying under a broom tree?

    Thank you for pointing me directly to the true SOURCE.

  2. You used the word "anchor" towards the end of this piece, and immediately I began hearing "The Anchor Holds" in my head & heart.

    Though the ship be battered, though the sails be torn … indeed, we appear as such this side of perfection. Thank God His anchor holds!

    Be blessed,
    Kathleen

    P.S. There is a deepening richness coloring your thoughts these days, Elaine. Most likely the result of the depths you've been visiting of late.

  3. Elaine, I actually know of a Pastor who lives on the streets – physically, but not spiritually. Everything about him screams Heaven, while his feet take God’s love to the lost.

    I can’t help but think of the word ‘brokenness’ when I read this writing. Brokenness is accompanied by the gift of God’s mercy. He mercifully breaks us so that we don’t wander; He doesn’t want us falling prey to the lure of the streets. Brokenness opens our eyes to tragedy and truth. The tragedy of the ‘street’ we’re playing it, and the truth that recalls His sacrifice and reminds us of His love.

    Desiring to walk each step with Him,
    Joy

  4. ~You are not alone, ever. God is with you.~

    Such comforting words, Elaine. Words that I need to be reminded of from time to time in my own journey.

    God bless you, friend!
    Amy:)

  5. What an amazing and true analogy, Elaine. There is such encouragement, conviction, and truth in this reminder of how we must live as productive members of the Kingdom society. Thank you.

  6. Hi Elaine. Yes – I am still trying to learn to be a productive member of HIS society.
    And I agree with the other commenter who wonders why even though we know the end of the story is it still so hard!??!

    Have a blessed week.

  7. Elaine,
    I’m not sure I can even comment on your work today because I am almost speechless!!!

    You gave us a perfect picture of how we as Christians live as “street people” when we do NOT have to!

    I continue to be amazed at how the Lord uses you to pen such deep thoughts!

    God bless!
    Marilyn

  8. OH Elaine… this post is so timely for me. This is right on for how I am feeling today…

    PS: I have dvr’d the Hallmark movie, but haven’t watched it yet. Looking forward to settling in and watching!

  9. God hasn’t designed us to be a street people, at least not here. He’s called us to be on the streets; not as dwellers but as pilgrims. A people on an intentional journey—on the highway of the King headed to an eternal street living that lines golden and ripe and laden with the treasure of heaven’s richest fare. And until we arrive there, we are given the consecrated privilege of contending with the boundaries of a lesser road.

    Wow. I will never forget this analogy. Wow.

  10. Perfect picture of who we are. I have never thought of myself in this way but you wrote about it very clearly and moving that it spurs me on to do some self-evaluating once again today. I thoroughly enjoy your posts and eagerly look forward to each new one.

  11. Awesome post, Elaine. I strive to be that productive member of His society!

    Thank you for such great words of wisdom.

    Blessings…

  12. An inspired analogy, Elaine! As I read your word “productive”, the Lord’s word “produce” filled my heart:

    Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:8, Luke 3:8)

    “… we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.” (Romans 5:3)

    “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Thessalonians 1:3)

    “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)

    and …

    “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

  13. Thank you so much for what you wrote. It really spoke to me. I am amazed how much it touched my heart. I can’t express it.

  14. I watched this Hallmark movie too.
    It was a very good show. I have to admit I teared up a time or two. I think because I could relate to her on some levels. At the same time it left a real heaviness on my heart. I couldn’t put my finger on what…but I think you just shed some light on why. Great thoughts thanks for sharing them.

  15. Elaine,
    Your post makes me think you’ve been reading my mind. “And while I want the pull between my “nothingness” and my “mattering” to be less, I want my faith to prove genuine even more so.”

    Amen to that! Oh how I wish I could wrestle that battle once and for all! It makes me weary. But I know God is faithful.

    Blessings,
    Kelli

  16. I needed this reminder….as I’m walking the path of Kingdom living, being INTENTIONAL and most definately costly.

    Thank you Elaine, for penning these words for us.

    Love,
    Yolanda

  17. Standing on the promises of Christ, Our King…
    through ETERNAL ages let His praises ring…
    GLORY, HALLELUJAH, I will SHOUT and sing…
    standing on the promises of God!
    Amen, and Let It Be So….

  18. Your words …I’ve felt the profound strain between my “nothingness” and my “mattering.” The world has screamed its resistance at my feeble attempts at faith, causing a dissonance that strikes at the root of my identity as God’s workmanship. And while I understand that my sacred significance is not based on man’s opinion, my heart is easily swayed by man’s judgment….speaks the heart of my husband and I. We are stuggling with ministry in our local church. Our passion to serve is being deflamed by people who want control, who want to only be a Sunday morning church. We are having to examine whether God is calling us to stay here and it is painful.
    But my hope is to clinge to His purpose and the passion He has laid in my heart to minister to others because of my sacred brokenness.
    I so appreciae your words here Elaine. They are from God to me. Thank you.

    In His Graces~Pamela

  19. Elaine,

    I’m a new reader and will definitely return as I just signed up to receive your blog.

    This writing, your expressions are powerful and I know it’s by God’s grace and purpose. Words can not express what I thought as I read this…

    God bless you and your readers.
    Lisa

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