Compassion: 30 Days of HeartworkSample

Backwards Kingdom

HEART //

The world’s system tells people that the way to be “successful” is to exalt yourself, be the smartest, look the best, make the most money and outperform everyone else. But what if this definition of success is backwards?

The Kingdom of God has a much different way of defining success. In the Kingdom, we draw close to our destiny and purpose by sacrificing and serving, not by elevating ourselves and walking over people. Instead, we are to live our lives for others. When the Bible talks about the people who will taste the Kingdom of God, it doesn’t talk about the people who are powerful, rich and well-known. It talks about the people who are poor, meek, hungry, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers. This does not mean that we have to be physically hungry and thirsty to see God, but it comes back to dependency. The type of person who will discover the blessing of knowing God is one who will let go of the things of this world and depend fully on God’s love to sustain them. 

Life is much more simple than we make it. As Pastor Rick Warren says in the first sentence of his international best-seller, “The Purpose Driven Life,” “It’s not about you.” When we understand that true life is found in living for Christ and others, we discover the incredibly miraculous blessings that this life has to offer. When we begin to know God in His mercy for the materially poor, we see His mercy in a new way for us, because (wow!) we may be “poor” in some significant ways as well! When we begin to love and pay attention to the people God is paying attention to, we will make decisions for our future that will be a blessing to his Kingdom rather than just building our own. He is our example and our guide. 

WORK //

Why do you think the mourners, the meek, and the hungry are all called “blessed” by Jesus? The way of Jesus is so opposite of the ways that surround us. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the ways you are seeking after worldly success. Pray that as you learn about who God is, you will begin to pursue success in an eternal Kingdom. 

Ask God to help you understand what it means to be a servant. Serve one person today without expecting the favor to be returned. For example, send a note of encouragement to someone who is sick or lonely. Cook dinner for your family (if that’s not your normal job!). Share a smile and a conversation with someone in need on the street. Drop an anonymous treat on a neighbor’s porch. There are so many opportunities to love others, if we just look for them.