Compassion: 30 Days of HeartworkSample

Unlearning Our Culture

HEART //

Letting go is difficult. It’s much more desirable to gather money, security and physical things and add them to what we already have. But often we truly need to spend more time letting things go, rather than adding things on. 

Pastor and author Tim Keller, referring to the young generation, says, “From their youth culture they have imbibed not only an emotional resonance for social justice but also a consumerism that undermines self-denial and delayed gratification.”* Isn’t it true? We want to do good, and that’s beautiful and godly! But our lives get pretty crowded and confusing if we’re not also willing to “let go” on many levels. We’re in love with Jesus our Creator and long to be like Him, but we can get lost in all of the thorns (what an incredible image from today’s verse) ─ the “needs” that our culture has placed on us. 

As Jesus tells us, wealth is deceitful and brings with it so many worries about life. When we find ourselves striving for more and more wealth, success and security, we realize (sadly, for some, after a lifetime of chasing) that there is never “enough.” It’s like an itch that can never be scratched.

We need to allow God to pull up the thorny weeds of self-focus, pride and instant gratification from our hearts. This will make room for God to plant seeds of truth that will allow us to experience His love for us and for those suffering in our world.

We must learn to hear His voice above that of our society. We must choose Him. As C.S. Lewis said, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way.’”**

So, how do we unlearn the materialism and self-focus that so easily grow in the soil of our human hearts when our society keeps the thorny weeds very well-watered? We must be willing to let go of finding our identity, our purpose, and our joy in worldly things and find it in God ─ the only true Source of life.

Yes, it’s scary, but it’s one brave step at a time, reading His Word, asking honest questions and making small changes in our daily lives. Wanting less, giving more, spending with intentionality, and learning about vulnerable people in our communities are all small but meaningful steps toward letting go of “self.” As we learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, He will show us what things need to be pulled up out of the soil of our hearts ... to make room for the seeds of truth to grow! 

*“Generous Justice” by Timothy Keller (Penguin Random House, 2010).

** “The Great Divorce” by C.S. Lewis (The Macmillan Company, 1946).

WORK //

Go back and read the entire chapter of Matthew 13. We are not the first generation to experience hard hearts and closed eyes. Jesus describes this amazing Kingdom that He has made available to us by His sacrifice. Ask God to show you what things distract you from Him and consume your focus. What are a few “worries of life” that you could let go of today?

How is it going, not sleeping in your bed? Is it hard to get a good night of sleep? Think about if you had no choice, no bed, perhaps no roof over your head in the cold, in the rain. ... What a powerful thing to think about if you’re lying awake, uncomfortable in the night. God, please use this time to impact our hearts!