Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of God.” And Tozer speaks of “the blessedness of possessing nothing.” He talks about how often people allow money, possessions, or power to become what we focus on or what drives us.
I’ve never really been after “stuff.” (Though I do ache for a pedicure or a new book every now and then.) But I often and easily forget that God knows what I need and is going to make sure I get it. For me, it isn’t money, possessions, or power that drive me. Instead, it’s selfish worries and fears that I cling to. I am so concerned that I won’t be taken care of, my rights won’t be looked after, and my needs won’t be met. I cherish my selfish fears and worries, rubbing them like a polished stone and tucking them away to keep them safe.
Tozer says, “The pronouns ‘my’ and ‘mine’ look innocent enough, but their constant and universal use is significant….They are verbal symptoms of our deep disease. The roots of our hearts have grown down into things, and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die…. God’s gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution.”
You know, I don’t wake up each morning and think: “I want to worry today. I want to spend my day grappling with self-centered fears.” But too much of my energy is wasted on those useless pursuits, anyway.
So, what’s the remedy?
To become that “poor in spirit,” surely. Maybe next week’s reading will shed more light on that.
Today, we are discussing Chapter 2 of A.W. Tozer’s classic, “Pursuit of God.” You don’t have to read the chapter to stick around and chat! My co-facilitator, Jason Stasyszen and I would love to hear anything and everything you have to share! If you have written a response to this week’s chapter, please feel free to post the link in the widget below. Next week, we will continue with Chapter 2 (we’re spending two weeks per chapter this time around!) and the widget will be at Jason’s.
What are your thoughts?
About Sarah Salter
We all know you get up in the morning looking for something to worry about… 😉
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(Random use of ellipses for your reading pleasure.)
Everything I think I understand and know is nothing compared to Him. I must trust Him.
Yes, our roots grow into “things” and those things may not material in nature at all. Anything that competes with God will be uprooted as we know and cling to Him more, but it’s not lost. He is so good to give it back without its hold on our hearts. Amazing! Thanks Sarah.
Material things are a tangible way people find validation and significance. Unfortunately there is nothing of reality in a “thing” and it leads to more accumulation, suffocating the real need of our spirit. When we touch the living God through our spirit we can find the enjoyment of God and realize our central purpose of living to Him. In this ongoing process we are gradually transformed into His likeness. The world still has it lure of things, money and status to tempt us from experiencing our growth in Christ. It is a process that takes a lifetime to be purified and have the person of Christ living through all parts of our being.
Great post!
Thank you for sharing.
I love Tozer’s The Pursuit of God.
Dusty, thank you for sharing!! (Especially the ellipses…)
🙂
Jason, I kept wanting to use the word “idolatry” in my post, but I didn’t want to slide any further into speaking “Christianese.” But that’s exactly what we’re talking about here… About putting other things on the throne of our hearts instead of GOD being on the throne of our hearts. Well, now I’ve gone and done it. I’ve stepped fully back into the “Christianese.” LOL! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me, Jason!
Kathy, the immediate scripture that came to my mind as I read your thoughts was that we shouldn’t lay up treasures on earth, where moths and rust and dust can destroy them. We should lay up our treasures in Heaven. I’ve heard it said that we should “keep the main thing, the main thing.” But really, “the main thing” isn’t a thing at all. It’s a person. It’s Jesus. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks, Robbie! 🙂
I struggle with stress and worry a lot too. I never thought of that struggle in light of the theme of this chapter. Hmmm, worth a re-read.
I didn’t think I was into “things”. I don’t really go after them. But when it came time to choose to get rid of some things, my worldly heart was exposed.
This is a challenging book for me, and I’m very grateful to be going through it in order dig up that root, as Tozer describes, so that I can pursue God without holding on to anything else.
Frank, it was almost like neon signs to me as I read: “Fears. Worries. Selfishness.” I’m kind of glad we get two weeks to discuss the chapters because I think I need more time to process this one! 🙂