Why do we do what we do? What is the purpose or desired result of our life, our job, our day? Have you ever tried to learn something new from someone who could not answer the “whys”? That drives me crazy!
When I first began to learn credit analysis, everyone seemed only interested in teaching me how to calculate ratios, payments and interest yields. I struggled to understand all of numbers and formulas being thrown at me. Then, I had an opportunity to attend Commercial Lending school and the instructor made the statement that the numbers tell the story. “You have to get them to talk to you.” That I could relate to. I much prefer a story to a bunch of numbers. What I learned that week was the purpose of the numbers, formulas, ratios and calculations was to tell the story. From that day forward, I’ve loved working with numbers.
So back to our question from last week; what is the desired result of his divine power, glory and goodness in our lives?
In the verse that proceeds the formula we discussed last week for effective and efficient living, two words get my attention; so that. “So that” sounds to me like a prelude to an answer to a why question. Why do I go to work everyday? so that I can pay my bills. Why do I calculate a debt service coverage ratio for a loan applicant? so that, I know they can pay their bills.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Here’s my proposed answer; the desired result of effective and efficient living is participating in the divine and escaping the corrupt.
Participating in the divine. The formal definition for divine is “godlike”. The informal definition is extremely good or unusually lovely, as in chocolate is divine! (Isn’t it?) Participating in extremely good and unusually lovely things sounds like a good way to live to me. It also reminds of a scripture in Philippians, Chapter 4 that provides an excellent list of divine things to participate in; honest words, honorable plans, right decisions, pure motives, lovely thoughts, admirable actions, excellent and praise worthy work. The adjectives are directly from the scripture. I added the nouns to help us think about things we participate in; our words, our plans, our decisions, our motives, our thoughts, our actions and work.
Avoiding the corrupt. Galatians 5:19 tells us the results of corruption are very clear. Judging by the behaviors listed there I would say the results are not E2; quarreling, outburst of anger, and selfish ambition. I’ve never seen any of those result in the divine!
2 Peter, Chapter 2, discusses more corrupt behavior and the results. It starts with the "big ones", like sexual immorality and false spiritual teachers. But notice a few of the others included in this passage: they make up clever lies, they despise authority, they are proud and arrogant, they brag about themselves, they are well-trained in greed. My friends and I have names for people like this! 2 Peter calls them useless, which is an antonym of effective.
No one ever acts like this at my house or office. Oops, I just typed something about honesty, didn’t I.
I don’t know about you but the longer I write, the more I ask; “is this desired result possible?” Let’s pick up there next week.
Thanks for listening,
See you next Sunday,
Ronda
One more thing for your “to ponder” list, does he demand this result from us or does he desire this result for us?
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