Spirituality at 35,000 Feet: Our Part of Control

                                      

                                                                    (Zircon Incusso - FreeDIgitalPhotos.net)

If we conclude that a God is in control of the universe, does that then lead us to disengage from thoughtful efforts at home, at work, in our own spiritual lives? Paul does not seem to give us that out:

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your faith with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.- Philippians 2:12-13

There is this strange reality that is at work here, a paradox for a paradox is resolved only in the mind of God.
We are called to work out our faith in accordance with God working in in us. I am not allowed to just throw my hands up and say, "God is in charge - what can I do?", because God's Word clearly says that we have a part in the work of transformation. To delve into how spiritual transformation occurs at the soul-level is a topic that we do not have the space to address here, but at the core we want to emphasize that God wants us to be a part of the change in our own lives, and in our world for that matter. Thus, while He is in ultimate control, He gives to us a portion of what we might call sub-control. In the same way, Christ is the supreme Shepherd and Christian pastors have often been called "under-shepherds" to Christ.

What do we therefore conclude? We are to use our control 1.) to the glory of God (Colossians 3:17), 2.) in accordance with our gifts (Romans 12:3-9), and 3.) to bless others (Galatians 6:10). Our gifts are never for self-aggrandizement - they are for the edification of others and to honor God.  So use your control in a Christo-centric way, in step with the Holy Spirit, and you will use your control in the correct way.

Let me close by noting that finding a balance between trusting God's sovereignty in the world and using the control He has given us is a challenge indeed. This side of Heaven we will rarely find and hold on to that balance. But I would emphasize that I find the most Spirit-led people, the most God-honoring people I know - if they err, they err on the side of letting God be in control over having their own control.  He is One who will never fail us, and if our interest in letting Him control is not to shirk our responsibilities, I believe He will honor that heart.

- tC