Dean's Desk UPDATE
CHRIST OUR SUFFICIENCY
We don’t always get what we want. In the middle of the current economic tailspin we all know
that is the reality. The road of life has many obstructions, detours, valleys, traffic jams, irritations,
flat tires, dark tunnels, dead ends and storms, and thousands of disappointments.
In such moments we may ask questions like, “Why, God? Why do bad things happen to me? Are
you really there? Do you care about me?” Many people may ask similar questions in this economic crisis.
John the Baptist also had moments of doubting and questioning: “Are you the one who was
to come or should we expect someone else?” (Mat. 11:3).
Paul, while in the midst of adverse circumstances, wrote to the Philippians, who were
going through their own sufferings and trials. In his concluding comments to the Philippians, he speaks
of learning to be content in every situation (Phil. 4:11). The Greek word
translated “content” (autarkhV) carries with it the meaning of “self-sufficient,
adequate, needing no assistance.” But Paul is not calling the Philippians to recognize their own abilities
and competence and deal with their difficulties through old self-reliance. Paul states, “I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me.” (4:13). It is Christ who gives us strength, It is Christ who empowers
us, gives us the ability to deal with trials. He is sufficient. He is able to face the pains, evils,
and hardships we encounter. He strengthens us to deal with life and all its difficulties.
Paul calls those who consider themselves self-sufficient to repent and find their
sufficiency in Christ only. To have faith in Jesus does not mean we pretend that bad things are good.
It does not mean that we fail to acknowledge our deep needs, pains, hurts, and frustrations. To have
faith is to see ourselves as we are—frail, hurting, crippled people whom Jesus died to heal, to restore
and to strengthen.
We learn by experience that pleasure and pain produce very different results. Sometimes
the presence of pain in my life has a practical benefit of sanctifying me. God works in me through affliction.
As uncomfortable as pain may be, the Scriptures tell us again and again that tribulation is means by which
we are purified and driven to a deeper dependence upon God. There is a long-range benefit to us that we
would presumably lose were it not for the pain we are called to endure for a season.
Now what about the problem of pleasure? Believe it or not, pleasure can be a narcotic
and seductive; the more we enjoy it, the less we see our dependence upon God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Pleasure can be not so much an angel in disguise as a devil in disguise to lead us into ultimate ruin.
That’s why we must be extremely careful, practically speaking, in pursuing too much pleasure lest we lose
sight of our ultimate need for the mercy of God.
The Gospel is not insight for living; the Gospel is not tips for living. The Gospel will
have effects upon how we live our marriages and how we rear our children, but that is not the Gospel. The
Gospel is Christ crucified for sinners. That is what the Gospel is. The Gospel is outside of you. Outside
of you is an ugly portrait of a crucified Christ with blood, dirt, filth, shame and pain. The Son of God
bearing your sin, your shame, your poverty, and all of your weaknesses has nothing to do with how you feel.
The Gospel is outside of you! The importance of that is that so many of us are used to
thinking that the Gospel depends upon how I feel on any given day. So the Gospel is for me when I feel that
it is, and when the Gospel doesn’t seem to be for me then God is against me. The Gospel is not based upon
your feelings! The Gospel is not something that is based upon your changing moods. The Gospel is outside of
you.
Regardless of how you feel, Jesus can meet all of your needs. He alone is sufficient. He
is enough even in this economic crisis.
Daniel K. Yom, Ed.D.
Academic Dean
E-mail:
dkyyom@cgsot.edu
