The Powerful Paradox

Funny how a paradox makes no sense when you first hear it, and then it makes all the sense in the world when you take the time to understand it.

“Without laws, we have no freedom.”  “Practice moderation in all things, including moderation.”

“We sacrifice, so we might have gain.” “We have learned from history that we do not learn from history.”

“The more you know, the less you know.”

Paradox:

a statement that appears to be nonsensical or contradictory, yet it teaches a profound truth

God’s Word is full of paradoxes. Some people use this fact as a reason to deny God. If the words appear confusing or contradictory from a human point of view, they choose to not accept them.  Thousands, millions have learned the power of God’s paradoxes. These ideas  teach us and challenge our simple human thinking; they require us to think more carefully about what He is saying to us.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9

“G. K. Chesterton defined biblical paradox as ‘truth standing on her head to attract attention.’ Paradoxical statements arrest our attention because of thei r apparent contradiction—and motivate us to resolve the contradiction by learning and reflection.” (The Backward Wisdom of God)

Many ideas baffle our minds when we first read the Bible: How can one God be Three? If the God of the universe is creator and all-knowing, why would He create people with a free will, especially if He knew ahead of time that some of us would reject His love? In fact, we can’t understand God’s thoughts without His power teaching us.

Perhaps the paradoxical idea that bugs us the most is the concept of sacrificial living and giving:

“This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”  Matthew 19:30 (Message)

Being other-minded brings self-worth.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”  James 4:10 (NLT)

Humility brings honor.

“Remember that our Lord Jesus said, “More blessings come from giving than from receiving.” Acts 20:35 (CEV)

Giving brings us life.

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the heathen lord it over them and that their great ones have absolute power? But it must not be so among you. No, whoever among you wants to be great must become the servant of you all, and if he wants to be first among you he must be your slave—just as the Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life to set many others free.” Matthew 20:25-28 (Phillips)

A servant heart brings freedom.

Why are these so challenging to us? What is it about sacrifice that is hard to swallow? I’m thinking it has a lot to do with self.

I recently read The Touch, a novella written by Randall Wallace who wrote the screenplay for Braveheart, and directed We Were Soldiers and Secretariat. It’s a great read—with love, mystery, altruism, and some techy-geek ideas. It left me with that warm-fuzzy feeling at the end. Through the storyline Wallace teaches a God paradox: Give to receive. The “gift”. Give without recognition. Give in secret. In return, receive a sense of self value.  I’ve been very blessed to witness this giving, this servant-heart in unique friends and family over my lifetime. These people are some of the most satisfied, content, self-confident, faith-filled people I have ever known. Why?

When I was reading a sermon by Elaine Stedman, the wife of one of my favorite teachers, Dr. Ray Stedman, I found the answer.The sermon, “The Dignity of Servanthood“, reveals the plan that God has to bring us worth and purpose and peace with ourselves:

“He who was God, emptied himself, humbled himself, became obedient unto death, even death on a cross, the most degrading form of punishment. This he chose to do…In this supreme act of Love, God teaches us that authentic submission is not reluctant nor grudging…

Our chosen, deliberate, voluntary, love-initiated response to someone’s need is an act of worship to God. A free heart is one discharged of self-concern by the confidence that a loving Father-God is in control of all circumstances…

A spirit thus freed can respond, rather than react, to others. A strong sense of personhood comes from self-forgetfulness, rather than self-absorption. We find ourselves in losing ourselves, because we were made to serve God, not ourselves.“

“As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another. For the whole Law is summed up in one commandment:
Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14