THE GREAT RICE BOWL COMPETITION

#2- Series-"Beware the leaven of the Pharisees!"

    Jesus' pet peeve was none other than the leaven of the Pharisees. The New Testament records thirteen times Jesus telling His disciples to "Beware the leaven of the Pharisees." They, knew what He meant, do you? In the following story, this toxic, hidden substance gradually takes over an entire community. It is a message for the body of Christ today. Can you tell how it happened?

           THE GREAT RICE BOWL COMPETITION 

   It all started very innocently, really. It hadn't rained in a long time. No one knew why until one day someone noticed a sign on a tree, "The rain god is mad; bring out another bowl of rice!"
Members of the community clustered around the sign and then scattered to their homes to collect bowls of rice to place at the base of the tree. There were different sizes, shapes and colors; but the next day there were still no rain clouds on the horizon.

   Then someone suggested that the rain god had preferences. In the past, the rain god seemed to operate best if the rice bowls were lined up a certain way. The people were relieved that some student of history remembered this fact and rearranged the rice bowls in the historically appropriate order.

        After awhile when there was still no rain, someone else suggested that perhaps the bowls themselves were the problem. Members of the community formed a committee to reflect on what it would take to make the bowls more pleasing to the rain god. What could it be that was withholding the blessing of rain? The committee met practically every day and finally finished its report. The report concluded that it was both the size and the color of the rice bowls but more likely the fact that there just weren't enough of them that offended the rain god. No one was sure yet which color or what size or how many would bring the favor of the rain god, but they decided to experiment to find out.

   The committee named themselves the Great Rice Bowl Committee. A place on this committee was the crown of prestige in the community. The Internet was abuzz with their names, and whenever a citizen of the community saw a member of the Great Rice Bowl Committee ( hereafter designated the GRB Committee or simply The Committee), he stared wistfully at him wishing he, too, could have a place on The Committee. After all, it seemed that The Committee knew what the rain god liked and what he didn't. They "knew" things that the regular members of the community didn't know, particularly the secrets of The Committee's inner sanctum, which involved the next program on the agenda to try pleasing the rain god.

            Soon the members of the GRB Committee decided to please the rain god with an event. The Committee proclaimed that on a certain day there would be an event called the Great Rice Bowl Competition. Whoever made the best bowls in the greatest number and in the color the rain God preferred would win. The reward for winning the favor of the rain god would be a seat on the GRB Committee. Now any citizen of the community, even one who had been previously marginalized and thus unknown would now be able to advance to a coveted place of prominence in the community on the GRBC!

   That was the day the once peaceful community exploded into a frenzy. The members of  the community divided into clubs. Each GRB Committee member had his own club filled with members who were dedicated to producing rice bowls according to the wishes of their favorite member of The Committee. Each citizen of the community wrestled with the decision regarding which club to join. It was a hard choice because a community member could raise his standing in the community by joining the "right" club. The word on the street was that it was dangerous not to join a club. One might not be seen as a team player or trustworthy because he wasn't in a club. Besides, how would he hope to communicate with the rain God if he wasn't in a club?

   The clubs took names corresponding to the shape of their rice bowls to differentiate themselves: Square, Round, Oblong, Hexagonal, Trapezoidal... Each club challenged the others by increasing its goal. The worker in the club who could make the most rice bowls - for the rain god- would win an intra-club award. Preparing for The Great Rice Bowl Competition occupied everyone's time almost exclusively!

   Then someone had the idea that perhaps it would please the rain god to have Great Rice Bowl Factories, particularly if having fewer bowls than another club would increase the disfavor of the rain god. Each club had its own factory which produced as many rice bowls as it could, after its kind, in the manner the club believed would best please the rain God. Within a short time, The Committee issued a proclamation:  Everyone was required to produce his rice bowl in a factory if he wanted to compete. It was easy to tell which bowl came from which factory because each factory had its own style and also its own stamp.  (The GRB Committee members, of course, did not need to make rice bowls so they were exempt from this rule.) Each committee hired marketing executives to publicize the glories of their particular shape of rice bowl in order to attract more club members who would then make more rice bowls.

    Everyone wanted to please his or her favorite member of The Committee. Clusters of club members grouped around their favorite committee member learning all they could about rice bowl manufacturing, but more importantly, about how to function on the committee if they happened to win the competition.

   All this was not cheap. The community poured funds into their rice bowl clubs to support the Committee members and their respective factories. One could only dream of having his own seat on the Great Rice Bowl Committee and his own club to do his bidding.

    The Committee members had everything now: prestige, power and the money with which to buy anything they wanted personally, but especially to build more factories. Now when they walked down the streets of the community, everyone bowed to them and greeted them with their titles: Great Bowl Master of the Rain God. Although it still wasn't raining, no one seemed to notice.

   Finally the day arrived for The Great Rice Bowl Competition. Who would win? Which club would finally see the rain fall out of the sky and into their bowls of rice? The citizens of the community hadn't been able to sleep.That morning each citizen of the community gathered with his or her club to display their rice bowls to the community and present their rice bowls before the rain god. Any club member could win. His corresponding club would receive a prestigious award. Imagine being the Committee member whose factory and rice bowls actually caused the rain to fall! Their rice bowls would become the receptacles for the rain guaranteeing them eternal prestige and unlimited funds.

   A hush fell as the members of the The Committee walked in front of each elaborately crafted display. The Committee members whispered to each other, pointed to different bowls and cocked their heads knowingly as if to suggest their favorites, sure that the rain God would affirm their selections.

   The moment arrived. The judging was finished. Now the members of the Great Rice Bowl Committee prevailed upon the rain god. Their voices thundered loudly and vibrated in a distinguished manner as sweat appeared on their brows. After a awhile, they stopped.

    That's when it happened. Suddenly, lightening flashed, thunder cracked and a voice from above laughed and said,

   "I am not now and never have been a rain god!...And I don't eat rice--much less in bowls."

   The entire community quaked in shock! This divine revelation was almost more than the community could stand! The Great Rice Bowl Competition had all been for nothing. The rain god, or whoever He is, wasn't concerned about the color, the shape or even the number of rice bowls anyone produced! By then it was clear: The Great Rice Bowl Committee didn't know any more about what He wanted than anyone else! They ran to their homes to hide. That was when the community abandoned the clubs, the factories, the Committee and the notion that God wanted bowls of rice. It wasn't long before the Great Rice Bowl Committee dissolved. 

   Everything went back to the way it was before the community first noticed the sign on the tree.

            Then it started raining--on everybody all at once!
   Now the community lives harmoniously without the Great Rice Bowl Committee. 
   (However, a BOLO (be on the look out) has been issued for information leading to the arrest, capture and conviction of whoever posted that blooming sign on the tree in the first place!)

******

   




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It's About Your Smell

     Is your idea of ministry full of effort? Are you using expressions like "pull down" and "press in" to describe accomplishing a "spiritual" agenda? If so, what are you saying about  your relationship with God and even God Himself? A vocabulary that does not reflect the truth that His yoke is easy and His burden is light may even be a symptom that it is laced with the leaven of the Pharisees, and exemplifies another kingdom, one of your own making. It frightens the well-meaning saint into a turmoil of works such as 24/7 prayer meetings and long fasts with noble-sounding goals. But you cannot serve the living God with dead works.  Trust me, I know. I tried. At the end of that path was a dead end. I became weary and heavy-laden to the max! I had to repent, turn 180 degrees and go back the other way. It wasn't until I stopped trying that I found Him. 

The problem with all my masquerade of faux spirituality was that I was actually demonstrating a kingdom alien to His, while I ignored the real truth: His Kingdom was already alive in me and releasing Him to other people was "no sweat." As I gradually learned to cease spiritual striving, He lifted the cover for me on a walk of grace with Him. The walk of grace is hidden from the spiritual striver. I never meant to be proud, but I had to learn that walking with Him is born of a humble concept of my weakness and complete trust in His strength. 

    I remember studying in countless places in the Old Testament hidden prophetic shadows of the coming new Kingdom, operating under a New Covenant. One of those places is in the ceremony prescribed in the Old Testament for the consecration of the priests. Back in the day, that ceremony included stripping the priest, washing him with water, and then clothing him with priestly linen garments that would not produce sweat. The High Priest anointed him with blood and oil. Sounds very spiritual so far.

But then came the annoying part ---- waiting! Where? In the Holy Place, the doorway of the tent of meeting, in the tabernacle, representing the Presence of God, Himself--for seven days! In that compartment, just outside the Holy of Holies, rested the golden lamp stand made of one large piece of solid gold, which had been beaten into the form of a central pipe with branches resembling almond bulbs and blossoms. It was the only source of light in that room. A priest would pour the oil into a center shaft and it flowed into the other branches. Then he ignited the wicks in the tubes with a fire that came from the altar. When Jesus said, "Abide in Me and I in you as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it abides in Me," (John 15) These nice, Jewish boys, knew what He was talking about.

In the compartment where the new priest sat, the light of that lamp stand illuminated a table with twelve fragrant loaves of freshly baked unleavened bread representing the twelve tribes of Israel, who were then the only people of God. The altar of incense in front of the veil emitted a cloud of smoke from the burning of a unique recipe made of priceless compounds.  When they burned, the fragrance was "out of this world." There was no perfume on earth that could resemble that smell. The incense altar stood in front of the veil separating it from the Holy of Holies. That veil would be there until the day Jesus died on the cross. 

So then what understanding was the newbie priest to glean from 7 days of sitting there? Listen in on a conversation with God while a newbie priest gets a clue:

          "Lord, I love my new priest's outfit. It really sets me apart from everybody else! I've got my anointing. I'm all ready to start serving!" 

           "Where did you get that outfit? You didn't earn it, did you?" God chuckled as he saw the novice wince.

"No,  the High Priest gave it to me."

             "And how did you put it on? "

    "It was 'easy peasy;' I just raised my arms like I was giving up -- but you know this, don't you, Lord.

"Exactly, hold onto that thought. By the way, you don't know it yet, but you are still not ready. It's not about looking the part and just knowing the scriptures. And it's not about doing chores, either. You have to wait awhile! Calm down and get quiet."

"But I want to get started 'doing stuff ' for You," protested the young priest.

"You aren't ready. You need to learn to abide in Me. It's the only way to bear everlasting fruit."

          "But I have to plan the week and make some visits to pray for the sick, before I go to Intercessory Prayer!"

    "Shhhhh. Quiet!"

          "But ..."

          "You'll get it, if you wait long enough."

After a long while...

          "Why is it so dark in here?"

        "The only way to see is if I illuminate the place where you are! You can't serve me without seeing circumstances and people the way I see them. Just abide in Me!"

After another long while...

           "What's that smell?"

            "It's the sweet smell of my people resting in My Presence."

            "What people? I can't smell anything but incense."

A thick cloud of incense permeated the room.The newbie priest squinted until he saw twelve loaves of bread, lying peacefully on the table.

           "Oh, you mean the smell of My life burning in the fire of love for My People...Hang on. Wait awhile and you'll get it.."

Seven days later, after the new priest's frustration finally relaxed into peace, God spoke again,"Ok, you are ready to begin your priesthood!"

           "But Lord, I was beginning to love being with you in here. Besides, I can't do anything for those people unless I love them with your love. I can't see what I'm supposed to see, without You showing me. I want to live like this, in Your Presence...Can't we just stay here resting in your love?"

          "You are always welcome to rest with me. In fact, you must rest in Me.  It's where your real strength comes from. When you go out there, all I want is for the folks I love to catch a big whiff of that smell that has saturated into that linen garment you are wearing. They will know where you've been, and it will make them want to be with Me, too."

So before you keep on running to and fro about the earth trying to serve God in your own strength, sweating like any other human being and smelling like it, too, trust God enough to wait as long as it takes. It makes all the DIFFERENCE in the world!