Mama Bear Monday: Don't Waste Your Seashells

Mama Bear Monday: 

Don't Waste Your Seashells
Marissa Namirr, Gospel Gal

"I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider a story from the February 1998 edition of Reader’s Digest, which tells about a couple who 'took early

retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.'” 7:15-8:00

These are the words of celebrity pastor and writer, John Piper from his famous address, at Shelby Farms,  "Boasting Only in the Cross." His tone and idea smack of Wesleyan, Higher Life Theology and spiritual elitism: 
"The injection of a second work of grace into the Christian life also leads to a spiritual elitism on the part of those who have attained this 'higher life.' There is a subtle tendency to look down patronizingly upon those who have not had this experience." ( https://bible.org/article/wesleyan-amp-keswick-models-sanctification )

To be clear, the context of the quote has Piper comparing a life of self-sacrifice on the mission field with a life of a "waste" reflective of success and ease, collecting seashells in Florida. He is pleading with a crowd of thousands, "Don't waste your life". Make it count for eternity. You can listen to the address here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XajXpH908Yg&ab_channel=DesiringGod

Now, to be sure, a life of ministry is a worthy and beautiful calling. I am grateful for the faithful, ordinary pastors and teachers in my life who have shepherded me and nurtured me in the Gospel. Our pastors are literally God's gifts to His church, so I do not presume to minimize their value to the Christian Church. However, Piper, apparently deciding that alternative journeys are wasteful, seems to minimize the doctrines of vocation and providence. (Read Gene Veith on this topic.) Success is measured by God. Christians live for the glory of God and serve His divinely ordained purposes in all kinds of vocations. The career path we take is not indicative of a "higher life" or a more or less sanctified one.  Anywhere a Christian is using his talents to serve God and others, anywhere and any time a

Christian is a *Christian, he *is in full-time Christian service. We are members of a body that function in coordination and collaboration with one another ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A12-27&version=CSB ), and we live in a world where we function as salt and light, as God has designed ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A13-16&version=CSB ). We serve in these ways, not only in the "radical", "sold-out", "full-time Christian service" arena, but on the ordinary, mundane, day-to-day paths where God leads us. 

Of God's divine providence, the Catechism reminds us, "we can have a firm confidence
in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from his love; for all creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they cannot so much as move." His providence leads and directs and "moves" us in the area of vocation as well. It is in living an ordinary life that the Christian finds God's calling for him. We are exactly where God wants us. He gives us the desires of our hearts, directs our paths, and gives us gifts and abilities. We can live and die, boasting in the cross of Christ while dying on a foreign mission field, washing dishes and changing diapers, crunching numbers, repairing automobiles, or even collecting seashells in Florida.

It is the Lord's providence that has led to this time and place, and it is no tragedy to enjoy those seashells, which He has made. John Calvin said it well. "There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice." God has given us all things to richly enjoy and it is glorifying to Him to enjoy what He has made, giving Him praise. 

Remember the cross. Remember that Christ has lived, died, and risen for you. He intercedes for you and He is directing your path. Trust Him. Love Him. Love your neighbor and do good to them in His vocations for you. He makes no mistakes and your life is part of His story. Rest assured, He is for you wherever you are, whether in the ordinary day-to-day patterns of life or on some radical mission.

In 5 Minutes in Church History: "Luther on Vocation", Reformed theologian Michael Horton sums it up well. "...we don’t have just one; we have a bunch of callings, Luther said... 'You have no one to pacify anymore.' Everyone was so anxious and spent all their energy, ... climbing their way to heaven. Well, we don’t have to. God has climbed down to us. Now what do we do? We love and serve Him by loving and serving our neighbors."

So, don't waste your seashells. Sing about them. Praise God for them. Tell your neighbor Who made them, Who made You, and Who gave Himself for us. Love. Do good. Enjoy God's good gifts. We can work and play assured of His kindness and calling, as we rest in His providential, Fatherly love in every situation and all the time.

Listen to the Youtube episode by the same title here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY5lqrzePk0&ab_channel=Marissa

Recommended resources mentioned in the episode:
1. Ordinary by Michael Horton

2. God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life by Gene Veith