Valentines VS Lent and the Man Who Gave Up Greed

The calendar has played a trick on us this year. It places Lent on the day before Valentines. This could be a problem for some people because chocolate always ranks very high on the "what people give up for Lent" list. In fact, last year's annual Twitter list has it at number 2. (Ironically or sarcastically Twitter itself was number 1.) If your sweetheart loves chocolate for Valentine's day but vows to give it up for Lent... what to do, what to do? Let ole Cos help.

With all the ecclesiastical authority I have in my position, I declare that you do not have to give up chocolate for lent! There are two caveats to my pronouncement. One is unless you really want to and the second is if chocolate is standing in the way of your relationship with Jesus. In truth, I would say this about anything you chose to "give up" for lent. With that in mind I invite you to join with me for the next six or seven weeks for a weekly devotion during Lent leading up to Easter.We will take a glance at men and women from the Bible who gave up something, obviously not for Lent as that didn't fully develop until the eighth century, although as early as the third century, preparations were observed to prepare for baptism and to grasp more fully the meaning of Easter by the early church. And if we are very honest, we will see that the focus of these men and women was not the "giving up" of something so much as the "taking up" of new life and the liberties in living it. Done right, Lent then becomes so much more about the "taking up" than the "giving up." Take a look from Luke 19...

Zack was short. Period. In a world that honors, elects, promotes, and prizes height, Zack got the short end of the stick. He made up for it by hard work, ruthless ambition, and amazing shrewdness. O yeah, he ruined nearly every human relationship he had ever had. But he was rich beyond imagination. He was also powerful in his industry, which happened to be corporate law specializing in take-overs. What Zack lacked in height, he made up for in arrogance. At 44, he was also miserable, he just didn't fully know it.

He decided to go a shopping mall. He hadn't been to a shopping mall in what, ten years? But, his partnership was thinking about buying it, so he hopped on his Learjet and flew to southern California to check it out. This was a task someone about 150 executives below him usually did but he thought he'd do this one himself. Besides, he had seen on Facebook that Jesus was going to be there. He'd heard about this Jesus. He had read about the sermons and seen the videos on Youtube. Compassion, healings, wisdom that rocked Hollywood and Washington, pretty amazing stuff. For some reason Zack was drawn or being drawn to this Jesus and besides, prime real estate in southern California ain't bad either. So off he flew.

The mall was insanely crowded. Good location but no location seemed to work to see Jesus. He went upstairs to the food court and got a coffee at Starbucks. He was used to better. He saw a spot by the escalator and wedged his Brioni suit in the crack and leaned over the railing. He saw Jesus coming. He was moving from the Dillards end toward the Sears at the other end. He was laughing, touching, being touched, engaging in conversations. He didn't understand but he began to cry. In a few moments Jesus would be gone past his perch by the escalator and that fact left him sad. He had no clue why. Just then Jesus stopped, looked up, and called out: "Zack, Zack!" He looked right into the eyes of Zack, no He looked into his heart and said, "Zack,  come down here, I need to go to lunch with you today." Zack ran down the up escalator as fast as his size seven and one-half Burlutis would let him. Jesus welcomed him with open arms. Choking back the tears, Zack said "Lord, I'm giving half my fortune away and will pay back everyone I cut and cheated with interest." They went to lunch. Zack bought. He never felt taller.

So Zack gave up greed and took up reconciliation. Could this happen by just seeing Jesus? If you ever met Him, you wouldn't have to ask. During this Lenten season, is there anything standing in your way of being reconciled to your God or your fellow man? Let it go, let it go and watch your spirit grow taller by the minute.

Lord, Grant that we may give up anything that keeps us from knowing You and serving You. May this and all seasons not be about what we give up but what we take up in response to Your Love.

Cos