Lent Day 8: Giving Up

Lent is a practice, or a season, that has long been associated with the concept of “giving up.” In my college days, my peers would begin asking one and all, 

“What are you giving up for Lent?” 

The answers given would comprise all kinds of rich goodies—chocolate, sweets, etc. Red meat, too, often made the talked-about list. Yet true lent is not merely about giving up fleeting pleasures or sensual indulgences for 40+ days before Easter.

Although, for the most part, the general populace approaches the concept of giving up with a worldly mindset, allow me to humbly submit that our precious Savior’s generosity is nothing shy of giving up. 

Paul addresses it in this way:

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, 

who, being in very nature God, 

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

but made himself nothing, 

taking the very nature of a servant, 

being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, 

He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross! 

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place 

and gave Him the name that is above every name, 

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

to the glory of God the Father.” 

–Philippians 2:5-11, NIV 

What can we learn from the Master's example?

Christ, who is God Himself, did not view Himself above the practice of giving up. In fact, His example encourages us to prayerfully consider how, what, where, and when we might give up. On occasions, I have heard people mention prayerfully skipping lunch throughout the Lenten season, saving the money they would have spent on it, and donating the money to missions. Others have prayerfully chosen to empty their cupboards, pantries, and closets whereas yet others give up monetary gains. 

This prayerful and mindful approach was recently made evident to me through my friend, Sandra Meyer, who recently blessed me with the thought below:

" . . . Giving up something that we normally do or love -- fasting from it for six weeks or so -- can remind us completely of how dependent we truly are on God for everything. Sometimes it is fasting from complaining that show us how truly helpless we are without God. Perhaps these are just baby steps in complete surrender to God, and yet they may be necessary ones at some point. Definitely just giving up something to say we are giving up something for Lent is not the point; yet even there, with the most mixed of motives, I would not be surprised to see God take that and begin a transforming work. Who knows?!"

Who knows, indeed?

We do know for sure that God is in the business of transforming little into great, miniscule into significant, unholy into holy. It is His joy to redeem our flimsiest attempts into glorious feats for His Kingdom. It is therefore quite likely for Him to take our season of giving up and turning it into a lifelong surrendering of anything and everything that vies for our allegiance in opposition to our total worship of Jesus -- the only One who saves, the only One who reigns. His name is worthy to be praised.

"Jesus, Your name is power,

Jesus, Your name is might,

Jesus, Your name will break every stronghold

Jesus, Your name is life."

-- Extracted from Jesus, Your Name, 

Morris Chapman and Claire Cloninger 

Giving up like Christ manifests itself when we lay down every single one of the privileges we have long upheld. If one miniscule “perceived right” remains untraded and withheld from God, it has the potential of growing into a monster ready to devour our hearts.

As we pray, let us ask the Lord to reveal to us what He might want us to give up today. His Word tells us to give up: 

-  the right to prioritize ourselves (Phil. 2:3-4)
-  the right to gossip or slander (Prov. 16:28; 2 Cor. 12:20) 
-  the right to take revenge (Rom. 12:19-20)
-  the right to indulge our lustful habits (Matt. 5:27-30)
-  the right to express our sexuality in ways that contradict God’s plan (1 Cor. 6:18-20) 
-  the right to complain and murmur (Phil. 2:14) 
-  the right to fret (Matt. 6:25-34)
-  the right to spend our money however we please (Lk. 9:57-58) 
-  the right to understand God’s plan before we obey (Heb. 11:8)
-  the right to conform to the world and fit in comfortably (Rom. 12:2; Gal. 1:10) 
-  the right to do whatever feels good (Gal. 5:16-17; 1 Pe 4:2) 

Grace invites us to give up our rights because our Lord has done a thorough job in our defense, helping us realize that this season of giving up is but a reminder of the invitation Christ sends to one and all:

"Come to Me, beloved!
Come and love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength!
Come and love your neighbor as you love yourself.
Come and cast all your cares upon the Lord.
Come and empty your pockets and barns, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, serve the widow and orphans.
Come and release your offenders, forgive those who have wronged you, put the interests of your family/friends/foes above your own, extend grace and peace to everyone.
Come and fast from any thought, word, or deed poised to elevate your agenda above the Word of God.
Come and rest in the finished work of the Cross."

Guide our eyes and feet and hearts and knees and hands, O Christ.
Help us come to You willingly and joyfully!