Money and the Prosperous Soul: Tipping the Scales of Favor and Blessing by Stephen K. De Silva

Author:Stephen K. De Silva [De Silva, Stephen K.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: ebook, book
ISBN: 9781441213778
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2010-08-31T14:00:00+00:00

6

Bound in Spirit

And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am

on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing

what will happen to me there.

Acts 20:22

Courage is the first of human qualities because

it is the quality which guarantees all others.

Winston Churchill

We often call people of courage “heroes.” Cultures throughout the generations have sought heroes to answer the human hunger for meaning, and our generation is no exception. We feel our need for heroes as much in their absence as in their presence. When a society finds it difficult to identify individuals who give us glimpses of the nobility of which humanity is capable, it begins to starve for lack of meaning. And hopelessness, cynicism and lawlessness creep into society and eventually take hold.

Paul identified the source of these hunger pains when he said:

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Romans 8:19–21, NKJV

Futility means “without purpose.” Paul is saying that the purpose of everything in creation hangs upon our purpose, which is to become sons and daughters of God who rise as Christlike heroes on the earth. As I explained in Chapter 2, Jesus is the Desire of all Nations, though the nations do not yet recognize Him as the Hero for whom they hunger. We are called to introduce others to their divine purpose by walking in our own – call it evangelism. Until we “arise and shine,” not only we, but also the whole world, will suffer for lack of value and meaning.

In light of this high and holy calling, the aspects of training in Christlikeness we have explored thus far – wrestling with our God-given identities, breaking free from lies, taking risks to restore dreaming, learning to carry abundance – take on their true heroic dimensions. And as genuinely heroic tasks, they require courage. We must always associate the virtue of courage with a prosperous soul. Yes, a prosperous soul is a contented soul, one who knows how to enjoy good things, who can take rest and be at leisure, who can dream. Yet the prosperous soul doesn’t stay seated! Remember what my wise friend said about what comes after dreams: The “long arm of reality” has to reach for those dreams with wisdom, strength and determination. In short, a prosperous soul is courageous.

Where does courage spring from? Where do heroes get the power to make them larger than their fears? Consider this heroic statement from the apostle Paul:

Now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may

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