What does Reckless Abandonment mean to you?
- Utterly unconcerned about the consequences of an action!
- To leave completely and finally; forsake utterly; desert, give up control.
"A woman is not born a woman. Nor does she become one when she marries a man, bears a child and does their dirty linen, not even when she joins a women's liberation movement. A woman becomes a woman when she becomes what God wants her to be."
p.19-20 The New Lady In Waiting
Reckless Abandonment, as you will come to find out is about discovering what truly satisfies you and being COMPLETELY sold out to that cause! Therefore, in order to be recklessly abandoned to something/someone (God) and fully embrace our calling and destiny as daughters of the King we must be willing to forsake who we are and what we want, not caring about the consequences.
The Bible is full of stories in which people display their Reckless Abandonment for God. Therefore, in looking at this topic we will first look at the story of the Alabaster Box. What is so special about the box? In Bible times an Alabaster Box was given to a young woman when she reached marriageable age. That box was her dowry and essentially represented her future. Within the box it held an ointment, often refered to as "nard" and depending on the quality of the nard/perfume it would represent the families wealth and station in society. When a man came to ask for the hand of a young woman, she would take up her Alabaster Box and break it at his feet as a sign of honor. It is in the act of breaking her box that we will see a true example of reckless abandonment.
For this basis of this topic we look at two different accounts in the Bible in which there is a woman, a box, perfume, and an act of worship and honor. READ:
One was Mary of Bethany (Lazarus & Martha’s Sister)
was a “sinner” it is often thought that she was a prostitute.
The Bible is full of stories in which people display their Reckless Abandonment for God. Therefore, in looking at this topic we will first look at the story of the Alabaster Box. What is so special about the box? In Bible times an Alabaster Box was given to a young woman when she reached marriageable age. That box was her dowry and essentially represented her future. Within the box it held an ointment, often refered to as "nard" and depending on the quality of the nard/perfume it would represent the families wealth and station in society. When a man came to ask for the hand of a young woman, she would take up her Alabaster Box and break it at his feet as a sign of honor. It is in the act of breaking her box that we will see a true example of reckless abandonment.
For this basis of this topic we look at two different accounts in the Bible in which there is a woman, a box, perfume, and an act of worship and honor. READ:
One was Mary of Bethany (Lazarus & Martha’s Sister)
- Mark 14:3-9 & John 12: 1-11
was a “sinner” it is often thought that she was a prostitute.
- Matthew 26: 6-13 & Luke 7: 36-49
Mary of Bethany:
| Sinful Woman:
- Perfume to cover stench of her work - Cost of perfume = level of prostitute. - The alabaster flask she wore around her neck defined who she was and “what” she was. |
The whole idea of anointing feet represented service, discipleship, and love. Therefore, In a culture in which a woman’s touch was often forbidden, Mary dares to cradle the feet of Jesus in her hands and spread the oil across his ankles and toes with the ends of her hair. The "sinful woman" dared to enter a house in which she knew people would stare at her and get angry. However, these women were ALL IN!!! For each woman, their selfless act represented something different in regards to their own life.
[Mary of Bethany] Alabaster Box = FUTURE (letting go)
[Sinful Woman] Nard & Flask = PAST (giving up)
For these two women it wasn’t just about honoring who Jesus was, but sooooo much more!
Therefore, WHAT IS IN YOUR BOX????
RECKLESS ABANONMENT is NOT EASY!!! This act of such worship and surrender means letting go of all that you are and all that you hope to be as you surrender your life, past, and future to your heavenly bridegroom and your savior. Therefore, It’s not only an action……..its a lifestyle choice! The act of reckless abandonment in your life will make you get noticed by the people around you……..sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a negative light. Even the disciples, who knew what it was to leave everything they had behind and follow Christ, looked at what the woman did and said “Why this waste?” There will be people in your life who question why you do what you do, but the fact of the matter is that Jesus calls us to reckless abandonment!
[Mary of Bethany] Alabaster Box = FUTURE (letting go)
[Sinful Woman] Nard & Flask = PAST (giving up)
For these two women it wasn’t just about honoring who Jesus was, but sooooo much more!
- It was giving up who they were….who they wanted to be…..and surrendering it all to Jesus knowing that only in him could their life be fulfilled and complete!
Therefore, WHAT IS IN YOUR BOX????
RECKLESS ABANONMENT is NOT EASY!!! This act of such worship and surrender means letting go of all that you are and all that you hope to be as you surrender your life, past, and future to your heavenly bridegroom and your savior. Therefore, It’s not only an action……..its a lifestyle choice! The act of reckless abandonment in your life will make you get noticed by the people around you……..sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a negative light. Even the disciples, who knew what it was to leave everything they had behind and follow Christ, looked at what the woman did and said “Why this waste?” There will be people in your life who question why you do what you do, but the fact of the matter is that Jesus calls us to reckless abandonment!
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
- 2 Corinthians 9: 6, 13-15
Reckless Abandonment is a mindset that doesn’t care what the consequences are even though we know there will be many…….just as 2 Corinthians 4:9 states, we will be ”persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”. We know that we will face many obstacles when we choose to follow Jesus RECKLESSLY, however we have been given a promise that no matter what comes our way it will never obliterate and destroy us completely.......in every storm and battle we will still be left standing. Furthermore, as Reckless Abandonment means giving ourselves over to God's will for our lives, we should respond to his calling just as Mary responded to the Angel who told her (though she was an unmarried virgin) that she would bear a son and he would be called "Jesus." Mary's response was one of utter reckless abandonment to God: “I belong to the Lord body and soul, let it be according to your word” – Luke 1:38
Not only were the two women who broke their alabaster boxes, and Mary an example of reckless abandonment, but Ruth is also a HUGE example of what it means to be recklessly abandoned to Christ and his plan for your life! As many of you know the story of Ruth (if not go and read it), Ruth had just lost her husband, was a part of a family who believed in God when she was raised without a faith, and now her mother in law was moving. When we look at Ruth's story we see her example of RECKLESS ABANDONMENT in 3 areas of her life:
Ruth realized that if she wanted to follow God she could not remain with the Moabites (the pagan people from her homeland)……a people who didn’t believe in God. Ruth realized that in order to grow she must separate herself from people who hindered her growth and faith in God. Thus, just as Ruth left her old friends, sometimes we are challenged to leave behind those who weaken and turn us away from God, in order that we may fully grow! Leaving behind friends that hold us back from God is HARD......but that is what it takes to be recklessly abandoned to God. We all know that spending extended periods of time with people who do not believe the same things you do can undermine your growth in God. Therefore, Friends either drive you towards or away from God!
Do your close friends drive you towards God or away from him?
Now, this is not to say that you cannot or should not spend time with people who do not believe in God or are not very strong in their faith, for we are called and placed on this earth to be lights. However, the point is that we must wisely choose who we allow to influence us by the amount of time we spend with different people. The people who influence us should spur us on towards God!
Not only were the two women who broke their alabaster boxes, and Mary an example of reckless abandonment, but Ruth is also a HUGE example of what it means to be recklessly abandoned to Christ and his plan for your life! As many of you know the story of Ruth (if not go and read it), Ruth had just lost her husband, was a part of a family who believed in God when she was raised without a faith, and now her mother in law was moving. When we look at Ruth's story we see her example of RECKLESS ABANDONMENT in 3 areas of her life:
- Friends
- New Surroundings
- Faith
Ruth realized that if she wanted to follow God she could not remain with the Moabites (the pagan people from her homeland)……a people who didn’t believe in God. Ruth realized that in order to grow she must separate herself from people who hindered her growth and faith in God. Thus, just as Ruth left her old friends, sometimes we are challenged to leave behind those who weaken and turn us away from God, in order that we may fully grow! Leaving behind friends that hold us back from God is HARD......but that is what it takes to be recklessly abandoned to God. We all know that spending extended periods of time with people who do not believe the same things you do can undermine your growth in God. Therefore, Friends either drive you towards or away from God!
Do your close friends drive you towards God or away from him?
Now, this is not to say that you cannot or should not spend time with people who do not believe in God or are not very strong in their faith, for we are called and placed on this earth to be lights. However, the point is that we must wisely choose who we allow to influence us by the amount of time we spend with different people. The people who influence us should spur us on towards God!
Proverbs 13:20 “he who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
the idea of reckless abandonment goes back to the knowledge that people around you will exclaim “why the waste?” just like the disciples did. Sometimes it is the very people around us who believe in God and profess to be Christians that will challenge your reckless abandonment because they do not understand that God has called us to give up ourselves to him. Thus, our choices of deeper commitment could produce resentment from people who were once our good friends. Therefore, there should be evidence of reckless abandonment in your life as you openly and publicly break your box at Jesus feet not caring what others/your friends say! In order to live recklessly abandoned for God, always consider the ultimate influence your friends have.
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good character.”
Hebrews 10:24 “and let us consider how we spur one another on towards love and good deeds.”
New Surroundings:
In order for Ruth to grow spiritually she had to relocate. Sometimes our relationships leave us in a state of spiritual hunger, in which no matter where we are or what we do to get fed, we are always left empty and hungry for more. Just as Ruth left her comfortable surroundings, sometimes we have to relocate to new places in order to be fed and grow in Christ. Now, this is not to say that you have to move to a different town or state or country, but sometimes we might need to move to a new Church home if our present location is leaving us hungry for a deeper relationship with God. Therefore, sometimes we have to sacrifice our own wants and desires in order to grow in Christ and the best he has for us. Often times we become so comfortable with where we are (at our church that we might have grown up in) that we are not willing to relocate to be fed. Leaving behind the comfortable and going to someplace new is scary and hard, but if Ruth could move to a different town, than you can relocate too. Reckless abandonment in our surroundings is about living unselfishly in a self-serving environment.
In order for Ruth to grow spiritually she had to relocate. Sometimes our relationships leave us in a state of spiritual hunger, in which no matter where we are or what we do to get fed, we are always left empty and hungry for more. Just as Ruth left her comfortable surroundings, sometimes we have to relocate to new places in order to be fed and grow in Christ. Now, this is not to say that you have to move to a different town or state or country, but sometimes we might need to move to a new Church home if our present location is leaving us hungry for a deeper relationship with God. Therefore, sometimes we have to sacrifice our own wants and desires in order to grow in Christ and the best he has for us. Often times we become so comfortable with where we are (at our church that we might have grown up in) that we are not willing to relocate to be fed. Leaving behind the comfortable and going to someplace new is scary and hard, but if Ruth could move to a different town, than you can relocate too. Reckless abandonment in our surroundings is about living unselfishly in a self-serving environment.
"Unfortunately, our self-centered culture in the United States has penetrated the church so much that a young woman not only has to choose against the American culture, but sometimes against the more subtle, wordly Chrisitan subculture tainting the Bod of Christ."
- The New Lady In Waiting p.25
In our Reckless abandonment, it is up to us in realizing how much our culture affects our behavior patterns. A.W. Tozer once said: “a whole new generation of Christians has come up believing that it is possible to accept Christ without forsaking the world.” So often in our culture today it is the Christians that turn other Christians away from living a sold out life for Christ. We are called to be in the world but not of it, therefore the world should not be a lifestyle that penetrates our Church's yet it unfortunately has! Therefore, if you find yourself in a place that challenges your reckless abandonment for Christ and looks more like the pagan culture of Ruth's homeland, than you God might be calling you to change your surroundings?
“Ruth had to forsake the familiar and comfortable in order to receive the best for her life” p.25
Faith:
Lastly, Ruth moved from a false religion to the only true and eternal relationship! She chose to live a life of reckless abandonment in leaving behind a pagan religion and following the one true God. Therefore, we shouldn’t be afraid to grow in our relationship with Christ or be completely In Love with him and live it out in our life! God wants us to be so abandoned to him and in love that others around us can see it on our faces and in how we live our lives. Unfortunately, so often in our culture we engage in worship, but loose the ability to cultivate a vital and growing relationship with our savior. Our faith becomes a routine rather than a relationship and we loose its true connection and meaning in our life.
“Ruth had to forsake the familiar and comfortable in order to receive the best for her life” p.25
Faith:
Lastly, Ruth moved from a false religion to the only true and eternal relationship! She chose to live a life of reckless abandonment in leaving behind a pagan religion and following the one true God. Therefore, we shouldn’t be afraid to grow in our relationship with Christ or be completely In Love with him and live it out in our life! God wants us to be so abandoned to him and in love that others around us can see it on our faces and in how we live our lives. Unfortunately, so often in our culture we engage in worship, but loose the ability to cultivate a vital and growing relationship with our savior. Our faith becomes a routine rather than a relationship and we loose its true connection and meaning in our life.
Isaiah 29:13 “Their Worship of me is made up of only rules taught by men.”
Sometimes our relationship with God and the time we spend with him is a lifeless ritual rather than a growing relationship!
Truly we should seek to fall more IN LOVE WITH JESUS ever day!
When we sacrifice our own wants and desires for God's purpose in our lives and become Recklessly Abandoned to him, he will reward us. Matthew 19:29 tells us that "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifes or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." Ruth chose to leave all the familiar and live a whole new life. Because of this she received BLESSINGS in the form of a Godly husband and also became the great-grandmother of King David.......she was blessed because of her Reckless Abandonment.
Spirit influence me as you go before me, and advance me where my reliance and confidence are free from an extreme edge and at the LIMIT! Allow me to walk in approximate contact with the waters Lord, wherever you command, request, or invite me. Take me into the part of great intensity. Far more vast than my feet could ever go aimlessly or indirectly and through this my reliance, confidence, and trust will be especially able and full of vigor in the immediate vicinity of the one who delivered me from trouble sin and judgement.
Therefore, what is in your Alabaster Box? What do you need to break at the feet of Jesus and relinquish control of in your life in order to be filled and complete in Christ?
-Madison
Truly we should seek to fall more IN LOVE WITH JESUS ever day!
When we sacrifice our own wants and desires for God's purpose in our lives and become Recklessly Abandoned to him, he will reward us. Matthew 19:29 tells us that "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifes or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." Ruth chose to leave all the familiar and live a whole new life. Because of this she received BLESSINGS in the form of a Godly husband and also became the great-grandmother of King David.......she was blessed because of her Reckless Abandonment.
- When we choose Reckless Abandonment we will find ourselves out of step with society and even our friends.
- We must seek BOLDNESS and COURAGE!
- Living a life of Reckless Abandonment is living a life filled and complete in Christ!
- When we are not complete in Christ we look for completeness in the things of the world and this leads us down dangerous paths away from our Savior!
Spirit influence me as you go before me, and advance me where my reliance and confidence are free from an extreme edge and at the LIMIT! Allow me to walk in approximate contact with the waters Lord, wherever you command, request, or invite me. Take me into the part of great intensity. Far more vast than my feet could ever go aimlessly or indirectly and through this my reliance, confidence, and trust will be especially able and full of vigor in the immediate vicinity of the one who delivered me from trouble sin and judgement.
Therefore, what is in your Alabaster Box? What do you need to break at the feet of Jesus and relinquish control of in your life in order to be filled and complete in Christ?
-Madison