Jesus, Can I Get a Facial?

At the risk of sounding legalistic, I have to preface by saying this – I, me, Lora…. is being convicted of who owns what in my life.

I’m taking Amy Sherman’s class on “Rejoicing the City.” What you see as follows is an attempted summary of what I’ve learned from these classes.

The title of the series comes from Proverbs 11:10:

When the Righteous prosper the city rejoices.

Defining the terms:

The Righteous:

The typical concept of righteousness tends to lean toward moral fortitude. I avoid these sins and therefore I am righteous.

However, the term righteous in this verse (and else where in the Bible) has a more holistic and robust meaning. It is entirely moral, and yet entirely FOR other people. It not only concedes that the law is beautiful and God’s precepts good, but it moves outside of itself to assist other’s in their need (even a need that is “their fault” – for isn’t sin our fault?).

A righteous person loves God’s law and God’s word (goodness), but a righteous person also seeks to disadvantage herself for the advantage and advancement of others (humility).

Prospering:

Bill Gates comes to mind.

But again, the definition of prospering is so narrow and limited to self-comparisons to though far and above the average (like top 1% of America) that we forget to see the reality of power that is given us despite our financial state.

Even more so, in relation to those around the world who have dirt floors and have no idea what a computer is – I am prospering.

The questions that tell me so are these:

-Do I have meat for every meal?
-How many pairs of shoes do I own?
-Do I update my wardrobe (even with parental help which subsidizes me and make more money free for me to spend on other things)?
-Do I have food in my refrigerator that goes bad, and it doesn’t really matter?
-Did I complete high school and finish a college degree?
-Do I have money to travel, to get my nails done, to buy make-up, color my hair, get a facial?
-Do I have a community that supports me?
-Do I have a family that is well-to-do?

If I am honest with myself, in comparison with ONLY ME – I am prospering. And, it might be safe to say that if you are able to read this on your own transportable computer – then so are you.

The CITY

A clue to who the city is can be found in the verse following vs. 10. In Proverbs 11:11, it says this:

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

You can see from this, that the city does not appear to be in a place where the care for it is excercised primarily by itself. Instead, it is committed to the hands of those who are in power. So it is easier to say that the city is the people who lack control or power over themselves and their circumstances, but are at the mercy of other’s choices.

REJOICE:

In class, Amy pointed out that it seems odd that one group of people would be rejoicing at another group’s prosperity.

The typical response when someone does better than you is to pout, covet, judge or hurt them in someway. Though Christ does call us to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and mourn with those who are mourning, that call is not natural. We tend to mourn the advancement of others and delight in the devastation of others (at least it’s not me, right?).

BUT, the word for rejoice here is another ROBUST word.

IT can be most likened to winning a battle where you are VERY outnumbered and your odds and dim, the enemy is closing into rape, steal and plunder you – and all the sudden, you are rescued. You narrowly escape harrowing reality of enslavement and death.

The City, those who have no power over their circumstances – are singing, weeping with joy and dancing in the street because they have been victoriously rescued from enslavement, rape and death.

SUMMARY:

It should be clear by now that you and I are prospering.

The question Amy posed to me is whether I/you will also be the righteous.

When those people who disadvantage themselves for the advancement of others have power to help the city, the people without significant power to change their circumstance – are overwhelmed with joy to the point of tears because they have been rescued from devastation.