Kingdom
“The Kingdom of heaven is like…"
- Jesus of Nazareth
Apparently, the monarchy is alive and well. Most estimates target global viewership of Prince William’s recent nuptials at about 2 billion.
2 billion! Over 25% of the world’s population!
Okay, at least 2 of my daughters and my wife (tape delay) watched the royal event. We definitely factored into those numbers, but it is still pretty staggering. There is an incredible amount of focus on the royal family and the events of their lives.
This sort of kingdom, however, stands in clear contrast to the one most of the people I run with talk about.
A recent podcast I heard differentiated the two this way:
- Man is at the center of the world.
- God is at the center of the Kingdom.
It couldn’t be said much more clearly than that. I’ve also heard it said that the difference between the Kingdom and the world is that one seeks to make much of God and the other seeks to make much of man. That is why the royal wedding is such a conundrum. It is about a kingdom, but the small “k” variety. But it seems like the world is way more interested in that one than the one I am interested in learning more about.
The Kingdom of heaven is like...
- …a treasure hidden in a field
- …a householder who brings out his treasures
- …a landowner hiring laborers
- …a man who sought to settle accounts with laborers
- …a man who sowed good seed in his field
- …a man going on a journey entrusting his possessions
- …a king giving a wedding feast for his son
- …a dragnet cast into the sea
- …leaven in bread
- …a mustard seed
Every depiction is of abundance and typically for the good of others. There is enough (more than expected really) and all are cared for in the process.
This depiction often flies in the face of what is experienced and even talked about in religious circles. There is competition, scarcity, and the sense that there never seems to be enough. They seem to be suffering under a poverty mentality even as they are seeking to address the literal and spiritual poverty of those they serve. There is a lot of fear, concern, and a sense that the battle is being lost.
One of the greatest deliverables of our coaching from a Kingdom mindset is that hope is restored. When we paint the picture of nobility, possibility, and the probability of things changing in this sort of direction, we literally see hope rise.
Fresh air seems to fill lungs and leaders seem to sit taller at the mere inference. This perspective is loaded with hope, promise, and the expectation of better things to come. It also comes with a good bit of assault.
As hope and expectation start to rise in you...
As you start to focus on the Kingdom and the abundance it offers...
There will be plenty of others trying to convince you that it doesn’t.
And you will be assaulted by a world that reminds you of the same.
But Matthew encouraged us to go with Jesus' message: “As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.’"
Consider
- When you think of the Kingdom, what is it like?
- Is that the prevailing worldview of your day-to-day?
- Do you feel like an alien in this world as you better understand your citizenry is in a Kingdom?
- How would focusing on the Kingdom and the abundance Jesus purports to change the way you live?