Two plus two equals four everywhere except the kingdom of God.
Those who follow Jesus for very long know that God’s additions, subtractions, and multiplications differ from mortal math.
In Matthew 19-20, we find people struggling with foundational questions of this upside down kingdom of God.
The Pharisees try to wrap their heads around the question of HOW the kingdom functions as they inquire about divorce.
The disciples discover they don’t understand the question of WHO the kingdom of God is for when they shoo away toddlers.
A trustafarian attempts to understand WHAT the kingdom requires of him and grieves Jesus’ response.
Jesus teaches WHY the kingdom of God is so hard to enter when you’re weighed down with material concerns.
Rocky (aka Peter) raises the question:
“Look, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?” (Matthew 19:27)
Cut to the core, bare bones, stripped down, Rocky asks:
What’s in it for me?
This question resides deep within the recesses of the hearts of Jesus followers everywhere.
We rarely say the question aloud, let alone as straightforward as Rocky.
When tough circumstances thwart our lives, our bank accounts, our professions, our families, our futures, we pause and wonder:
What’s in it for me?
The reality that following Jesus won’t make us richer, thinner, smarter, or more famous can be hard to swallow especially if someone tricked us early on with false promises and untrue premises.
Maybe they hid the truth from you that the One we follow was fileted open and pinned to a tree.
Why would our lives look any different?
The path of downward ascent is a painful one, indeed.
Yet Jesus affirms that those who give up their possessions to become God’s possession receive a mighty reward + eternal life.
The kingdom of heaven is like a sidewalk full of day laborers, some who put in a few minutes, others long hours under the sweltering sun.
When all are paid, the workers discover “What’s in it for me?” isn’t what they expected.
Unfairness, anger, destructive thoughts, and jealousy emerge.
They didn’t realize the field they crossed into, a magical place where two plus two never equal four.
Often we don’t realize it either.
We want two plus two to equal four, until we discover that God is exponentially more generous.
Jesus nudges us, again, toward the understanding that maybe God math is better than human math.
But before our economics lesson is done, we find a pushy mom asks for special seating for her boys. The 10 disciples who eavesdrop on the conversation become as indignant at the sunburnt vineyard workers. They’re red hot mad.
Again, Jesus explains kingdom economics. Two plus two doesn’t equal four.
Eyes, ears, and hearts must be opened for the disciples to understand. Like a holy exclamation mark, Jesus heals to blind men. Perhaps then the disciples will see and recognize. Perhaps then we will see and recognize.
That deep down inside none of us really want two plus two to equal four.
If 2 + 2 = 4, then we close the door to…
God’s grace
God’s generosity
God’s love
God’s forgiveness
God’s peace
God’s joy
And so much more…
When 2 + 2 = 4, then …
Everything depends on us.
We’re constantly negotiating with God.
We become weighed down with rulers and measuring sticks.
Our lives are stifled by the comparison trap.
We can never be enough, do enough, perform enough.
Today, I’m grateful for Jesus’ invitation into His exponential kingdom.
Margaret, where are you looking for your reward?
My heart shuffles among a grieving man who wishes Jesus would let him keep his pocket change, day laborers sweaty from long hours, and disciples edging for better seating.
Father, help me to let it go. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
