Spiritual Brokenness!

“…The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise….” Psalm 51:17

There is a tremendous amount of Christian people who are living complacent lifestyles –lifestyles that hang in the proverbial balance between spiritual productivity and spiritual corruption. These are typically the people we see from week to week in our congregations with the kind of talent, giftedness and other ability that would make a great impact upon ministry production. These are also the people who can’t seem to find a committed place of consistency in their spiritual development.

I find it very interesting that the Apostle Paul, in 2nd Corinthians 4:6-7, termed our personal productivity [light] as “…Treasure in earthen vessels….” Our “treasure” being the God given talent, giftedness and abilities beyond His Word stored within us [the earthen vessel]. The reason I find this passage interesting is because “earthen vessel”, in this passage, literally means a “Jar” (or container, jug, bottle, etc). In other words, God has placed HIS treasure (His Word with our giftedness, talents and other abilities) in you and I: “earthen Jars.” The problem in many cases is that “jar” has yet to be BROKEN!

Brokenness is a spiritual demand that has gotten lost in the whirlwind of current day Christian “sensationalism.” There are so many who judge their Christian experience on human feelings, only never to gain a sure hold on the truths necessary for impacting spiritual production. Brokenness, from the Psalm 51 text that we’re using for this lesson, is something that our God delights in. Interestingly enough, however, it is also something that is completely sacrificial, which essentially means that it will productively hurt us.

The Hebrew word for “Broken” in our text is the word, “shabar” (shaw-bar). It has four different Hebrew connecting roots which means, to burst into pieces, to destroy, to break forth, to bring to birth, and to tear. It also carries an active root that means to expect with hope and patience. I love the inferences of this word in relationship to this passage. It essentially says to us that our God delights in our jars being destroyed! Why? Our brokenness has productive value – it means that something beneficial is coming out of the pieces of rubbish. It means that something will be brought forth and birthed! WOW! Are you ready to have a spiritual baby?

The passage goes on to plead of God to, “…Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion ….” In other words, our brokenness (which is our own sacrifice) is USED by God for His pleasure and benefit to other people in our immediate surroundings [Zion ]. In this (as the passage continues in Psalm 51) is our righteousness [the sacrifice of our brokenness] pleasing to God!

Saints, it is GREATLY imperative that we allow for the breaking of our lives to release all of the treasures that God is waiting to use within us. The health of our communities will depend on it, our churches will depend on it, our homes will depend on it and our own lives will depend on it! When will you become BROKEN for God? When will you cease from your living mediocrity to break forth into new exploits for God?

“…The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner…whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder….”

Luke 20:17-18

Grace & Peace,
Roc