To Those Scattered
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen. 1Peter 1: 1
A fisherman turned disciple turned apostle turned writer. His first audience he wanted to reach were those who had been scattered, who had dispersed—yes due to persecution, but nonetheless so. They had no place to call their own, no culturally acclimated lives any longer. In a day of “forever homes” and “dream homes” and matriculating through life with the end goal of security absent of gospel scrutiny, the great apostle of the church had nothing to say or write to these people. Why? They are precisely not the person or the people Jesus hones in on. Why should he? They are fine in their own strength, labors and efforts. The pride of life adorns them.
“May the Lord reward your work, and may your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Ruth 2:12)
Scattered Living
Ruth chose to become a dispersed woman, scattered. She could have done what Orpah did and returned to safety, to her familiar, culturally normal path and life. Instead she chose scattered and used a person not prosperity as her valuation metric. Peter and John could have done the same with their fishing businesses. They used the Person Christ Jesus as their valuation metric. Scattered living is circumstantial, literal. It’s not about feeling scattered. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It’s about living scattered but in complete and utter confidence, peace and security in Christ. Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. (Heb. 10:35)
Some 1,300 years prior to this letter of Peter’s, Boaz spoke this to Ruth as she made her move toward him, as she revealed her intentions to him. Boaz, a portrait of Christ, was resting while Ruth was working for his affection and attention. As someone with no home, who was scattered in life, did not have it all together, was widowed, along in age, she focused her attention on one man. She fell at his feet when Boaz took notice of her and declared her reward would come from the Lord. Falling at the feet of Jesus who is now resting in heaven, as it were, our the true Boaz, the Redeemer, is the position of eternal prosperity at the expense of temporary luxury and sufficiency. It absolutely does not look like a commercially branded life; it will not come with security and secure retirements. Aren’t these good, responsible things? Yes. But they are the rewards themselves.
Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. (Mt. 6:1)
Righteousness accepted by and defined by people, even church people, even Christian people, the Christian people of the church, will be noted by them. They will use words like, “good stewards of finances” or whatever other euphemisms for serving self and Mammon arise. To incriminate you or I would be to incriminate themselves. The praises of men are cautionary signs. They will call you and I good as our lives look exactly like the world’s and theirs. Stay churched and morally behaved with some good works to pad the old spiritual resume, and sainthood awaits. But still, you have no reward with the Father. These are the rewards in and of themselves.
Many people, both in and out of the church, both Christ claimers and haters, have accumulated their rewards through their own “responsible” and respectable living aka self-soothing, self-comforting mini-episodes of success. They have gained their lives very clearly and are visibly very happy about it. Losing their lives for Christ’s sake is nothing but a metaphor, a mystical-spiritual thingee of sorts but certainly not an actual or literal thing. This is where spirituality suddenly and conveniently has nothing to do with body. Their rewards are better off as digital symbols in Chase, Bank of America, Credit Unions, perpetual retirement checks, regular church attendance mixed in, mortgages, properties, investments, experiences, excursions, and personal expressions, none of which emulate the pages of the Book.
Bottom line: there is a direct correlation between and connection to secured living and scattered living and eternal, heavenly rewards. Each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (1 Cor. 3:8) The one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. (Heb. 11:6) Make no mistake about it: I, like you, have probably built a life of personal gratification, one customized to be personally rewarding. But this needs to be redirected with rigor until we become confident and comfortable in scattered living. Here, it is certain, God will have more labor for us, more impact through us, and great effect on others by us. Remember Orpah, who left the scene in chapter one of Ruth to return to her comfortable way of life instead of staying with Naomi? She disappeared from the plot. So we, too, disappear from the plot of the kingdom in and through us by returning to comfortable, cultural living even as we maintain good gospel posturing. By insisting on financial security and cultural normity, each and every hour and dollar is the reward. It will not leave this earth, and it will not have any trade value in eternity. As Moses did ,
Consider the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of this world; look to the reward. (Heb. 11:26)