Plans for Prosperity

Jeremiah 29:1 NET

The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles Nebuchadnezzar had carried off from Jerusalem to Babylon. It was addressed to the elders who were left among the exiles, to the priests, to the prophets, and to all the other people who were exiled in Babylon.

Jeremiah 29:4–14 NET

“The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says to all those he sent into exile to Babylon from Jerusalem,‘Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and allow your daughters get married so that they too can have sons and daughters. Grow in number; do not dwindle away. Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.’ “For the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘Do not let the prophets or those among you who claim to be able to predict the future by divination deceive you. And do not pay any attention to the dreams that you are encouraging them to dream. They are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so. But I did not send them. I, the Lord, affirm it!’ “For the Lord says, ‘Only when the seventy years of Babylonian rule are over will I again take up consideration for you. Then I will fulfill my gracious promise to you and restore you to your homeland.For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers.When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul,I will make myself available to you,’ says the Lord. ‘Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,’ says the Lord. ‘I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’

Today is an often overlooked holiday in the life of the Church. It is Christ the King Sunday; A day instituted by Pope Pius XI in response to what he perceived as the growing secularism of his day. Pius noted in a letter that the feast day would call all Christians to remember that Christ has been given power over all of heaven and earth, and celebrate that Jesus sits on the throne of the universe.

So, of course, every year on the final Sunday before Advent, the assigned Scripture for the day is something that seems to suggest otherwise. Last year, the options ranged from preaching Christ as crucified, to the impending destruction of God’s chosen people. This year, folks who follow the Revised Common Lectionary are reading a text about what will happen when Christ sits on the throne, which looks nothing like the present, and here we are with the Narrative Lectionary text telling us about how to survive in exile.

It’s hard to believe that Christ is indeed sitting on the throne of the universe when we look at the state of the world. Disease, flood, famine, and drought continue to plague much of the global population. For those lucky enough to be free from those immediate horrors, the threats of war, terror, and disaster loom large. And those who submit to the teachings of Jesus don’t appear to be any better off than the rest of the world. [Give Specific Current Examples]

Such was the case for the people of Israel when Jeremiah wrote his letter. They’d been cut off from their home land; from their Temple, where God was thought to dwell among them. Those lucky enough not to be killed by the Babylonians were carted off to Babylon to live as hostages in the best of cases, and slaves in the worst.

And then Jeremiah speaks up and makes everything all better. No wait, not better; much worse. He tells the people of Israel that they’re not getting out of Babylon any time soon. Actually, much to the contrary, he promises that everyone alive when his letter is written will die in Babylon, as will their children, and an as-yet-unborn generation of Israelites will be the ones to finally see freedom. Thanks a lot, Jeremiah.

He then continues with a set of instructions from God, and they are strange. There’s nothing in there about building up a resistance force or fomenting rebellion. No strategy for liberation. Rather, he sends them instructions on how to live in harmony with their new neighbors. “Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity,” he writes, “Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.”

This call to pray for peace is a loaded instruction. The world used doesn’t just mean “peace” in the sense of “not war.” Peace is rather wholeness. Completion. The possession of both physical and spiritual resources sufficient to one’s needs. (ADB) In order to work toward peace in the city, the people of Israel have to go beyond not rebelling. They have to become active participants in the life of the city, and do everything they can to benefit their new home.

And as they are doing so, they need to give up waiting for miraculous deliverance. God may have had their ancestors live in tents for forty years, ready to move to the promised land at a moment’s notice, but that’s not to be the case with this generation. No, they are instructed to settle down. Build houses. Plant gardens. Have children. Live their lives, not just surviving this latest setback, but thriving in their new surroundings.

When things seem to be getting bad, Christians have a tendency to ignore these instructions. Actually, the worse the world gets, the more people of faith tend to withdraw, and start telling each other that if we just hold on a little bit longer, Jesus will come back and set everything straight.

In reality, we ought to heed the message of Jeremiah. The Reign of Christ won’t be instituted in some mystical exchange of power while Christians cower in fear. It will be made evident to all through our adherence to God’s command. When we let go of the fear that’s holding us back, and begin to seek wholeness for all those who live where we do. When we stop longing for some future perfect world, and start building that world where we are. Christ is already seated on the throne. We who are his subjects need to do a better job of following his command.