The Wealth of Nature

        “He is richest who is content with the least, for contentment is the wealth of nature.” – Socrates

So I was thinking about Genesis 11 the other day, and the story of humanity building a tower of confusion – a tower of Babel, which would “reach into heaven”.  On the one hand the people’s struggle was with pride, “Let us make a name for ourselves”.  But I think there’s another aspect that we can overlook if we’re not careful: the people’s struggle with discontentment.   

For much of human history, the world was thought to be flat with a dome-shaped firmament/sky around it.  Imagine a snow globe, and you have the right idea.  Many ideas flowed from this concept, such as that stars were “leaks” in the firmament where light was shining through.  That would also explain rain as water leaking through the firmament.  And when we’re standing on the ground looking up, it doesn’t really look all that far away.

Perhaps the people wanted to build into the firmament, and then on “into heaven”.  

But why would they want to do that?

To reclaim something that was lost in the Fall?  To earn their way back into the constant presence of God?  If I’m honest, there have been times when I’ve been “homesick for heaven” – where all I wanted to do was go and be with Christ.  And I’m not the only one either.  In his letter to the Philippians Paul wrote about his own internal conflict – “I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” (see Phil. 1:21-26)

Have you ever wondered why God confused the people’s language at Babel?  

It’s not like they would have actually built a tower into heaven.

The easy answer is that it was to address the people’s pride, but I wonder if it was more than just that. 

Perhaps a part of the love-motivation was to encourage the people to get back to living their lives, and to be engaged/fully-present where they were.  

I think we all have a sense of longing for a restored, un-fallen creation, and that in itself is not a bad thing.  The problem comes when we seek to escape from this life and its challenges rather than doing our part to “bring heaven here”.  

Paul drives home the point when he finishes his earlier statement: “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.” (Phil. 1:25-26)

Perhaps we underestimate how God wants to use us now, in the present.  Perhaps we’ve seen Him work in the past, and perhaps we trust Him to move in the future, but each of those can feel far removed from today.

It reminds me of the insights C.S. Lewis shares in the Screwtape Letters:

“Tempt them to dwell in the unchangeable past,” urged the senior demon tempter, Screwtape.  “Or to dread the uncertain future; but by all means, let them not focus on the present, for that is the most like eternity.”

By contrast, consider Joshua’s exhortation to “Choose THIS DAY whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15)

One of the reasons I love this passage is that it can equally apply to us each day and each time that we read it.  Each day is an opportunity to choose whom we will serve.  Today is your opportunity to choose whom you will serve.

When we choose to serve God (in love), and serve others (in love) we can experience the satisfaction and fulfillment from the Spirit of God that brings true contentment.