“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:15
The people of God have come into the land. Moses has died, it is a new day, and Joshua is their new leader. It has been a forty year journey from Egypt through the wilderness and now across the Jordan to their new promised home. They have come to Shechem, that ancient city where long ago their ancestor Abram build an altar and first called upon the name of God in this land that God had showed him.
Joshua and the people of the exodus have come here to renew the covenant God had established with father Abraham. Joshua recounts for them the mighty deeds of God in delivering them from slavery in Egypt and defeating the enemies that they encountered along this journey. Now, it is time to make a choice. It is time to re-up, to recommit, to rededicate themselves to the covenant God made with them, or to make another choice.
There is always a choice. Joshua proclaims that he and his household choose to serve the Lord. Others may find that undesirable or at least less desirable than some other option like serving themselves or serving another god. Martin Luther is credited with saying “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your god.” Accordingly, whatever our hearts cling to and confide in, that may be what we serve. It may be wealth or desire for more wealth, accomplishments, intellect, and reputation, some movement or philosophy of life, or some other human leader to whom we affix our hearts and dreams. There are many gods to choose from. The choice is made not once, but repeatedly whenever a choice is made. In our choosing, who we will serve?
Recognizing all that God promised them has come true and all that has been given them has come from God, Joshua chooses where his heart will cling and confide. I imagine there were moments for Joshua, as there are for all people, when the temptation and opportunity came to choose another god. Covenant renewal is necessary because we fail. Covenant renewal is necessary because we want to begin again. Everyday is a chance for covenant renewal, for making another choice, maybe a different choice, and then practicing that choice in who and how we serve.
As we enter this stewardship season, I ask that we all consider our choices. Who is the God we serve? How do we allocate our personal and communal time, talent, and treasure and what do our choices say about the God we serve?
Grace and peace,
Fr. Bill+