The Upside-Down Kingdom of God

In the world, fame & fortune is everything. Success should be your driving force. Busyness equals importance. Identity is found in your social status, bank balance, job title, and/or address. Security comes in the form of dollar signs.

We are told expensive vehicles are the obvious choice for a Christmas gift. We are told relying on medications is “health care”. We are told happiness comes through the next vacation, a particular dress size, or just the “right” dining room décor.

Scripture (Ecclesiastes 1 & 2) tells us this is all “Hevel”. Meaningless. Fleeting. Chasing after the wind.

Even still, somewhere along the way, we “drank the Kool-Aid”. Our constant exposure to “the things of this world” (1 John 2:15-17) changed our thinking. It changed our values. It changed our priorities.

The world is built on an “I, me, my” philosophy. It places value on all the wrong things. We know this because the Lord tells us in Isaiah 55:8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways."

So what are God's thoughts? The answer can be found in the Word of God as scripture always answers scripture.

Here are just some of the Biblical principles in the upside-down Kingdom of God:

·       Truth over emotions (2 Corinthians 5:7)

·       Surrender over control (Luke 9:23-24)

·       Quietness over busyness (Mark 6:31)

·       Stillness over to-do lists (Psalm 46:10)

·       Savor over rushed (Psalm 34:8)

·       Intention over tradition (Mark 7:6-13)

·       Silence over gossip (1 Timothy 5:13)

·       Listening over being heard (James 1:19)

·       Serving over being served (Mark 10:45)

·       Quality over quantity (Mark 12:41-44)

·       Simplicity over opulence (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

·       Discipline over self-indulgence (1 Thessalonians 4:4)

·       Perseverance over doubt (Galatians 6:9)

·       Hard work over convenience (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10)

·       Relationships over being right (2 Timothy 2:23-24)

·       Patience over manipulation (Psalm 37:7)

·       God’s word over self-help books, reels and news stories. (Psalm 1:2-3)

·       Daily bread over wealth (Matthew 6:11)

·       Discernment over algorithms (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

By the world’s standards, these principles are foolishness. 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 tells us, "you should become 'fools' so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight." We are promised, “anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25). An upside-down directive. Losing to gain.

The ultimate example of this upside-down Kingdom? Through Christ's death (& resurrection), we gain life. "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die" (John 11:25-26).

This upside-down way of thinking does not come naturally to our fallen nature. It requires intentional effort to “not conform to the pattern of this world” (Romans 12:2). We are called to something deeper, something lasting. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

By choosing to approach wellness through the world's way of thinking, we are trusting our health and well-being to a broken system. A system built by medical conglomerates who are driven by the principles of an "I, me, my" world. A system of symptom management and "a pill for an ill" instead of prevention and healing. When we expect a quick fix, rush through our days without truly considering our emotional, physical, and mental well-being, and/or neglect the upside-down Kingdom of God, we are "conforming to the pattern of this world". We have taken the Creator out of creation.

This is what the Lord says -

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

"I am the Lord your God,

who teaches you what is best for you,

who directs you in the way you should go.

If only you had paid attention to my commands,

your peace would have been like a river,

your well-being like the waves of the sea."

Isaiah 48:17-18

The principles of the upside-down Kingdom are life-giving as they are God-honoring and God intended. He is where true health and well-being originates.

It is time we transform the way we think of health and wellness care valuing Kingdom principles over the “pattern of this world”. By doing so, we will experience peace "like a river" and "well-being like the waves of the sea".

Juniper & Oak Wellness Co. is changing the standard of care trusting in the sufficiency of Scripture and our only true hope, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:1).

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26