Matthew 5: 43 - 46 NKJV
I've had a few discussions lately with different people about blessings. Not surprisingly, I've gotten more than a few different responses when I have asked them to define or to describe the blessings they've received. Well, one person claimed that it is because of her own goodness to others that God has blessed her. Yet another said that his daily scripture reading and tithing have brought him into the christian reality of the "haves." That is, those who have been abundantly blessed by their heavenly Father. When I listen to these people tell of how richly they have been blessed, I always ask that question which seems to always have them stumbling for an answer. So, if you, being righteous, have been blessed by God for your behavior, how is it that He has cast His blessings on the unrighteous as well. Usually I will get a blank stare when I ask that question. So, how is it that God would so richly bless one who is so blatantly unrighteous? Well, to that question I have a simple answer. Because He is God. It's as simple as that. Not only that, who am I to question He who provides the blessings in my own life? What if I don't receive enough? What if He is late in His provision? Are we to suddenly place human characteristics upon God and assume that He is somehow withholding His own blessings out of spite? I don't think so. Yet this is exactly what so many people do each and every day. There was a time when I would become angry with God when I thought that I deserved more from Him. I mean, we've all thought that we deserve more blessings at one time or another right? After all, we're christians and we deserve so much more than those other non believers! But there's a catch to that line of thinking...God doesn't work that way. He never has. Take Job for instance. By the authors own admission, we are told that this man Job was blameless and upright, a fine example of a Godly man if ever there was one. Then Jobs life was thrown into a tailspin as God "allowed" satan to aflict His servant with trials. Job lost his fortune and ultimately his family while the God he served seemingly stood by and watched him suffer. Through all of his troubles, one thing Job never did was cast blame upon God.
2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,3knowing that the testing of your faith produces apatience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1: 2 - 4 NKJV
It's funny, but whenever I bring up the example of Job to those who question Gods provision they often give the same response that Jobs friends did, that Job somehow had done something to anger or upset God? Really? How is it that this man who was well known for being righteous could have offended God? We're not told of any of his iniquities in Gods interaction with satan. In fact, it is God who inquires of satan "have you considered MY servant Job?" By all accouts, Job was the last one many christians would consider to receive such treatment from God. Then we ask ourselves, if God would do Job like that, what will He do to me in my own iniquities? Is nobody save from the vengeful hand of God? Well, before you go condemning yourself remember that God NEVER once allowed tragedy upon Job out of revenge for his own bad behaviors. Believe it or not, this is the cornerstone to understanding the haves and the have nots. All too often we filter Gods actions through our own human understanding, which is precisely the wrong thing to do. Our God of the new covenant is not the God of fire and brimstone we see in the old testament. Christ Jesus put that to death at the cross. The new covenant we now live in is one where we are surrounded by the love of our heavenly Father. In fact, it is He who lives through us today {Galations 2:20}. We do well to remember that there is NO partiality with God. Therefore, there are no have and have nots. There is simply our heavenly Father lavishing His love and provision upon His creation. Trust me, our Lord knows exactly what we need and He will never withhold that which gives Him joy to provide. Who am I to argue with that?
“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32“For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.He knows we need them. 33“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 5: 30 - 33 NKJV
~Scott~
No comments:
Post a Comment