01/16/2019
Are we at war within ourselves? Is our family arguing and in disarray? Are we in constant chaos across the world? Why is this so, and what can we do about it? How can we bring peace and calm to ourselves and the world around us? The secret of course, is to turn to God, and allow Him to provide for us, and to let Him remove the struggling passions and greed within us. The solution is to lean on Him and be happy; to ask for His provision and be satisfied in it.
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.”
James 4:1-2 ESV
It seems that we are never satisfied with what we have in life. If we have a dollar we want two, if we have a home we want a larger one, if we have Loving children we want Loving and athletic kids. There is never an end to our wants... our greed. Yes... the word I used is greed.
My mother was born in a small one room log cabin with a tin roof that her father built on a rough piece of forested land in North Carolina. The cracks between the logs were chinked with mud and stone, and its foundation was on rocks at the corners. There were eight children in that family, and they all had to live there with their parents in the one room. My great grandmother and grandfather lived in an identical house a few meters away, and together these two men cleared the land by hand... pulling up the stumps with picks, shovels, and a couple of mules. It was back breaking work, and if ever a family had needs this was one that did... and for these they prayed.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.”
Psalms 121:1-3 ESV
Then as their land was slowly cleared and planted they needed good weather to water their crops, and defense against animals and disease that might harm them, and destroy what they had planted. They leaned on God, and Jesus Christ for provision. If ever there were farmers that had needs it was these... and the prayed.
“Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.”
Zechariah 10:1 ESV
My mother and her family had times when food was scarce. They had times when crops failed, and children died of diseases that had no cures... no medicines to treat them. They had days when suffering and sorrow were so intense that Job had nothing on them... and yet they prayed, and had faith that the Lord would see them through.
“Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?”
Job 38:41 ESV
This was a family that had wants and desires like any other, but their faith settled them. They lived in a world that would see war, and call their sons into the army, navy, and throw them into battle, but they met those times in prayer. In other words... they did not live in luxury, they did not live lives that were separate and unreachable from the world around them, they weren’t shielded from disease and pestilence any more than Job was... and yet they leaned on their faith. This family was also imperfect, and had struggles of faith, but their foundation was always Jesus Christ, and He called those that wandered back to Him... God provided for them in their best and worst of times.
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV
You would have expected my mother to tell me stories of her childhood hardship and hunger, and to compare their poverty with another’s bounty to motivate me to do those things in the world that would bring me success. You would have expected her to urge me to do whatever was necessary to succeed in this world so that I could have what others around me have, and to behave however necessary to achieve much... but she didn’t. My mother wanted me to be a success, but not if it meant abandoning my faith. My mother wanted me to have a house with many rooms, but not if it meant treating others poorly. My mother wanted me to be prosperous, but only if I remembered those in need, and left gleanings in my fields for them. These things settle the war within each of us, bring peace to our families, and will also give order to the world’s chaos. God’s Word, and His provision will solve all these things by allowing us to be satisfied in Him, and by treating each other in love and kindness... regardless of our personal circumstances.
“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.”
1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV
So are we leaning on God’s provision in our lives? Is what He gives us each day, regardless of how much or how little, enough for us? Do we find peace and satisfaction in His gifts to us? I hope we can all say yes, and let his presence in our lives be the healing balm for greed and the other passions that destroy us, our families, and the world. Wasn’t this the message of Jesus, and what we have been taught of Him?
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Philippians 4:19-20 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your provision, and for satisfying the needs I have in my life. I thank you for your Son Jesus who taught me to be a servant to you, and to my fellow man... giving drink to the thirsty, and food to the hungry, and all glory to you. I thank you Lord for allowing me to become your hands, and to reveal your heart to the world. Help me Merciful Father to bring all my troubles, needs, and desires to you, and not to seek their solution in the world around me. Help me Holy Father to set myself apart from the destructive passions that tear life asunder, and set one man against another. Teach me so that I can reach out across the earth with the powerful message that your provision is always sufficient for us, and that life with you is the root of our joy, peace, and happiness. Send Jesus to guide me home Father when I have wandered away, and let Him speak wisdom and knowledge into my life as we travel home together. Let my heart become as His, and my humility overrule my passions just as His has done in Him. Make my life calm and my desires yours because Holy, Holy, Holy are you my God of peace, provision, and spiritual prosperity. Great are you who gives me those things I need in perfect proportion, and feeds my soul with the food of your character. Praised be your name Father, and all glory be laid at your feet forever.
Rich Forbes