11/30/2019
Do we do trust in God to provide for us when we are called to do His will? Do we find ourselves reluctant to proceed on because the earthly cost is just too high? Sometimes even the most saintly people find themselves reluctant to walk away from a precious thing they have come to value. They lose sight of the fact that God gave them all they currently have, and that if they will obey Him, the Lord will not abandon them to poverty. He is able to give many times the amount they might lose... if He so desires.
“And Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?" The man of God answered, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this."”
2 Chronicles 25:9 ESV
In this verse we read that Amaziah had paid a hundred talents to hire a hundred thousand “Men of Valor” from Israel. In other words he paid hard earned money for an army of mercenaries from what, at that time, was a country that was not with God. But, when his own man of God, who was advising him, told him not to use such men... he faltered. Amaziah was having a hard time letting go of his money without getting something in return for it. Then the man of God reminded Him that God is able to replace far more than what he was giving up.
Have we ever found ourselves reluctant to do God’s bidding, or answer His call, because it meant walking away from something we treasured? When we were tempted to keep our valued possessions, or comfort, rather than listen to God, did we behave like the rich young ruler when Jesus asked him to sell all he owned, or like Amaziah who listened to the man of God, and did the right thing?
“Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:21-23 ESV
Many of us trip over far less than a hundred talents. When confronted with a choice between following our own desires, or obeying God, we choose our selfish idol of gold. Isn’t it true that we say easily, and assuredly, that we will always choose God over all else, but when it comes right down to making the choice... we wrestle hard with the decision?
One day a man was driving down the road when he came to a stop at a street corner where he saw a Poor indigent soul sitting slumped over in rags with his face in his hands. The man in the car felt the call of God, and was told to open his wallet, and give this poor man money, but all that he had was a single twenty dollar bill. So he wrestled with the decision, and finally decided that if he had several smaller bills he would have given the man one, but the twenty was just too much, and after all... it was all he had at the moment; so he went his way without doing God’s bidding. As he drove on he consoled his guilty conscience by saying to himself “next time I will have a dollar bill, and give it to him!” So...The indigent man had no meal that day, and went hungry, while the man in the car missed the blessing that God had intended for him. Missing a meal for the one meant a slight stomach ache, or that he would need to use his credit card for dinner that night, but that one meal for the man on the corner meant that he would succumb to starvation during the night.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'”
Matthew 25:34-36 ESV
Have we ever found ourselves to be like the man in the car? Have we ever placed our treasure above God’s will? Obeying God doesn’t always mean giving up money; sometimes it might mean being kind to someone who annoys you, or perhaps leaving home to go into the mission field.
“"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21 ESV
So... are we ready to obey the will of God in deed, and not just voice our empty willingness? Are we prepared to do rather than just say? Is our desire to enter into the kingdom of God... or just impress those around us? Can we give up a meal, or a treasure here and now in response to God’s will so that a feast, and perhaps an amazing treasure will await us for our obedience? What will our decision be?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your specific will for me, and for folding it into the tapestry of your eternal plan, and all-inclusive will. Father, thank you for calling out to me, and for whispering your desires into my waiting ear. Help me Father as I wrestle against my own selfishness while struggling to place your desire for me above my own. Hear my voice as I agree to do your bidding, but far more than this... see my actions as I respond to you. Give me the courage to abandon my treasures in full confidence that you will provide for me Lord! Strengthen my faith, and help me in my unbelief. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who asks me to give, and then provides many times more than what you have asked of me. Praised be your Name, praised be Jesus Christ, and your Holy Spirit, for leading me to follow you, in obedience to your will, and Word. Merciful are you my God who sent His Son to reach out to us who were sinners by your grace. All glory is yours Father, and in your will it is realized.
Rich Forbes