There are a couple of scriptures I think we need to revisit for this subject. The first is Luke 16:19-25:
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:”
“And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,”
“And desiring to be fed with the crumbs from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
“And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
“But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
OK, before you start talking about the rich man should have helped Lazarus out some – yes, we all agree on that, but that is not what this particular article is trying to emphasize.
The first thing I want you to see is, unlike what prosperity preachers try to throw at you – that if you become a Christian you will have health and wealth and all good things will come your way. Lazarus was the Christian in this story, I know that, because when he dies he goes to Heaven. What did Lazarus have when he was on this earth though? The answer is: not one thing other than possibly the clothes on his back and a cup of some sort to beg with.
What did the rich man have? Apparently everything his heart desired. The scripture says that he dined sumptuously every day!
In other words, the rich man was so prosperous that he folded into his own world, uncaring about the need of anyone, but most importantly, where any of his wealth came from.
The second scripture we need to revisit is Deuteronomy 8:10-14:
“When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.”
“Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day;”
“Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and has built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
“And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;”
“Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;”
You are going to tell me that this was for the Israelites, that this doesn’t apply to you. It applies to Christians because we are the children of God, so let’s do some paraphrasing:
When you as a Christian have been given blessing so numerous that it is hard to count them, when you have plenty of food, and you have multiple possessions, and money in the bank, do not forget who enables you to get out of bed in the morning, to have the ability and the strength to get up and go to work and earn the money that lets you be able to have this food and all these possessions – do not forget the LORD your God.
How does all of this relate to Christians living in a secular society (which is the theme of the entire blog series)? Society is apart from God, but over the past several decades the church has been having a tendency to go after the things of the world, rather than the things of God. Does your church teach the things of God, or is it teaching fables for truth? The comedian Flip Wilson paraphrased it in the 70s, “the church of what’s happening now”. Is that what your church is, teaching for doctrine, the philosophies of men? Get into God’s word and search out error for yourself. If it is there get away from it. Read II Timothy 2:15-16:
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
Don’t be like the rich man, that was more interested in this world, listen to God’s plea to his children and do not forget the LORD thy God.
AE
and continuing…
Are we easily stressed when things start to feel out of control? I am usually a pretty go with the flow kind of person, but there are aspects of my life that I like to feel like I’m in control of, and when that control starts to feel like it’s slipping I start to become upset. All of us have tendencies to want to be the one in control.
I like the feeling of having money enough to cover all the bills, living expenses, a few extras, and at least a little extra for a cushion of protection.
I like things in my home orderly and in the correct places.
I like when my children obey without complaining.
I like when my health is in a good place, and I like all my friends and family to be healthy and happy.
In other words I like feeling like life is being controlled in the way that I want it controlled. As long as we are going along and things are going well, we tend to say phrases like “God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.” And it is a wonderful phrase when we actually mean it.
Do we really believe that God is good when a loved one dies, when we are having financial struggles, when we are sick, or when we are lonely? Because of the brokenness sin caused in the world: life is hard. Every day we will struggle with some difficult task or hardship. It is inevitable. Can we give up our expectations of happiness being something that we achieve? Accept the reality that happiness is instead something our Father gives to us.
I heard an illustration years ago of a little boy whose father discovered him holding desperately to an item enclosed in his small hand. The father asked to see the item, and the child ran and hid in a corner holding his fist as tightly closed as he possibly could. The father lovingly took his young son in his lap, and pried his little fist open revealing a dead cockroach.
How often does God look down at us and find us holding on to some little corner of our life that we think we should have control over, and we are holding so tightly to our desire; he looks and it’s the equivalent of a cockroach in his eyes. God wants to build in us values, courage, honor, virtue; and we hold on to pride and selfishness as if they are our lifelines.
The funny thing is when we refuse to give up control it’s just an illusion. We aren’t in control even when we pretend to be. Imagine the peace that could fill our lives if we would stop the pretense, and just hand it all over to God and leave it in his hands. Let’s let Him have all of our lives and stop holding on so tightly to the cockroaches.
We can trust God to do what is good for us. There will be times it doesn’t feel good. There will be struggles along the way.
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Trust him anyway. He is creating a good work in us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
GA
Voice of the Introverts 