Okay, this is the last of the space pictures for now, but I couldn't resist. This nebula almost looks like a hand reaching out into space. A great shot and reminder that a creative Creator is still involved with His creation.
This is the point I want to bring out today. God is very much involved in His creation and will not forsake us. Our nation maybe be suffering during these hard times but God is still at work, though I fear that if we continue down this path, we may have to become as adamant as Abraham as he pleaded for the lives of his family in Sodom.
Understanding how much God is involved in our lives requires us to become more receptive to His leading and engage in His plan for our lives as we continue in the journey to work our salvation with fear and trembling.
One of the ways we can successfully engage God in His plan is to become examples of stewardship. Now, more than any recent time, we have to become vigilant in our finances remembering that, yes, God does bless us, but no, God does not honor irresponsible faith when it comes to money or finances.
Part of the fun of going through Dave Ramsey's class has been discovering my own intentions with money and seeing myself mature (a little) with my spending as I also watch those in my study group grow and mature as well.
A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Prov 28:20 (NIV)
Proverbs is rich with understanding and advice, and as we as a nation seek to recover from our financial meltdown, we as Christians should cling to the advice given by God so we can exude an example of true stewardship.
Sitting still and praying fervently for God to fill our coffers with food is not faith - it is folly. Using get rich quick schemes in the moment of need is also folly. Wisdom stems from the fear of God and knowing that we should not waste our efforts on the foolish trade of false hope. How can we expect others to have faith if we choose to misuse it?
Faith isn't about how much we get nor about how much is offered. Faith is the wholehearted trust in the mercy and grace of God as he seeks to have relationship with us without having to see God do something before we believe. It is about trusting in God, regardless.
Jesus commended those who believed and had not seen more than those who had to see in order to believe. Too many have stolen the true identity of faith by basking in the belief that faith always has a "seen return" factor. If that was true, then why did Jesus say we would always have the poor?
Our faith has to reflect the passion God has for those in need and that He will never let us go unfed, unclothed, or un-sheltered when we work together to in order to care for others.
Hard times are the greatest times for showing the love and care of Christ as we learn to share with the unselfishness of those in the book of Acts who sold properties not to keep food on their tables but to care for the needs in the church (the people not the buildings).
Maybe we need this time of uncertainty in our nation to help restore the faith of those who are losing faith in the church. This very well could be the work of God to restore His name in the works of the church as well as to turn our nation back to His unfailing love.
Regardless of how hard things are for you, God is still painting the picture. He is still very much involved. The truth sits not in how we choose to go forward but that we do choose to follow His lead. As stewards we can hoard our gifts as in one of the parables of Jesus, or we can risk the Master's good gift by investing in the lives of others with our time, talent, and finances. The risk in harvest becomes our blessing.
The choice is up to each of us. I know how I want to respond; I just pray that as I do, my flesh will not become weak. Stay strong, pray fervently, and act in His will. God is good and faithful, and never lacking in kindness, shouldn't we be also?
No comments:
Post a Comment