Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts, the earth and all things that are therein, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preservest them all. Thou art Jehovah, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham (Nehemiah 9:6-7)
It was no accident that brought Rebecca to the well to welcome Abraham’s servant, or that sent Joseph into Egypt, or guided Pharaoh’s daughter to the baby in the Nile, or directed the millstone that crushed Abimelech’s head, or winged the arrow shot to smite the king in the joints of his armor. And it is no accident that God has providentially delivered my church into her current state of affairs. Every historical event is an item in the orderly carrying out of an underlying Divine purpose. We must be acutely aware of the real and controlling presence of Him who gives even the lightning a mark which to strike (Job 36:32). Our God is the God who secures the complete fulfillment of His plans. Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation was “to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Daniel 4:17) This precept in no way contradicts the free agency of men, but rather establishes it, for in His image were we made. Throughout the annals of history the varying fortunes of individuals are ever attributed to God’s providential control. He is Immanence and He is Transcendance. Almost everyone admits that God determines when, where and under what circumstances each individual is born and shall live and die. To some He gives riches, to some honor, to some health, and to some various talents. Others are poor, unknown, victims of disease, living lives of wretchedness. Some He brings through faith to salvation; others are left to perish in unbelief. Both Scripture and experience teach us that God gives to some what He withholds from others. And when we would ask “Why?” we would do well to look to our Savior’s words “Yea, Father, for so it was well pleasing in thy sight.” Beloved, remember these precepts of our Father today and exult in them, and be greatly encouraged, fueled by these truths to good works.
1 comment:
Mark 6:8-11 Jesus said: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust of your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."
Because God is sovereign in His giving, as in everything else, it follows that He may give more to some and that this is also good and just. It is evident that God distributes His gifts unequally. Remember the one with five talents and one with two and another with one talent but the main thing is that each one was responsible for the proper use of what he has been given. We are judged by Christ not by the number of talents He gave us but by the use of the talents.
What should be the proper attitude of a disciple or church to our possession be? I believe we should follow the following principles whether we have one or many talents.
1. Thanksgiving 1st Timothy 4:4
2. Perspective Matthew 6:24
3. Stewardship Matthew 6:20
Anything, and I mean anything, religion, family, possessions, our church, job, anything that becomes first, we must do like Abraham and place it on the alter and sacrifice it to God. It is painful but when it is performed, then we can begin to be useful. We can serve others by using things. We can travel light for Jesus sake.
Kern
Post a Comment