Let's start off with a multiple choice question, just to prove a point.
The book of Job is about a-Job, b-the devil, or c-God? Times up. The answer in
a minute. But first...
I get many prayer requests from well meaning people. From how can I afford
a new prom dress, to how can I afford my next operation. With most somewhere in
between, after they have tried to figure out the problem themselves, blamed
someone else, and then finally turned to God. Often with advice, or giving Him
a choice of which solution to choose for them. Note-our solutions generally
involve no pain or sacrifice, and usually resemble more of the genie in the lamp
approach. Love doesn't demand of itself. For instance I recently got a request
for help with a ministry, I get a lot of those. We need this, we need that...if
you are truly following God, it is His ministry and He will and already has
provided all you need. Usually not the answer we want. With the request
drawing attention to us, and away from God. If you cannot trust God, do you
think He will put His precious children in your hands? So instead of trusting
God, we appeal to our Christian family, who usually is so wrapped up in our own
problems. And despite the situation, the request many times ends asking for
money. Why not just ask God, isn't it His riches that He draws from, don't
expect much if you are looking at my bank accounts. But in this request I saw
two common misconceptions about God-taught by churches, but not found in the
Bible. One-blame the devil. Was it not you who used poor business sense? If
it is the devil's fault, why are you listening to him? Will he bail you out?
Do you doubt God has everything under control? The other is money will solve
all things-spiritual and physical. Wrong again-although many sent us money to
help with my recent open heart surgery, no amount of money would solve the
problem, it took God's hand on the proper surgeon. No attacks from the devil,
but a time to trust God, and turn to Him, not from Him. And so I offer this
advice-Godly advice, which works if taken.
First go to God, and only God. Job's friends ended up being more of a
burden than a blessing. God is in full control, blaming the devil for your own
stupidity won't solve anything. Too many talk to the devil, when they should be
talking with God. And then listening. What would Jesus do? You have to ask?
Many don't have a clue. How can you trust someone you don't know?
Throughout our summer ordeal we never doubted God, or that this was all
about Him, although we were important players in it. Never blamed the devil,
doctors, elevation, or ourselves-we trusted. We went beyond faith, we were
obedient. Which leads to blessings. For although grace is all about God, it is
still our choice to accept what He provides-or deny it, and wimp and cry, and
blame others. We found great strength in our weakness, I was among the "least
of them" and could only look to God and to no one else. I am glad I didn't. So
we come back to the opening question, who is the book of Job about?
If you answered c-God you are correct. For the Bible, all of it is about
God. Not Moses, not Joseph, and certainly not me. It is about God, who sent
Jesus so we could be reunited with Him. He never left us-can we say the same?
So next time you pray, or send a request, pray first. Knowing that a loving god
has already begun the process, and He will put you on whose heart He wants to
pray for you. To show is love and grace. He knows the answers, we obviously
don't. So listen to God-a key component in prayer. And then obey. Without
faith it is impossible to please God, without obedience you will never see the
blessings He has in store. When He offered you salvation, did you accept it?
Or blame someone else?
Look to the one who can control life and death, when Job finally did He was
so much closer to God. It's that personal. He had riches restored, but the
true richness came from His relationship with God. Why blame the devil when
you can praise the Lord?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com