True Prosperity

"Blessed is the man who does not walk

in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields it fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers."

Psalm 1:1-3

She put her all into living for God.  Every waking moment was spent thinking of ways to please Him.  Soon, an opportunity came along that seemed good but instead of talking to God about it, she decided it was too good to pass up: it must be from God!  Consequently, she unwittingly walked down the wrong path.  After awhile, she noticed her life began falling apart: Relationships were strained, debt was piling up, her joy and inner peace were gone.  Where did she go wrong?

While living for God is not a formula to be followed where doing "A" will automatically bring about "B", there is one certainty: Doing things God's way and letting Him be Lord of my life will lead to blessing.  These blessings may come in the form of spiritual fruit, physical qualities or material gifts but whatever the type, things go better when I submit to God's absolute authority in every part of my life.

Many times, however, I find myself like the woman in the above scenario.  I try to do the right thing, putting a lot of effort into pleasing God without getting to know Him personally.  I'd rather do for Him than let Him into the innermost parts of my life where darkness dwells.  Giving Him access, however, is the ultimate manifestation of intimacy.  And without closeness to the one whom I call "Lord," there is no real relationship.

If I want to follow God's lead and enjoy a kingdom-prosperous life, I will have to give Jesus lordship over every part of my life so I won't get caught on the wrong path.

Walk in the Ways of the World

The world tells me to consider my own needs and wants above all else, to promote my own strengths and work hard to utilize them well, and to make decisions based on what seems best for me.  If I follow these basic guidelines, I will be able to climb the corporate ladder of success in any career field.  This mindset, however, does not translate into  God's kingdom where things are backwards, upside down and radically different from the ways of the world.

If I try to succeed as a Christian by working hard, doing things that benefit me, and stay within my realm of experience then I will end up further and further away from God.  He is not impressed by my work ethic, my desire to achieve or my decision-making skills. (Proverbs 14:12)  What He does desire is my wholehearted devotion to His plan, placing all my eggs in His basket. 

Jesus talked about a poor widow who came to the temple to offer two small coins to the Lord.  Although it was a very small donation, Jesus said she gave more than everyone else who had been giving large amounts of money.  In my eyes, the rich people gave much more, but Jesus said that while they gave out of their abundance, this humble women gave all she had.  (Luke 21:1-4)  This is the kind of devotion God is looking for in my heart by the way I live every part of my life.

Therefore, instead of using my own common sense to make decisions and to think of my walk with Jesus as some kind of business transaction where I will succeed if I follow certain rules, I need to get serious about listening to Him and then doing what He places on my heart.

If I am offered a prestigious, well-paid position in a highly profitable corporation but I sense God's lead to start up a risky-sounding business to benefit children, I will only receive good things from God if I heed His call and take the plunge.

If I spent thousands of dollars on a college degree but my Shepherd leads me down a path that keeps me at home to raise my children, that career that seems so tempting will never bring the satisfaction that will come from obeying God in what the world says is foolishness.

If I would rather be my own boss and make my own decisions but God clearly intends for me to submit to Him, the plans I have for myself will never amount to much as I stray from His path.

The wisdom of God dispensed through Solomon says that I need to, "Trust in the Lord will all (my) heart and lean not on (my) own understanding; in all (my) ways acknowledge Him, and he will make (my) paths straight."  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I can only hope for true prosperity if I turn my back on the ways of the world and let the Lord rule my life in every way.

Take the Path that leads to Destruction

It looked so pleasant; the walkway was wide and flat without a pothole or stone upon which to trip.  The road was lined with fragrant roses and lit by pleasant gas-lamps.  Even the gateway to enter this  route looked attractive with its embellished wrought iron archway covered in emerald ivy.  This must be the right way, I thought.  After all, look how many people are waking this path while the other choice is much inferior in quality and nearly barren of travelers; this broad road must be the best.  (Matthew 7:13-14)

It is easy to find myself on the path that leads to destruction.  I justify the little sins, telling myself that "at least I'm not as bad as them."  Soon I am categorizing sin, placing it into classifications of "serious" and "not so serious."  After awhile, the little sins seem to be less of a real sin and I begin to think of them as "mistakes" or "mess-ups."  I start to tell myself that God isn't offended by what I do because He knows I'm trying.

Before long I am living with many strongholds of sin, allowing them to rule my life without regard to the grief I am causing the Holy Spirit in my careless attitude. (Ephesians 4:30)  

I am headed toward destruction when I lie to the IRS by fudging the numbers to give myself a lower tax bill.  Everyone does it so its not really that big of a deal.  Unfortunately for me, I am ignoring God's desire for His people to be known as honest and trustworthy in order to reflect His character. (Exodus 20:16, Proverbs 16:11, Psalm 119:160)

I am headed toward destruction when I watch television shows or movies which portray graphic sex-scenes or filthy language, thinking to myself that I'm only watching it, not taking part in it.  As I minimize sin in either myself or others,  I am making light of His desire for me to live a holy and pure life, devoid of sexual immorality of any kind. (1 Corinthians 6:18, Matthew 5:28, 1 Peter 1:16, Psalm 51:10, Matthew 5:8)

I am headed toward destruction when I share prayer requests to my friends about all the horrible things with which another believer is struggling, calling myself righteous for my good deeds.  Gossip can never be considered helpful, no matter what I tell myself and I am guilty of spreading hearsay regardless of how I dress it up. (Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 21:23, Leviticus 19:16, Proverbs 26:22)

I can only hope for true prosperity if I choose to follow my Shepherd down the narrow path of righteousness. (Psalm 23:3)

Turn into a Hypocrite

They placed a heavy burden on the people in their quest to help members to live their lives in a way that pleased God.  They spent so much time analyzing others' behavior in light of scripture that they never took the time to examine their own actions, beliefs or attitudes.  Obviously, if they were placed in such a position of authority, they thought, they must be as one who is to be emulated.  Unfortunately for the Pharisees, this was not the case.  Instead, here is what Jesus said of them and their efforts:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:27-28)

There are times when I think like the Pharisees.  I get the idea that with all the things I do for God, He will certainly overlook the areas where I am off-base.  Instead of taking Him seriously, I brush certain sins aside, assuming a good effort is all that matters.

God, however, cannot be mocked.  I reap what I sow.  (Galatians 6:7) If I plant seeds of selfish living, I will reap the fruit of the flesh.  (Galatians 5:19-21)  If I live according to my own desires, my life will end up in ruins. (Galatians 6:8) If I only think of myself and my family, rarely giving of my time, talent and money to others, my life will be marked by this stinginess and I will be given little. (Luke 6:38)

No matter how small a sin may seem to me, to God it is serious enough for Him to send His Son to die as a punishment for the transgression.  As a holy God, my uncovered sin is an affront to Him and makes me His enemy.  Only through the atoning sacrifice Jesus made on the cross do I have any hope of pleasing Him.  Because of this gift of grace, I must always strive to take God seriously and guard against the hypocrisy of overlooking my own sin while paying attention to the transgressions of others.  

We are all in the same boat and have received the same death sentence. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)  Only through Jesus do I have the hope of eternity with Him.

I can only hope for true prosperity if I guard against hypocrisy and know my true identity as a sinner saved by grace.

My life can be like a tree that is planted near a revitalizing stream if I will keep myself separate from the ways of the world, stay off the path of destruction, and shield my heart and mind from carrying a double standard.  Then, I will experience true prosperity as I walk in God's ways, travel down the rocky path that leads to life, and live authentically and humbly before God.  This is a life worth living.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take God seriously in all my ways.

How do I minimize sin in my life?

When am I hard on others but give myself a pass?

New Family Order

"For whoever does the will 

of my Father in heaven is

my brother

and sister

and mother."

Matthew 12:50

I have a friend who has no extended family beyond her father.  Her mother recently died and she was sharing with me her frustration over the years in trying to learn her family history.  She was never able to glean much from her parents aside from the bare basics.  My friend never knew her grandparents and has no aunts or uncles to turn to for information.  As a result of this void, there is a yearning within her soul to discover her roots.

As a daughter of the King, my friend has entered into an enormous network of family the likes of which she can never fathom!  She inherited all  the mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters she could ever imagine.  Even though we are not linked by our own blood that can be traced through the ancestry of generations, we are connected by our faith in Jesus and in His redeeming blood.  These are the ones on whom my friend can focus as she learns all that we have in common.

God First

Twentieth-century pastor and writer Vance Havner said, "It is one of the ironies of the ministry that the very man who works in God's name is often hardest put to find time for God.  The parents of Jesus lost him at church, and they were not the last ones to lose him there."

When Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the tablets upon which God had inscribed the Ten Commandments, the first decree on the list was enough to condemn the Israelites as they reveled around the golden calf.  "You shall have no other gods before Me" resounded in the air like a death sentence.  

As a member of God's family, God is to be first on my list of priorities.  Most times I may not act as blatantly as the people of Israel when Aaron formed the idol out of gold and erected it for all to worship, but I can easily get mixed up.

Doing things for  God or in His name is not the same as following God and putting Him first in my life.  Jesus clearly taught that, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!"  (Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus is making it apparent that my relationship with God is more important than any thing I do for Him.  My main focus is to be to know Him better, as David did as evidenced by his words in Psalm 139:14.  He said, "Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  David knew so much about God because He spent time with Him, pored over His Scripture like it was life itself, desired God from the depths of his soul as a deer pants for the water, and looked for evidence of His handiwork all around Him.  David truly was a man after God's own heart!

If I am to follow suit, I need to be careful to only join in with what God is already doing around me; waiting on Him to open doors, put people in place and provide necessary resources.  When I try to force things to happen, as I so often do, I am doing things in His name but He will not get the glory.  As Jesus said as recorded in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

As a part of the family of God, we share the challenge of making God above all things and desiring to walk with Him each step of the way.

Others-Focused

The advent of the garage-door opener has ruined neighborhoods.  Okay, maybe that's placing too much blame on an electronic gadget, but I have to admit, it hasn't helped to bring us closer together.  Instead, it has made it all to easy for weary workers to drive home from a long day, pull into the garage and close the door behind them.  Neighbors rarely talk over the fence any more and seldom help each other out.  

As a member of our community crime watch group, I have learned from local law enforcement personnel that the most powerful weapon we have against crime is to know our neighbors.  Doesn't that seem too easy?  The premise is that when I understand my neighbors' habits, vehicles and normal activity patterns, I can easily recognize when something is wrong and I can then notify law enforcement.

Making the effort to focus on anyone other than myself, though, takes effort and does not come naturally.  Being a selfish human, I tend to keep my own needs, desires and wants at the top of my list.  But when I became a member of God's family through faith in Jesus Christ, the humility of Christ became my model.  

As the Apostle Paul teaches in Philippians 2:3-4, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

This means when I'm running late while the grocery checker is moving at a snail's pace I can take the time to help the single mom struggling with her grocery cart and three small children.  Or when a brother in Christ needs transportation and I have two vehicles, I think of his needs before I worry about how my family will share one car.  Or if a neighbor is stressed out and needs a word of encouragement, I will put my own frustrations aside as I take a moment to pass on the hope of Christ.

As part of the family of God, I am to make others more important than my own interests.

Love Rules

I've heard a lot of things about love, like how all I need is love, it hurts or kills slowly, its passionate, I can fall into love and out of love and it's what makes the world go 'round.  If I want to truly understand love, however, I need to look to God because He is love.

Love is defined and described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.  God's love, ". . .never gives up.  Love cares more for others than for self.  Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, isn't always 'me first,' doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, doesn't revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.  Love never dies." (MSG)

Now that's love!  Love is so important to God that He prefaced this passage with the thought that, ". . .no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love." (1 Corinthians 13:3 MSG)

I could run a successful food bank that feeds thousands of hungry families, but if I don't show respect to my husband, I have nothing.  I could spend hours a day studying the scripture and be known as an expert in God's Word, but if I carry a running list of my children's failures or disappointments, I'm a bust.  I could pledge my life to telling the gospel to everyone I meet and pray continually for the salvation of the lost peoples of the world, but if I'm not content with the position in which God has placed me, I've not impacted God's kingdom one iota.

God concludes this section of scripture with the charge to, "Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.  And the best of the three is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 MSG)  Loving is not easy, especially when I feel my own rights being violated, but I am able to love because He first loved me!

As part of God's family, love can rule in every part of my life.

Even though natural families are very important, my family tree does not stop at bloodlines.  As a follower of Christ, I have a world-wide network of brothers and sisters who share common traits.  We are called to put God first, think of others' more than self, and to let love rule:  These are the characteristics of the family of God.  No matter how big or small my natural family is, I can count on the fact that wherever I go in this world, I will always run into a member of my spiritual family!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember the traits that keep the family of God strong.

When do I do things for God but leave Him out of it?

How can I let love rule in my life?

Repent!

"In those days John the Baptist came,

preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying,

'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.'

. . .People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea

and the whole region of the Jordan.

Confessing their sins, 

they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing,

he said to them: 

'You brood of vipers!  

Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.'"

Matthew 3:1,2,5-8

My finger trailed deliciously in the water, cooling it slightly as we cruised around the lake on the hot summer day.  My skin longed to feel the refreshing coolness upon it's hot surface but for now, I must content myself with dipping my hand into the cobalt depths.  It was nice to relax in the remote location without having to worry about drunken sailors cutting us off or macho males showing off the power of their engine.  Instead, we could take in the beauty of our surroundings as we set the boat on auto pilot.  I looked ahead and noticed that we were headed for a rocky shoal.  Feeling lazy and doing a mental calculation as to estimate the speed versus the distance, I figured we had about 5 minutes before I'd have to take action.  

The only way I could prevent our boat from crashing into the shallow rocks was to manually change our course.  I could try to grab the wheel and turn it away from the hazard, but the autopilot would fight against me, making corrections in order to continue on its programmed heading.  I would have to set a new course.


I am kind of like that boat.  Even though I have accepted Jesus as my Savior and am saved from certain death, my autopilot is taking me on a path that leads to destruction.  If I do what comes naturally, obeying my pre-programmed sinful nature,  I will continue headed toward disaster.  How do I change my ways so that my life will be a reflection of my Savior?

Decision

"I have decided that I don't need to smoke anymore."  And with that, my friend ended a habit that had controlled her for years.  Once she made up her mind, however, the nicotine ceased to wield control over her will.

This is the impetus behind repentance.  When John the Baptist said to "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at near," he was warning people to change their ways, to turn away from death and destruction and instead move toward abundant life.  The first step needed to begin the process of  making a U-turn begins with a conscious choice.

Just as my friend made a decision in her mind before she took any action toward quitting to smoke, it is necessary for me to want to turn away from sin before I will be able to accomplish the about-face.  

Once the choice has been made to walk with Jesus, I will need lots of help to keep me next to Him despite all the distractions and temptations.

Response

One of my favorite movies is, "The Wizard of Oz."  As a young child, my heart went out to Dorothy as she tried to make it back home.  Finally, Glinda the Good Witch told her that she had always possessed the power to go back to Kansas.  All she had to do was tap the heels of her Ruby Slippers together and say, "There's no place like home."

As a follower of Christ, I possess the power of God within myself to help me, guide me and, in general, give me the ability to keep on track.  When I sense His supernatural promptings, I have two choices;  I can either ignore His guidance or I can pay attention.  I can do things His way or my way.  I can obey or disobey.

God's Spirit convicts me of my wrong doing when I stray away from the path He's set for me.  Not only do I feel guilty and uncomfortable going against God, but I may also notice other guideposts He sends my way to notify me of my straying.  

It could be that a certain scripture will speak to me in a significant way, guiding me back in the right direction.  Other times God's Spirit will send a message through a friend, acquaintance or even a stranger.  Sometimes, I sense His peace as I walk the path He has for me.  Whatever the case may be, if I'm not paying attention to His guidance, I'll miss it altogether.  

God's Spirit gives me plenty of help to stay on track, if only I will heed His signposts!

Evidence

I knew something was wrong the moment I looked at the plant.  The once green and abundant leaves were now shriveled and sparse.  To make matters worse, the fruits were puny and malformed.  My zucchinni plants had been attacked by borers, ugly insect which lay eggs within the stem of the vines, destroying the plant and making it susceptible to mold and mildew.  The zucchini produced by this diseased plant is no good.

In the same way, Jesus warned us to look out for false prophets who taught messages that sounded good but were far from the truth.  He said these teachers who spread lies are like wolves dressed in sheep's clothing: They look and sound beneficial but in reality they are dangerous.  

The first thing I want to know when I hear a warning like this is, how will I be able to tell the difference between the true and the false?  Jesus answered this question by saying,  "By their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:16)

When people look at my life, what kind of fruit do they see?  Just like I could look at the zucchini and know that there was something wrong with the plant it came from, the fruit my life produces is a sign of my spiritual health.  If others notice strife and discord, fighting and fits of rage, a life driven by selfish ambition, a free and easy attitude toward sex, hatred and jealousy or the like, I am mostly producing fruits of the flesh.

If instead there is an, "affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. . .a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and . . . (I) find (myself) involved in loyal commitments. . . " (Galatians 5:22-23 MSG) then I know God's Spirit is at work within me.  This is the evidence of a life committed to God.

Once I'm headed toward God, His fruit will be all the proof anyone needs that I truly belong to Him.

It's easy to float along, letting my flesh lead the way.  Knowing God and His Word, however, is not enough.  Instead, it will take effort to purposefully move toward Him as He provides the power to keep me on track and the proof that I'm right where He wants me.  All I need to do is pay attention!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will make a decision this day to walk toward God instead of just doing what I want to do.

How do I fail to see the guideposts God sends in an attempt to get me back on the path?

What kind of fruit do others observe in my life? 

Know Him

" ' For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.' "

Jeremiah 29:11-13

I accepted Christ as my Savior at the age of 12.  For the next 15 years, not much changed in my life.  Don't get me wrong, I went to church every Sunday where I learned what it meant to follow Jesus.  I read the Bible on a regular basis.  I prayed.  But these were all rituals. . . duties I could check off my list once finished.  These were things that were expected for a good Christian to do. Right?

It depends.  The thing about my life is that God was not a part of all these rituals.  Sure, I knew He was there and that He was the main character in this story I was learning as I read the Bible, but I didn't know Him personally, like I knew my sister, or my parents, or my friends.  He was this benevolent Being that was there, but separate from me in some way.

As I grew up, got married and began the job of raising a family of my own, my sister sent me a book called, "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby and Claude King.  God used that Bible study to transform my mind and teach me about walking with Him on a personal level.  I learned that God is at work all around me and it is up to me whether I'll be a part of what He's doing, or just watch as a spectator on the sidelines.  I began to choose to participate, and my life has never been the same!

Hope for the Future

The first thing I noticed was that I sensed this excitement within me as I looked for evidence of God working around me.  I was getting to know the One with the plan for my life!  His plan was to give me hope and a future.  As I went through my day, raising my four daughters who were all in diapers at the time, I sensed a meaning in the drudgery.  Being there for my triplet daughters and their older sister was a part of a plan that God had for my life! 

Knowing there is a purpose gives me hope.  It means there is a blueprint that will give rise to a magnificent structure that no man can destroy.  It means every diaper I change, every runny nose I wipe, every shoe that I tie (and retie) is a part of that plan and serves a purpose in the scheme of God's blueprint!  It is not mindless drudgery as I so easily can think.  It is vital, necessary and crucial to the plan God has for me.  As David said in Psalm 39:7, "But now Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in you." 

Getting to know the God who has the plan for my life gives me a sense of hope for a meaningful future.

Prayers are Heard

After I committed my life to getting to know God in a more intimate way, I noticed my prayers were different.  Instead of an empty habit or practice, it became a two-way conversation.  I knew my prayers were being heard by the Almighty God, and I was sensing His presence in a whole new way.  I had always known He was there, but now it was as if He was sitting beside me and we were talking.  

Jesus described this personal way of talking to God as a relationship between a Father and son.  He said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)  He then goes to explain that as much as an earthly father gives good things to his son, our heavenly Father will give so much more to those who ask.

This is not to say that God is a vending machine, but that He is a loving Father who listens to our prayers and responds in a very real way.  David enjoyed a close relationship with God, and he put it this way.  "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)  As I grow closer to God and take pleasure in getting to know Him, He will transform my heart to be more in tune with His.  

Getting to know God opens up a whole new way to pray as I become more in sync with Him.

Seek His Will

Growing up, I could never understand my parents and why they did the things they did.  When I became a parent, I could appreciate the decisions they made as they did what was best for their children.  It never seemed quite fair as a child, but when I became familiar with the role of parenting, my perspective changed.

This transformation process takes place as I grow closer to God.  I read in Romans 12 that I can either conform to the pattern of this world, or I can choose to "be transformed by the renewing of (my) mind. Then (I) will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (v2)

As I learn more about God and His ways, I can put those words into action, or I can let them sit on the page.  If I trust God at His Word and allow Him to change me, I will begin to recognize what He is doing all around me.  I will begin to see things with new eyes as I identify His work in the everyday things of life, and my life will take on new meaning.

Getting to know God gives me an opportunity to learn how to recognize His will for my life.  

As a Christian, I can either go through the motions, or I can go deeper.  If I choose the latter, I will discover a sense of hope for a meaningful future, a rich and fruitful prayer life, and a greater awareness of God's will for my life.  Walking with Christ is as significant as I make it.  I want to know Him today even more than I did yesterday!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will seek God with all of my heart.  Then I know that I will find Him.

How do I go through the motions of what I think I should do without ever going deeper?

Am I in a relationship with a living God or a part of a religion filled with rituals and routines?

  

Dependent and Interdependent

I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
   therefore I will wait for him.”

 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
   to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
   for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:24-26

I'm as American as they come.  My husband served 24 years in the US Army, and I was proud of his service to our country and gladly endured long deployments to hostile areas for the sake of freedom.  When I hear the National Anthem played, I always get choked up when I hear, ". . . our flag was still there, " thinking of the resilience, determination and thirst for freedom of my forerunners.  I love this country.

But growing up American, I have many times worshipped at the altar of independence.  I celebrate those who are able to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, who dig themselves out of homelessness or bankruptcy, or who climb out of the slums and rise to great success.  One of this countries most popular finance motivational speakers, Suze Orman, said, "A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life."

The problem with this spirit of independence the American way has bred, is that I forsake my calling as a child of God to be fully dependent on Him to supply all my needs.  As a follower of Christ, it is dangerous to be American, for her values run counter to those of God's Kingdom.

Dependence on God 

When I think of my relationship with God, I like to imagine I am a rich young girl who is confident that her every need will be met by her wealthy daddy.  She does not wont for anything, and she never worries because she knows she need only mention it to her father, and he will gladly give her what she has asked for.  He shows his love for her in this way, and she is secure in that love.

Many times, though, I am like the typical American, and I think of a back up plan in case God doesn't come through.  I am not intentionally turning away from God, or thinking that He won't provide, but it is in my nature to analyze a situation and come up with solutions.  If God does not immediately provide, I assume I need to step in and act, using my resources to supply my own need.

Jesus taught about the generous nature of God.  “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:9-11)

Because of His great love for me, He will not fail to give me the good things that I ask for.  The thing is, God is in control of the timing of the gift, and the nature of the gift.  If I don't want to wait and give God a chance to provide, I will never find out how to be dependent on my Father in heaven.

Interdependence of the Body of Christ

It is not in my nature as an American to depend on anyone else for anything.  I take pride in the fact that I can do for myself and many times don't want to put anyone out, bothering them with my problems.

But God wants us to rely on each other as believers.  Just as the whole of creation is interdependent with each other, so His body is designed to work together.  Take, for example, bees and flowers.  They need each other to survive!  The bees need the flowers as a source of food, and the flowers need the bees to facilitate pollination necessary for reproduction by carrying pollen to other flowers as they feed.  God designed all of nature to work together in such a way.

It's no surprise, then, as part of God's creation, that He expects us to rely on each other.  "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. . .there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." (I Corinthians 12:12, 25-26)

When I take care of matters myself instead of relying on my brothers and sisters in Christ, I am denying their position and function in the Body, instead trying to fulfill the purpose of each part myself.  This is the most challenging thing for me as an American.  I have been raised to rely on myself and to not bother others with my problems.  But the Bible teaches that we are stronger together.

If I never give the other parts of the Body of Christ a chance to help me, I will never find out how to be interdependent along with my family.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will learn to think of myself as a follower of Christ first, and an American second.

 

When do I rely on my own resources instead of turning to Him who owns the cattle on a thousand hills?

 

How can I better rely on my church family to help me in times of need?