Hardship and heartbreak abound, but God is not stumped or
stopped. God is still on the move.
Should the cares and concerns of this world be the consuming
concern for God's people? The spiritually
trained head will say, "no," while the earthly heart says,
"yes." You know the reality of
paying bills and keeping the lights on and the heater warming. What if people are sick? What about the dying? Should the cares and
concerns of this world be the consuming concern for God's people?
The God of Creation is aware of what is going on and of the
difficulties each person faces. He knew
it was coming before our great-great-great grandparents were born. In preparation for the hardship and
heartbreak he knew was headed your way he put together live or die instructions
and provided spiritual support from heaven.
What he has offered is available in abundance to those whose heart is not consumed with the cares and concerns of
this world but whose heart is fully his.
In the moments of our hurts, people long for the quick fix
in the short-term and God’s love goes beyond the quick and the short. Problem-focused
people get angry with God’s love. If
they pray and pray for the quick fix in the short-term and it doesn’t come the
way they have pictured it in their heads, then they assume God is a fraud and
go about looking for a quick fix in the short-term their own way.
It doesn’t work out so well, look around at the people’s lives in this
world who are fixing it their way.
There is a familiar verse used to encourage people about
their future and God’s hand in it. It is
sadly, often presented out of context and in that way, leads people to assume facts,
not in evidence.
“For I know the plans
I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
The good plan is something about
which to be excited. What does that mean
for the person consumed with the cares and concerns of this world? The good plan means health, money, getting
along, getting top grades at school, receiving the attention and praise of
others, being promoted on the team or at work.
You are familiar with the good plan, and as long as it is “good” by one’s
own definition,
then life is wonderful. But what if
disaster strikes? Disaster is not part
of the good plan, right? God must have
failed. Wait a minute, what is the deal
with Jeremiah 29:11?
Jeremiah the Prophet gave those words to Israel at a time when
they were suffering and separated from the land of milk and honey. The situation they were in was because they had
rejected God’s direction and rebelled against him. What they suffered economically, politically, and
physically was the result of their messed up spiritual life. The Lord’s hopeful words spoken through the prophet
was about a good plan that got them on track with God. What would follow from their properly returning
to God would result in a positive change economically, politically, and physically.
In those days when
you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will
end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the
nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” Jeremiah 29:12-14 (NLT)
Should the cares and concerns of this world be the consuming
concern for God's people?
Jesus in his famous sermon makes
a point of first things first again.
And if God cares so wonderfully
for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly
care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these
things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These
things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already
knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:30-33 (NLT)
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously
and then God does something about personal provision. What should be the consuming concern for God’s
people?
But, “there are bad times in the neighborhood,” some will say.
They conclude, “we must focus on the hard
times and those affected.” Of course, attention
must be given, but with focus on Almighty
God’s first things first.
Even though the fig
trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the
olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks
die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the
LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my
strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk
3:17-19 (NLT)
Should the cares and concerns of this world be the consuming
concern for God's people?
As for the seed that
fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their
way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no
mature fruit. But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having
heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring,
bear fruit. Luke 8:14-15 (HCSB)
Should the cares and concerns of this world be the consuming
concern for God's people?
You guide me with
your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may
grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Psalm
73:24-26 (NLT)
No, the cares and concerns of this world should not be the consuming
concern for God’s people.
To live life fully at any
age or stage of life, it must be in a relationship with the living God. To fulfill
one’s destiny life must be lived by God’s loving will.
Life on earth is short. Life for every human being has no end. There is more to come than what has been experienced so far. Living a life of love for God with an overflow
that allows love for others not only makes life on earth grand it prepares a person
for the unending life that is spectacular.
God is on the move. He
knows you and the very things going on in your life right now. No matter how deep the troubled waters he loves
you.
You saw me before I was
born. Every day of my life was recorded
in your book. Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16 (NLT)
Can anything ever
separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have
trouble or calamity, or are persecuted,
or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the
Scriptures say, “For your sake we are
killed every day; we are being slaughtered
like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours
through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate
us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither
our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell
can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth
below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the
love of God that is revealed in Christ
Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 (NLT)
What are your cares and concerns? How have you seen God moving? How shall you now live?
By Randy Huddleston, Pastor, Grace Bible Church of Pryor
