Do you ever feel like God owes you something? That because you believe in Him, that He owes you something for that? Whatever you need or desire - God is obligated to give you. That if not for you, perhaps, that God would not be whole.
Silly, maybe. But we each go through that now and then. It's a little prideful. I know, because I do that on too many occasions. Usually, when I am going through some kind of hardship or turmoil in my life. We feel since we believe in a loving God that he wouldn't let us go through any troubles. Or we can become jealous seeing "good" things happening to others but not us. Wondering why we stand outside of God's "love". There are lots of times these thoughts can creep into our minds.
It's easy to do in my mind. We don't want to have pains or hardships - that's basic nature. We believe in a God that we know truly loves us. Therefore, our minds say, an all-powerful God would have the ability to keep problems from arising in our lives or give us what we want. Especially, since we are his followers. So, therefore, things ought to flow rather nicely in our lives. When it doesn't, we can become pretty bratty and whiny. Bemoaning to God how unfair He is and that He doesn't really love us. (Any parents noticing anything?)
We say with our hearts "God, we believe in you - so do right by us" However, we will determine what is "right" for us. We try to show God, if not for us, where would you be? Once again, God you owe us something.
There's a thing going around called the prosperity gospel. I don't claim to know everything there is about it, but from what I have seen, it paints a false picture of God. Distilled down, it seems to indicate that you will get everything you want in life if you just believe in God. That God wants us to be happy and give us whatever we ask for. That God is happy when we make ourselves happy. That it is all about our happiness, mostly the earthly variety. It also involves giving a lot of money in the hopes of getting more later (I wont discuss that today, kind of disturbs me)
Dangerous. Because it takes the focus off its rightful place. We turn God into Santa Claus or a genie who grants us our wishes. As if we are the masters of God. That God should glorify us for our belief in Him. That we somehow deserve all the best things in life. That is a wrong attitude to have.
This isn't to say God is not a loving and giving father to us. He is the good father and He gives us wonderful gifts. But it is wrong if our focus is on that we deserve it rather than be humbly thankful. There are no guarantees in this fallen world. Look at the stories of Paul and the apostles. They didn't have exactly stress-free lives once they began following Jesus. Paul was in a Roman prison for years, probably beaten, and eventually executed for his faith.
Couldn't Paul have bemoaned his lot in life? That he did everything God asked him to and here he is wallowing in prison? I am not sure I wouldn't be upset. Yet, Paul refers to himself several times as a prisoner for Christ. Paul is constantly writing from prison to his fellow churches - teaching, discipling, disciplining, praying, and uplifting them. Instead of being centered on his "woes", Paul looks after those he was called to. Reading his letters, you can feel his profound joy though he is in chains. This had to be inspiring to the young churches - an example to follow. And, it is a wonderful example to us as well.
Why could Paul be this way? He knew who was to be glorified. He knew who he served - and he followed wherever he was called to.
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Hmmmm. Whatever you do? Work. Play. Marriage. Hanging with friends. Talking to others. Raising your kids. Everything to the glory of God. Pretty much puts the focus squarely where it belongs. Think of how your day would go if you made a conscious effort on each thing you did to glorify God?
That was Paul's focus and emphasis. That whatever he did, he would glorify God. Paul looked at his prison, not as a prison, but as an opportunity to reach others for God.
This isn't to say that we cannot approach God when we are miserable or are in a rotten situation. It doesn't mean we should be content if something goes wrong in our lives. But, just because we are believers doesn't mean we shouldn't expect troubles in our lives either. Our focus needs to be on what God is doing in our lives, not because we deserve it, but because He loves us. God has already saved us from the cost of sin - He has given us what we need.
As I am writing this, it has helped me to think how I treat God at times. Kind of in the corner, until I need something from Him. In spite of the way I treat Him, he doesn't stop loving me. I am sure He wishes I wouldn't be this way to Him. Yet He still loves me (not necessarily all the things I do), and maybe someday I will come around and treat Him a little better.
God is so much bigger than a magical genie granting our every desire. What God promises us is so much bigger than earthly treasures. We are not promised wealth, health, and good fortune when we follow Christ. There are too many stories in the Bible that show otherwise. What He does promise us is something everlasting and eternal. What remains is where our focus should be and what our calling is. The focus is on God and His kingdom.
Silly, maybe. But we each go through that now and then. It's a little prideful. I know, because I do that on too many occasions. Usually, when I am going through some kind of hardship or turmoil in my life. We feel since we believe in a loving God that he wouldn't let us go through any troubles. Or we can become jealous seeing "good" things happening to others but not us. Wondering why we stand outside of God's "love". There are lots of times these thoughts can creep into our minds.
It's easy to do in my mind. We don't want to have pains or hardships - that's basic nature. We believe in a God that we know truly loves us. Therefore, our minds say, an all-powerful God would have the ability to keep problems from arising in our lives or give us what we want. Especially, since we are his followers. So, therefore, things ought to flow rather nicely in our lives. When it doesn't, we can become pretty bratty and whiny. Bemoaning to God how unfair He is and that He doesn't really love us. (Any parents noticing anything?)
We say with our hearts "God, we believe in you - so do right by us" However, we will determine what is "right" for us. We try to show God, if not for us, where would you be? Once again, God you owe us something.
There's a thing going around called the prosperity gospel. I don't claim to know everything there is about it, but from what I have seen, it paints a false picture of God. Distilled down, it seems to indicate that you will get everything you want in life if you just believe in God. That God wants us to be happy and give us whatever we ask for. That God is happy when we make ourselves happy. That it is all about our happiness, mostly the earthly variety. It also involves giving a lot of money in the hopes of getting more later (I wont discuss that today, kind of disturbs me)
Dangerous. Because it takes the focus off its rightful place. We turn God into Santa Claus or a genie who grants us our wishes. As if we are the masters of God. That God should glorify us for our belief in Him. That we somehow deserve all the best things in life. That is a wrong attitude to have.
This isn't to say God is not a loving and giving father to us. He is the good father and He gives us wonderful gifts. But it is wrong if our focus is on that we deserve it rather than be humbly thankful. There are no guarantees in this fallen world. Look at the stories of Paul and the apostles. They didn't have exactly stress-free lives once they began following Jesus. Paul was in a Roman prison for years, probably beaten, and eventually executed for his faith.
Couldn't Paul have bemoaned his lot in life? That he did everything God asked him to and here he is wallowing in prison? I am not sure I wouldn't be upset. Yet, Paul refers to himself several times as a prisoner for Christ. Paul is constantly writing from prison to his fellow churches - teaching, discipling, disciplining, praying, and uplifting them. Instead of being centered on his "woes", Paul looks after those he was called to. Reading his letters, you can feel his profound joy though he is in chains. This had to be inspiring to the young churches - an example to follow. And, it is a wonderful example to us as well.
Why could Paul be this way? He knew who was to be glorified. He knew who he served - and he followed wherever he was called to.
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Hmmmm. Whatever you do? Work. Play. Marriage. Hanging with friends. Talking to others. Raising your kids. Everything to the glory of God. Pretty much puts the focus squarely where it belongs. Think of how your day would go if you made a conscious effort on each thing you did to glorify God?
That was Paul's focus and emphasis. That whatever he did, he would glorify God. Paul looked at his prison, not as a prison, but as an opportunity to reach others for God.
This isn't to say that we cannot approach God when we are miserable or are in a rotten situation. It doesn't mean we should be content if something goes wrong in our lives. But, just because we are believers doesn't mean we shouldn't expect troubles in our lives either. Our focus needs to be on what God is doing in our lives, not because we deserve it, but because He loves us. God has already saved us from the cost of sin - He has given us what we need.
As I am writing this, it has helped me to think how I treat God at times. Kind of in the corner, until I need something from Him. In spite of the way I treat Him, he doesn't stop loving me. I am sure He wishes I wouldn't be this way to Him. Yet He still loves me (not necessarily all the things I do), and maybe someday I will come around and treat Him a little better.
God is so much bigger than a magical genie granting our every desire. What God promises us is so much bigger than earthly treasures. We are not promised wealth, health, and good fortune when we follow Christ. There are too many stories in the Bible that show otherwise. What He does promise us is something everlasting and eternal. What remains is where our focus should be and what our calling is. The focus is on God and His kingdom.
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