GOD'S PROVISION II

Pouring Out

 

But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

 

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

1Thessolonians 2:7-8, 11-12(NIV)

 

A few years ago I came across a greeting card with a picture of a small watering can on the front.  It said “When You pour out. . .”  Inside was a larger watering can and the caption continued “. . .He pours in.”  How I loved that card.  Before I committed my life to Christ I used to live in fear of being used up by the people who came into my life.  After my conversion I was astonished to find out that pouring out was one of the assignments He had for me.  Whenever that old fear would return I would have to run to the Lord and cry out Him to supply my need.

 

Whether you call it mentoring, discipling, or spiritual parenting, those of us who are chosen to pour into the lives of others will often find the experience bitter-sweet. We are required to live out the passion of the passages in 1Thessolonians with no reservations, but we must also recognize that these “spiritual children” have a will of their own.  They must someday take what we have given them and walk away from us.  If they walk in the way we have prayed that they would, we rejoice with great thanksgivinig.  But, if they choose another way we are hurt and disheartened. 

 

And, our task does not end there.  If we are to be servants who are worthy of our hire we must continue to pour out, praying and seeking God on behalf of this one who has dealt us such a deep wound.  Further, we may not allow bitterness to form a callus on our hearts.  We must do all the work of forgiveness and keep the light on for them in our hearts in case they should once again need us.  All this is impossible unless we remember: “When we pour out, He pours in.”

 

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

 Luke 12:48b(NIV)

 

PERSONAL WALK

What Do You Need?     

 

Before I make a cake I conduct a little inventory of the refrigerator and pantry to see what I need.  Then I make a shopping list.  This is a routine activity that causes me little angst.  I don’t scold myself because the vanilla extract is low or feel ashamed because I used up the last of the eggs.  I just head off to the store.

 

When I read 1st Corinthians 13 or Colossians 3, I often find myself in distress over how little of the love ingredients I have to adequately serve my neighbors (spouse, children, colleagues, etc.)   I either admonish myself for my shortcomings, bristle at the demand or try to brush the need aside and let those people fend for themselves.  I don’t immediately take my “shopping list” to the source where the missing ingredient can be supplied.  And yet, that is what our all-sufficient Lord has asked us to do.

I am not trying to trivialize the process of prayer.   The interesting thing about this is that He knows!  He knows what we are missing and is ready to supply all our needs according to his abundant riches.  But we have to ask!  What keeps us from asking is the same pride, rebellion, independence and mistrust that has plagued humankind since the Garden.  What grand notions we have of ourselves compared to how He sees us! 

As a father has compassion on his children,
       so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:14-15 NIV

Beating ourselves up about these limitations is to suggest that we should have already attained that which only God is able to build in us.  He allows us to enter situations like marriage, parenting, communities, workplaces, and churches where our needs will soon become painfully obvious so that we will realize our dependence upon Him.

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

Words: Joseph Scriven, music: Charles C. Converse.

TRUST AND OBEY, II

Under Authority – How it Really Works

For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 1 Peter 3:5, 6 (NIV)

 

Many “modern” women have asked their minister to remove the word “obey” from their wedding vows.  Many clergymen have removed it without being asked.  In the modern world, the obedience of a married woman is no longer expected.  But for Christian women the requirement of scripture to obey one’s husband can cause serious personal struggles for which we are rarely prepared.

 

This subject came up in a recent discussion with a group of women.  What should a Christian woman do when her husband tells her to do something that she thinks is not in the family’s best interest.  The topics were wide ranging: quit a job, get a job (small children at home), sign papers for a loan, move to another community (or state, or country).  The issues did not involve committing a sin. 

 

As women under authority, we are required to obey.  God never gives us the whole picture of anything.  That is why he requires obedience.  When we obey our husbands it keeps us under God's protective covering.  Since the wife may be right in this matter, and the husband may be wrong, we must proceed cautiously.  As your husband’s helper you should be seeking God’s will on his behalf and not just your own.  In order to approach this situation prepared for God’s answer wives should follow these steps:

 

1)  Check yourself.  Ask God to show you if there is any rebellion in you. Sometimes your tears and anger are signs of your own willfulness.   Confess your sin, with thanksgiving (be thankful for a husband who takes on the responsibility of leadership.)  Cry out to God and ask Him to remove your need to have your own way.

 

2)  Cry out to God.  Present your requests to God with.  Submit your will to God.  Ask Him to direct your husband in this matter.  Ask God to speak to you through your husband, or show him if he is wrong. Women who want a husband who leads must be prepared to follow.

 

3)  Speak to your husband again.  Pick a neutral time. Speak calmly to your husband, promising not to raise the issue again. Present your concerns and alternatives clearly.  This is not a time to convince him that he is wrong.  You are acting as an advisor, a helper.  Let him know you will comply with his decision.  Ask him to pray again before he answers.

 

4)  Cry out to God again.  If the decision is not what you hoped, ask God to guide you as you comply.  Ask Him to be in charge of the process.  Pray that God will protect your family and give you peace.  Pray and give thanks; rejoice, sing praises to God.  Expect to experience some feelings of sadness and loss. You may talk to a trusted friend who understands your desire to please God (not the one who always takes your side.)  Do not take your grieving out on your husband.  Remember what Jesus said in the garden: “Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine.”

 

5)  Watch God work.  Keeping a journal of what God has done helps many women remember to trust God in the difficult times.  He loves you.   

 

Trust and obey.  There is not better way

 to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.

Hymm, John Sammis, 1887