In today's devotional that Rick Warren sends out @ www.purposedriven.com that I get, I was particularly moved by his words today. Living in Michigan, many of my friends are losing their jobs, or very concerned about the future of their jobs. Often times, I can relate to their day to day concerns as we may call it, but deep down, it truly just might be worry. Well, God clearly tells us not to worry, but this reminded me again, that when 'concern' creeps in, what a fresh perspective can give. Here are some of the thoughts that Rick offered, and I pass it on to you. If you would like to connect with his daily devotions directly as well, go to the web site above.
"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will aslo supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness" 2 Corinthians 9:10
Looking to God as our only source of supply is often a challenge, but it is the key to this verse. If we are truly going to look to Him alone to provide for our needs, we should not look anywhere else.
We get ourselves in trouble when we confuse the channel with the source. God may use your paycheck from work as the channel to supply your needs, but your employer is just the channel for God's provision- and God can shift to another channel anytime he wants.
When you start to look to something or someone else to meet your needs, when you begin to confuse the channel with the source, there is a clear sign: Worry!
Say you've started looking to your job as the source, instead of the channel. You may start worrying, "What if I lose my job?" You know what? That channel may close, but the source of your every need is still active and providing for you. When God turns off one channel, he can turn on another one.
Once you know what you're lacking, you need to give God the right to choose whatever channel He decides to fulfill the need. It may be a channel different from the one you would choose; in fact, God may allow a totally different channel than you would expect, just so that you will keep looking to Him for all your needs.
For me, I am continually reminded about God's channel of provision, even in times like we are going through today. It truly is exciting to look back and see how God has provided through His channels of blessing.
Don't forget in the dark times, what God has taught you in the Light. God alone is our source and supply!
submitted by Pastor Kent Williams
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This is one way to think of the Harvest Principle, but it seems to imply that we need only to wait, and God will supply. I have written a book called "The Harvest Principle", which I drew from Paul's writing, "Be not deceived, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he, also, reap." That is another way of saying, "Do unto others, what you would have done unto yourself." Which means that God gives you, what you give to another. Paul, also, wrote, "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." This does not mean that we should covet another's wealth, but that we should want and help another to prosper. He wrote, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves." In other words: Think not of yourselves, but help others, first, to be successful and prosper, and God will give you success and prosperity. "He who would be first will be last, and he who would be last, will be made first."
ReplyDeleteThat is the difficult part: Loving others more than ourselves. But that is God's commandment, and that is the way to prosper in this world. When another person finds employment, don't be jealous or resentful because it wasn't you. Be as joyful for that person, as if it were you. If you can do that, then it will soon be you with a job. That attitude can't be obtained by will-power. It can only be obtained by learning how very much your God loves you, and then returning that love to Him - trusting in Him, relying on Him, and blessing Him by being a blessing to others. Get intimate with God and love Him. He deserves it. He loves you so much that he sacrificed His only Son for the forgiveness of your sins,so that you could be reconciled to Him. He did the same for me. My prayer is that when you reach up to Him, He will grab your hand from above, and lift you up. Amen