Off On Our Own Again - April 4, 2011

Good Monday morning! Well, how about that weather change! I saw 84° on Saturday, had all the windows open and even had to close the shades when it got too warm in the house. Then, Sunday was just like that winter thing we have enjoyed for so long: snow, wind, cold, and a temp of 50° less than the day before. Ah, the balmy winds of April...aaagh, the freezing winds of April. We have such wonderful, variable weather in this world. On Saturday, a person might have complained that he or she missed a good weekend of camping. We tend to say this is this or that is that on one day without the ability to see into the next. On Sunday, that same person might have been suffering out in the camper with clothing too light and not enough fuel in the heater bottle. We have a tendency to do things based on our own wisdom. In this, I am going to return to that Psalm, number 127 in our Bibles, the one that speaks of building a house. 1. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. 3. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 5. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. 5 short verses, one might even memorize the entire psalm, and yet so much wisdom. Is it any wonder that Solomon composed this psalm? The first verse is one that speaks to all of those projects we propose so often. I'm going to do this, or we should do that, expecting that all of these ideas will be blessed as we go about doing our own will. Jesus had words about that too, telling his disciples to ask God first before taking off on some plan or scheme. We gave our lives to Jesus, rested in his assurance, and waited for the Spirit to lead us. Then, we try to grab control back and do our own thing according to our own wisdom. Solomon saw the foolishness in this and reminded us with his excellent example in verse one: "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." We don't want to do something that is useless, but we are so easily distracted from God's will, or from even asking God to reveal his will, and we take off on our own plan asking God to bless what we want to do. Even doing the right things, such as going to a Bible study, or to church could be in vain if we are not asking God to show us his will first. God may want us to go to this particular church or to attend the pastor's Bible study and not the one with that fellow who is so entertaining (not that your pastor isn't mind you!). Interestingly, it was a show on cannibals last night that started this discussion in my head. What if you felt the call to be a missionary, but didn't go? What if you wanted what you saw as the honor or public acclaim of being a missionary, but God's will for your life was something else? At some point, God called some folks into the missions field. Not just any missions field, but into the jungles of New Guinea where the cannibals lurked... uh oh! If God called a person to minister to the cannibals, God will take care of that person and it would be wrong for him not to go. On the other hand, if God called a person to be a clerk in a cubicle in Corporameia and that person took off for cannibal country, he might only succeed in getting on the menu. How are we to know whether we are following God's will or our own? Are the troubles we face God calling us in a different direction or simply trials to strengthen us? One way to check: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) Love and joy be yours in Christ Jesus! Bucky