Why Me Lord?
I have heard it preached recently that if you don’t like the situation you are in either due to illness, job loss, relational disasters, or financial set backs the reason for this is that you don’t give enough, pray enough or have enough faith, and I believe that all of these things must be considered. However before I jump into that place head first I must first ascertain the motive of the person speaking. Is there a hidden agenda behind these truths of the word, or are they being brought up as a part of the whole picture for your consideration.
One might say, “that sounds pretty inclusive to me.” However we must understand that there are other areas of consideration before we jump to any conclusion. The Bible is a group of 66 books filled with wonderful information and it is the only book that lives because of its inspired author, The Holy Spirit. If there is a hidden agenda harbored by the conveyor of the word it will come forth slightly eschewed leaning toward that particular teacher and what he/she would like the end result to be.
There indeed might be other reasons for the aforementioned circumstances or situations. I simply lay them out for your consideration before you make that huge financial investment prompted by a hard hitting, well rehearsed, eloquently displayed emotional plea designed from beginning to end to move you into such an emotional frenzy that you want to empty out your bank account to buy God’s blessings and to get you out of your situation and into financial, emotional and spiritual bliss offered by the one who seems to have all the answers to life’s most difficult problems.
Job was a man who was blameless and upright: “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who [reverently] feared God and abstained from and shunned evil [because it was wrong].” (Job 1:1)
Sometimes the Lord allows trial and tribulation to come upon His most cherished children to teach them something that could not be otherwise learned. Job had no problem giving, praying or having faith for himself or his children. Giving, praying and having faith are necessary components for a faith filled walk, however there are times when standing is what the Lord is requiring of His children. Sometimes you cannot buy, praise, or pray yourself out of a situation when God simply needs His children to make a decision to trust, that He is in control and He will bring you out after you have been refined in His holy refining fire.
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (Revelation 3:18)
There are times when we become so frustrated because of the trial and tribulation, that we would do anything that even smacks of relief, and so we might even give what we don’t have or become worked up by a master salesman who prey on the desperate and needy to fill his/her pockets with the faith hope and dreams of those who franticly seek away out.
These ministers have learned how to package a testimony and tell a wonderful story of success, and fulfillment by truncating the word glossing over the real truth and driving home those truths that would inspire giving. God knows the intent of the heart and they get away with nothing. They may gain wealth and what appears to be success, but the God of all truth addresses this very thing in His word.
The Lust for Money
These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there’s an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. (I Timothy 6:2-5)
I do believe that Christians should be prosperous. I do believe that the wealth of this wicked world will be placed in the bosom of the righteous. I also believe that God’s timing is perfect and to each of his children is appointed a time for everything under the sun. Give, pray, praise and have faith and most importantly stand and trust when you have done all you can do, knowing that the Lord loves you and He will see you through every trail and tribulation. Be very weary of those who try to create an urgency to hear from God concerning how much money to pour into their pockets. Take a moment to get out of the emotional state that you have been worked into, step back and away so that you know that it is really God leading you and not the frenzy of one who is skilled at creating an atmosphere of smoke and mirrors who would lead you away from what God has called for you to do.
I was in sales and sales management for twenty years and I can appreciate watching a master salesman setting his customers up for the hard close. Making their heads bounce up and down in consent several times before they create the urgency to sign the dotted line NOW! NOW! NOW! Don’t take your time to hear from God, I will direct you to hear from God in my timing! The only thinking I want you to do right now is not IF you should give but How much! I have taught salesmanship and a good salesman is taught to close hard and often, create urgency and leave no doubt that the product works every time.
I have a rule of thumb concerning emotions: Actions made at the height of any emotion whether it be anger, lust, hysterics, or spiritual frenzy are most often regretted in the light of day, and calm reflection.
I pray that this has helped you.
Blessings,
Pastor Jack