ONE WAY OR THE OTHER

Doing It God’s Way… Or The Hard Way

 

Not too long ago a mature Christian Man spotted a young Christian businessman whom he had attempted to influence a few years ago toward growing spiritually. At that time, he gently nudged the Christian man aside, explaining that the pressing demands of his newly formed consulting firm left little room for spiritual matters.

An hour later, as they deplaned, he commented on the current economic crisis in Asia and the extreme stress he was under. As they waited to go through immigration, the Christian man asked him if he was spending regular time with God. The answer was no.

Within minutes after clearing immigration, a friend who heads a mid-sized firm, picked the Christian up. For some time now, they had been working together on developing his consistent walk with God. As they headed for the city the subject of the severe state of the economy again came up. Immediately the man was struck, by way of contrast, with his calm response to the grave situation. God, he assured, would give wisdom in seeing him and his company through the downturn.

It was apparent to the Christian man that because he had been hiding the Scriptures in his heart during his daily times of prayer and meditation, he was indeed prepared to trust God through the current period of financial stress.

There are several thoughts that come to mind as I think about this story:

 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.  Psalms 34:4

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalms 34:6

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. Psalms 34:9

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalms 34:19

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  Psalms 37:25

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. Psalms 34:9

QUESTION: So, what do we do when everything in the economic picture seems to turn sour? Tighten our stomach muscles and power through it? Invent new schemes for survival? Peddle faster? Panic?

Or rest? Trust? Wait? And quietly seek His direction?

I guess the answer depends upon to whom we have been looking to supply our daily needs: Ourself or God. If it is us, then we ought to be in a state of panic, because I doubt if any of us are that good!