Trusting God to Provide a Title

Is it too early to begin reflecting on lessons learned in 2009? Perhaps this isn’t reflection as much as it is anticipation. Early indications suggest that this year brings with it a very specific theme; the need to trust in God’s provision. Sure it lacks creativity, and is not exactly an earth-shattering concept (or is it?). The West’s most powerful economy is in shambles, while war rages in the Middle East. Unemployment is on the rise, while job-security is on the decline. One is hard-pressed to find a person untouched by lay-offs and market downturns. America is on shaky ground financially. Shaky finances lead to shaky lifestyles. Nevertheless, Paul writes in 1st Timothy 6:

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into
this world, and it is certain[c]
we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we
shall be content… Command those who are rich in this present age not to be
haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us
richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works,
ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for
the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.[1]

“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” In shaky financial times, plans quickly change. Things that were concrete in 2008 are now a thick soupy mud. Constants are questionable. And life’s typical speed-bumps are mighty mountains this year, requiring supernatural navigation to climb and conquer. This year has already been characterized by last second, long lasting decisions, similar to a movie that features a loudly beeping bomb and a nervous bomb-disarmer who must decide whether to cut the red or blue cord. Even when I cut the figurative cord and the figurative bomb remains dormant, I’m left to ponder the possibility of a delayed explosion. I have already been assured that I should expect more last-minute loud-beeping bomb-like decisions as 2009 trudges along. It’s like my future is looking back hoping I’ll make the right decision, while my past looks up and questions every move. I long to be content merely with food and clothing. Isn’t that the essence of trusting God?

Being content with the bare essentials affirms that we believe God is God. But when we strive for more material possessions and try to make our own way for the future we deny the very nature of God, and call into question His ability to satisfy our yearnings. As life’s ball of yarn unravels before our eyes our thoughts are consumed with making provisions to ensure that our quality of life is preserved. But is that necessary? Is it not the desire to preserve his quality of life that kept the Rich Young Ruler from embracing faith in Christ? Though he was a pious, self-proclaimed keeper of the law, he loved his riches more than God; and himself more than his neighbors, and walk away from Christ with sorrow.[2] To love God is to trust God. But trusting God is totally contrary to our nature. That is why men love money, because it offers them and opportunity to control their own destinies. And that is why the love of money is the root of all evil, because it denies the absolute sovereignty of Almighty God over man. But is it even possible to wholly trust God, and how much are we supposed to be proactive in our preparations for that with which we should be content?

Trust and faith are synonymous. In the second chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians he affirms that grace and faith are gifts from God. Therefore we can conclude that ability to trust God is itself a gift from God. But that does not answer the question of how proactive we should be in providing for and ensuring our futures. Should we simply sit and wait for manna to fall from the sky and water to spring forth from a rock? 1 Timothy 6:9-16:

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold
on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good
confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of
God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good
confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot,
blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His
own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord
of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no
man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Flee from the love of material things and run toward Jesus; in him exists all righteousness godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Lay hold on eternal life in God who gives life to all things. Trust in the supreme and only potentate, the One who dwells in unapproachable and indescribable light. The only reasonable answer to the question at hand is to trust God. Perhaps that does not on the surface offer any practical assistance, but practical assistance is not the goal-trusting God is. In order to trust God we must set our minds on the things above[3] and walk worthy of the gospel, only then we will know exactly how proactive we must be, if proactive at all. Otherwise we can keep striving to provide for ourselves as the foolish man chases after the wind.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things
above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will
appear with Him in glory.”-Colossians 3:1-4

[1] 1 Timothy 6:6-8; 17-19
[2] Matthew 19; Mark 10; Luke 18
[3] Colossians 3

-Gary