Other
Proctor
Articles:
The Ten
Commandments
Controversy
By Paul Proctor
May 12, 2004
NewsWithViews.com
How often have you heard a fellow Christian, referring to the quick and easy resolution of some personal problem, call it a �God thing?� Being delivered from difficulties and complications along life�s way can certainly be a wonderful answer to prayer, as can the timely arrival of godly assistance, advice, strength, encouragement, provision and protection; something I can attest to myself.
Unfortunately, it is also not unusual to hear, in a covetous and materialistic culture such as ours, that quick and easy profits or the securing of loans to facilitate the purchase or payoff of extravagant purchases, are �God things.� And, how many jubilant folks have we heard on TV praising and thanking the Lord for winning the lottery � never once considering that repeatedly wasting needed paychecks on long shot short cuts to wealth and affluence and a never-ending pursuit of riches might not be God�s will for anyone. Is this the sort of praise and thanks God is seeking? Hardly�
In the midst of such joy and adulation, it is not only easy but quite common to see and hear otherwise committed Christians discount, even dismiss dire scriptural warnings like: �The love of money is the root of all evil.� You have to wonder just how many of our �God things� might actually be tests of our faith or even temptations of the world disguised or confused as heavenly blessings. Yet, if we fail to consider the Word of God and follow Him faithfully, we may set ourselves up for disaster.
Many times, acquiring a lucrative or prestigious job, a bigger house, a nicer car, a more accommodating church or even a desirable spouse is called a �God thing.� But, just how did we come by such �blessings� and what sort of spiritual compromises and scriptural errors were made in obtaining them? That�s where their real origin and validity are ascertained.
Regardless of His love, the Lord does not reward us for sin, no matter how much we want or need something. Love is not a license; grace is not permission; and mercy is certainly not indifference. To assume otherwise is nothing less than the fruit of delusion.
Those who have trusted Christ with their lives and follow Him daily are regularly on the lookout for little signs along the way that the Lord is leading them in this direction or that. It�s good to be sensitive to the Spirit of God as He guides us through life�s challenges and opportunities. I would suggest however, that in spite of our human tendency to take the easy way out, not all urges and inklings are from God.
If something comes along that, on the surface, appears to be gratifying or rewarding, we tend to assume immediately that it is a glorious gift from above, without ever considering the long-term implications of embracing it or the consequences of acting upon it. If we fail to consult God�s Word and pray for wisdom and understanding with a pure heart and selfless motives, we may discover too late that our �blessing� was actually a camouflaged curse.
There are many today, claiming Christ, who have made a religion of sorts out of following passions, signs and superstitions � forever declaring divine intervention that miraculously delivers them from personal responsibility and accountability or enables them to avoid altogether, an overt challenge to their faith in Christ. It is important to know and understand that following our feelings and sensitivities requires a lot less faith, discipline and sacrifice than searching the scriptures diligently, praying fervently and walking obediently day in and day out.
If we�re not careful, we can turn an otherwise simple faith in Christ into a self-serving exercise of escape and opportunism, that ignores the Word of God for the gratification of the flesh, resulting in the leadership of deceiving spirits rather than God�s Holy Spirit, making those �miracles� and �blessings� ANYTHING but a God thing.
�There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.� � Proverbs 16:25
� 2004 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved
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Paul Proctor, a rural resident of the Volunteer state and seasoned veteran of the country music industry, retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance writer and regular columnist for NewsWithViews.com, he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print. Paul may be reached at watchman@usa.com�
"Love is not a license; grace is not permission; and mercy is certainly not indifference. To assume otherwise is nothing less than the fruit of delusion."
