“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'” Luke 15:11-19 (NIV)
We all know about God’s promises to take care of us. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. The great Apostle, in God’s stead, has promised that God will supply all our needs from his riches in glory. Yet, when difficult economic times comes and paychecks are delayed or decreased, we tend to panic. When our car wears out and our children need college funds, we begin to see only obstacles to God’s supply and sometimes we journey into a far country . . . like taking matters into our own hands to supply our needs.
In most cases, taking matters into our own hands results in worse conditions and more problems. We may even put everything we hold dear in jeopardy. And in most cases, our pig pen is a blessing from God because, like the younger son above, taking matters into our own hands teaches us to trust the Father rather than ourselves. We realize that our belief in God’s promises were mental instead of experiential.
The lost son above learned a great lesson from his sloppy, stinking circumstances. His failures caused him to remember the blessings in his father’s house. Repentance turned him toward home and need motivated him to stay focused until he arrived there.
From time to time, we may all struggle to be self-sufficient, but at the end of the day we are grateful for the lessons learned in our circumstance and need. Human self-sufficiency is always limited! “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9;8 (NIV)
Dear Father, thank your for the wisdom of your abounding grace. Empower us to rely on your sufficiency at all times in all things. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in God’s sufficiency,