Thoughts for another day

Aug. 22, 2011

Today's verse: Jer. 17:5. This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. (NIV – copyright acknowledged)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

One of the major reasons why we don't see God's hand in our lives today is because we've ceased to depend on Him rather depending on man for succor.  Take a look at what's happening around; do you think anyone trusts God for anything he/she needs and sitting quietly believing God will give it to them without trying to do something him/her self under the mistaken belief that he/she also needs to do something, else God will not work in his/her favor!

Imagine that.  And reading this, you'll see man's foolishness in this area thinking, how can man say he trusts God and then try to do his own thing?  As an example, let's say you're working in an organization and assigned a particular task.  Now if you delegate it to a subordinate, or if your senior says he'll do it, will you also then try do some basic things telling yourself, maybe I should do something also?  You won't isn't it?  For once the job is given to someone else; you cease to be responsible for it, no?  But when it comes to God, well we assume God needs our help, eh?  And of course the world will remind you to do your bit and we're all so much with the world and its warped logic concerning God, so we want to do something.  And the greater our desperation, the greater is the craving to help God…

But God, He is God Almighty; He doesn't need our help.  He hates when you pit Him against a man, i.e. you ask Him for help and also seek man's help.  Our reasoning may be, God works through men only isn't it? Perhaps, but let Him decide who He will work through and it's possible He has something else in mind.  In our Scripture today, God spells it out clearly; so clearly that He says, cursed, repeat, 'cursed' is the man who trusts in man and who depends on another man or himself for strength; who turns from the Lord saying in his heart, 'What do I need God for?'  Remember, God looks at the intent of the heart.  And the carcinogenic etching on our minds that 'God helps those who help themselves', an adage emerging from lack of faith in God, is anathema to Him who is an omnipotent God.  Just trust Him no matter how difficult your situation; do nothing foolish even if everyone is advising you to do that for it's the way of the evil one - to make God angry and move Him away from your tent for God surely says, 'If you can help yourself, why do you need Me?' Remember the greatest prayer a man can make when he is in deep trouble, is just sit and be quiet for in that is our strength before the Lord.