To Possess Or, Not To Possess...

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!" (Hab. 3:17-18, NIV).
"...[A]nd the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions" (Obadiah v. 17, ESV).
"... Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor so that by his poverty he could make you rich" (2 Cor. 8:9, NIV).
"... Freely give as you have freely received" (cf. Matt. 10:8).

A. W. Tozer wrote of the Blessedness of Possessing Nothing.  What he implied is that, like Abraham sacrificed his greatest prize (Isaac), we are to let go of our most valued) possessions and let God own everything--"The earth is the LORD'S and the fullness thereof" (Psalm 24:1).  One of the richest men of his day was not preoccupied with his riches--they didn't distract his devotion to God.  It takes more faith to be loyal to God during prosperity than during deprivation when we naturally turn to God.

"Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.  (John Greenleaf Whittier)

We often forget God when all is going well.  Prosperity is no sign of God's favor, though it is a blessing:  "... for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth" (Deut. 8:18).  Corrie ten Boom said often that her secret was to always "hold tings loosely."  The more attached we become to things the less place we have for God:  He cannot pour out His blessings into hands already full!   We must come to the realization that we are only stewards of what God has given us and will be held accountable.  "What do you have that you didn't receive?"  (Cf. 1 Cor. 4:7).

We have received our eye color by genetics just the same as our choice of career laid out by God's providence (cf. John 3:27, NLT), in knowing what's best for us in the long run(cf. Job 23:12, 14, Psalm 31:15 139:16).  "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they are found trustworthy" (1 Cor. 4:2).  "Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth'" (Deut. 8:17).

God blesses everyone in some ways, and some in all ways; this is because of the so-called "common grace" that He sheds on everyone as His creatures.  No one can say God was against them!  We all have much to be grateful for.  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change"  (James 1:17).

The book of Obadiah mentions Israel finally shall "possess its possessions" (Obadiah 17).  We don't want to be materialists: What this means is that they don't possess you!   Who's in control?  We use things and manipulate things, but we have relationships with and love people. We don't love things and use or manipulate people.  We should not love material things period.  We can appreciate and be blessed by them--but it is a misnomer to say we love them, a much-misused word in English.

St. Francis of Assisi said that it is in giving that we receive!  Jesus also said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).  If you give it up and it returns, it is yours.

In sum, we must learn to "let go" of what God has given us and give it as an act of devotion back to Him as a" sacrifice of thanksgiving" and dedicated to His service.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Talking The Talk

Yet "... it is written:  'I believed; therefore I have spoken.'  With that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak"  (2 Cor. 4:13).
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard," (Acts 4:20, KJV). 

In the seventeenth century, it was every gentleman's hobby to converse in "God-talk" or be clued in on theology and in the know, as it were. But this is no guarantee that one knows the Lord, simply because he is acquainted with Scripture!  Even the devil quotes it for his own purposes.

It seems like some reticent Christians who think "talk is cheap" (Rom. 10:17 says faith comes by hearing by the way!) and they attack believers who voice their opinions, saying that if you don't "walk the walk, you shouldn't talk the talk."  Satan will muster all his forces to shut us up!  However, we are commanded to speak out to the best of our ability.  These cliches are unbiblical and have no basis in truth--can you give me a Bible verse to back them up?   If we had to wait till we were perfect to talk we would have an excuse to keep quiet all our lives because we are always working in progress and no one can say that he has "arrived." 

However, we don't want to be hypocritical in our talk and talk a talk that contradicts us.  When one is filled with the Spirit he wants to talk about spiritual matters and share Christ with others, whether he is "perfect" or not.  "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).  In other words, they got the "can't-help-its" as they say.

Fellowship is not just for a few elite believers who have their act together, but for all of the body and no one can say that he doesn't need some "body part."  In my experience, one merely doesn't have the ability to speak of spiritual things and share Christ without the guidance of the Holy Spirit;  it is not mere energy of the flesh, but the power of the Spirit--(cf. Zech. 4:6 says:  "... Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of Hosts").

It is the religious people who think they are better than others by virtue of their performance and are a cut above other believers, that don't think God can speak through the least of these of Christ's brethren.  The devil is the one who wants to muzzle the ox that treads out the grain and can't stand it when someone speaks for Christ or witness and says he is "unworthy."  But no one is worthy and it is because of grace alone that we have the privilege of speaking on Christ's behalf as His ambassadors of reconciliation.

Now, my interpretation of this matter is that if you don't witness, you shouldn't pass yourself off as an expert on the subject (however, I'd still like to hear your opinion of what you do know or think you know!); and if you don't pray don't teach about it, but it is always fitting and proper to boast in the Lord and of what He has done through you ("I venture not to speak, but of what Christ has accomplished through me," says Rom. 15:18).

You don't earn the right to witness, you just see an open door and take advantage of the opportunity whenever the Spirit leads--we are commanded to witness via the Great Commission.  Fellowship is a birthright of all believers, not just a select few.   All believers have the right to witness and should never be ashamed that they are Christians or of the gospel (cf. Rom. 1:16 which says:  "I am not ashamed of the gospel...").

It is vital that we practice what we preach, but the devil will do everything to muzzle us and keep us from speaking for Christ.  It is a shame that some who profess a faith in Christ deny Him by their works and life testimony.   (Cf.  Titus 1:16:  "They profess to know God, but by their works they deny Him.")   In conclusion:  God will not stand for hypocrisy and we have to be careful not to condemn ourselves by our speech because Jesus did say that it is by our own words that we will be judged--but do not get discouraged that you aren't good enough, because no one is.   Soli Deo Gloria!