I grew up on a farm. That meant that you used farm implements and those you could improvise to get the job done. We would make a patch for a muffler with a tin can and bailing wire. We would use duct tape to temporarily seal a bucket. We would find old bolts to fit into those which were lost in the field. We never threw anything away. It might be needed to do something it was never intended for.
We just couldn't afford to spend our most precious resource to go to town and get the proper item. That resource was time. The sun was going to set whether we were through with our job or not. The job had to be done.
God's people have always had to listen to God and use what was provided to do His will. Moses used his staff to convince God's people that he was commanded by God to lead them out of Egypt. It was what he had in his hand.
Shamgar was a judge who used what he had to deliver Israel. He could have sat down and complained about how he needed a proper weapon but he used his oxgoad to do what most could not do with proper weapons. He did what God willed him to do with what God has already provided.
Did Joshua say that he couldn't defeat Jericho because he didn't have the right equipment. He had trumpets and people. God used what he had and the walls came tumbling down. The Bible is full of such stories of His people using what they already had to do what seemed impossible.
Some individuals and churches won't do anything for the Lord because they claim they don't have the proper resources. They speak of their lack of money, people, machines, and other materials. They act like God wants them to sit down and do nothing when they don't have what someone else has. They lack the character necessary to see God's will done. God really doesn't listen to excuses since He already knows what can be done with what people already have. They simply have to listen to Him and improvise.
Anyone who lacks the proper resource should ask himself: What do I already have if I can't get the proper resource? Can I adapt or use what I have to do what God wants me to do?
Remember: God is either going to give you what you believe you need or He has already given you all you need to do His will. His will cannot be stopped simply because you don't think you have the proper resources.
Only you can get in the way of what God wants to accomplish through you.
So, look for your oxgoads and see what God can do without the proper resources.
Judges 3:31 (NIV)
31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.
1 comment:
What I have learned through conviction by the Lord, and is still trying to put more into practice is that we are begin to serve God, in however small way. When I say "serve", I mean we do something, and doing it unto God, without expectation of reward; I know our working cannot absolutely be said as NOT serving God, but central to our working is that we are expecting to be paid. I am talking about such things as volunteering to help out in church, be an usher, pray with someone who could be troubled or sick, edify or build up another, bless the needy (as unto the Lord), help raise some fund for a kingdom cause, etc, etc. There are so many little, little things we can do with what we have, be it time, energy, understanding, wisdom, compassion and love, or financial resources. You just have to begin to serve Him in some way.
Ignore those who belittle your effort, even if your effort is small. God's measurement is unlike ours; Men tend to measure in absolute, God, more likely against what you have (widow's 2 copper coins offering - Mark 12:41-44); Men look at outside, God looks at the inside, the heart (1 Sam 16:7). Although God looks at the heart; what you think there (yes, there is such thing as the thoughts of the heart or meditations of the heart) is important, and can be taken against you by God or justify you, yet the proof of the pudding is in the eating; meaning, you still need to manifest it, the noble thoughts, I mean (the ignoble ones, you are to "kill" them, right-away). I give you 2 important reasons (you can think of more) for us to manifest our noble thoughts (give action to them). One, people can see it, and praise God in Heaven (Matt 5:16). Scriptures tells us that only 2, apart from your soul, know the thoughts of your heart, your spirit, and the Holy Spirit indwelling you (believers have Holy Spirit indwelled them), others (other people) don't know. Two, if we want growth that is what we have to do. Imagine, if an infant only thinks in his heart that he can walk, but will not take the 1st step forward, do you think he will walk? Will he grow to walk properly, and later gracefully, and later, to run, and later, to run with great speed and agility? Spiritual growth is also like that. Yes, it is to start with the right thoughts of the heart, but you don't stop there.
The parable of 3 talents (Matt 25:14-30) ended with this (vv 28-30):
28 “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has {produced fruit} will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
So, it is not you have 10 or 5 or 1, it is what you do with it or them.
"Stray" bolts and nuts are resource too, just as shillings and coins are; they can be put to good use. A rich man may think nothing about the heavy and "bothersome" shillings and coins, but when these are collected in donation boxes, they can be put to good use. I don't know about you, I am just coins and shillings, NOT a big note, but you know what, God can sure use some more coins and shillings. Would you put yourself into those boxes of God? Jesus could multiply the 5 loaves and 2 fish (Mark 6:30-44), He can multiply what you have today if you will place them into his hands; and He also can multiply you, and even exchange you into a big note.
May God bless this sharing. Anthony Chia, high.expressions
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