| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net When it comes to the things of God, human opinion counts for nothing. We balk at that, but there it is. Charles Spurgeon said: "Most men quarrel with this, but mark, the thing that you complain of in God is the very thing that you love in yourselves. Every man likes to feel that he has a right to do with his own as he pleases. We all like to be little sovereigns. Oh, for a spirit that bows always before the sovereignty of God." This is the reason it is so hard for a man (especially in the Northwest) to come to Christ. We have been raised to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, or do it ourselves, or .... well you get the idea. This is fine to talk about, but what does the application look like? What does God's Lordship look like? What does it mean to trust Him for everything? Is it a weakness or ultimately a strength to totally depend on Him? Let's turn the Spiritual Switch: Many (thousands) of people are striking McDonalds and other so called fast food chains for more money. By every worldly standard, this makes sense; but does God address this? Let's look in Matt. 20, vs 1-16. Nugget: This is not a story about salvation, (a day's wage) as no one can earn salvation. Nor is it about rewards - "And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor" (1st Cor. 3:8). It is at the end of the day, about the sovereignty of God. These in the story as well as the people striking, and us whenever we struggle with a sovereign decision of God cry out in our heart of hearts - "THAT'S NOT FAIR!". Nugget: Nowhere in the Bible (Old or New Testament) does it say God is fair. He is Righteous, and Just, and -wait for it --- Sovereign. Please allow me poetic license, and I'll relate the story in the Elk City vernacular. Once upon a time, there was a man in Elk City who wanted to put up his hay. He went into town early in the morning and found some guys on the steps of the Boar Hauger who seemed to be idle. He asked them if they would work for him for a day, and he would pay them a day's wage. "Sure" they replied. Progress not what he had hoped, he went back into town about 9 am and hired a couple more guys. Then at noon, then at three pm. At six pm, the work was done, and he set up the pay table, and asked those who had been hired last to go to the front of the line. He paid them a day's wage. "Wow" said the guys in the back of the line: "They were only here for three hours and got a whole day's wage. Just think what we will get after being here all day in the hot sun -- Bonus!". But when those in the back of the line got to the pay table, they likewise received a day's wage. They were wroth. They cried out: "That's not fair", and conspired to harm the land owner. He replied: "What have I done to you? I offered you a day's wage, you agreed to a day's wage, and I paid you a day's wage. Isn't it right for me to do with what is mine as I see fit? Do you despise me for being generous with these other men?" And so it is with these strikers. I am satisfied they went into their place of employment, asked for a job, agreed to the terms, and now who is craw fishing? It isn't McDonalds. Point? God doesn't want to give you peace, He wants be your peace. He doesn't want to give you joy, He wants to be your joy (I see a pattern developing). "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm 37:25 God Bless. |
 |