Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Worried Pockets

1 Chronicles 29:16
O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

Last Monday, the complete kit for Rilian’s homeschooling finally arrived. Now that he’s officially a student, with tests and all, I felt like we became official parents too, with responsibilities, and more. Plotting their school years to determine how much we need to raise and save every time, my initial thought balloon to those figures was: there goes my hopes for a house, and the car, and the dream vacations.  But I quickly rebuked the discouragement and remembered my parents, and theirs. They weren’t well off either, and to think they lived with eleven other siblings. But they’re living proof that it’s manageable. I myself finished school, and my sister will, by God’s grace next year, become a doctor. Now in faith I see my kids and a bright future ahead of them. I know. Because God said He will provide.

When the chronicler shared the story of chapter 29, I imagine the remnants in blank stare and deep breath, wondering how could the same building project be possible at their time. David was here pouring treasures as seed money for Solomon’s temple, and it’s extravagantly a lot! And because King David gave over and above what was expected of him, that is, he shared even from his personal treasures, the leaders of the land were inspired to give much to the treasury too.  No wonder Solomon’s temple was literally shining in gold. So how could the remnants ever fill those shoes? Coming from seventy years of foreign slavery, they barely had anything to call their own. ‘Impossible!’ was their logic’s cry. Then they heard David’s prayer and his acknowledgement that it wasn’t his treasures that provided for the temple. The verse above pointed it all came from God’s hand. Later on, the remnants saw how God’s faithfulness proved it true. In the book of Ezra, King Darius decreed, based on the scroll issued by King Cyrus, that the royal treasury of Persia will fully pay for the construction of the temple. How in the world that happened? One answer: God can do that!

How’s your finances today? Any pressing payables this week? Any savings for rainy days? If your answers are in the tune of worry, I know how that sounds. Been there, done that, still there - - minus the worry. Today at least. Tomorrow? That’s another faith decision. But clearly, truth says, everything comes from God’s hand. With His unlimited, unimaginable treasures in heaven, it’s actually more impossible for Him to not to provide. That implies, resource is not the issue here, but our heart questioning His goodness, and the humility to simply ask.  Like a child to a Father. Completely trusting. Fully expecting. If He can give His Son for us all, which is the greatest of all gifts, can we really picture Him withholding the less? Impossible! What is our need today compared to His life’s value? What is our worry compared to our need for the Cross? God’s been providing for the world ever since, will He stop now with us? I don’t think so.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Worried Pockets

1 Chronicles 29:16
O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

Last Monday, the complete kit for Rilian’s homeschooling finally arrived. Now that he’s officially a student, with tests and all, I felt like we became official parents too, with responsibilities, and more. Plotting their school years to determine how much we need to raise and save every time, my initial thought balloon to those figures was: there goes my hopes for a house, and the car, and the dream vacations.  But I quickly rebuked the discouragement and remembered my parents, and theirs. They weren’t well off either, and to think they lived with eleven other siblings. But they’re living proof that it’s manageable. I myself finished school, and my sister will, by God’s grace next year, become a doctor. Now in faith I see my kids and a bright future ahead of them. I know. Because God said He will provide.

When the chronicler shared the story of chapter 29, I imagine the remnants in blank stare and deep breath, wondering how could the same building project be possible at their time. David was here pouring treasures as seed money for Solomon’s temple, and it’s extravagantly a lot! And because King David gave over and above what was expected of him, that is, he shared even from his personal treasures, the leaders of the land were inspired to give much to the treasury too.  No wonder Solomon’s temple was literally shining in gold. So how could the remnants ever fill those shoes? Coming from seventy years of foreign slavery, they barely had anything to call their own. ‘Impossible!’ was their logic’s cry. Then they heard David’s prayer and his acknowledgement that it wasn’t his treasures that provided for the temple. The verse above pointed it all came from God’s hand. Later on, the remnants saw how God’s faithfulness proved it true. In the book of Ezra, King Darius decreed, based on the scroll issued by King Cyrus, that the royal treasury of Persia will fully pay for the construction of the temple. How in the world that happened? One answer: God can do that!

How’s your finances today? Any pressing payables this week? Any savings for rainy days? If your answers are in the tune of worry, I know how that sounds. Been there, done that, still there - - minus the worry. Today at least. Tomorrow? That’s another faith decision. But clearly, truth says, everything comes from God’s hand. With His unlimited, unimaginable treasures in heaven, it’s actually more impossible for Him to not to provide. That implies, resource is not the issue here, but our heart questioning His goodness, and the humility to simply ask.  Like a child to a Father. Completely trusting. Fully expecting. If He can give His Son for us all, which is the greatest of all gifts, can we really picture Him withholding the less? Impossible! What is our need today compared to His life’s value? What is our worry compared to our need for the Cross? God’s been providing for the world ever since, will He stop now with us? I don’t think so.