Forgetting God

The surest way to forget God is when the good times come a-rolling. Most of us see God as a campaigner against all things negative. When times are bad, when we fall sick, when we are in need, when our bank accounts run dry, when jobs, promotions or pay increments elude us, we automatically cry out to God for help, because we know He is able to make a difference and turn things around. Well, yes, we are right. God loves to provide and hates to see us wading in poverty & needs. In fact, He "knows what you need before you ask him" Matthew 6:8. And as a Father who knows better than we know to provide bread and fish for our children, we can rest assured that God knows how & when to provide for us.

Our weakness, however, is in handling the good times. We tend to take them for granted after we have settled in and become comfortable. Just like finding a perfect spot to sleep. You turn a little, maybe hug a bolster, adjust the pillow, and when all is perfect, you sleep. Good times promote inertia, which is a state of no change. Why change when things are perfect? True, but only when things are perfect in God's eyes. In our eyes, in this imperfect fallen world, things cannot be perfect, unfortunately. That's why every now & then, God sees a need to nudge us on, to get us out of complacency, to keep looking for the perfect spot instead of being lulled into deep sleep. We can all have our eternal rest with Him in Heaven when the time comes, but the world as we know is no place for deep sleepers, especially believers.

The Israelites have to be reminded not to forget God before He released His blessings upon them. Deuteronomy 6:10-12 says "When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

The author in Proverbs 30:8-9, recognising his potential weakness in handling too much good things, said "give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."

Life is a paradox of sorts. Bad (things) can be good (for our betterment), while good (things) can be the start of one's downfall. The best perspective to look at life is to look to God all the time. When you zoom in onto God as the subject of focus, all other things around start to fade. These things are still there - but instead of staring at our needs or basking in our blessings, we walk with God continually. Let Him show us the way, instead of trying to figure out our way from what He's given or withheld from us because the author of our lives isn't us, but God.

May God bless you,
Thomas