You Came To My Rescue

This is a touchy subject for a lot of people.  Maybe I'll get some feedback.  Ian Johnson, author of Our Oneness in Christ, says that most of us live somewhere between "grindingly poor and fantastically wealthy".  In other words, he believes that neither abject poverty, nor blinding wealth are a result of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.  I tend to agree. I have at various times experienced something of both, and I can blame neither on God.  

If you're anything like me there has been a time, or there have been times in your life, when you have looked to the Father for provision and it didn't seem to happen.  It just didn't seem to come when you needed it most.  Why?  Why weren't the finances there to pay that bill?  To support that work? To fix that problem? To help that person?  Why?  Why, God?  

Here's a thought:  For me (maybe not for you, you decide), those times are perhaps linked to some other time in my life when I really wasn't seeking FIRST the Kingdom of God.  Perhaps I wasn't entirely focused on Him.  Rather, perhaps my real focus was on what He could DO for ME.  You've never done that, have you?  Then, fast forward to the time of need, and the prayer for that provision seems to go unanswered.  Hmm...  

If every action taken, every word spoken, every dollar spent is a seed sown, should we be surprised when the harvest comes and it looks just like it came from the seed?  What about"good seed", sown in "good ground"?  That seed we sowed in faith, was it really the kind we thought it was?  Were we sowing a seed of future provision, or we were sowing for the benefit of the Kingdom, not considering ourselves and our wants?  

This business of seeking God's kingdom first, doesn't mean that everything in our lives will instantly be wonderful when we do (especially if we've only just begun).  Seeking God's kingdom first isn't like dropping an Alka-Seltzer tablet in the water glass of life and ridding ourselves of financial indigestion.  If we're honest, financial hot water can often (not always, but often) be linked to some misadventure - or some series of bad decisions or poorly reasoned choices - that landed us in the cauldron.  Then we pray (and sometimes even add the "magic words": In Jesus Name) and expect God to "provide".  

God never ceases to provide.  His Name is Jehovah-Jireh.  The Lord will provide.  Look in His word.   His provision is continual, and it never, ever stops.  But our ability to recognize it and receive it is always conditioned on our response to His Word.  I'm convinced there is a big difference between God's provision, and simply being rescued.   How about you? Fortunately for all of us, he does both!  

On the timing of the rescue?  If you haven't drown yet (or you're not quite hard-boiled), does it really matter WHEN the rescue helicopter shows up?  Isn't it more important THAT it shows up?  Are you tempted to get "mad" at God, because He didn't do that "thing" you wanted Him to do, when you thought He should do it?  Just proves you're human.  And you're in luck.  God LOVES humans!  Be of Good cheer!  

Hey, I think I hear a helicopter...thwap, thwap, thwap, thwap, thwap...