Good Gifts
Matthew
7:11 - If
you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask
him!
Psalm
34: 8-10 - Oh, taste and see that the
Lord
is good! Blessed is the man who takes
refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord,
you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions
suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Upon
first reading of these Scriptures, it may seem our Father has some Santa Claus
attributes where He is willing to give whatever we ask in prayer. However, the verses say He gives good things and that His children lack
no good thing. Our Father’s view from Heaven allows Him to
know what is good. He knows what gifts
will draw His children to Himself and what will bring Him glory, honor, and
praise. His good gifts may be illness or
disappointment or a loss of job and they can be finding a job or encouragement
or health. When we pray in accordance
with His will, we should feel confident that His deep love for His children and
His name will only allow good things to be given.
Those
who seek and trust Him have all the things necessary to serve and bring Him
glory. We lack nothing good. Therefore, if there is something we want and
the Lord hasn’t provided it after we have asked with right motives, then that
thing must not be good. Knowing we have
what He considers good should result in contentment in our lives. The Word teaches us to be content in all
circumstances. Without contentment, we
become influenced by our desires for things we do not have and James 1 says our
desires are what lead us to sin.
Praise
Him today for all things He has given regardless of whether they seem good in
our own understanding. Trust Him to know
what is good.
God has been teaching me this lesson lately: that I be content in Him regardless of circumstances. I may have much from the world's perspective or I may have little (and I have had seasons of each). If my focus is that of the world, I will be discontent regardless of which season I'm in. If my hope is in the Lord, I will remain content.
ReplyDeletePhilippians 4:11-13 (NASB):
11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.